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 What were they drinking?! |
 Monday, December 3, 2007 |
The Big Ten will have their work cut out for them:
| | Big Ten team | Conf. Record (Conf. standing) | Opponent | Conf. Record (Conf. standing) |
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| National Championship | #1 Ohio State | 7-1 (#1) | #2 LSU | 6-2 (#1 SEC West) | | Rose Bowl | #13 Illinois | 6-2 (#2) | #7 USC | 7-2 (#1 Pac 10) | | Capital One Bowl | Michigan | 6-2 (#3) | #12 Florida | 5-3 (#2 SEC East) | | Outback Bowl | #18 Wisconsin | 5-3 (#4) | #16 Tennessee | 6-2 (#1 SEC East) | | Alamo Bowl | Penn State | 4-4 (#5) | Texas A&M | 4-4 (#4 Big 12 South) | | Champs Sports Bowl | Michigan State | 3-5 (#7) | #14 Boston College | 6-2 (#1 ACC Atlantic) | | Insight Bowl | Indiana | 3-5 (#8) | Oklahoma State | 4-4 (#5 Big 12 South) | | Motor City Bowl | Purdue | 3-5 (#9) | Central Michigan | 6-1 (#1 MAC West) |
In the 8 bowl matchups involving the Big Ten, you can make the claim that Purdue is the only favorite to win their game. Ohio State, even though they are ranked #1 playing against #2 LSU is obviously the underdog playing the national championship in New Orleans (LSU's home away from home). Which idiot came up with that idea? Why don't we play the national championship next year in Cleveland instead? There is absolutely no way you can make the case that Ohio State is the favorite in any sense, way, shape or form going into that game.
Then take a look at the other matchups. Illinois plays USC in... lo and behold, Southern California at the Rose Bowl. This isn't exactly the Big Ten or the Pac 10's fault, they've been doing it for decades now, but my point being its also a home game for the Trojans who are on their A-game lately.
Then theres #18 Wisconsin facing #16 Tennessee in the South at the Outback bowl where the Volunteers lost last year to Penn State. Keep going through the list and you'll see unranked Michigan matched up against #12 Florida, Penn State against Texas A&M in... you guessed it, San Antonio, Texas. And theres the head scratcher of a matchup between below average Michigan State and #14 Boston College.
The only matchup I can see which would be favorable for the Big Ten is the Motor City Bowl where its the only matchup against a non-BCS foe. So can anyone explain to me how winning a good majority of our bowl matchups in the past is not a feat just in itself. There is nothing that will bring me more pleasure this post season than to watch Big Ten teams kick the SEC in the teeth in games they are clearly supposed to be underdogs in. No excuses, throw out the stats, shut those media types up once and for all and bring glory back to the north. |
posted by Nittany White Out @ 5:23 PM  |
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| 4 Comments: |
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I hate to bring up the obvious, but if the big ten is the underdog in most of their bowls, they must not be that good. The big ten is down this year and was down last year. I hate that this is my first post on your very nice looking blog, but I felt the need to comment. I know you will not take this personally. I am a blogger as well. This is just how I feel and it should spark up another comment or two. Have a great day.
PS. 9 times out of 10, I rank the Big Ten and the SEC the best two conferences. Sometimes the Big Ten is on top, but not this year.
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What he said was right though. How can anyone even consider LSU playing in New Orleans or USC in Pasadena an underdog. Don't think he saying the Big Ten are the best conference, just that the bowls and the matchups aren't conducive to an equal playing field to settle that question. Go Illini!
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I agree, the SEC is tough, there's no questioning that. But here's a perfect opportunity for the Big Ten to dispel the 'Big Ten is weak' notion everyone seems to be caught up on this year in the bowl games. But they are facing an uphill battle playing teams literally in their backyard. It's going to be tough, but being the underdog doesn't mean they're not good. Ask South Florida over Auburn, Kentucky over LSU, Florida State against Boston College, and Illinois over Ohio State just to name a few. Its going to be a great bowl season, and I hope the Big Ten prevails even in the face of overwhelming odds.
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Great Comment NWO. I agree 100%. We will learn so much this bowl season. I hold the SEC really high, but if we get stomped in the bowls, it does not mean anything.
I think that the Big 10 will do better than the "experts" think.
People ask me why I love the SEC so much. It is because of the toughness, speed, passion, fans, skill, knowledge, etc... The Big 10 has all of those qualities as well.
That is why I know that the Big ten and SEC will do well and continue to do well. The passion for the game shows up in the 22 on the field and the 100K in the stands.
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