Meet the 2009 Big Ten Champions
I think that 2009 is the start of the return of the Big Ten. For a comparable year, look back to 2000. My guess is that no team goes 8-0 in conference. I also predict that no team finishes with less than 2 total losses (and only Ohio State does that). As a result, the Big Ten only puts one team in the BCS. And as a result of that, the Big Ten has its first really good bowl season in a long time.
The National Championship Game will be played in Pasedena. After the two bowls that have their champions taken replace their teams, the selection order is Fiesta, Sugar, Orange. On to the picks...
National Championship: Florida v. USC
Rose: Ohio State v. Oregon
Fiesta: Texas v. Alabama
Sugar: Notre Dame v. Nebraska
Orange: Virginia Tech v. Rutgers
Capital One: Penn State v. Ole Miss
Outback: Northwestern v. Georgia
Champs: Iowa v. Georgia Tech
Alamo: Michigan v. Kansas
Insight: Illinois v. Baylor
Motor City: Wisconsin v. Western MIchigan
Papa John's: Minnesota v. UConn
On the Couch with the Queso Bowl: Michigan State, Purdue, Indiana
I think that the order from 2-8 is interchangeable. I see a lot of 8-4 and 7-5 Big Ten teams. Before you scoff at Baylor, remember that Vandy made a bowl this year.
over 3 years ago
Bama Hawkeye
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I'm working in L.A. over the summer...
So, the good news is no matter what happens to Ohio State, I can count on seeing Pasadena at least once in the New Year…
The Rivalry, Esq.
http://www.rivalryesq.com
Where about's in LA
If you find yourself in the Southbay and you are looking for some tasty Mexican check out El Burrito Jr’s .. some of the best in the area.
Muchos Gracias
I’m actually right downtown.
Thanks for the recommendation. I try to only eat Mexican when I’m west of the Mississippi. It’s served me well thus far…
The Rivalry, Esq.
http://www.rivalryesq.com
by Jonathan Franz on Jan 9, 2009 6:39 PM CST up reply actions
Interesting
8 Bowl teams is a bit much.
Also, USC loses 9 defensive starters and must travel to Oregon and Cal— could be difficult to run the table.
Wisconsin figures to have a down year and I doubt they get the 6 1-A wins needed to go.
I like the Baylor pick. I think OKST goes to the BCS game from the B12
The Big 10 had 10
eligible in 2007. The Big 10 is going to look a lot like the ACC in 2008. Weak at the top, but thick in the middle.
I know that USC loses its D, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them drop a game. But it won’t be to Oregon or Cal. USC wins the big games. It’s the little ones that are trouble.
Wisconsin should be able to sneak out seven wins. The schedule isn’t that bad for them (@ Indiana, hosting Purdue and MSU, and three patsies and Hawaii in the non-con).
It is Okie State’s year to try to claim the Big XII South from the Big Two. I don’t see it. I don’t think that they beat either of the two (even without Bradford). I wouldn’t rule out a loss to Colorado or Georgia either.
I wrestled with Fla. State v. Va Tech. My guess is that’s the ACC Championship game. I still think that we’re at least a year away from the ACC getting an at large BCS team.
The pick order went as follows:
Nat Champ: Florida, USC
Fiesta: Texas (Big XII Champ)
Rose: Ohio State (Big Ten Champ)
Orange: Va Tech (ACC Champ)
Sugar: Notre Dame (replacing SEC Champ Florida)
Rose: Oregon (replacing Pac 10 Champ USC)
Fiesta: Alabama (Sugar waived first dibs by picking the ND money train)
Sugar: Nebraska
Orange: Rutgers (curses two straight ACC/Big East games)
This seems pretty reasonable
We’ll have to agree to disagree on USC.
FSU might lose 9 defensive starters. Almost any ACC team could win the conference.
Wisky loses 11 starters
Illinois loses 4 starters, but juice can’t throw at all.
NW loses 9 starters.
Juice Can Throw
Led the Big 10 in passing yards. But due to the high risk, longer route passing offense that was installed, he threw tons of ugly picks too…His mechanics have improved tremendously, I have great hope for the 2009 Illinois offense.
Anyways, I realize there won’t be too many Illinois apologists on this site (or too many Illinois fans in general), bu they have potential to surprise. The schedule is easier, with tough matchup against Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, NW all at home, and they are a relatively young team as FSU pointed out.
by Graham Filler on Jan 10, 2009 8:43 AM CST up reply actions
Totally disagee on Juice
I actually like the crew Zook has put together, but Juice was the worth thrower in the Big 10 (tied with Indiana):
Big Ten Conference
Team Off. Rushing S&P+ Def. Rushing S&P+ Off. Passing S&P+ Def. Passing S&P+ Off. Close S&P+ Def. Close S&P+ Overall “+” Proj. Record Actual Record
Penn State 117.8 116.6 122.7 117.3 119.6 116.6 236.2 6-2 7-1
Ohio State 104.8 108.2 124.1 125.0 117.3 118.1 235.4 8-0 7-1
Iowa 116.0 128.2 111.1 110.2 115.5 114.6 230.1 7-1 5-3
Illinois 86.0 98.9 83.2 93.1 116.7 97.4 214.1 4-4 3-5
Wisconsin 113.7 94.8 89.5 109.1 101.6 101.9 203.5 4-4 3-5
Northwestern 89.3 95.3 107.4 96.5 98.3 97.7 195.9 5-3 5-3
Michigan State 85.1 100.2 109.7 101.7 95.8 96.6 192.5 4-4 6-2
Purdue 94.4 96.2 93.1 102.1 89.3 98.7 187.9 3-5 2-6
Minnesota 79.9 101.3 89.2 91.7 85.5 95.6 181.1 3-5 3-5
Michigan 93.2 99.7 71.5 92.9 82.9 95.0 178.0 0-8 2-6
Indiana 86.0 78.9 83.2 84.1 90.6 85.5 176.1 0-8 1-7
83.2!! Look how far he has to go just to get to Big10 average (100).
Juice had 22 TDs and 16 INts. He also had 6 (or 7) fumbles lost. 22 Turnovers from your QB alone isn’t going to cut it.
Juice is really effective against slower teams who can’t get angles on him and thus have to commit extra men (allowing single coverage), but I don’t think he is much of a thrower or QB at all. Zero touch and he’s far too “wristy” for me.
by Bud Elliott on Jan 10, 2009 12:25 PM CST up reply actions
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