The Obligatory Predictions Competition - Week 8
by Jonathan Franz on Oct 21, 2011 12:03 AM CDT
in Obligatory Predictions Competition
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1. ILLINOIS @ PURDUE, 12:00 p.m. EST (10/22)
GRAHAM predicts ILLINOIS
It's got to be Illinois, even on the road. Are they ripe for upset after OSU gave everyone the blueprint? Yup, but OSU also has a Top 10 defense nationally. Illinois on the road, in another close game that Purdue would love to have.
JON predicts ILLINOIS
Sure, OSU outlined a model defensive blueprint in last week's constrictive win over the Illini. But the 40 mile per hour wind gusts certainly didn't hurt. Nathan Scheelhaase and A.J. Jenkins get back in rhythm in West Lafayette against the languid Boilermakers.
GRAHAM predicts MIAMI
I'm just not sold on Georgia Tech - Miami knocked 'em off last year and the Canes aren't plagued by Jacory Harris TO's this year. Canes get the win at home.
JON predicts GEORGIA TECH
In a week full of phone-in predictions, this toss up match probably carries a lot more weight than it should. Interesting statistic: Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson is 3-0 in games following his first loss of the season. Those wins are by an average of 18 points. Graham isn't sold on the Jackets. Well, I'm not sold on Jacory Harris. Say what you want about him turning over a new leaf, I think he's still mistake prone, especially with the opportunistic Rod Sweeting in the Tech secondary. A shorthanded Cane defensive line can't handle the triple-option and the Jackets escape with another conference win.
GRAHAM predicts PENN STATE
Preseason 2011 would claim the Wildcats were the favorite here. That's out the window. PSU's tough as shit defense combined with NW's inability to finish drives equals another PSU win.
JON predicts PENN STATE
Penn State's loss to Alabama keeps looking better every week. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions are quietly 6-1, with one of the fiercest defenses in the land. That defense will keep a disappointing Northwestern offense in check. Meanwhile, the Wildcats domestic unit will make Penn State's quarterback shuffle look like a well choreographed dance.
4. USC @ NOTRE DAME, 7:30 p.m. EST (10/22)
GRAHAM predicts NOTRE DAME
What a great game. ND, perpetually overrated but featuring a solid defense. USC, uber-talented but sometimes uninterested. ND wins at home. Why? Because this game will be tied going into the 4th quarter and it's a damn tossup, that's why.
JON predicts NOTRE DAME
I promised myself I wouldn't pick the Irish any more this year, but I can't turn my back on the team with the better defense at home. Factor in Lane Kiffin's bad 2-point conversion and fourth down habits, and I think the Irish return to the Top 25, where they'll sit until they meet the Stanford Cardinal.
5. No. 6 WISCONSIN @ No. 16 MICHIGAN STATE, 8:00 p.m. EST (10/22)
GRAHAM predicts WISCONSIN
Gameday comes to EL: Can Sparty punch enough Badger throats to get the monstrous prime-time upset? Probably not. Wisconsin is loaded across the board and MSU's offense will have to play a perfect game. Turnovers against Michigan don't cost you a game, but they do against Wisky. Badgers on the road.
JON predicts WISCONSIN
If you're looking for an upset at Spartan Stadium you're one year late. There's no way the Badgers slip on the road in East Lansing for the second year in a row. I like this matchup to stay close, only because Wisconsin hasn't seen a pocket quarterback quite like Kirk Cousins and hasn't played a true road game. Ultimately, however, the Badgers have too many weapons to be completely bottled up on offense. Wisky continues its march towards a championship game snub.
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This could be the weekend.....
Where Purdue surprises everyone and wins one they shouldn’t.
Ever Grateful. Ever True.
Agreed.
Purdue is clearly better than the Indiana and Minnesota teams they’ve been unfairly lumped in with, Zook zooked up the end of the OSU game more than anyone could ever imagine a zooking could zook, and this seems to be a game ripe for Illinois to lose when they have no business losing.
I looked at their team statistics
They’re not as bad as I thought. Unfortunately, they lost to Rice.
Better now
than in November against their Most Hated Rival
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
I have a feeling that game
will actually be on Nov. 19 when I continue my uncanny ability to act as Hawkeye poison whenever I attend a game in person.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Oct 21, 2011 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions
It's okay
I am forming an official H&R tailgate to drown sorrow regardless.
A futile crusade to prevent mass ignorance
HammerAndRails, SBNation's Boilermaker Blog
No way?
There’s no way the Badgers slip on the road in East Lansing for the second year in a row
Wisconsin is a different team on the road (as most college teams are). Under Beilema they are 10-10 on the road in the Big Ten with zero of those wins against teams that finished the year in the top 25. They’ve lost 3 straight in East Lansing. Last year Wiscy’s avg. margin of victory at home was 32 points while on the road it was 11. Russel Wilson’s completion percentage dropped 9% and his YPA went down 1.8 yards on the road in 2010.
Don’t get me wrong, Wisconsin has an excellent team and they deserve to be the favorites but MSU can definitely win this game in East Lansing.
Where's cwel to decry using past performance not being a predictor of future results?
Oh, you’re a MSU fan, guess it makes sense.
That said, I think you’re right, Wisconsin has been a much different team on the road than they have been at home over the past few years. If anything, this game for Wisky is a lot like MSU’s game versus Iowa last year: the first true road game of the season for both teams and against a solid opponent. Whether that has similar results remains to be seen.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
I think it's humorous
that you poked fun for using past performances as an indicator, then agreed with him lol
by SpartyFever on Oct 21, 2011 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions
More so
I pointed out cwel’s, um, selective criticism of those who attempt to use historical trends to make predictions. Is using past results flawed? Absolutely, especially in a sport where each team largely re-invents itself each year. But I do think it provides some useful and illustrative comparisons for similar situations.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
If anything, this game for Wisky is a lot like MSU’s game versus Iowa last year: the first true road game of the season for both teams and against a solid opponent.
Hopefully Bucky will sh*t the bed like MSU did
by SpartyFever on Oct 21, 2011 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah...no.
We’re not reinstating a suspended player on defense and we’re also not getting remarkably worse after every single game.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog, and Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog
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by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 21, 2011 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Predictions
Illinois
GT wins with their “wtf is going on” offense
PSU (Sorry NW, you’ll have to wait a little longer)
ND
Wisky (though I think it’ll be close)
I expected Wisconsin to beat MSU last year too, though, so hopefully I’m pleasantly wrong again
Disappointing Northwestern offense?
Really? I mean the defense has been flat out bad, no doubt….but according to Rittenberg/Bennett at ESPN, since Persa returned and NU went to the two-QB attack with Persa/Colter:
•Northwestern’s two-quarterback system has been far more productive than Penn State’s. The tandem of Dan Persa and Kain Colter has combined to account for an average 299.3 of the Wildcats’ 420.7 yards of total offense since Persa returned from injury three games ago. The Wildcats have averaged 30 points per game during that time.
I’m fairly confident in saying that Northwestern is the best (or 2nd best, behind Bama) offense Penn State has faced this year.
Of course...
…having a good offense doesn’t mean Northwestern will win this game. High school offenses might be able to wrack up 300+ yards passing on our secondary if they keep blowing coverages and the D-line continues to fail to get pressure.
Effective offenses do not average 5 yards per pass.
I think people get sidetracked by yards and completions. PSU will suffocate NW if NW cannot get some stretch into that offense. And sadly, Persa is playing gamely but he’s only got one leg.
We play tackle football.
When you're completing nearly 75% of your passes...
…(which Persa is) even 5 yards per pass means your offense moves and gets first downs.
PSU clearly is the best defense Northwestern has faced, but NU moved the ball/scored pretty effectively against three strong/good/improving defenses already (Illinois, Michigan, and Iowa), and should do so again versus Penn State. Whether they score enough on PSU’s defense to make up for NU’s weak defense, that’s an entirely different story….
But it doesn't mean you win games, does it? Which I believe is the objective function.
My point is that YPP is a highly predictive variable — the team that has the highest YPP in a given contest wins 80% of them. And unless you play QB at OSU, you’re going to do better than 5 YPP and you’re going to win. You can look it up!
Northwestern lost to a team last week that only converted one third down, ran only 22 plays in the first half, ran only 60% of the number of plays NW ran, was crushed in the TOP figures — but doubled the NW YPP figure. YPP is very important. NW needs to get some verticality in that offense or PSU will suffocate them like little kittens.
We play tackle football.
I think that proves...
..that Northwestern’s defense is bad — Iowa could and did throw over NU repeatedly, and then played ball-control late with Coker pounding the run successfully (something Penn State can surely do with Redd).
I know playing the “if” game is pretty much pointless, but take away Persa’s ill-advised pick-6 (at minimum a 10-point swing, given NU was in FG range at the time), and that Iowa game is very different. And it’s not like Northwestern didn’t go deep (both successfully and unsuccessfully) to keep the Iowa defense honest — Persa hit Colter on a 32 yard pass play, Colter hit Fields on a 26 yard pass play, Sieimian hit Lawrence on a 35 yard TD pass (admittedly in garbage time), and there were a few other deep incompletions as I recall.
Northwestern is the classic example of an offense willing to give what the defense gives them — they’ll take short passes and move the chains if you’re covering deep (which Iowa was doing very well), but they’re also not afraid to take chances deep. Obviously protection up front against PSU’s stellar D-line will need to give Persa time to go deep, but Northwestern’s not afraid to do so if PSU’s secondary gambles on playing close to the receivers to shut down the short passing game (and even then, NU still manages bubble screens and other short pick play routes/slant routes that gain yardage by playing mismatches wherein Dunsmore/Ebert get matched up on a linebacker).
How is this the offense's fault?
It may surprise you to learn that defenses factor into this equation. If you manage to score 31 despite stalling twice in the red zone, I would suggest that the offense isn’t the problem.
by MountainTiger on Oct 21, 2011 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
I refer you both, again, to the data.
Since you’re ignoring it. Relative YPP is highly predictive of game outcome. That’s not me saying it, that’s what the data show. I don’t see why quoting facts is so annoying. NW could fix its D, but relative YPP will still be highly predictive of game outcome.
Maybe that’s what you’re saying: that if NW fixed it’s defense, it wouldn’t be so damaging that NW averages 5 YPP, because teams like Iowa would no longer be able to run YPP numbers that are 100% higher than NW’s. I would agree with that.
We play tackle football.
I feel so guilty.
I laughed, last summer, at the idea of Wilson helping Wisconsin. I was so wrong.
Okay, now that I have that off my chest, I feel much better. Thank you for letting me share.
I like MSU in this game. I don’t think this is Bielema’s best team defensively, MSU is their first true road game, Dantonio will be able to play the “they’re all against us” card, Cousins is a very good 5th year QB, and MSU is just flat scary, as well as good, defensively. (PSU is good, but not scary.) I think Stones1981’s comments are compelling as well.
I think the big risk for MSU, though, is that the refs take away their game. I have to believe that the conference is instructing this week’s refs to extend a much tighter leash than MSU has had all year. Narduzzi’s comment won’t help them with this issue. I expect to see some early 15 yard penalties and even a rinky-dink ejection (say, for targeting the head, as we saw in the BYU game a couple weeks ago).
I wonder, too, about the Bielema/Dantonio dynamic. Bret hasn’t been going to his coachspeak clinic, evidently. This is going to be a game of ultra-violence.
We play tackle football.
ultra violence
Release the Kubrick droogs!
And yes, it’s going to be vicious. If you establish the run in this kind of cold weather battle, you win. Everyone knows that.
Off Tackle Empire
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.
by Graham Filler on Oct 21, 2011 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
That ref thing is huge
I’m really interested to see how that plays out. Last year, Nebraska got labeled as a dirty team early on for some questionable ‘target the head’ calls and all that jazz. While the hits were vicious and borderline, I think McDonnagh’s “THIS IS THE MOST AWFUL THING I HAVE EVER THING” tirade for like an hour made it worst. Anyhow, from that point on, officials really had a short leash with Nebraska. Pelini doesn’t help… So let’s get that out of the way. Nonetheless, once you are on the officials’ hit-list, it gets difficult to execute and you play more tentative. (the exception to this rule is Ndamukong Suh… He keeps getting fined and still plays lights out. I miss him)
As for how that translates to MSU? Well, first off, Narduzzi is an idiot and should be locked in a closet for concussion-like symptoms after making a ridiculously ill-advised comment about bringing on ‘60 minutes of unnecessary roughness’. They’ll be down Gholston, which is a hit to the intensity on field, and they will lose every borderline call tomorrow. I’d like to think officials are unbiased, but they are human. Home team or not, the officials will not be on their side.
Always check the words with the red squiggly line. They mean you probably screwed up.
Author @ Off Tackle Empire
by KennardHusker on Oct 21, 2011 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions
This is expected
MSU loses 90% of their borderline calls already
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude
This inspired me to go back and look at your summer comments.....Oh, the hilarity!
So he’s going to paradrop into Wisconsin and the next day know how to run Wiscy’s excellent offense?
Query: do any of the good coaches in the Big Ten make this move? I don’t think so.
He’s a great athlete, no question, but I still don’t know if any of the top 5 coaches in the Big Ten make this move. It reminds me of a Dan Snyder move
Jerry Kill — Jerry Kill — doesn’t make this move.
Neither do Fitz, Hoke, Dantonio, Fickell, and Ferentz..
Who will call the plays for Wilson?
Since he’ll know about three of them when the season starts. . . . This is a desperation move by Coach Random.
Good times, good times. Let’s just say, I’m happy that your incredible skills in the area of foresight are telling you that MSU will win this game.
Angelo: Right….so anyways Jay, I’m sure you understand that we needed to make this move and I wanna wish you the best of luck.
Cutler: (Swoops bangs out of eyes by throwing his head back) Whatever, I don’t need this team or you.
/Leaves in a huff
//Writes bad poetry on his blog
Grossman: What the fuck is Wilford Brimley’s problem?
Yep, none of those coaches would take in a transfer at a position of need, with the capabilities of putting together a Heisman-worthy season
Clearly.
Your irrational hatred of Bielema continues to this day, I see.
Angelo: Right….so anyways Jay, I’m sure you understand that we needed to make this move and I wanna wish you the best of luck.
Cutler: (Swoops bangs out of eyes by throwing his head back) Whatever, I don’t need this team or you.
/Leaves in a huff
//Writes bad poetry on his blog
Grossman: What the fuck is Wilford Brimley’s problem?
Actually, his hatred of RichRod and Michigan is the irrational one
any “hatred” of Bielema he has is completely rational
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Sure.
Because Iowa alumni are so hateable. Especially ones who essentially throw away homecoming games (GAH 2009).
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog, and Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog
#FireCraigJames
Follow @GSchofield50
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 21, 2011 10:58 PM CDT up reply actions
The fact that he was more willing to include Hoke, Kill, and FICKELL among the "good coaches" in the Big 10 before this season, but not Bielema, is what makes him irrational
As does his continued delusional belief that none of the coaches he named would ever take in a one year transfer player with All-Conference, and All-American skills, and with no off-field baggage.
I’m sure glad my school’s coach isn’t as “good” as those coaches Bellanca named. All those “good” coaches looking up at Wisconsin in the standings and polls, all because of Bielema’s “horrible” decision to bring in Russell.
Angelo: Right….so anyways Jay, I’m sure you understand that we needed to make this move and I wanna wish you the best of luck.
Cutler: (Swoops bangs out of eyes by throwing his head back) Whatever, I don’t need this team or you.
/Leaves in a huff
//Writes bad poetry on his blog
Grossman: What the fuck is Wilford Brimley’s problem?
by Packers3485 on Oct 22, 2011 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions
The Nebraska game isn't worth picking?
Just kidding… If Nebraska doesn’t do anything but choke-slam Minnesota, I will be severely disappointed. Anyhow, my thoughts:
Illinois – Better team overall wins. I don’t think Purdue is all that good. Maybe not Minny/Indiana bad either, but still not good.
GT – Same idea as above. I am not convinced Miami is any good. I don’t care if GT is gimmicky, they still are better than Jacory Harris.
USC – Screw Notre Dame. I don’t care if they should win with the better d, being at home, and what not. If we talk about meteor games, isn’t this definitely in consideration?
Wisconsin – MSU’s defense is good, but the officials are going to be extremely uptight after the press on the Michigan game. Iffy calls will not be going Sparty’s way, and that will frustrate a physical defensive strategy. Wisconsin might roll.
Always check the words with the red squiggly line. They mean you probably screwed up.
Author @ Off Tackle Empire
Kill has an interesting pre-game pep talk opportunity here.
Minnesota almost beat USC on the road. Kill can point out that Nebraska is good too, but ….
My view is that Kill is a good coach and good coaches, even in a horrific year, always prepare well and hence step up and surprise somebody and get a signature win. Here they’ve had two weeks to prepare and rest. They will try some strange stuff, I predict: they’ll put something new in the game plan that Nebraska hasn’t seen. It’s impossible for Nebraska players to fear them or even respect them, if they’ve watched any film. So maybe the Kill Surprise was the USC game, or maybe not. I certainly hope it’s not on October 29.
We play tackle football.
I had this thought
I can’t decide if the USC moment was USC overlooking Minnesota, USC proving to be the most disinterested team ever, or Minnesota actually playing up to competition. You bring up an excellent point in that there is no possible way to convince Nebraska players Minnesota can hang with them because if you watch any of the games so far (with USC as an outlier) they look miserably pathetic. Bye weeks do funny things, however, and Nebraska doesn’t have the motivation that even Iowa will have (Iowa made that mistake last year). So yeah, I’m cautiously optimistic of a thrashing, but nervous that something crazy could happen. Oh, and then there’s the fact that Nebraska sucks against QBs who actually move outside the pocket.
Always check the words with the red squiggly line. They mean you probably screwed up.
Author @ Off Tackle Empire
by KennardHusker on Oct 21, 2011 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Choke-slam?
KennardHusker should be brought up on assault charges just for advocating an obviously illegal violent action in football!
Signed,
Michigan Man
"Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets." - Arthur Bach
MSU's d-line looked good against Michigan's O-line... but...
Michigan O-line average: 6’ 4.6" 294.6 lbs
Wisconsin O-line average: 6’ 5.2" 322 lbs
Almost 30 pounds heavier on average for the Badger O-line. And no Gholston. Ouch.
Oh… and Wisconsin doesn’t have to run if they don’t want. They can throw now too. And Russell Wilson is a phenomenally intelligent QB. If Dantonio gets blitz happy again, Wilson will make him pay.
Badgers roll over Sparty, 38-20.
by TheHumbleBuckeye on Oct 21, 2011 10:23 AM CDT reply actions
This
If Dantonio gets blitz happy again, Wilson will make him pay.
With WRs like Nick Toon and Abbrederis (sp?), MSU can’t afford to play man coverage like they did against UM or OSU. Wisconsin is the master of big plays, which MSU has to stymie if they want a chance to win.
If MSU can get pressure with a 4 or 5 man rush, this game will be an entirely different story
by SpartyFever on Oct 21, 2011 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed. They need to get pressure up front with only 4 or 5 men.
I’ve watched every Wisconsin game this year, and I just don’t see how anyone can stop them. Tey’re the only team I see without any holes.
LSU has holes… Their offense isn’t that dynamic. Load the box to stop the run and make them pass (101st in the country in passing offense, 80th in total offense). When they’re on D, power running game. They haven’t seen one all year, and Tennessee was having some success early on when they were running off tackle. LSU gave up over 100 yards on the ground to the Vols.
Alabama has holes…. Young QB that can make questionable decisions (see Kent St game). Richardson will get his yards. Let him. He only had one or two yards of 8+ on PSU. Protect against the screen (especially the bubble screen). Challenge the receivers and play man. No one does this and Saban loves to have his QBs finds holes in the zone. When they’re on D, once again, power running game. They’re susceptible to it (See PSU game). They’ve also yet to play one team with a semi-competent QB and a good ground game (Arkansas has a decent QB but no ground game).
Wisconsin has fewer holes… When they’re on offense, good luck. I don’t see anyone stopping them. But their defense hasn’t been thoroughly tested, so my guess is someone should try to pass 50 times and get in a shootout with them.
by TheHumbleBuckeye on Oct 21, 2011 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions
But, but...
…LSU and Alabama have
EEEEEESSSSSS EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE SSSSSSEEEEEEEEEE SPEEEEEEEEEEED!
by SpartyFever on Oct 21, 2011 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions
I dunno man.
How did Toon do against State last year? Not very well if I remember correctly.
"Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets." - Arthur Bach
A much easier week
Illinois
GA Tech
Penn State – I’m hoping that Fitz explodes from the incredible pressure of rage and intensity that builds up
Notre Dame
Wisconsin
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Told ya.....
http://www.indystar.com/article/20111021/SPORTS/111021012/Gunner-Kiel-re-evaluating-his-decision-commit-IU?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|IndyStar.com
Ever Grateful. Ever True.
Im an Iowa fan
But i think Iowa has more of a chance to lose to Indiana than Illinois has of losing to Purdue. thats not a knock against Purdue, but the Iowa defense is very opportunistic and if you make a mistake they will pounce on it, but if Indiana (or any team for that matter) is mistake free, then it will be close, and they may even win.
"Your spelling and grammar errors belie a seriously skilled thought process"- therealCatnuts
by justsomehawkeyefan on Oct 21, 2011 12:54 PM CDT reply actions
Illinois — should be a high scoring game. The advantage goes to whichever defense fakes competence better and whichever team’s QB(s) make fewer mistakes. Picking Illinois because their record is better and the win over Arizona State is probably better than a close loss to Penn State, though not by much.
Miami — Ohio State game aside; this is the unluckiest team in America. They’re about 3 plays away from being undefeated and ranked in the top 10. They have the athletes to defend the option and Joe Paterno products coaching the defense. That being said, I could totally see either team winning by 2 TD.
Penn State — Why is a game between a team whose BCS computer average is about 96 and a team whose same average is about 15 even being discussed? Because Penn State refuses to blow anyone out, and Northwestern always plays them inordinately close, at least for 2.5 quarters. Penn State should win, but I’m half expecting PSU to be down at halftime.
Notre Dame - Did anyone honestly think, 3 years ago, we’d be going into a USC-ND game saying, “Notre Dame just has more talent.” Neither did I, but I think it’s true.
Michigan State — The best defense Wisconsin has faced this year, and it’s not particularly close, GAVE UP 26 POINTS IN 2.5 QUARTERS TO OHIO STATE. I’ll believe in Wisconsin if they can win with some semblance of ease this week. If they can’t, they’re a rich man’s Michigan or Illinois.
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever, unless PSU sees them in the B1G CG
Beat jNW
So you're picking MSU to win
But Wisconsin can only earn your respect if they win with ease. Boy, those are some tough standards!
"If only a face could talk" -- John Madden
Yes
As Illinois and Michigan found out last week, in a matchup of “offense based around athletic QB” and “really good defense,” the advantage goes to the defense. That’s why I’m picking MSU.
That being said, I don’t think Michigan State is any better than a borderline top 20 team right now. They got pimp slapped by an above-average-but-not-great ND team. They were very lucky to not be down at halftime to Youngstown State. They came closer than anyone will care to admit to losing to an Ohio State team that had roughly 2 plays of competent offense all game. However, they are a 1 loss team with a nice win over a decent Michigan team. Does that sound like a borderline top 20 team to you? It does to me.
If Wisconsin is the clear Leaders favorite and MNC contender some imagine them to be, this is a game they should win with ease. And if they do, yes, I’ll start believing that they’re the Leaders favorite and an MNC contender. If they win, but not with ease, they’re a rich man’s (or maybe just upper middle class man’s) Illinois or Michigan. If they don’t win, they are Michigan or Illinois. Frankly, I don’t see any reason to believe otherwise right now.
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever, unless PSU sees them in the B1G CG
Beat jNW
Fair enough
But I would point out two things which seem a bit flawed in your reasoning:
1. “Offense based around athletic QB” doesn’t apply to Wisconsin the way it does to Illinois or Michigan (especially Michigan). Wisconsin is first and foremost a running team, and has been for oh, the past 20 years or so. They just happened to get an outstanding athletic QB this year who compliments their running game nicely. Wilson has shown that he’s not looking to be a run first QB, so they’re hardly dependent on Wilson to run the way Michigan is dependent on Robinson.
2. I presume you picked MSU because you think they’re the better team. If that’s the case, shouldn’t ANY win by Wisconsin be impressive? I just don’t see how you can view MSU as the team that should win, but if Wisconsin somehow pulls out the victory it will only be impressive if they do it with a curbstomping. That seems backwards.
"If only a face could talk" -- John Madden
I think they're roughly equal teams, maybe Wisconsin is a little better
on point 1, you’re probably right.
on point 2, I’m picking MSU due to matchups, style of play, and MSU being at home.
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever, unless PSU sees them in the B1G CG
Beat jNW
Cool
Homefield is a huge advantage for MSU. I don’t see either team rolling in this game and I think whoever wins will do so by about 7 points. Since I’m a fan of Bucky, naturally I hope the Badgers will pull it off.
"If only a face could talk" -- John Madden
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