A Quick Thought About Bowl Wins
by Bama Hawkeye on Aug 29, 2011 5:00 PM CDT
in Northwestern
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PrintIn preparing the final pre-season bowl projection column that will post tomorrow, I observed this fact:
There are only 6 teams in the 6 BCS Conferences who have not won a bowl game in the last nine seasons. The Big Ten can claim not one...
(Michigan State - Last Win: 2001 Silicon Valley Bowl over Fresno State)
...not two...
(Indiana - Last Win: 1991 Copper Bowl over Baylor)
...but THREE of those teams.
Northwestern - Last Win: 1948 Rose Bowl over California)
Let's see that change this year.
For completeness, the other three are Texas A&M (2001), Baylor (1992), and Duke (1961).
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Meh.
I realize Northwestern’s bowl losing streak is an ongoing source of shame for our team and the B1G in general, and I really wanna win one……but I’m not too worked up over this.
Frequently (if not most of the time), our teams play “up” a slot (so the Big Ten’s, say, #4 team will meet the #3 in the SEC, etc.). For example, Northwestern has, in the past 3 bowl appearances its made (Missouri, Auburn, Texas Tech) been SIGNIFICANT underdogs, and in each instance has actually covered the spread. We as a conference have very few weaksauce bowl games against the dregs of weak conferences like the ACC/Big East, so our “winning percentage” suffers accordingly.
And if I’m being perfectly honest, I’d take an exciting bowl loss to a strong/tough opponent in a high quality bowl (a la the Alamo Bowl in OT to Mizzou, or Outback Bowl OT loss to Auburn) to a boring win over a MACrifice bowl team in the Pizza Pizza Bowl.
That being said, let’s go perfect in non-conference, and perfect in bowls this season, burning through the SEC at bowl time in a fashion that would make General Sherman avert his eyes from the horror and say “Uh, Big Ten? I think you’re taking things a bit too far this bowl season….”
Big Ten bowls (after the BCS)
Looks like there’s three playing even (including the Outback), two playing down and two playing up (including Little Caesar’s):
Capital One: B1G #2 vs. SEC #2
Gator: B1G #4 vs. SEC #6
Outback: B1G: #3 vs. SEC #3/4/5
Meineke: B1G #6 vs. Big XII #6
Insight: B1G #5 vs. Big XII #4
Ticket City: B1G #7 vs. Big XII #8
Little Caesar’s: B1G #8 vs. MAC #1/2/3
dammit jnw
I only use jnw when talking about bowl games
Off Tackle Empire
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.
by Graham Filler on Aug 29, 2011 6:19 PM CDT via iPhone app up reply actions
But don't forget
that the propensity for the B1G to send two teams to the BCS every year bumps those slots down one.
Yes, but...
…until this year, 11 team conference vs. 12 team conference.
That makes a difference — assuming Nebraska is in the top half of the B1G, it makes all of our bowl matchups down the line (regardless of how many BCS teams we get) more competitive, with both the SEC and other conferences.
One more thing
I’m not trying to be an obnoxious SEC homer, just pointing out what’s there. I just spent an afternoon defending Boise St and TCU on my site. :)
You defended Boise?
Oh, wait, you probably meant the team. I can see that. The fans, on the other hand, I can’t excuse that.
"'Contrariwise,' continued Tweedledee, 'If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." - Lewis Caroll, Alice Through the Looking Glass
by chitownhawkeye on Aug 29, 2011 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Yep, the team
Should’ve added “St.” on the end. I’m one of the few in SEC country who hope they absolutely shred Georgia.
Yeah, I can't understand why everyone is so high on Georgia.
They lost to UCF in their bowl game. In fact, if it weren’t for the SEC West, the SEC wouldn’t be better than the B1G or Pac-10. The East went 1-4 in their bowl games last year. Losses to Florida St, Pitt, UCF, and UNC minus half their starters. Florida managed to halt a potential game winning drive by a 4th string walk-on QB for PSU to ensure the East’s only bowl win.
by TheHumbleBuckeye on Aug 29, 2011 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions
high on Georgia?
Or just recognizing them as the skinniest fat kid in that division?
"Bama Hawkeye, you know, the Iowa blogger who actually uses reason and analysis." - Patrick Vint
http://www.offtackleempire.com
by Bama Hawkeye on Aug 29, 2011 6:40 PM CDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Valid point.
I do think Florida is going to be good. In fact, I would not be surprised if they run away with the East. There’s still a TON of talent on that team.
There’s also a TON of talent on the coaching staff, and that’s just the offensive coordinator! (ZING!)
by TheHumbleBuckeye on Aug 29, 2011 6:46 PM CDT up reply actions
THIS
And to be honest, I think S. Carolina is only considered very good because of how mediocre the East is.
This.
And the answer is that they are in the SEC. Let’s be honest, if they were in any other conference, would they be ranked? I don’t think so. As a matter of fact, you could make a similar argument for South Carolina. (Yes, they won the East. But does that REALLY mean they are a top 15 team? I would rank them around 22nd.)
F Boise
and that buck toothed, finger-pistol shoting, bieber hair-cutted douche nozzle.
HELP IS ON THE WAY
~Banned at ATO since June 3rd, 2011, 2ish PM PST
by SouthBayBuckeye on Aug 29, 2011 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions
I typically would agree with that statement
I loathe most teams not called the University of Alabama. I just happen to loathe Georgia more than Boise State.
I'm glad that they're not allowed to play league games
in their blue “camo” jerseys anymore. Such a load of BS.
HELP IS ON THE WAY
~Banned at ATO since June 3rd, 2011, 2ish PM PST
by SouthBayBuckeye on Aug 29, 2011 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions
What a cocky jackass
I’m surprised he’s not a Buckeye.
"Bama Hawkeye, you know, the Iowa blogger who actually uses reason and analysis." - Patrick Vint
http://www.offtackleempire.com
by Bama Hawkeye on Aug 29, 2011 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions
You would be too
if you played a bunch of, as my dad puts it, “High School Teams” all year and beat them 55 to nothing every time.
Im going to be an SEC fan this first week. hope Georgia knocks his teeth in
"Your spelling and grammar errors belie a seriously skilled thought process"- therealCatnuts
by justsomehawkeyefan on Aug 29, 2011 8:35 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
undersized
better fit at iowa
HELP IS ON THE WAY
~Banned at ATO since June 3rd, 2011, 2ish PM PST
by SouthBayBuckeye on Aug 29, 2011 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions
if any of our QBs did that
Ferentz would throw him in the doghouse damn quick
"Your spelling and grammar errors belie a seriously skilled thought process"- therealCatnuts
by justsomehawkeyefan on Aug 30, 2011 1:24 AM CDT up reply actions
as he should
HELP IS ON THE WAY
~Banned at ATO since June 3rd, 2011, 2ish PM PST
by SouthBayBuckeye on Aug 30, 2011 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions
He's Tate
Just way better,
I tweet here: @thewhitetiger16
I blog here: The Wolverine Blog
I contribute here: BT Powerhouse
and with intact ribs
HELP IS ON THE WAY
~Banned at ATO since June 3rd, 2011, 2ish PM PST
by SouthBayBuckeye on Aug 30, 2011 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions
luck at us, we are beating Idaho!
"Your spelling and grammar errors belie a seriously skilled thought process"- therealCatnuts
by justsomehawkeyefan on Aug 29, 2011 8:38 PM CDT up reply actions
The fingers
are for the extra chromosome pairs he’s carrying
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Point of inquiry...
The numbers next to the conference, are selection numbers, or conference ranks?
I ask because as a fan of a team previously belonging to the Big XIIish, those are selection numbers, not ranks. Ask Missouri. They have always complained that they are selected to a lower bowl than teams that finish below them in the conference.
So for instance, the Meineke, Insight, and Ticket City bowls are not necessarily giving you the 6th, 4th, and 8th best Big XII team (respectively), but the teams with the 6th, 4th, and 8th best set of traveling fans.
Selection numbers
Yeah, that’s true about it not necessarily being a team of equal quality. I mean, the Big Ten tri-champion got curb stomped by the 4th place SEC West team last year. (sorry, had to) :)
It was a matchup made in hell...
The extreme over-achiever of the Big Ten against the extreme under-achiever of the SEC. It was bound to get ugly.
by TheHumbleBuckeye on Aug 29, 2011 7:24 PM CDT up reply actions
We were floored
I thought we’d win, but I never expected anything like that. That was pretty superb 24 hours. Had a heck of a New Year’s Eve seeing Man or Astro-man? and then woke up barely in time to go hang out with about 15 friends and watch that bloodletting. 10-3 was (somehow) a major disappointment, but that felt SOOOO good after blowing the Auburn game.
Technically, though....
…there are rules associated with those selection numbers. You can’t take a team 2 games or worse than the team that is slotted in there, I think (so if you’re the Outback, you can’t skip a 9-3 team for a 7-5 team, regardless of how much better the latter travels, but you could skip a 9-3 team for an 8-4 team)…..
At least, I think those are the rules.
I'm curious, where do those numbers come from?
Wikipedia has failed me.
Insight/Gator
Have alternating picks and this year, I believe, Insight (4) picks ahead of Gator (5), as Gator had the 4th pick last year. (As mentioned by other commenters, this doesn’t account for a 2nd BCS team, which the Big Ten has had more than any other conference).
I do believe that this slate is more favorable than the previous slate of matchups (which ended in 2009).
--
JHodges
HailToPurple
yes but
Northwestern has lost to a MACrifice team too…
"Bama Hawkeye, you know, the Iowa blogger who actually uses reason and analysis." - Patrick Vint
http://www.offtackleempire.com
by Bama Hawkeye on Aug 29, 2011 6:38 PM CDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Coached by Urban Meyer....
….but your point stands.
SEC
The SEC also “plays up” as they routinely place 2 teams into the BCS – as the Big Ten does. And they have their #2 pick sometimes go to Atlanta for the Chik filet bowl. Capital One then Outback / Chken Bowl So that argument does not hold up with respect to the SEC.
However when you see a 7-5 Iowa matched up with #12 in the country in the Insight Bowl – I’d call that playing up.
GO HAWKS!
Two of those teams will very likely end their streak...
If Michigan State doesn’t overachieve again and goes, say, 8-4 during the regular season, then they should get a favorable bowl matchup. Same goes for Northwestern.
by TheHumbleBuckeye on Aug 29, 2011 6:29 PM CDT reply actions
I kinda want to let the third one ride for a bit.
It’s just so unique. Why mess with it?
THIS GUY will end the Northwestern bowl skid!
Let’s all admit that we have a man-crush on Dan Persa.
by TheHumbleBuckeye on Aug 29, 2011 6:48 PM CDT reply actions 6 recs
#persastrong #colterhealthy #watkinstall
What other team goes 3 deep at QB hashtags?
Purdue
#Marvetorn, #Henrytorn, #terbushpleasefortheloveofgodstayhealthy
A futile crusade to prevent mass ignorance
HammerAndRails, SBNation's Boilermaker Blog
by BoilerTMill on Aug 30, 2011 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
I prefer mancrushes with two fully functional legs.
"Many people need desperately to receive this message: 'I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone.'"
Sigh, that joke is so overu--
/sobs, tears ACL
Jonathan Herrera: Staving off regression to the mean since 2010!
by Foxhole Atheist on Aug 30, 2011 1:05 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
I still can't believe that number is only six
You can thank Boston College for that.
Heel for school, Vol for life!
Bolts, Preds, Canes (childhood team, home state team, hometown team). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity!
by Incipient_Senescence on Aug 29, 2011 8:04 PM CDT reply actions
When
Vandy, Iowa State, Washington State, Kansas, and Wake Forrest can win a bowl game, there are no excuses.
"Bama Hawkeye, you know, the Iowa blogger who actually uses reason and analysis." - Patrick Vint
http://www.offtackleempire.com
by Bama Hawkeye on Aug 29, 2011 8:32 PM CDT up reply actions
when a team can lose to Duke and Wake Forest IN THE SAME SEASON
and still win a bowl
there are no excuses
Heel for school, Vol for life!
Bolts, Preds, Canes (childhood team, home state team, hometown team). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity!
by Incipient_Senescence on Aug 29, 2011 8:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Lies all lies
Northwestern won the 1949 Rose Bowl, not ‘48. I’ll not suffer such blatant exaggeration of Northwestern’s bowl troubles.
by nuftw on Aug 29, 2011 8:32 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs
Seasons
1/1/49.
"Bama Hawkeye, you know, the Iowa blogger who actually uses reason and analysis." - Patrick Vint
http://www.offtackleempire.com
by Bama Hawkeye on Aug 29, 2011 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions
1/18, actually.
Why 1993? Well, Northwestern needed to build SOMEWHERE…
Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
"Don't mention execution around Paul Johnson. People will die." -Chris Pendley, on EDSBS
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 4, 2011 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Hey MSU
Your on the same level as Duke, Baylor, Indiana and Northwestern.
Step your game up.
"Your spelling and grammar errors belie a seriously skilled thought process"- therealCatnuts
by justsomehawkeyefan on Aug 29, 2011 8:36 PM CDT reply actions
Yeah
Sparty and the Aggies really do seem out of place in this company. That said, they have been two of the most disappointing “good programs” over the last decade.
"Bama Hawkeye, you know, the Iowa blogger who actually uses reason and analysis." - Patrick Vint
http://www.offtackleempire.com
by Bama Hawkeye on Aug 29, 2011 8:39 PM CDT up reply actions
The Aggies are perennial underachievers
I think that’s what’s funny about watching them as the final catalyst to the Big XII demise. They have only really been a big deal twice in Big XII play despite resources, recruiting, coaching, and scheduling advantages over the north, and pretty much everyone not named Texas and Oklahoma. Watching them fail the Big XII in bowl season was infuriating when I had rooting interest in the old conference. Now it’s just hilarity. I predict a free-fall in the standings this season for the Aggies.
Always check the words with the red squiggly line. They mean you probably screwed up.
by KennardHusker on Aug 29, 2011 10:54 PM CDT up reply actions
I was going to throw this in later but the last four years:
coming in at 7-5 in 2007 we played ACC Atlantic Division champs Boston College lost by a FG
coming in at 9-3 in 2008 we played Preseason Number 1 Georgia lost in the second half.
coming in at 6-6 in 2009 we played TTech in Texas after suspending 12 players and lost late.
coming at 11-1 in 2010 we played defending NC Bama….well you know the rest.
We haven’t exactly had any breaks over Dantonio’s tenure. I know excuses are like…I hope we remove our name from this list this year.
Meh
as if every other team hasnt played tough teams in bowls. During the last decade Iowa alone has played USC a year before the dynasty, Florida twice, South Carolina, Missouri, Texas a year removed from the national title, Georgia Tech as the ACC champs, LSU a year before the national title, and Texas Tech. Most teams in the big ten that regularly go to bowls have a similar list.
"Your spelling and grammar errors belie a seriously skilled thought process"- therealCatnuts
by justsomehawkeyefan on Aug 30, 2011 1:31 AM CDT up reply actions
I was at the Iowa-LSU game
Absolutely the craziest game I’ve ever been to in person.
I’m probably one of the few people that saw Saban’s last LSU game and first Alabama game (against Western Carolina) in person.
The 08 loss to Georgia is indefensible.
Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
"Don't mention execution around Paul Johnson. People will die." -Chris Pendley, on EDSBS
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 4, 2011 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions
and below Vanderbilt, Iowa State, Kansas, Wake, and Wazzu
as Bama Hawkeye notes
Heel for school, Vol for life!
Bolts, Preds, Canes (childhood team, home state team, hometown team). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity!
by Incipient_Senescence on Aug 29, 2011 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions
I......I got nuthin.
Hope we get off this list soon.
"Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets." - Arthur Bach
I'm curious if you have the numbers
How many programs have won only 1 bowl game in that time?
Whoa whoa whoa wha???
The Wildcats of Northwestern are 60 years removed from Bowl victory? And Sparty needs to step their Bowl game up?
Really do learn something new everyday, thanks B-Hawk.
"GO HAWKS!" - only cure for Hawkeye Envy
to be fair
Indiana has to make bowl games in order to win them.
A futile crusade to prevent mass ignorance
HammerAndRails, SBNation's Boilermaker Blog
by BoilerTMill on Aug 30, 2011 8:36 AM CDT reply actions 3 recs
true
we just have to give them a chance. I vote that whatever Bowl’s fOSU is supposed to go to for the next few years we give to Indiana, yeah they will probably be outmatched but you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
He sired a baseball team... An orchestra, if you count the bastards!
by SaturdayMorningKegStanzis on Aug 30, 2011 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions
To be even more fair, Purdue’s current bowl appearance drought is a few days longer than IU’s.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Aug 31, 2011 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions
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