It’s not just me, right? Check a gamethread. Any gamethread, of a Big Ten blog on SBNation and you’ll notice immediately that everybody is bitching about the referees. Why? Because they’re awful. They’re inconsistent, showboating, self-absorbed sons of bitches who make Ed Hochili look like J.D. Salinger (that’s a recluse joke). The thing I’ve noticed this year is the manner that they favor the home team. Doesn’t matter if it’s The Barn, that high school gym in Evanston, Breslin, Carver, Value City or Assembly, the referees shun shun SHUN the visitors. Don’t believe me? Ok

The following graph lists Big Ten referees who have at least called 6 conference games (and Ed Hightower). It lists the games, the fouls and the home foul margin. Per Statsheet:

Home foul margin is a metric designed to determine if the home crowd sways an official. You often here when there is a bad call made in favor of the home team something along the lines of "the crowd got to the official there." Well, with home foul margin, you can actually figure out whether or not this is true. Terry Wymer (Big Ten, MAC) had the greatest home margin, with a -4.0 margin, while Joe Lindsay (SEC, ACC) had the lowest home margin at -0.3.

So basically, the more negative the number, the more they favor the home team. Here’s the graph:

Nothing mindblowing, right? Not a real secret that referees are usually swayed by the home crowd. What’s most disturbing that the Big Ten’s most popular referee favors the home team in such a disproportionate manner. Oh well, TV Teddy!

Here’s the links.

• The Illini have sprung a leak on defense. Illini HQ.
• The Illini have to win if they want to conquer recruiting in Chicagoland. Illini HQ.
• Indiana releases details for Saturday’s College Gameday. Inside the Hall.
• Nice background on Indiana recruit Troy Williams. Inside the Hall.
• BHGP CONSUMER REPORTS: This Gold Hot Chocolate Holds a Terrible Secret.
• The Iowa men host Penn State on Thursday. Hawkeye Sports.
• Hokepoints: What’s a 5-star running back? MGoBlog.
• John Beilein doesn't care, but Michigan fans shouldn't be afraid to enjoy No. 1. MLive.
• Projecting the 2013 Big Ten Basketball Race. The Only Colors.
• Michigan State's Branden Dawson shines, and Tom Izzo thinks he can do even more. MLive.
• Nebraska RB Braylon Heard to transfer. Bo Pelini to say: Good luck. Corn Nation.
• Floor & Field, General Consistency. Lake the Posts.
• Preview: Wisconsin Badgers at #11 Ohio State Buckeyes. LGHL.
• On the Dotted Line: Ohio State's National Signing Day Hits and Misses. 11W.
• State of the Union: Big Ten Recruiting Update 1.29.13. BSD.
• Penn State, Virginia, will not meet in 2013. Centre Daily.
• Wisconsin-Ohio State Preview: B5Q Grills Land-Grant Holy Land. Bucky’s 5^th Quarter.

Enjoy it…while it lasts.