Proving The Big Ten Is A Joke

"Illinois and Northwestern agreed Friday to run every offensive play toward the same end zone in their showdown at Wrigley Field this weekend to avoid the possibility of players running into a padded brick wall at the other end of the field.

The surprising announcement came just one day before Saturday's game at the historic home of the Chicago Cubs. Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said the NCAA waived several playing rules "in the interest of student-athlete safety (CBS)."

Are you fucking kidding me? What is this a two hand touch game in the backyard? What a joke. If the field doesn't fit, then don't play there. It is really that simple.

How the fuck did no one measure this before committing to having the game there? I mean I hope someone is getting fired. Another funny thing is what about those people who bought tickets near the endzone that they aren't going to be playing towards? I mean that sucks, now all the action is going to be on the opposite side of the field.

Anyways, this wouldn't happen in the SEC and the Big Ten should be ashamed of themselves.

Big Ten 2010 Preview

1. Ohio State

I hate Ohio State, but they have been the class of the Big 10 for a long time now. Ohio State has won or shared the conference title for five consecutive seasons, including last year. They are getting all their top offensive players, and Terrelle Pryor will be in the discussion for the Heisman. What will also help them is a really soft nonconference schedule that includes teams like Marshall, Ohio and Eastern Michigan. Ohio State's toughest games appear to be conference trips to Wisconsin and Iowa. Out of the two Wisconsin poses the big threat with their extremely tough running game.

The key for this team is the continued development of Pryor. He has shown the ability to run, but they only ranked 106th in the country in passing. He has to be better then that, because there are teams in the Big 10 that can stop the run. Ohio State will once again have one of the best defenses in the country, so even if the offense and Pryor struggle they will be in every game. I almost picked Wisconsin to win the Big Ten, but I have to put my bias aside for a moment.

2. Wisconsin

With ten starters back on offense, a good-looking defense, a tremendous kicking game, and a favorable schedule, it's all in place to get over the hump. I really think they can challenge Ohio State this year. The big thing for Wisconsin is focus, they outscored their opponents 314 to 180 in the first 3 quarters and were outscored 96 to 89 in the 4 with. That is just unacceptable, and if they want to beat teams like Iowa and Ohio State they are going to need the same effort they put in the first 3 quarter, and follow through in the 4th.

Wisconsin has all 5 starters returning to the offensive line, and 3 running backs that are good enough to start for almost all the teams in the Big Ten. They can control the clock and as long as they aren't turning the ball over with their passing game they should be a tough physical team all year. Their defense is great at stopping the run. I have questions about their secondary, but when you outscore teams 33-8 in rushing TDs like they did last year you know you have a strong defense.

3. Iowa

I am so sick of this team. They are always so close to doing great thing, but also seem to flirt with disaster everytime they hit the field. Most people have them as the 2nd best team, but I really question their offensive line, and that could become very important with teams like Wisconsin and Ohio State, as they both have good defensive lines and LBs. Their defense should once again he outstanding, and their offense should be entertaining. Stanzi is a good QB, and he is a senior this year. Senior WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos is fast as hell, and should be able to stretch the field for him. I just question if he is going to have enough time to get the ball off, and Stanzi could be an injury concern all season if this offensive line is as soft as I think it will be.

4. Michigan State

State doesn't have to play Ohio State this year, which should help their cause after a disappointing 2009 season. This is a young team, but they have a great passing game with Kirk Cousins at QB. He is quickly turning into the best QB in the Big Ten. On top of that they have a solid defense led by maybe the best defensive player in all of college football (Greg Jones). I know a lot of people will be pissed that I have Penn State below them, but this team could be for real, and I like the way their schedule plays out. Notre Dame sucks, they get Wisconsin at home, and with Michigan still terrible they have room to go on a little bit of a run. Their big question is their offensive line that needs to replace 3 starters. They might not have a star running back, but the rotation of Larry Caper, Edwin Baker, Le’Veon Bell and Nick Hill should keep them fresh and defenses off balance. Maybe it is just my bias, but I see Michigan State winning 9 games this year.

5. Penn State

Is Joe Paterno dead yet? Oh well he probably should be. Anyways, Evan Royster is a beast, but I really question if they have the QB (Kevin Newsome) to really do any damage in this conference. Penn State is always able to pump out LBs, but this year it is going to be tough to replace Navarro Bowman, Sean Lee, and Josh Hull. Still, they have the running game to play the ball control game, so I can see them winning 8 games this year.

6. Northwestern

They have been looking to breakout for a couple years now, but they always seem to find a way to lose easy game. Last year they lost to Syracuse and Minnesota, but they have only one losing season since 2003. Their defense should be really strong, but their offense is going to have to completely reload after QB Mike Kafka left for the NFL, and their two top WRs are also gone. Dan Persa takes the reigns, and I think he is going to have a good season. They have most of their offense line back, and with Persa being a duel threat QB they should have a strong running game (like everyone in the Big Ten). Northwestern will once again have a winning season, but Persa and this offense if not ready to make the next step.

7. Michigan

RichRod is going to get fired after this season, which is actually too bad, because I think he is a good coach. Still, I hate Michigan, and this is just too much fun for me.

I think their offense will be improved, but I really question the move to go to a 3-3-5. For their personnel it fits better, but this is a running conference, and I think a lot of teams are just going to be able to run all over them. Plus they have to go to Ohio St, and Penn St. Michigan will challenge for 7 wins, but will that be enough to save RichRod's job? What if they win a bowl game too? Well, I don't see that happening, so it's going to be a long year for Wolverine fans, and RichRod will be looking for a new job.

The rest:

8. Minnesota - 4 wins
9. Illinois - 4 wins
10. Purdue - 3 wins
11. Indiana - 3 wins

College Football's Silly Season

The Big XII is dying. Being ripped limb from limb by the other BCS Conferences, who like cannibals are gobbling up their fellow NCAA power broker. The Big Ten wants Nebraska. The Pac-10's taken Colorado. But they also want Texas and as many as 5 other teams. Oklahoma might even join the SEC.

How'd this happen? Well, the Big Ten and Pac-10 are the epitome of all that's wrong with college football. That's how. They're greedy, more than the other conferences. They're hogs among pigs.

The Big Ten and Pac-10 are the two biggest defenders of the BCS system, which is almost universally seen as inadequate, unfair, and recognized to be bullshit. These two also have their sweetheart deal with the Rose Bowl, the only BCS contest which strictly adheres to conference affiliations.

You can understand their desires to expand to 12 teams. That gets them a lucrative Conference Championship game. And adding Nebraska to the Big Ten gives that conference yet another historic, nationally followed team.

But if the Pac-10 snatches 2 teams from the Big XII, that conference loses its legitimacy. Losing Nebraska is a big enough blow. But take out two more and the house of cards collapses. Don't forget that the Big XII is a mere 16 years old, and was a combination of the Southwest and Big 8 Conferences. Texas and Oklahoma don't want to be the kings of a worthless kingdom.

But the Pac-10 doesn't just want to expand to 12. Nor do they want to take the geographically logical approach and offer a promotion to top Mountain West teams to join their league. The Pac-10 looks to become the Pac-16. That's right, a 16 team monster of a league.

Such a behemoth is grotesquely greedy. This isn't an attempt to improve the quality of the conference. It's not for geographic realignment. It's for TV money. The Pac-10 wants to lure powerhouses like Texas and Oklahoma, get themselves a better broadcasting rights deal, and get even more Bowl money.

The Gator Bowl, the Cotton Bowl, the Holiday Bowl, the Sun Bowl, the Alamo Bowl, and many more smaller bowls are what awaits the Pac-10 if they absorb the Big XII's powerhouses. The 12 team SEC and ACC have 9 bowl tie-ins each. The Pac-10 only has 6, but could easily double that to 12 if they expand to 16 teams. That's a lot of money just waiting to be nabbed.

This isn't new. The ACC raided the Big East quite recently. But they didn't destroy it. The Pac-10, however, seems hell-bent on destroying the Big XII, and pillaging its TV contracts and bowl games.

And what if the Pac-16 divides itself into 4 division, with a two-round playoff of its own to determine a Conference Champ? That's 3 times the "bonus" title games that the SEC, Big Ten and ACC have.

And if it works, the SEC and Big Ten will soon want to expand to 16 as well. They'll plunder from the ACC and Big East.

But as ugly as it sounds, maybe it's a step in an ultimately good direction. The current mishmash system of different sized conferences is an utter mess. There's no strong central governing body. The conferences are too independently powerful. It's like the USA before the Constitution, just a collection of allied but independent units. Each state printing its own money, making its own laws, conflicting with other states.

There are about 64 programs worthy of being in power conferences. Baylor doesn't belong in a BCS league. Boise State does. These 64 can someday be divided among four 16 team conferences. And the winners of these conferences could meet in a playoff.

Maybe. But I doubt a playoff system will come directly from this. As I mentioned, the Pac-16 is looking to absorb bowl games. Streamlining will be an unintentional result of this carnage. But in the end, conferences like the Pac-10 and Big Ten only want money. They don't care if the declared national champion truly deserves a Championship. They just want ESPN to pay them to play the Insight Bowl.

Big Eleven Breakdown

I hate the BigTen. I hate it because I don't like the Midwest. I hate Michigan. I hate Ohio State. And the state of Wisconsin sucks. And most of all, I hate people who can't count. And if you don't hate the BigTen, just realize it's the biggest supporter of the BCS system, and the biggest fighter of a playoff.

I think the BigTen is a bit overrated. They were 3-5 in Bowl games last year. Then again, the BCS decided to put Illinois into the Rose Bowl to face USC, which was a complete joke.

Let's get to the teams...

1. Ohio State
One of the favorites to win a national title, as always. OSU is usually ballsy enough to schedule a big non-conference game and this year is not different. They play USC on the road. But they never play more than one quality team. Their other non-conference opponents are Ohio, Youngstown State, and Troy. The Buckeyes have 9 returning offensive starters, and a loaded defense. They'll go 11-1 and make the national championship game... unfortunately.



2. Wisconsin
The Badgers are solid, but I don't know why anyone considers them to be close to a top ten team in the country. They have Zach Brown and Lance Smith at QB, but neither has significant experience, nor does either one stand out. PJ Hill rushed for 1200+ yards last year and is the main reason Wisconsin will end up in the Rose Bowl. Actually, the main reason is that the rest of the BigTen blows.

3. Illinois
Without Rashard Mendenhall, the Fighting Illini become one of those teams that drifts into and out of the top 20 from week to week. Juice Williams returns at QB, but his 13 TDs and 12 INTs are a cause for concern. They've got a solid and deep defensive line, but elsewhere their defense is missing that little extra something that makes a unit great. Missouri will avenge their BCS snub on August 30th when they destroy Illinois.

4. Penn State
There's always a great deal of optimism surrounding Penn State, and that's why I hate them. Although the Nittany Lions have some promising players like RB Evan Royster (6.3 yards per carry in limited time last year), there are too many questions that will go unanswered (like who will be QB, what kind of offense will the team have, etc.). Like Illinois, they'll drift in and out of the top 20 all season.



5. Michigan
No I-AA teams on Michigan's schedule this year. Michigan will be utilizing a speedier spread offense, which may work out in 2009 or 2010, but will be funny to watch in 2008. Only 3 returning starters for the Michigan offense, none of whom are significant. On the other side of the coin, the defense returns 8 starters, including all 4 linemen. So they'll be in a lot of games, but their offense will struggle to capitalize on the opportunities their defense creates for them. It will be a frustrating season for Wolverine fans, which makes me very happy.



6. Purdue
The only BigTen team I like. QB Curtis Painter returns to lead the offense. He threw for 3,846 yards and 29 TDs in 2007. But he'll miss Dorian Bryant and Dustin Keller, his top two receivers from last year. The offensive line will also struggle, and the defense won't do much to impress. But they'll have a solid season and make a bowl game.



7. Michigan State
RB Javon Ringer will be the star of the MSU offense. He ran for 1,484 yards and 6 TDs last year. Jehuu Caulcrick got the goal line carries, but he's gone. But QB Brian Hoyer has a problem: he threw 20 TDs last year, but 14 of them were to players who are now in the NFL (Devin Thomas and Kellen Davis). The Spartan defense is slightly above average. It won't win games on its own, but it won't lose games on its own either. MSU will be a fun team to watch in '08 because they'll be capable of stealing a few games here and there.

8. Iowa
The Hawkeyes averaged a pitiful 18.5 points per game on offense last year, and things won't be much better in 2008. The offensive line allowed 46 sacks in 2007, but maybe returning most of the starters will help minimize that problem. The defense lost its best players from last year. So basically, a team that was 6-6 (4-4 conference) got a little bit worse.

9. Northwestern
They'll probably finish higher than 9th in the BigTen standings. They return 15 starters from a 6-6 team, but they're still Northwestern. Their players go to class, so they're not competitive.

10. Minnesota
Minnesota has 15 returning starters, but I don't know if that's much of a good thing for a 1-11 team to do.

11. Indiana
The battle for 11th place in the BigTen will be more dramatic than the battle for 1st. But I think Indiana wins out.

-The Commodore