This might be the worst I've seen the Big Ten in 11 years.
The Big Ten remains the leader in BCS bowls (19) but you don't have to be told the league has lost a step in recent years. The 28 NFL draft picks each of the last two seasons ranked fifth (2008) and tied for fourth (2009) among major conferences.
The league is only 9-20 in bowls (1-6 last season) since 2005.
Here's my best example for how average the Big Ten has become: Penn State has to replace 12 starters (the most in the league), including its entire secondary. It is a twisted ankle at quarterback away from finishing fifth. A good, not great, group of receivers have to be replaced by what might be good, not great, group of receivers.
Still, the Nittany Lions are a virtual pick-'em with Ohio State to go to the Rose Bowl.
By the way, the Rose Bowl is going to be it for the conference champ. I don't see a national title contender in the bunch. The letters U, S and C will burn the ears of Big Ten loyalists. USC has beaten Big Ten teams by a combined 60 points the past three Januarys. The Trojans will likely be waiting in Pasadena to lay the smack down once again.
Like the Woody and Bo days, it's still a two-team league. Unlike the Woody and Bo days, there's not much national buzz.
The league is only 9-20 in bowls (1-6 last season) since 2005.
Here's my best example for how average the Big Ten has become: Penn State has to replace 12 starters (the most in the league), including its entire secondary. It is a twisted ankle at quarterback away from finishing fifth. A good, not great, group of receivers have to be replaced by what might be good, not great, group of receivers.
Still, the Nittany Lions are a virtual pick-'em with Ohio State to go to the Rose Bowl.
By the way, the Rose Bowl is going to be it for the conference champ. I don't see a national title contender in the bunch. The letters U, S and C will burn the ears of Big Ten loyalists. USC has beaten Big Ten teams by a combined 60 points the past three Januarys. The Trojans will likely be waiting in Pasadena to lay the smack down once again.
Like the Woody and Bo days, it's still a two-team league. Unlike the Woody and Bo days, there's not much national buzz.
As for Bucky:
7. Wisconsin -- Is it time to panic yet? Bielema started 21-5 in his first two seasons, then slumped to 7-6 last year. But it was the way it happened: Bielema still hasn't been able to find a serviceable quarterback. The Badgers looked lost on defense and the prospects aren't good for this season. The formula to beat Wisconsin hasn't changed: Let the tailbacks get their yards, smack the quarterback in the mouth, wait for the turnovers and control the ball against a poor-tackling defense.
5 comments:
If you need me, I'll be at Freshman orientation scouting out this year's crop of 18-year old tail.
Big 11 Football: Almost as exciting as Big 11 Basketball
...or is it the other way around?
Bret better get to the KK a few more times before they lose their liquor license as well.
Well that settles it - if some guy says 3 months before the season starts that Big 10 football is going to be bad and Wisconsin is going to finish 7th, then I'm not watching.
It's just a prediction, Matt. You make them all the time.
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