Get Ready For Another Crappy Year of Big-11 Football

From CBSSportsline's Dennis Dodd:

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.

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.

FSU Beat Ohio State 37-6..and It Wasn't Even a BCS Game.

Nope, this wasn't Bobby Bowden dropping a late 4th quarter flea-flicker in the Sugar Bowl. This was in baseball.

Marquette - Big East Runners Up...

...of the JV schedule. Now the real fun starts. The big boys. The heavyweights. The aircraft carriers. How's this to round out the regular season: @ Georgetown, UConn, @ Louisville, @ Pitt, Syracuse. I'm not even gonna try and predict that gauntlet. Let's just call this the Big East Tournamnet Dry Run.

Not quite as tough as Michigan State, Purdue, Ohio St, Illinois, and Minnesota...but you get the idea. (Sigh).

Jerel McNeal Stat Stuffer Update: 13 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, 8 turnovers (oops).

Ouch

From my man Scotty Gerber - a new symbol for Big Ten football.

Good Work, Little-11

Another craptacular effort by the Big-11's "elite" team on the big stage. USC toyed with it's over matched opponent in the Rose Bowl. 31-7 at halftime? You're telling me that's the best team the Little-11 could bring to the table?

It wasn't much better for the others. All told, L-11 teams were outscored 186-104 (average 31-17). Thank goodness for Iowa or it would've been 176-73. Don't worry, I'm sure Ohio State will give Texas all it can handle.

Quick aside: And imagine - if that Iowa kicker misses the game winning FG vs Penn St a few weeks go...JoePa's boys would be in the National Championship Game!! Great system, College Football. No, really, it's awesome.

Great 8

While watching the Great 8 I saw teams representing the Big-12, Pac-10, Big East, ACC, Atlantic-10, C-USA, and even the Southern Conference. But none from the Big-11. Hmm, that's weird. At least Michigan State looked good.

Full recap of Detroit happenings coming soon. Teaser: Larry McCarren can pound beers.

Initial Bracket Thoughts

Editors Note: I haven't had a good looking bracket in about 4 years, so take this for what its worth.

The Big-11: As much as I've pounded the Big-11 this year, things are set up pretty nicely for them. Purdue and Michigan State get first round byes vs Baylor and Temple, respectively. Seriously, I had no idea Baylor was even in the discussion for an at-large bid. I herd the word "bubble" about 25,000 times in the last two weeks and never herd the Bears even mentioned. Temple has been so far off the radar the past few years Matt thought John Chaney still coached the Owls. Do they still run the straight 2-3 zone? Anyone? Indiana plays the typical 8-9 coin flip game. Bucky's road until Kansas isn't too tough with Georgetown, in my opinion, being clearly the worst #2 seed on the board. USC could give UW headaches in round 2. All told, the Big-11 could easily be 4-0 after round 1, with a chance for some more wins after that. Not saying they will, but its set up nice to do so.

The Little Guys: I love seeing the mid majors knock off the big conferences, but they all play each other! Davidson-Gonzaga, Kent St-UNLV, S. Alabama-Butler, Western Kentucky-Drake. South Alabama a 10 seed at-large from the Sun Belt is a bit high. Plus, somehow, they had an RPI of 29! That RPI is a joke.

Marquette: Can Tommy Golden-Tan win a NCAA game without Wade? It's the same story for MU. They have the ability of beating both Kentucky and Stanford, but will they? UK is without their best player, which is nice. If they get by them, Stanford provides another style contrast with MU. Despite MU's big men being not much more than just bodies, they defend other bigs pretty well...which they would have to do vs the brothers Lopez. I'll pick them to lose to UK, just so I'm pleasantly surprised if they win.

UCLA: They have the easiest walk to the Final Four. Duke is junk as a 2, Xavier is the 3, and UConn is the 4...who should be more like a 6.

The Big-11 Sucks

I like piling on the Big-11. Here's an article about the crappyness of Big-11 basketball.

Article