Wisconsin vs. Ohio State
Hmm, let’s jump into this with two questions: who will win, and why is Wisconsin, with a perfect record, not ranked?
Let’s start there first.
The Badgers were 7-6 last year, in a most disappointing season which had a 4 game losing streak in the middle of that year. Much was expected of this team, and little returned. But why no love for the Badgers?
Ok, they beat Northern Illinois 28-20, ok I get it, a little too close but a win is a win, right?
They beat Fresno State in overtime 34-31 at home… not bad, I mean, Fresno is a quality team, but still, an overtime win is kinda close.
Beating Wofford 44-14? Now that’s just wrong!
But beating Michigan State at home 38-30 is better…still close for comfort.
And beating Minnesota on the road 31-28 is still close, but again, a win is a win.
These are some wins that many would wonder about, and considering that Minnesota is their best win so far, I can see why the jury is still out on the Badgers. But five wins is still a heck of a lot, I think they deserved to get on the top 25 because those are decent wins…except that Wofford one.
(oh, and just to throw this in, Wisconsin lost 4 games on the road…)
So now we have Ohio State, ranked in the top 10, with that embarrassing loss to USC, one I really thought they could win. They were scared at the beginning of the season to Navy, but since those first two games, have taken charge. Shutting out Toledo and Illinois, the defense of the Buckeyes are proving that they are taking no prisoners. And a 33-14 win over Indiana on the road helps their conference record…
(on a side note, why don’t the Big 10 add one more team and create a conference championship…)
Do I think Ohio State can lose… sure. This Wisconsin team is clearly better than last year, but I don’t see them going undefeated…that mantle rested with Penn State and they dropped it. Ohio State has far more to gain with a win, even though a possible 6-0 Wisconsin team will vault them in the standings. And remember, Ohio State beat them last year only by 3 points…but it was a road game for the Buckeyes. OSU by 8.
Showing posts with label Big 10 Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Big 10 Football. Show all posts
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Iowa vs Penn State 2009
Iowa vs. Penn State
I have nothing against Iowa, I am sure they are a pretty good team, but I have a place in my heart for Joe Paterno.
I say that because years ago I wrote to Penn State for a media guide and I received one from them, to which I was most grateful. I also wrote a letter to Joe Paterno a few years ago and he actually answered it. It takes a nice man to take the time to answer a fan’s mail…not EMAIL, but land mail.
So you better believe I pull for Penn State when I can. But I also know that this game against Iowa is critical, because one loss can possibly knock you out for a shot at the BCS Championship. I have nothing negative to say about Iowa, so there are no hard feelings for them, but having said all that, let’s look at this matchup:
Iowa is one of those mid card teams that can have a banner year at any time. Last year they went 9-4, which in itself is great, but there are head scratchers to the teams they lost to. Losing by one point to Pittsburgh on the road is something you can live with, because Pittsburgh is a pretty good team.
Losing to Northwestern at home 22-17 is kinda iffy, I mean, Northwestern is not a long-time power in the Big 10. Losing to Michigan State 16-13 seems to set the table that this Hawkeye team plays to the competition. Losing to Illinois on the road seemed to clinch that thought.
Some might say the only credible win was against Penn State, winning 24-23 at home…sets the stage for this weekend. And losing an excellent rusher and some receivers makes this Iowa team touchable to the team the barely beat last year.
Penn State last year enjoyed huge success with an 11-2 record. As mentioned before, they lost to Iowa on the road, and lost to Southern Cal 38-24 in their final game of the year. Not bad, when you sprinkle good wins over Oregon State, Ohio State and Michigan State. We know that key elements in the offense are still there, and Penn State seems quite equal on the passing and the rushing…it will be hard to figure them out.
But maybe the biggest problem for the Nittany Lions is the hype the media puts around them. Being ranked in the top 5 now, is it possible for Penn State go to perfect? It would mean besting Iowa, a constant thorn in their side, and beating Ohio State, but it certainly is possible.
Both teams come in 3-0, with Iowa having wins over Northern Iowa by one point (errr?), Iowa State big, and Arizona by 10. Close games at home, great game away. Penn State has 3 of a 4 game home stand, beating Akron, Syracuse and Temple. To be sure, none of these teams will be crashing the gates of the BCS, but Penn State allowed only 6.5 points a game…that spells very tough defense, while averaging 30 points a game.
If there was a top 30, Iowa would not be on one poll, and barely clinging to the other. This tells me that even at 3-0, voters are not that impressed with the Hawkeyes, even though they beat Penn State last year. But with the Nittany Lions home, can the Hawkeyes repeat the performance of last year?
My heart tells me to go with Penn State, but logic says the same thing. I will admit though, I don’t think Penn State has been properly tested yet. I mean, Akron, Syracuse and Temple were 13-23 last year combined. This year they are currently 2-6...ugh.
We’ll learn much more about Penn State and their chances to play in the BCS Championship after this win, one they simply must have. To them, a loss here ruins the season…at the hands of a familiar foe.
But I see Penn State winning this handily, by 10 points, although that may still be too close for comfort. But we shall see…….
I have nothing against Iowa, I am sure they are a pretty good team, but I have a place in my heart for Joe Paterno.
I say that because years ago I wrote to Penn State for a media guide and I received one from them, to which I was most grateful. I also wrote a letter to Joe Paterno a few years ago and he actually answered it. It takes a nice man to take the time to answer a fan’s mail…not EMAIL, but land mail.
So you better believe I pull for Penn State when I can. But I also know that this game against Iowa is critical, because one loss can possibly knock you out for a shot at the BCS Championship. I have nothing negative to say about Iowa, so there are no hard feelings for them, but having said all that, let’s look at this matchup:
Iowa is one of those mid card teams that can have a banner year at any time. Last year they went 9-4, which in itself is great, but there are head scratchers to the teams they lost to. Losing by one point to Pittsburgh on the road is something you can live with, because Pittsburgh is a pretty good team.
Losing to Northwestern at home 22-17 is kinda iffy, I mean, Northwestern is not a long-time power in the Big 10. Losing to Michigan State 16-13 seems to set the table that this Hawkeye team plays to the competition. Losing to Illinois on the road seemed to clinch that thought.
Some might say the only credible win was against Penn State, winning 24-23 at home…sets the stage for this weekend. And losing an excellent rusher and some receivers makes this Iowa team touchable to the team the barely beat last year.
Penn State last year enjoyed huge success with an 11-2 record. As mentioned before, they lost to Iowa on the road, and lost to Southern Cal 38-24 in their final game of the year. Not bad, when you sprinkle good wins over Oregon State, Ohio State and Michigan State. We know that key elements in the offense are still there, and Penn State seems quite equal on the passing and the rushing…it will be hard to figure them out.
But maybe the biggest problem for the Nittany Lions is the hype the media puts around them. Being ranked in the top 5 now, is it possible for Penn State go to perfect? It would mean besting Iowa, a constant thorn in their side, and beating Ohio State, but it certainly is possible.
Both teams come in 3-0, with Iowa having wins over Northern Iowa by one point (errr?), Iowa State big, and Arizona by 10. Close games at home, great game away. Penn State has 3 of a 4 game home stand, beating Akron, Syracuse and Temple. To be sure, none of these teams will be crashing the gates of the BCS, but Penn State allowed only 6.5 points a game…that spells very tough defense, while averaging 30 points a game.
If there was a top 30, Iowa would not be on one poll, and barely clinging to the other. This tells me that even at 3-0, voters are not that impressed with the Hawkeyes, even though they beat Penn State last year. But with the Nittany Lions home, can the Hawkeyes repeat the performance of last year?
My heart tells me to go with Penn State, but logic says the same thing. I will admit though, I don’t think Penn State has been properly tested yet. I mean, Akron, Syracuse and Temple were 13-23 last year combined. This year they are currently 2-6...ugh.
We’ll learn much more about Penn State and their chances to play in the BCS Championship after this win, one they simply must have. To them, a loss here ruins the season…at the hands of a familiar foe.
But I see Penn State winning this handily, by 10 points, although that may still be too close for comfort. But we shall see…….
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Top Football Conferences
The top Football Conferences
After the first couple of weeks of the college football season, I’d like to argue which conferences are the best, and why. I wanted to make the argument because no matter what people think, the strength of the conference has a major impact on whether their champion makes a BCS Championship or not. You can’t go undefeated out of a weaker conference and expect to play in the title game.
I love “Pardon the Interruption” it is one of my favorite shows, but I don’t agree with Michael Wilbon’s opinion that if a team goes undefeated, they ought to get a shot at a National Title. He believes that a team like Boise State ought to have a shot if they go undefeated…I don’t quite agree.
If you reward a team out of a weak conference a BCS Championship, then what stops independent teams like Notre Dame from taking out USC on the schedule and substituting Duke, or removing Boston College for Miami (OH)? The quality of opponents must play a factor because it substantiates greatness of a team.
So what I want to do is rank the conferences in order, from best to… well, not so great. Let’s start:
#1 Conference in College Football: SEC A+
If you have the defending National Champs still ranked at #1, AND a team like Alabama at #4, and Mississippi in the top ten, you have a strong conference. Toss in teams like LSU and Georgia and you have a pretty tough conference. Last year there was a great argument of who was the best conference; the SEC or Big 12, and personally I thought that from top to bottom, the Big 12 was ever so slightly better, but you could not go wrong either way. This year, I put SEC on top, but not by such a large margin.
#2 Conference in College Football: Big 12 A
Personally, if Oklahoma had beaten BYU, I would have made the Big 12 the top conference by a slight margin. But with the injury, I had to put them here, by a close margin. You still have Texas as the #2 team in the nation, Oklahoma is still in the mix, and you have teams like Oklahoma State and Kansas still in the mix. What happened to Texas Tech? Missouri is still on the radar, so you have half the conference making noise, and oh by the way Nebraska is in the top 20 too.
#3 Conference in College Football: Pac-10 B-
I had to think long on this one, because I wonder how strong this conference really is. I mean, one of their teams loses to Boise State at the beginning of the season, and eyes start to roll around when it comes to the true strength of the Pac-10. Sure, USC is good, but with a freshman quarterback, how soon before they lose a game…or even two? But they are the #3 team in the nation, with California in the top 10...but after that, what is there? Oregon State is on one poll, and UCLA got a few votes, but many wonder if this conference can give USC a run. If USC wasn’t in the top 3, I would not have put this conference here.
#4 Conference in College Football: Big 10: B-
It didn’t help that Ohio State lost to USC…it didn’t help that Michigan State lost to Central Michigan, and Michigan beating Notre Dame didn’t really count for so much. But Penn State is in the top 5 and Ohio State is still in the top 25. Iowa just might be able to make some noise in the conference, but we have to wait and see on that. The Big 10 has been getting pushed around lately, and need some key wins to validate their strength, they may have to rely on Penn State to get it done, since Ohio State seems to slip whenever the chips are on the table.
#5 Conference in College Football: Mountain West Conference C+
When you have a “lesser” conference with not one, not two but THREE teams in the top 25, you have to pay attention. This is one of those examples where if any team out of the Mountain West goes undefeated, they ought to have a legit shot at the BCS Championship. When you consider that BYU is in the top 10, TCU is in the top 15 and Utah is just outside the top 15, this is a strong conference. And with decent teams like Air Force and Colorado State, this is a very competitive conference. I say again, if either Utah, BYU or TCU goes undefeated, somebody ought to put them in the BCS Championship. Add on that BYU beat Oklahoma and has Florida State on the schedule, TCU beat Virginia (so what) and plays Clemson, and Utah having Oregon and Louisville, these are hard schedules for a team not considered to be with the “big boys”. This is a good conference, one that could produce an undefeated team.
#6 Conference in College Football: ACC C-
Last year I can argue that top to bottom this conference was one of the most competitive. Only two teams failed to win 6 games, that being Virginia and Duke, and the Cavaliers missed it by one game. But this year I questioned why Virginia Tech was so high in the rankings. They are good, but not THAT good. Florida State could not hold on to it’s ranking after the first game, and there were some VERY poorly played games by Florida State and Maryland.
Lots of people felt that the ACC ought not be considered in the BCS, and rather let teams like Boise State or…ugh…Notre Dame, take their spot in the BCS bowls. I can see their point, but this is still a very tough conference, and I doubt a team like Boise State can run through it like they do their conference. Team for team, this is a very tough conference, but in comparison to the others, they do look kinda…bland. Georgia Tech, Miami, Virginia Tech and UNC are on the top 25...but for how long?
#7 Conference in College Football: Big East C-
At the beginning of the year, NOBODY from the Big East was on the list. How insulting is that when 6 out of the 8 teams won at least EIGHT games? Cincinnati went 11-3 and got no love at the beginning of the year…how insulting is that?
Right now Cincinnati is on the bottom half of the top 25, but no other team is on the list. If Pittsburgh wins another game, they can likely climb into the list, but the entire conference looks very weak, in comparison to the other BCS conferences, and even the Mountain West Conference. I gotta tell ya, if the Big East can’t start pulling somebody out as a power team, they will continued to be laughed at as one of the weakest conferences in college football.
With other conferences like the WAC, Sun Belt, Mid-American and Conference USA, there can be arguments made for a few of those as well. We all like the underdog, and Boise State is certainly one of those, but their conference just isn’t strong enough to be in the top 7. That does not take away from the Broncos wins, but when you look at the body of work in conference match ups, it does count against you.
So as of the second week, these are my top 7 conferences in college football… which are clearly subject to change week by week.
After the first couple of weeks of the college football season, I’d like to argue which conferences are the best, and why. I wanted to make the argument because no matter what people think, the strength of the conference has a major impact on whether their champion makes a BCS Championship or not. You can’t go undefeated out of a weaker conference and expect to play in the title game.
I love “Pardon the Interruption” it is one of my favorite shows, but I don’t agree with Michael Wilbon’s opinion that if a team goes undefeated, they ought to get a shot at a National Title. He believes that a team like Boise State ought to have a shot if they go undefeated…I don’t quite agree.
If you reward a team out of a weak conference a BCS Championship, then what stops independent teams like Notre Dame from taking out USC on the schedule and substituting Duke, or removing Boston College for Miami (OH)? The quality of opponents must play a factor because it substantiates greatness of a team.
So what I want to do is rank the conferences in order, from best to… well, not so great. Let’s start:
#1 Conference in College Football: SEC A+
If you have the defending National Champs still ranked at #1, AND a team like Alabama at #4, and Mississippi in the top ten, you have a strong conference. Toss in teams like LSU and Georgia and you have a pretty tough conference. Last year there was a great argument of who was the best conference; the SEC or Big 12, and personally I thought that from top to bottom, the Big 12 was ever so slightly better, but you could not go wrong either way. This year, I put SEC on top, but not by such a large margin.
#2 Conference in College Football: Big 12 A
Personally, if Oklahoma had beaten BYU, I would have made the Big 12 the top conference by a slight margin. But with the injury, I had to put them here, by a close margin. You still have Texas as the #2 team in the nation, Oklahoma is still in the mix, and you have teams like Oklahoma State and Kansas still in the mix. What happened to Texas Tech? Missouri is still on the radar, so you have half the conference making noise, and oh by the way Nebraska is in the top 20 too.
#3 Conference in College Football: Pac-10 B-
I had to think long on this one, because I wonder how strong this conference really is. I mean, one of their teams loses to Boise State at the beginning of the season, and eyes start to roll around when it comes to the true strength of the Pac-10. Sure, USC is good, but with a freshman quarterback, how soon before they lose a game…or even two? But they are the #3 team in the nation, with California in the top 10...but after that, what is there? Oregon State is on one poll, and UCLA got a few votes, but many wonder if this conference can give USC a run. If USC wasn’t in the top 3, I would not have put this conference here.
#4 Conference in College Football: Big 10: B-
It didn’t help that Ohio State lost to USC…it didn’t help that Michigan State lost to Central Michigan, and Michigan beating Notre Dame didn’t really count for so much. But Penn State is in the top 5 and Ohio State is still in the top 25. Iowa just might be able to make some noise in the conference, but we have to wait and see on that. The Big 10 has been getting pushed around lately, and need some key wins to validate their strength, they may have to rely on Penn State to get it done, since Ohio State seems to slip whenever the chips are on the table.
#5 Conference in College Football: Mountain West Conference C+
When you have a “lesser” conference with not one, not two but THREE teams in the top 25, you have to pay attention. This is one of those examples where if any team out of the Mountain West goes undefeated, they ought to have a legit shot at the BCS Championship. When you consider that BYU is in the top 10, TCU is in the top 15 and Utah is just outside the top 15, this is a strong conference. And with decent teams like Air Force and Colorado State, this is a very competitive conference. I say again, if either Utah, BYU or TCU goes undefeated, somebody ought to put them in the BCS Championship. Add on that BYU beat Oklahoma and has Florida State on the schedule, TCU beat Virginia (so what) and plays Clemson, and Utah having Oregon and Louisville, these are hard schedules for a team not considered to be with the “big boys”. This is a good conference, one that could produce an undefeated team.
#6 Conference in College Football: ACC C-
Last year I can argue that top to bottom this conference was one of the most competitive. Only two teams failed to win 6 games, that being Virginia and Duke, and the Cavaliers missed it by one game. But this year I questioned why Virginia Tech was so high in the rankings. They are good, but not THAT good. Florida State could not hold on to it’s ranking after the first game, and there were some VERY poorly played games by Florida State and Maryland.
Lots of people felt that the ACC ought not be considered in the BCS, and rather let teams like Boise State or…ugh…Notre Dame, take their spot in the BCS bowls. I can see their point, but this is still a very tough conference, and I doubt a team like Boise State can run through it like they do their conference. Team for team, this is a very tough conference, but in comparison to the others, they do look kinda…bland. Georgia Tech, Miami, Virginia Tech and UNC are on the top 25...but for how long?
#7 Conference in College Football: Big East C-
At the beginning of the year, NOBODY from the Big East was on the list. How insulting is that when 6 out of the 8 teams won at least EIGHT games? Cincinnati went 11-3 and got no love at the beginning of the year…how insulting is that?
Right now Cincinnati is on the bottom half of the top 25, but no other team is on the list. If Pittsburgh wins another game, they can likely climb into the list, but the entire conference looks very weak, in comparison to the other BCS conferences, and even the Mountain West Conference. I gotta tell ya, if the Big East can’t start pulling somebody out as a power team, they will continued to be laughed at as one of the weakest conferences in college football.
With other conferences like the WAC, Sun Belt, Mid-American and Conference USA, there can be arguments made for a few of those as well. We all like the underdog, and Boise State is certainly one of those, but their conference just isn’t strong enough to be in the top 7. That does not take away from the Broncos wins, but when you look at the body of work in conference match ups, it does count against you.
So as of the second week, these are my top 7 conferences in college football… which are clearly subject to change week by week.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Michigan beats Notre Dame 2009
Michigan beats Notre Dame 38-34
So will Lou Holtz PLEASE shut up?
For the last two years this old man has been flapping his chops about how Notre Dame was going to go undefeated…and two years he has been wrong. Now I am not a fan of Notre Dame, but I am not a fan of Michigan since they got Rich Rodriguez. And neither team did so hot last year, so why was there so much hype about this game?
Well, we know these are two very storied programs, and amongst the top college football teams in wins all time, so I understand the value in that. But I found myself trying to figure out who to pull for, not really liking either team this year. I ended up pulling for Michigan because before Rodriguez got there, I did like the Wolverines a lot.
I watched that game and when Michigan scored with a few ticks left, we were excited in the house because a defeat would quiet all those critics who seemed to think that Notre Dame’s softer schedule should give them a National Title shot…not likely.
I remember the kickoff and how the clock only took one second off and I said to myself, “if he touched that ball, they need to take a few more seconds off!”. The clock went down to 10 ,but then they showed the ND quarterback (Clausen) tell the refs to put more time back on the clock…and they did, but then took off 2 seconds, down to 9 seconds left.
Notre Dame had time for one play, and although it was a big gain, the time ran out as Michigan won the game, but ole Charlie Weiss and the Irish didn’t like how it ended, thinking that they deserved two more seconds. The refs were quick to dash out, their word being final.
I remember hearing later on that night on one of the shows that the refs did say that the receiver touched that ball, and thus time had to be taken off. Once that receiver touched the ball on the kickoff, the clock had to run. So Notre Dame can’t complain.
Neither can Lou Holtz.
And this also means Notre Dame ought to fall from their #18 ranking down to maybe #23, or #24. I won’t doubt that some voters will still keep them up there, but being beat by a team that was 3-9 last year ought to knock them off the top 25. I mean, Oregon fell out when they lost to higher ranked Boise State, right?
So an undefeated season is gone from the Irish, and yet the season just got started. With Michigan State next, this could possibly be a toss up, even though Central Michigan stunned the Spartans in their house, I might imagine they will really get up for this game, but even so, it is still a game ND can take.
The Purdue game might be more interesting, especially after how they played at Oregon last night…or was it this morning? UNC is still ranked (slim win over UCONN) and with Pittsburgh, Boston College, Navy and Southern Cal, one has to wonder if this ND team can manage 7 wins. If we are just going on the premise that Michigan, who was 3-9, beat Notre Dame, then one might guess that maybe not much has changed with the Irish…if not, they are in for another average year.
But Michigan is not out of the water yet either. Sure they get Eastern Michigan and then Indiana, but having to play Penn State, Iowa, Michigan State and Ohio State won’t be easy either. Beating Miami (OH), Wisconsin and Minnesota was all they saw of the winning side last year, but Minnesota isn’t on their schedule this year. There is little doubt that voters will slip Michigan in maybe #25 or #24, but I think it will be a short stay. Many times you see in the pros where a team is bad one year, and good the next, examples being the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons last year, but in college you are dealing with the same group of students, minus graduating players, so the general talent is not a hyper jump of improvement. If they were 3-9 last year, it is possible they might do 5 or 6 wins.
They could be 4-0 before they see Michigan State, and with Delaware State on the schedule, they can get 5 wins pretty easy. But those games in the middle they will have to scratch and claw for…it’s not out of the possibility for Michigan to qualify for a bowl, but it would be a long shot.
So now that this game is over, let’s see if all the hype of how good these teams were SUPPOSED to be was true. One loss does not ruin a season, to be sure…but multiple ones will destroy it…and possibly one of these coach’s career.
So will Lou Holtz PLEASE shut up?
For the last two years this old man has been flapping his chops about how Notre Dame was going to go undefeated…and two years he has been wrong. Now I am not a fan of Notre Dame, but I am not a fan of Michigan since they got Rich Rodriguez. And neither team did so hot last year, so why was there so much hype about this game?
Well, we know these are two very storied programs, and amongst the top college football teams in wins all time, so I understand the value in that. But I found myself trying to figure out who to pull for, not really liking either team this year. I ended up pulling for Michigan because before Rodriguez got there, I did like the Wolverines a lot.
I watched that game and when Michigan scored with a few ticks left, we were excited in the house because a defeat would quiet all those critics who seemed to think that Notre Dame’s softer schedule should give them a National Title shot…not likely.
I remember the kickoff and how the clock only took one second off and I said to myself, “if he touched that ball, they need to take a few more seconds off!”. The clock went down to 10 ,but then they showed the ND quarterback (Clausen) tell the refs to put more time back on the clock…and they did, but then took off 2 seconds, down to 9 seconds left.
Notre Dame had time for one play, and although it was a big gain, the time ran out as Michigan won the game, but ole Charlie Weiss and the Irish didn’t like how it ended, thinking that they deserved two more seconds. The refs were quick to dash out, their word being final.
I remember hearing later on that night on one of the shows that the refs did say that the receiver touched that ball, and thus time had to be taken off. Once that receiver touched the ball on the kickoff, the clock had to run. So Notre Dame can’t complain.
Neither can Lou Holtz.
And this also means Notre Dame ought to fall from their #18 ranking down to maybe #23, or #24. I won’t doubt that some voters will still keep them up there, but being beat by a team that was 3-9 last year ought to knock them off the top 25. I mean, Oregon fell out when they lost to higher ranked Boise State, right?
So an undefeated season is gone from the Irish, and yet the season just got started. With Michigan State next, this could possibly be a toss up, even though Central Michigan stunned the Spartans in their house, I might imagine they will really get up for this game, but even so, it is still a game ND can take.
The Purdue game might be more interesting, especially after how they played at Oregon last night…or was it this morning? UNC is still ranked (slim win over UCONN) and with Pittsburgh, Boston College, Navy and Southern Cal, one has to wonder if this ND team can manage 7 wins. If we are just going on the premise that Michigan, who was 3-9, beat Notre Dame, then one might guess that maybe not much has changed with the Irish…if not, they are in for another average year.
But Michigan is not out of the water yet either. Sure they get Eastern Michigan and then Indiana, but having to play Penn State, Iowa, Michigan State and Ohio State won’t be easy either. Beating Miami (OH), Wisconsin and Minnesota was all they saw of the winning side last year, but Minnesota isn’t on their schedule this year. There is little doubt that voters will slip Michigan in maybe #25 or #24, but I think it will be a short stay. Many times you see in the pros where a team is bad one year, and good the next, examples being the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons last year, but in college you are dealing with the same group of students, minus graduating players, so the general talent is not a hyper jump of improvement. If they were 3-9 last year, it is possible they might do 5 or 6 wins.
They could be 4-0 before they see Michigan State, and with Delaware State on the schedule, they can get 5 wins pretty easy. But those games in the middle they will have to scratch and claw for…it’s not out of the possibility for Michigan to qualify for a bowl, but it would be a long shot.
So now that this game is over, let’s see if all the hype of how good these teams were SUPPOSED to be was true. One loss does not ruin a season, to be sure…but multiple ones will destroy it…and possibly one of these coach’s career.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
USC vs Ohio State
USC vs. Ohio State
Speedblog
Sounds like a Rose Bowl to me.
In about half an hour, college football starts on the second week, and I wanted to blog this out as fast as I can, or as fast as I can type. I heard and read all the hype about this major game, and the implications it has on the BCS. And I grant you, many teams in the top 10 and top 15 are eyeballing this game, because the loser of this game will slip down, and possibly out the BCS Championship picture.
Ohio State has a huge burden to bear, not just for the coach or the team, but the conference as well. Many people have criticized the Big 10 as not being as tough as the SEC or Big 12, and how many times these schools fold up like a lawn chair in the post season…Ohio State being case number one.
Losing at USC 35-3 was embarrassing as the Buckeyes hauled their behinds back home, licking their wounds, and would lose to conference foe Penn State and to Texas at the end of the year. Losing Chris Wells hurts them too, meaning that Terrelle Pryor (not to be confused with Richard) will be bearing a lot of the weight.
We saw how Ohio State survived Navy…this leaves MUCH to be desired. But to play at home, with a more experience quarterback could be what the doctor ordered. There is no question to Pryor’s talents, but he does not throw the ball very much. It reminds me a lot of Georgia Tech’s game with Clemson…but we saw how disastrous that could be.
This is a MAJOR game for Ohio State on every level. The conference needs to have something to brag about, the team needs to have this win and the players need some “get back” against the Trojans who spanked them like they stole something.
For USC, this is not so easy a task, regardless of how they did last year. Some question the strength of the Pac-10, especially after Oregon lost to Boise State recently. We know the Trojans lost only one game last year, that being to Oregon State in an away game, which is one of the weaknesses of USC…playing away against good teams. Not counting Stanford and UCLA since they are in the same state, USC went to Virginia, Washington State and Arizona last year. Washington State was 2-11, Virginia finished 5-7 and Arizona was the only team with a winning record…but USC escaped that one 17-10.
There could be a problem here with USC playing away against strong foes, and add to that a brand new quarterback, and this could really get interesting. Sure USC mopped up San Jose State, but they were SUPPOSED to. Now we’ll get to see how a top ranked team plays on the road where they have had problems, against a real quality team in Ohio State, in that HUGE stadium that holds more people than the city I live in TIMES three, with a freshman quarterback at the helm…
Good luck USC, you’re gonna need it.
But how much luck will they need against a Buckeye team that had trouble with Navy? I admit that the style Navy showed is not what USC will bring, so I think Ohio State can adjust easily, but the question will be whether Pryor can get the job done without “Beanie’ Wells being there. I am not confident that Pryor can lead his team if it comes to passing, and I think USC has a strong enough defense to force him to have to throw more than they need him to.
This might be closer than some think, but you have to decide which is greater, a team with a freshman quarterback playing away against a top 10 foe, or a team that was blasted last year by this same opponent, and struggled against Navy in a conference some are starting to question. I think I will take experience in QB, but I am not confident in his passing.
IF USC can’t force Pryor to throw more, I can see Ohio State winning by less than 7 points. IF he is forced to throw a lot, I can see turnovers galore…but the same could be said for USC. I think if both teams play at even par…USC still wins.
But not by much.
Speedblog
Sounds like a Rose Bowl to me.
In about half an hour, college football starts on the second week, and I wanted to blog this out as fast as I can, or as fast as I can type. I heard and read all the hype about this major game, and the implications it has on the BCS. And I grant you, many teams in the top 10 and top 15 are eyeballing this game, because the loser of this game will slip down, and possibly out the BCS Championship picture.
Ohio State has a huge burden to bear, not just for the coach or the team, but the conference as well. Many people have criticized the Big 10 as not being as tough as the SEC or Big 12, and how many times these schools fold up like a lawn chair in the post season…Ohio State being case number one.
Losing at USC 35-3 was embarrassing as the Buckeyes hauled their behinds back home, licking their wounds, and would lose to conference foe Penn State and to Texas at the end of the year. Losing Chris Wells hurts them too, meaning that Terrelle Pryor (not to be confused with Richard) will be bearing a lot of the weight.
We saw how Ohio State survived Navy…this leaves MUCH to be desired. But to play at home, with a more experience quarterback could be what the doctor ordered. There is no question to Pryor’s talents, but he does not throw the ball very much. It reminds me a lot of Georgia Tech’s game with Clemson…but we saw how disastrous that could be.
This is a MAJOR game for Ohio State on every level. The conference needs to have something to brag about, the team needs to have this win and the players need some “get back” against the Trojans who spanked them like they stole something.
For USC, this is not so easy a task, regardless of how they did last year. Some question the strength of the Pac-10, especially after Oregon lost to Boise State recently. We know the Trojans lost only one game last year, that being to Oregon State in an away game, which is one of the weaknesses of USC…playing away against good teams. Not counting Stanford and UCLA since they are in the same state, USC went to Virginia, Washington State and Arizona last year. Washington State was 2-11, Virginia finished 5-7 and Arizona was the only team with a winning record…but USC escaped that one 17-10.
There could be a problem here with USC playing away against strong foes, and add to that a brand new quarterback, and this could really get interesting. Sure USC mopped up San Jose State, but they were SUPPOSED to. Now we’ll get to see how a top ranked team plays on the road where they have had problems, against a real quality team in Ohio State, in that HUGE stadium that holds more people than the city I live in TIMES three, with a freshman quarterback at the helm…
Good luck USC, you’re gonna need it.
But how much luck will they need against a Buckeye team that had trouble with Navy? I admit that the style Navy showed is not what USC will bring, so I think Ohio State can adjust easily, but the question will be whether Pryor can get the job done without “Beanie’ Wells being there. I am not confident that Pryor can lead his team if it comes to passing, and I think USC has a strong enough defense to force him to have to throw more than they need him to.
This might be closer than some think, but you have to decide which is greater, a team with a freshman quarterback playing away against a top 10 foe, or a team that was blasted last year by this same opponent, and struggled against Navy in a conference some are starting to question. I think I will take experience in QB, but I am not confident in his passing.
IF USC can’t force Pryor to throw more, I can see Ohio State winning by less than 7 points. IF he is forced to throw a lot, I can see turnovers galore…but the same could be said for USC. I think if both teams play at even par…USC still wins.
But not by much.
Syracuse vs Penn State
Syracuse vs. Penn State
Speedblog
Today Penn State has a chance to take a closer shot at the National Title, being ranked #7 and at home today against the mighty Syracuse Orangemen….
Ok, so they’re not so mighty…but can they give Penn State a run?
Only Iowa and USC beat the Nittany Lions last year as Penn State gave their fans every reason to laugh in the face of those critics that kept saying that Joe Paterno ought to retire. I for one was one of those guys that just got sick of so called “analysts” who felt that Joe Paterno ought to just give it up. Isn’t that age discrimination?
I am happy for Joe Pa, so I am pulling for them, but I also saw Syracuse last week and was impressed with Paulus the former Duke basketball player. I gotta say, he is pretty good. Their team lost last week to Minnesota, and went 3-9 last year, so the expectations are not that good.
Is there any chance for Syracuse to pull an upset? Well, as the universe turns, yeah. But if you asked me if it was likely, I can’t see it. The goal for Penn State is far, far higher than what Syracuse can expect, and let’s face it, Minnesota wasn’t one of the greatest teams last year, with a 7-6 record. In fact, Minnesota lost their last 6 games last year, when it mattered.
But this is about Syracuse and Penn State. Syracuse beat Northeastern, Louisville and Notre Dame last year. Granted that ND win was a good one, this has been the extent of the Orangemen. I do expect maybe a couple of more wins if Paulus plays well as he seems to play, but I just cannot see any victory over Penn State.
This will be a REAL test for the Syracuse quarterback, playing in an opponent’s field against a top 10 contender…it won’t be pretty for him or Syracuse, but I am very sure that Paulus has the poise. Playing with Duke and Coach K would have prepared him for that, and when I saw him play, he looked like a veteran, almost “Manning-like”.
I’m pulling for him to do well, but I am pulling for Penn State to win…won’t need to put that much effort into that. I see Penn State winning by a couple of touchdowns.
Speedblog
Today Penn State has a chance to take a closer shot at the National Title, being ranked #7 and at home today against the mighty Syracuse Orangemen….
Ok, so they’re not so mighty…but can they give Penn State a run?
Only Iowa and USC beat the Nittany Lions last year as Penn State gave their fans every reason to laugh in the face of those critics that kept saying that Joe Paterno ought to retire. I for one was one of those guys that just got sick of so called “analysts” who felt that Joe Paterno ought to just give it up. Isn’t that age discrimination?
I am happy for Joe Pa, so I am pulling for them, but I also saw Syracuse last week and was impressed with Paulus the former Duke basketball player. I gotta say, he is pretty good. Their team lost last week to Minnesota, and went 3-9 last year, so the expectations are not that good.
Is there any chance for Syracuse to pull an upset? Well, as the universe turns, yeah. But if you asked me if it was likely, I can’t see it. The goal for Penn State is far, far higher than what Syracuse can expect, and let’s face it, Minnesota wasn’t one of the greatest teams last year, with a 7-6 record. In fact, Minnesota lost their last 6 games last year, when it mattered.
But this is about Syracuse and Penn State. Syracuse beat Northeastern, Louisville and Notre Dame last year. Granted that ND win was a good one, this has been the extent of the Orangemen. I do expect maybe a couple of more wins if Paulus plays well as he seems to play, but I just cannot see any victory over Penn State.
This will be a REAL test for the Syracuse quarterback, playing in an opponent’s field against a top 10 contender…it won’t be pretty for him or Syracuse, but I am very sure that Paulus has the poise. Playing with Duke and Coach K would have prepared him for that, and when I saw him play, he looked like a veteran, almost “Manning-like”.
I’m pulling for him to do well, but I am pulling for Penn State to win…won’t need to put that much effort into that. I see Penn State winning by a couple of touchdowns.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
2009 College Football is HERE!
2009 College Football Begins!
Shall we dance?
Tonight as I blog this out (although it is actually 1:18 in the afternoon), college football begins. I have not written in awhile, but with the excitement of the upcoming college games, and the season, there may well be much to talk about. Right now every team has a chance to make it to the National Championships…but we know that more than half the teams are already eliminated.
The fun will see how this story unfolds, the debates, arguments and the success stories of the upcoming college season. Believe me, I am ready to jump in this, I love writing about football.
I had actually been gone so long I forgot where my blogs were, and had to hunt them down and remember what I had posted. I hope as the season rolls on, there will be much to speak about, and already there are stories that are controversial…take Michigan.
I would like to get into that a little more, but at this moment I just need to knock some rust off the keys as I prepare for the season. Another topic is Notre Dame, and how they could possibly got a top 25 ranking…based off WHAT?
Oh yeah, this will be a nice year to yap about….
Anyway, look forward to more posts as the season goes on, not just college football, but the NFL and other stories as we go along. Before I start to sink my teeth into this season, I hope you remember that what I talk about is in the context of sports, knowing that we can’t all agree on any one thing…except that college football fans love college football, and NFL fans love NFL. I am both. We certainly won’t agree on the teams we like and dislike, but I hope you remember that it is just a game…heh heh.
(he said, KNOWING his Raiders are in SERIOUS trouble this year…)
Anyway, look for some more blogs as we go along…let’s all enjoy the ride!
Shall we dance?
Tonight as I blog this out (although it is actually 1:18 in the afternoon), college football begins. I have not written in awhile, but with the excitement of the upcoming college games, and the season, there may well be much to talk about. Right now every team has a chance to make it to the National Championships…but we know that more than half the teams are already eliminated.
The fun will see how this story unfolds, the debates, arguments and the success stories of the upcoming college season. Believe me, I am ready to jump in this, I love writing about football.
I had actually been gone so long I forgot where my blogs were, and had to hunt them down and remember what I had posted. I hope as the season rolls on, there will be much to speak about, and already there are stories that are controversial…take Michigan.
I would like to get into that a little more, but at this moment I just need to knock some rust off the keys as I prepare for the season. Another topic is Notre Dame, and how they could possibly got a top 25 ranking…based off WHAT?
Oh yeah, this will be a nice year to yap about….
Anyway, look forward to more posts as the season goes on, not just college football, but the NFL and other stories as we go along. Before I start to sink my teeth into this season, I hope you remember that what I talk about is in the context of sports, knowing that we can’t all agree on any one thing…except that college football fans love college football, and NFL fans love NFL. I am both. We certainly won’t agree on the teams we like and dislike, but I hope you remember that it is just a game…heh heh.
(he said, KNOWING his Raiders are in SERIOUS trouble this year…)
Anyway, look for some more blogs as we go along…let’s all enjoy the ride!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Warnings for college football teams
Warnings for college football teams
I hope I am not too late to warn some of these teams, usually I post this earlier than on a Friday afternoon. I was so busy watching the Auburn vs. West Virginia game that I completely forgot to give my warnings.
So I better get on with it, because as we get closer and closer to the end of the season, there will be many teams that are on the edge of qualifying for a bowl, but won’t make it. There will be teams that think they have a shot at a BCS bowl that won’t make it, there are teams that think they have a chance at the BCS Championship, but won’t make it. Who will tell them of the impending danger?
Shall anyone warn Texas Tech of the danger that could happen? Playing a morning game vs. ranked Kansas in their house could be a problem, but surely not for such a team that scores 799 points a quarter? But then there’s that kicking game… what shall you do if a game comes down to a field goal? What shall you do?
And yet, perhaps greater warnings go to Kansas. You sit on top of the division ONLY because you have yet to play Missouri. Few give you any chance to beat Missouri, but that would be a moot point if you fail to defend your home against the high scoring Red Raiders…one ranked team WILL fall at the end of this game.
Has anyone warned Ball State of the huge implications of their game? While there is almost no chance to go to the BCS Championship, there is a good chance to go undefeated. Yet in your own division you are not the best team (technically). This could be a very slippery trap for you should you fail to handle your business at home against Eastern Michigan. The eyes of the NCAA will be watching….
Take care of your record Northwestern, for losses can add up faster than your calculators….
For years you have been compared to Duke when it comes to football, but this year can indeed be magical. Only one loss, and that to a quality team that was ranked, but now you must play just as hard against the worst team in the conference. It’s easy to get up for the big games, but can you get up for the small ones…every game matters you know. You are eligible for a bowl right now, but can you shoot for a higher profile bowl? It would me a lot to the future of your program. Lose this game to Indiana and we’ll be forced to say that famous phrase of Dennis Green…
“They are who we THOUGHT they were”
And who shall travel to Chapel Hill to warn both Boston College and UNC? Weren’t these two teams ranked sometime this year, and yet neither are on the top 25? Who will stand up for this conference and declare supremacy, or are we forced to see the best of a bunch of AVERAGE teams? Boston College has the unique chance to shake the foundations of the ACC and the BCS. With only one loss (Georgia Tech), they must now play 5 of 6 teams that has been ranked or currently ranked, plus the game vs. Notre Dame. Win all these games and you’ll be in the ACC Championship and sports media will sing your praises. But if you are as average as many think, you may struggle to split these games, lowering yourself to a mediocre bowl.
And what of YOU, Tarheels? Are you not just a fingernail from the post season? Yet you have two losses, one just recently to Virginia. You have a tough schedule ahead, with games vs. Boston College, Georgia Tech and Maryland. We know when it comes to state rivals such as NC State and Duke, anything can happen (well, don’t really know about that Duke game..) so which UNC team did we see? The one that made it inside the top 20, or the one that fell out last weekend? We shall see.
We shall also see what Wisconsin is really about…lately is has not been much. I warn you Wisconsin Badgers, do not fail your fans this weekend in your house vs. Illinois. Four losses in a row, all to Big 10 opponents, cannot be tolerated any more by this once proud team. Where then is the pride? There is still a chance that Wisconsin can play in the post season, all they need is 3 more wins. Surely you can make a home stand against Illinois to begin the road to recovery? But if you fail this weekend, what then will they whisper about your greatness when there was none shown this year?
And who shall inform Wake Forest of the dangers of playing in Florida? Wasn’t Wake Forest the best team of the ACC for a portion of this season? Were they not seen as the darlings of the ACC and almost guaranteed a BCS bowl? Where then is that same team? With 6 games left, can we all pencil you in for a bowl? We KNOW you can get at least two more wins, right? But we wonder about your offensive power…or lack of it. The ACC needs leaders to bring credibility to the conference, and you must be the carriers of such power. But lately there have been stories of your weakness…and that loss to Virginia raises eyebrows. Indeed, we wonder of your scoring, scoring only 19 points in your last 3 ACC contests…that’s an average of just over 6 points.
I warn you, find more points or there may be yet another loss this weekend….
And who desires to warn either team at the Duke vs. Vanderbilt game?
Did I not criticize Duke weeks ago for jumping on one of their players when he dove in the end zone, drawing a penalty? Didn’t Duke WIN that game against Virginia? Who told Duke that they were worthy of the top 25 and thus swelled their egos? Since then, they have not seen a victory. You now must play to make the post season bowl, but with 5 of the remaining 6 games being of teams that have been ranked this year, how then will you find 3 wins? If ever there shall be any hope of this team, it must come in a quality win. Lose this game, and it will be nearly impossible to see 6 wins…or even 5.
But laugh not at Duke, ye of Vanderbilt? We sang of your glory earlier this year as you jumped to a 5-0 start, with quality wins over South Carolina and Auburn, but those games have been put away, as well as your winning ways, losing your last two games. You need only one more victory to qualify for a bowl, and it seems to have been hand-delivered to you in the form of Duke. But take care, for some say that your wins over Auburn and South Carolina may have been based on those teams underestimating you…is there any truth to that?
If so, then wouldn’t YOU be doing the same if you underestimated Duke? You know they are starving for a bowl, and need a win over YOU to make it happen…will you see them as an easy win, or take them seriously as you should every opponent. We shall see.
And finally, a great caution goes out to the entire state of Michigan. Where has all the football spirits gone in this state? Let us not mention the Detroit Lions for starters, but who can explain the failure of mighty Michigan?
And yet, we also fear for Michigan State. Both must play each other this weekend, and one must lose.
Michigan State will be in a bowl, to be certain, but some of your sting has been removed. Have we not seen this before, where you started out great, and faltered at the end? I warn you, this cannot be tolerated and you must put a stop to this. The beginning of a new power in the Big 10 is within your grasps, but you must grip it firmly. While it may be true that some will question your strength of schedule, none can argue the heart of the Spartans. We saw that movie “The 300” and we know the power and heart of the Spartans…but we also know that at the end of the movie, they lost. History also says that those Spartans were slaughtered after a short stand…will you fall along the wayside as well, or will you take control of your destiny?
But what destiny remains for Michigan? Your post season is almost gone, and the only way to get it back is to win 4 of the last 5 games. You cannot afford to lose more than one game…ONE GAME. And yet, who will give you hope when you must defend your turf against Michigan State this week, and then play Minnesota, Northwestern and Ohio State the last 3 games of the season. Currently all three of these teams are ranked, but many will still question the strength of Minnesota and Northwestern. These could be games you can take if there is heart left in the Wolverines.
But I warn you, you are allowed only ONE loss…any more and your season is over. Take heed.
I hope I am not too late to warn some of these teams, usually I post this earlier than on a Friday afternoon. I was so busy watching the Auburn vs. West Virginia game that I completely forgot to give my warnings.
So I better get on with it, because as we get closer and closer to the end of the season, there will be many teams that are on the edge of qualifying for a bowl, but won’t make it. There will be teams that think they have a shot at a BCS bowl that won’t make it, there are teams that think they have a chance at the BCS Championship, but won’t make it. Who will tell them of the impending danger?
Shall anyone warn Texas Tech of the danger that could happen? Playing a morning game vs. ranked Kansas in their house could be a problem, but surely not for such a team that scores 799 points a quarter? But then there’s that kicking game… what shall you do if a game comes down to a field goal? What shall you do?
And yet, perhaps greater warnings go to Kansas. You sit on top of the division ONLY because you have yet to play Missouri. Few give you any chance to beat Missouri, but that would be a moot point if you fail to defend your home against the high scoring Red Raiders…one ranked team WILL fall at the end of this game.
Has anyone warned Ball State of the huge implications of their game? While there is almost no chance to go to the BCS Championship, there is a good chance to go undefeated. Yet in your own division you are not the best team (technically). This could be a very slippery trap for you should you fail to handle your business at home against Eastern Michigan. The eyes of the NCAA will be watching….
Take care of your record Northwestern, for losses can add up faster than your calculators….
For years you have been compared to Duke when it comes to football, but this year can indeed be magical. Only one loss, and that to a quality team that was ranked, but now you must play just as hard against the worst team in the conference. It’s easy to get up for the big games, but can you get up for the small ones…every game matters you know. You are eligible for a bowl right now, but can you shoot for a higher profile bowl? It would me a lot to the future of your program. Lose this game to Indiana and we’ll be forced to say that famous phrase of Dennis Green…
“They are who we THOUGHT they were”
And who shall travel to Chapel Hill to warn both Boston College and UNC? Weren’t these two teams ranked sometime this year, and yet neither are on the top 25? Who will stand up for this conference and declare supremacy, or are we forced to see the best of a bunch of AVERAGE teams? Boston College has the unique chance to shake the foundations of the ACC and the BCS. With only one loss (Georgia Tech), they must now play 5 of 6 teams that has been ranked or currently ranked, plus the game vs. Notre Dame. Win all these games and you’ll be in the ACC Championship and sports media will sing your praises. But if you are as average as many think, you may struggle to split these games, lowering yourself to a mediocre bowl.
And what of YOU, Tarheels? Are you not just a fingernail from the post season? Yet you have two losses, one just recently to Virginia. You have a tough schedule ahead, with games vs. Boston College, Georgia Tech and Maryland. We know when it comes to state rivals such as NC State and Duke, anything can happen (well, don’t really know about that Duke game..) so which UNC team did we see? The one that made it inside the top 20, or the one that fell out last weekend? We shall see.
We shall also see what Wisconsin is really about…lately is has not been much. I warn you Wisconsin Badgers, do not fail your fans this weekend in your house vs. Illinois. Four losses in a row, all to Big 10 opponents, cannot be tolerated any more by this once proud team. Where then is the pride? There is still a chance that Wisconsin can play in the post season, all they need is 3 more wins. Surely you can make a home stand against Illinois to begin the road to recovery? But if you fail this weekend, what then will they whisper about your greatness when there was none shown this year?
And who shall inform Wake Forest of the dangers of playing in Florida? Wasn’t Wake Forest the best team of the ACC for a portion of this season? Were they not seen as the darlings of the ACC and almost guaranteed a BCS bowl? Where then is that same team? With 6 games left, can we all pencil you in for a bowl? We KNOW you can get at least two more wins, right? But we wonder about your offensive power…or lack of it. The ACC needs leaders to bring credibility to the conference, and you must be the carriers of such power. But lately there have been stories of your weakness…and that loss to Virginia raises eyebrows. Indeed, we wonder of your scoring, scoring only 19 points in your last 3 ACC contests…that’s an average of just over 6 points.
I warn you, find more points or there may be yet another loss this weekend….
And who desires to warn either team at the Duke vs. Vanderbilt game?
Did I not criticize Duke weeks ago for jumping on one of their players when he dove in the end zone, drawing a penalty? Didn’t Duke WIN that game against Virginia? Who told Duke that they were worthy of the top 25 and thus swelled their egos? Since then, they have not seen a victory. You now must play to make the post season bowl, but with 5 of the remaining 6 games being of teams that have been ranked this year, how then will you find 3 wins? If ever there shall be any hope of this team, it must come in a quality win. Lose this game, and it will be nearly impossible to see 6 wins…or even 5.
But laugh not at Duke, ye of Vanderbilt? We sang of your glory earlier this year as you jumped to a 5-0 start, with quality wins over South Carolina and Auburn, but those games have been put away, as well as your winning ways, losing your last two games. You need only one more victory to qualify for a bowl, and it seems to have been hand-delivered to you in the form of Duke. But take care, for some say that your wins over Auburn and South Carolina may have been based on those teams underestimating you…is there any truth to that?
If so, then wouldn’t YOU be doing the same if you underestimated Duke? You know they are starving for a bowl, and need a win over YOU to make it happen…will you see them as an easy win, or take them seriously as you should every opponent. We shall see.
And finally, a great caution goes out to the entire state of Michigan. Where has all the football spirits gone in this state? Let us not mention the Detroit Lions for starters, but who can explain the failure of mighty Michigan?
And yet, we also fear for Michigan State. Both must play each other this weekend, and one must lose.
Michigan State will be in a bowl, to be certain, but some of your sting has been removed. Have we not seen this before, where you started out great, and faltered at the end? I warn you, this cannot be tolerated and you must put a stop to this. The beginning of a new power in the Big 10 is within your grasps, but you must grip it firmly. While it may be true that some will question your strength of schedule, none can argue the heart of the Spartans. We saw that movie “The 300” and we know the power and heart of the Spartans…but we also know that at the end of the movie, they lost. History also says that those Spartans were slaughtered after a short stand…will you fall along the wayside as well, or will you take control of your destiny?
But what destiny remains for Michigan? Your post season is almost gone, and the only way to get it back is to win 4 of the last 5 games. You cannot afford to lose more than one game…ONE GAME. And yet, who will give you hope when you must defend your turf against Michigan State this week, and then play Minnesota, Northwestern and Ohio State the last 3 games of the season. Currently all three of these teams are ranked, but many will still question the strength of Minnesota and Northwestern. These could be games you can take if there is heart left in the Wolverines.
But I warn you, you are allowed only ONE loss…any more and your season is over. Take heed.
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