I'm originally a happy valley native and still know many people up there as well as have many friends with season tickets. I was shocked how many of them sent out emails for their tickets to ooc games to see if anyone wanted to buy them. The only game that didn't happen for was notre dame, because at that point no one realized how horrible they truly were going to be. I also agree that the PSU - Texas A&M game depends on how Morelli plays. When he's on, PSU is great, and when he's off, their defense keeps them in most games.

I also apoligize for forgetting Illinois - USC in an earlier post, but I don't really think we even need to comment on that game.

Even so, modifiying my predition for Illinios, the little 11 will go 1-7 or 2-6 during the bowl season.

Virtually every single rating system has the Big 10 as the worst AQ conference this year. The Big 10 being the worst BCS conference this year is fact, and not even worthy of debate. http://www.mratings.com/cf/compare.htm

However, they do have some defense of their consistently bad bowl record. They usually play SEC teams in SEC country. It is an effective home game for the SEC team. Thus, some of their bad record just comes because they are playing road games in bowl games. The Big 10 should be pushing for a playoff because they would be able to get southern teams to play in cold weather for the first two rounds, giving them a distinct advantage.

Also, though the SEC is the highest rated conference, remember that they played about a million games vs. the SunBelt this year, and are only 7-7 against other BCS conferences. By way of reference, the MWC won 8 games against BCS teams this year. So, the SEC is on top by default, not performance. But since their bowl games are simply home games against Big 10 teams, it is unlikely they will get knocked off.

Go Cougs!!!!!!!!

Hawkeye-Coug wrote:

Virtually every single rating system has the Big 10 as the worst AQ conference this year. The Big 10 being the worst BCS conference this year is fact, and not even worthy of debate.
http://www.mratings.com/cf/compare.htm

However, they do have some defense of their consistently bad bowl record. They usually play SEC teams in SEC country. It is an effective home game for the SEC team. Thus, some of their bad record just comes because they are playing road games in bowl games. The Big 10 should be pushing for a playoff because they would be able to get southern teams to play in cold weather for the first two rounds, giving them a distinct advantage.

Also, though the SEC is the highest rated conference, remember that they played about a million games vs. the SunBelt this year, and are only 7-7 against other BCS conferences. By way of reference, the MWC won 8 games against BCS teams this year. So, the SEC is on top by default, not performance. But since their bowl games are simply home games against Big 10 teams, it is unlikely they will get knocked off.

Go Cougs!!!!!!!!

Where is wolfie when you need him. I'm sure he could find a site that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the MWC and BYU inparticular played the weakest schedule and the 8 wins were not really wins but actually losses but somehow appear on the score sheet as wins.

BTW look at where all the OOC games are played for those BCS teams. I think Fla leaves their stadium once a year at most for an OCC game. If you are not FLA St or Miami you can forget about a home and home unless you are sec but that's only because the conf makes them do it! In six seasons they have played four ooc away games. Three at Fla St. and one at Miami.

The BIG 10 is actually the 3rd best BCS conference according to this guy!?!?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/bill_trocchi/12/12/conference.rankings/index.html

He has the Pac-10 the worst. He doesn't count wins over BYU, Utah, and Boise State as quality wins, but he does have ISU's win over Iowa as a quality win.

The Big Ten is definitely in a down year, but I actually think it's not as bad as everyone says. I've been living in the Big Ten for over 4 years now, and I follow Big Ten football--it's a fun and competative league. I don't know why everyone hates the Big Ten so much on this board--there's a lot of tradition and passion in Big Ten football--a lot more passionate than what I've seen from the Pac 10. Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Purdue are football schools and have no problem packing their 65,000-105,000 seat stadiums every week. Michigan State, Illinois, and Indiana are basketball schools, but draw decently in football. Minnesota is a hockey school that will draw a lot better when it joins its Big Ten brethren in building on on-campus stadium (the Dome sucks). And Northwestern--well--they're the brains of the conference.

Anyway, I'd say this year, the Big Ten is better than the ACC and Big East, and competitive with the Pac 10 (which I think is overrated this year). The SEC and Big XII are the top 2 in that order. None of this is saying much because the bottom 4 BCS leagues have all been unimpressive this year. If the Big Ten is an average BCS league, going about .500 in the bowls wouldn't be unexpected.

Conference strength is all cyclical. From 2002 through 2005, the Big Ten was probably competative with the SEC. Let's not forget, as good as everyone says the SEC is, the Big Ten has won the last three Capital One Bowls, which pits Big Ten #2 versus SEC #2. Iowa beat LSU, and Wisconsin beat Auburn and Arkansas. The Outback Bowl, which is Big Ten #3 versus SEC #3/4 has basically been decided by a touchdown or less the past six games (except for Iowa's blowout of Florida in 2003).