BigTen Pairings in Bowl Games

[Van]

2-5, with Ohio St and Michigan garnering the only wins.

But hey, those are the two that matter, the one in particular. If the Big 10 gets both a national championship and a Rose Bowl win over USC in one season that's one helluva good season, regardless of how down the rest of the conference was that year. Nobody's going to remember all those Consolation Bowl losses but they'll sure remember those two wins there at the top.

[Ken]

Outback
Tennessee (9-3) (5-3) #17
Penn State (8-4) (5-3) NR

Sorry PSUFAN, but this one looks like a tough draw for Penn State too. Penn State beat all 8 of the bad teams they played, and lost to all 4 of the good teams they played. Tennessee is a good team. Edge, Tennessee.

Any team that can score even 10-14 pts is a tough draw for PSU.

[420]

Minny over Tech... if they use their "zone blocking" and they don't try and pass the ball.

Tech doesn't have the players to deal with a run game(sup' aTm)

Purdue takes Maryland, if... they can get up early. Fuck it, they take Maryland.

Texas v Iowa?

Texas, since they pussed out and didn't want any part of Cal, in the Holiday Bowl. They had an invite to play Cal, yet Mack Brown didn't want any part of Cal and opted for a lesser team.

UT v Penn St.

This one wont be close.

Hope Penn St. can bounce back next year... since I love the tradition of Happy Valley.

Ark. v Wiscon.... Arkansas huge. This one could get as ugly as LSU v ND.

$C v Mich... this one could be close, but it won't.

Mich. hasn't played anyone other than a rival.

$C big.

Florida v Ohio State?

This one could go either way... both teams have to much talent to even predict the game.

[Ken]

Outback
Tennessee (9-3) (5-3) #17
Penn State (8-4) (5-3) NR

Sorry PSUFAN, but this one looks like a tough draw for Penn State too. Penn State beat all 8 of the bad teams they played, and lost to all 4 of the good teams they played. Tennessee is a good team. Edge, Tennessee.

Any team that can score even 10-14 pts is a tough draw for PSU.

I should add... it most likely won't be a blowout though. PSU's D is just too freakin' darned good. While I wouldn't bet on a PSU win, it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

[WolverineSteve]

Tennessee is capable of laying turds the last couple years. This one could stay close.

[Screw_Michigan]

88, did those corporations cut you a check? "rose bowl" and "bcs championship" would have sufficed.

but good takes. i too am looking forward to the tejas/iowa debacle. will be one for the ages.

[PSUFAN]

Tennessee just barely missed the MNC game. After all, they beat Cal.

[See You Next Wednesday]

Just replace Arkansas with Auburn from last year's discussion about the Capital One Bowl. A little reminder, a lot of pre-game discussion about how Auburn would destroy Wisconsin etc.

Another reminder, Wisconsin 24 Auburn 10.

Expect the same.

[buckeye_in_sc]

Is Stanford going to a bowl...?

After all they gave KAL fits...

[Goober McTuber]

Ark. v Wiscon.... Arkansas huge. This one could get as ugly as LSU v ND.

$C v Mich... this one could be close, but it won't.

Mich. hasn't played anyone other than a rival.

$C big.

Happy, happy, joy, joy.

[Dinsdale]

Purdue...talk about bad defense... (e.g.42 to Hawaii).

You mean they held Hawaii to under their D1 leading scoring average?

Wouldn't that mean they played "above average" defense that day?

[PSUFAN]

PSU scored 12 points on Purdue. They are a virtual sieve.

[Danimal]

Minn has been a good bowl-team under Mason, but without a credible D this one will be tough. Slight edge Tech

I like Pete Carroll over Carr but Mich has played better ball, tough call.

Meyer will take Florida to a MNC but it will be in the Tebow-era. Leak is good but not the ideal qb for the spread-option. Also, they lack a go-to rb and kicking has been questionable.

Ohio State 24
Florida 14

[Van]

I like Pete Carroll over Carr

I would too, under normal circumstances. Certainly, Lloyd Carr hasn't shown himself to be a particularly good big game coach. His rivalry record sucks and his recent bowl record isn't that great either. However, let's not forget the fact that The Pete Factor didn't work against Mack Brown or Karl Duhrell, neither of whoim will ever be confused with Lombardi. Those were both supposed to be huge mismatches in USC's favor, coaching wise, and USC lost both of 'em in close games where the coaches really did have a lot to do with the outcome.

I'm guessing the effectiveness of The Pete Factor began to dwindle with the loss of Norm Chow and Ed Orgeron. USC's entire coaching staff in '04? Yeah, I'll take that staff in a big game over anybody's, with Tressell and his gang being the only other staff out there I'd consider.

Now? Not so much. I still like Pete a great deal but Lane Kiffin blows and there just doesn't seem to be any separation now between USC's staff and those at many other schools.

[Danimal]

I like Pete Carroll over Carr

I would too, under normal circumstances. Certainly, Lloyd Carr hasn't shown himself to be a particularly good big game coach. His rivalry record sucks and his recent bowl record isn't that great either. However, let's not forget the fact that The Pete Factor didn't work against Mack Brown or Karl Duhrell, neither of whoim will ever be confused with Lombardi. Those were both supposed to be huge mismatches in USC's favor, coaching wise, and USC lost both of 'em in close games where the coaches really did have a lot to do with the outcome.

I'm guessing the effectiveness of The Pete Factor began to dwindle with the loss of Norm Chow and Ed Orgeron. USC's entire coaching staff in '04? Yeah, I'll take that staff in a big game over anybody's, with Tressell and his gang being the only other staff out there I'd consider.

Now? Not so much. I still like Pete a great deal but Lane Kiffin blows and there just doesn't seem to be any separation now between USC's staff and those at many other schools.

I do see your point. The loss of ubergenius OC/qb-coach Chow definitely showed against UCLA. The loss of Orgeron is nothing to sneeze-at either. One of the problems with success is that others come raiding your staff.