[Husker] Bowl matchups

[Steve Reichenbach]

There are a few games pitting the Big 12 (soon to be 10) and the
Big 10 (soon to be 12).

Missouri is favored by 1 over Iowa.
- Missouri finished 6-2 in conference, North co-champ, ranked #12
- Iowa finished 4-4 in conference and is unranked
- How is the line only 1 point?  Computers say Missouri by 5-7.

Baylor is favored by 2 over Illinois
- Both Baylor and Illinois finished 4-4 in conference
- Computers suggest Illinois should be favored by 2-3 points

Texas Tech is favored by 9.5 over Northwestern.
- Both TTU and Northwestern finished 3-5 in conference
- Computers suggest TTU by 6-8 points.

In all three cases, the Big 12 team is favored, but only one of the
games, TTU v Northwestern, has heavy favorite. 

In two cases, Baylor v Illinois and TTU v Northwestern, the line bends
the Big 12's direction (relative to computer rankings).  In the other
case, Missouri v Iowa, the line bends the Big 10's direction.
Computers have ranked Missouri highly all year.

It will be pretty easy for me to switch conference allegiances in
each of these three games and root for the Big 10.

In other bowl games, the Big 10 is favored in only one (so only one
favorite out of a total of eight bowls).
- Ohio St -6 v Arkansas
- Wisconsin +2.5 v TCU (Computers have TCI by a TD)
- Michigan +6 v Mississippi St
- Penn St +7 v Florida
- Michigan St +11 v Alabama
It will be hard for me to root for Michigan unless Rodriguez is gone.
On the other hand, maybe it's good for Nebraska if Michigan keeps him.
I think this would have been a good year for Paterno to leave, but I
don't really root against him.  I don't care much for the Penn St.
fan base though.  I can easily root for the other Big 10 teams.

In other bowl games, the Big 12 is favored in all but one (so only
one underdog out of eight bowls).
- Oklahoma -16 v Connecticut
- Oklahoma St -6 v Arizona
- Kansas St -2.5 v Syarcuse
- Texas A&M +1 v LSU
And of course:
- Nebraska -17 v Washington
That is the largest spread of these 16 bowl games.
I'll continue to root for the Big 12 in these games (as Texas isn't on
the list).

It is claimed that because of its large following and television markets
that the Big 10 tends to get paired up with better (typically tougher)
opponents and that teams from smaller markets tend to get paired with
worse (typically easier) opponents.  That view is supported by this
year's matchups.  This year, some of that is accidental, e.g., OU v
Connecticut, but still the reversal of favorites  --- 1/8 for the Big 10
and 7/8 for the Big 12 --- is striking.

The Big 12 could win all its games.  The Big 12 lines are -17, -16,
-9.5, -6, -2.5, -2, -1, and +1.  Even if they split the close games,
6-2 looks likely.

The Big 10 lines are -6, +1, +2, +2.5, +6, +7, +9.5, and +11.  Even
if they split the close games, 2-6 is most likely or perhaps 3-5.  Two
of the most interesting are against the Big 12.  In the other close
game, I guess I'd pick Wisconsin in an upset (a pretty big upset if
you believe the computers).