[NU Sports] Big Ten today ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Good day for the league, namely by winning the big
profile game. Whoever dropped something on Lloyd
Carr's head, thank you! The man went deep, the man had
his team on a mission and the Wolverines -- of of last
year's Alamo embarassment -- could be a very, very
dangerous team that makes it to Columbus with an 11-0
record. They're solid on both sides of the ball and
have a chip on their shoulders.

After watching John Saunders and the ABC on ESPN ...
or ESPN on ABC ... or ESPNABCwhatever gang question
the strength of the Big Ten all day when OSU and Iowa
fell behind early, it was good for the league to roar
back like that.

As for NU - from WGN online and the Net it sounded
ugly. But a win's a win. I think we all saw that our
offense just isn't going to be the same this year with
a freshman quarterback, be it Kafka or Brewer. But I
liked hearing of the defensive pressure and blitz
packages. I was a bit sad to see Kafka yanked because
he was getting close, but understand that Coach Fitz
can't have the turnovers.

I see a lot of hustle by our team, but we just miss
those leaders on each side that Baz and McGarrigle
were - the O-line in particular really needs to step
up and open some holes. But that's what these
pre-conference games are for, and we'll hopefully
start coming together when Big Ten play rolls around.

As for the rest of the league, what we know at this
point ...

* TEAMS TO BEAT: Ohio State and Michigan. No surprise
here except that the Maize and Blue was snubbed a bit
by the preseason polls and pubs. But they each have
great backfields on offense and rapidly improving and
quick defenses. If they keep their focus, it could be
a mammoth of a game in Columbus at the end of the
season.

* DARKHORSE: Iowa. They just don't have the overall
talent on both sides that the big two do, but they
have Drew Tate and a top-notch coach and that could
spell upset, especially for that night game in Kinnick
with the Bucks (though Ferentz has had Michigan's
number, too).

* BOWL TEAMS: Penn State, Michigan State, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Purdue. None of these look like top 20
teams at this time, but should have enough to make it
to the bowls unless they beat each other up and slip
up somewhere else along the way. PSU's big question is
the freshman quarterback, MSU's is their inconsistency
especially after September and Wisconsin doesn't look
like they've found their identity without Barry yet.
Minny and Purdue look like the same old Gopher and
Boiler teams of recent years - good against cupcakes
but not ready for prime time. Champs Bowl here we
come!

* THE REST: Northwestern, Illinois, Indiana. It's
tough to see any of these three making a bowl now with
NU's loss to UNH and no game between the Hoosiers and
Cats. But they each are capable of playing spoiler to
one or two of the teams in the middle of the league
and are by no means the cupcakes in the cellar that
most leagues have. Five or six wins from each would
not be surprising.

Two big games in the Great Lakes State next week for
Sparty and Michigan. We'll find out how legit the
Badgers are in the Big House and if the Irish can
rebound in hostile East Lansing. PSU-OSU should be
good as well (though the Bucks are gonna be waiting
after PSU's ambush last year and the frosh QB will be
in for a rude welcome to Columbus) and Minny-Purdue a
big one for mid-level bowl position. Let the
conference race begin.

As for the Cats, hopefully our pass defense -- which
got a nice rest this week:) -- will be ready for that
mini-shotgun of Nevada so they don't pick us apart
like UNH did. And the O-line better start getting a
chip on their shoulders so we can start shoving Sutton
and Jordan down their throats like Fresno State did.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

PS - I know it's not Big Ten, but the Pac 10 used to
be our Rose Bowl brethren, and this comeback by the
Quacks against Oklahoma is just WILD! Sorta like the
good-ole days at Dyche/Ryan and hopefully what we'll
see again once we get more experience for the QB and offense.

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!

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