[NU Sports] Pigskin Picks - Welcome back!

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

It's just about that time of year again - pigskin is in the air and the picks will be starting in a few weeks. August is going to be pretty busy with heading back to school this week, moving and my brother's wedding, so I wanted to get this notice out a little early.

I put my annual predictions and such online this year so it won't clutter your mailboxes. Feel free to visit if you want:

http://360.yahoo.com/sjtruog

You can see my picks for the year there, but stats-geek that I am, I wanted to look at some numbers from the 15 years now of modern Big Ten football (i.e. since PSU joined the league).

NORTHWESTERN'S RECORD AGAINST ...

* Illinois (8-7 / 8-5 since 1995 / 5-5 in the last 10 games / 4-1 in past five seasons)
* Indiana (8-3 / 7-2 / 8-2 / 3-0)
* Iowa (6-7 / 6-5 / 5-5 / 2-1)
* Michigan (3-7 / 3-7 / 3-7 / 0-5)
* Michigan State (5-6 / 5-4 / 5-5 / 2-1)
* Minnesota (6-5 / 5-4 / 6-4 / 1-2)
* Ohio State (1-10 / 1-8 / 1-9 / 1-4)
* Penn State (3-10 / 3-8 / 2-8 / 2-2)
* Purdue (4-8 / 4-8 / 2-8 / 2-3)
* Wisconsin (5-7 / 5-5 / 5-5 / 2-2)

The record against the "Big Three" is sad but not surprising ... the records against MSU, Iowa and Wisconsin is encouraging ... what surprised me the most though was our record against Purdue. Tiller's forced-retirement may be a big help to NU (and a few others).

Some other notes ...

Eight teams have won conference championships in the 15 year modern era of Big Ten football. Six have won outright titles, Iowa and Purdue have shared a title (or two for the Hawks), and Minny, MSU and Indiana have not won a title in the new Big Ten. Overall league records since 1993:

* Ohio State: 92-27-1
* Michigan: 91-29
* Penn State: 73-47
* Wisconsin: 71-46-3
* Iowa: 60-59-1
* Purdue: 57-60-3
* Michigan State: 53-66-1
* Northwestern: 49-71
* Illinois: 40-79-1
* Minnesota: 38-82
* Indiana: 31-89

As for the picks, the first week's lineup should come out the week of Aug. 23, with picks due by the time the season kicks off Aug. 30. 

A reminder that these picks are just for fun and bragging rights - if you're good enough, your name will be added to our distinguished Hall of Fame below.:)

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## PIGSKIN PICKS - HALL OF FAME ##
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MATT HARTL "OVERALL EXCELLENCE" AWARD
Overall Pigskin Picks Champion
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1997 - Eric J. Steffe
1998 - Carl Pilger
1999 - Eric J. Steffe
2000 - Bill Praast
2001 - Harlan Heiber
2002 - Chuck Herron
2003 - Chuck Herron
2004 - Marilyn Zilka
2005 - Alan Wolfson
2006 - Marilyn Zilka
2007 - Marilyn Zilka

ROB JOHNSON "IRONMAN" AWARD
Best record of those who have competed every week
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1997 - Eric J. Steffe (135-40)
1998 - Trey McAdams (120-40)
1999 - Bruce Taylor (111-39)
2000 - Steve Kandelman and Bruce Taylor (109-44)
2001 - Trey McAdams (107-43)
2002 - Chuck Herron (132-48)
2003 - Chuck Herron (130-40)
2004 - Marilyn Zilka (129-36)
2005 - Alan Wolfson (112-38)
2006 - Chuck Herron (113-37)
2007 - Stephen Truog (110-45)

STEVE SCHNUR "ACCURACY" AWARD
Highest percentage - min. 5 weeks
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1997 - Eric J. Steffe (.771)
1998 - Carl Pilger (.792)
1999 - Eric J. Steffe (.756)
2000 - Bill Praast (.714)
2001 - Harlan Heiber (.744)
2002 - Greg Kane (.738)
2003 - Chuck Herron (.765)
2004 - Marilyn Zilka (.782)
2005 - Alan Wolfson (.747)
2006 - Marilyn Zilka (.764)
2007 - Marilyn Zilka (.719)

PAT FITZGERALD "MOST HITS" AWARD
Most correct picks overall
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1997 - NA
1998 - Trey McAdams (120)
1999 - Bruce Taylor (111)
2000 - Steve Kandelman and Bruce Taylor (109)
2001 - Trey McAdams (107)
2002 - Chuck Herron (132)
2003 - Chuck Herron (130)
2004 - Marilyn Zilka (129)
2005 - Alan Wolfson (112)
2006 - Chuck Herron (113)
2007 - Stephen Truog (110)

BRIAN MUSSO "GUTSY" AWARD
Most upset special picks
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1997 - NA
1998 - Kelly Sevilla (10)
1999 - Jim Bendat (12)
2000 - Jim Bendat and Kelly Sevilla (13)
2001 - Jim Bendat (15)
2002 - Jim Bendat (18)
2003 - Bill O'Connor (14)
2004 - Carl Rossi (10)
2005 - Ace McInturff (14)
2006 - Ace McInturff (10)
2007 - Sam Wolfson (16)

D'WAYNE BATES "BOWL MVP" AWARD
Best performance in the postseason (bowl pool)
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1997 - Mark Loach (20-1)
1998 - Jeff Larson (18-4)
1999 - Roger Bradshaw (15-8)
2000 - Carl Rossi (18-6)
2001 - Kenn Ruby (19-6)
2002 - Ty Levine (18-10)
2003 - Ryan Farney (19-8)
2004 - Ace McInturff and Ivars Embrekts (19-8)
2005 - Bob Waldele (19-8)
2006 - Mark Ament and Neil Kaplan (15-5)
2007 - Trey McAdams, Bob Waldele and Marilyn Zilka (15-5)

Week one coming in a few weeks - hope you can join in the fun this year.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

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