[NU Sports] heading in to conference play

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> I liked the 4-4 prediction, definitely dropping the PSU an
> Wisconsin road games, and probably losing to Iowa and MSU at

I like that we have a bye week before MSU to help ... however, Purdue has the bye this week before our night game. But for now, I'll worry about Minny.

> 4-4, 8-4 would net a nice Bowl, I would
> think.   Speaking of which, what is the
> official bowl pecking order ?
> I am pretty sure about:
>  
> 1  BCS Title  OSU
> 2  Rose        Iowa
> 3  Cap-One   Wisconsin
> 4  Outback   Penn State

Don't forget Michigan ... their schedule toughens up at the end, but if they can get 7 or 8 wins, they will certainly be in the Gator at #5 and maybe even jump PSU for the Outback with an exciting offense and the return of a big-time program to New Year's Day. Besides, PSU is vulnerable with the rookie QB. They could surprise a team and then lose to a Purdue or Illinois the next week (or hopefully, NU!:) ).

> All guesses...what are the remaining bowls
> ?   I think Gator, old Cotton Bowl, Tempe are
> involved ?

After the Gator comes Phoenix, I believe, which is a pretty sweet deal in December (if they fill up the lake that emptied this summer when the rubber dam burst :) ).

> I also ran the Sagarin numbers from USA Today, just to see

Well, you know how I feel about computer rankings. One this weekend showed the Big XII as the #2 rated conference ... despite how Nebraska appears to be their only team capable of beating another top 25 foe and the Big Ten was #4 down by the top 25-less Big East and ACC.

> Meaning Sagarin right now likes us to go 6-2,
> 10-2   which I would love to see, but having
> watched these guys in games 1-4, I think that that is too
> rosy a picture

Yup - gotta get a solid ground game before I see us with 10 wins.

> PS  Been reading the Star Tribune stories and message
> boards all week.  Brewster sounds like 'dead man
> walking', which adds to my fear of Saturday's opponent

Exactly - we'll probably be facing Zooker with nothing to lose either, which throws the playbook out the window and opens up all kind of 4th down gimmick plays. Ugh.

Like I said, Minny hasn't been a great place for us to play recently - but hopefully a new stadium means a new start for NU in Minny.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT