[NU Sports] Midterm marks (was Re: MSU)

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

I just wish the Ill-noise and Michigan offenses had looked that inept against us ... goes to show what a defense can do, I guess. Although watching Cousins pick apart the weak UM defense, I wondered why we didn't do that in the second half. I also wondered how MSU had looked so awful at Notre Dame ...

Oh well, the other bright spot is that their losses also hurt Wisconsin, who needed the Illini and Wolverines to keep winning so it looks better when they beat 'em later in the year. Looks like the Smug Smirk will have to score 70+ from here out to get attention.

As for MSU's class, it was pretty clear they wanted to "beat up" Robinson from the start and were taking a lot of cheap shots -- some blatant, some more subtle. But it really did make them look bad. 

And I have no confidence that the Big Ten will do anything about it -- after all, they didn't even act on the Illini player's blatant knee to the groin against NU and let the university's weak 1-game (Indiana) suspension stand.

It looks like the Big Ten has a lot of "half teams" this year ... Michigan, Illinois and NU can score a lot, but don't really have much for defense, while MSU, PSU and OSU have great defenses but can't score. It will be interesting to see Wisky at MSU next week. I don't think the Spartans have enough firepower to keep up, but with the home crowd under the lights and no fear from beating the big bad Badger bullies last year, they could make it a game. As for Wisky at OSU the next week in the Shoe, the Bucks are gonna have to do more than just complete one pass to beat Wisconsin.

Sooooooo, at the midway mark, here's how the league's shaping up ...

* WISCONSIN - Clear class of the conference and not much in between them and a 13-0 mark if they can win in East Lansing. The only question is whether they can move up into the title game hunt.

* NEBRASKA - The defense hasn't lived up to the hype and they're finding the Big Ten a lot tougher week to week than they thought (you're not in the Big XII anymore, Huskers) ... but with MSU visiting Lincoln, they still look like the best bet for Wisconsin's foe in Indy. The question will be whether two big losses to the Badgers keep them out of a B(C)S at-large berth. You gotta figure the SEC will get two, Boise will be there and (since they won't have a title game loss by facing Oregon again like UNL will with UW, and get to finish by whuppin' up on ND) Stanford ... so that leaves a Big XII candidate (Okie State?) and the Big Ten vying for the fourth spot. With the Huskers, Wolverines and Illini in the mix, I like the Big Ten's odds.

BCS Projections
> Title: Alabama vs. Oklahoma - Unless some upsets happen, it looks like Bucky can't crack the top two
> Rose: Oregon vs. Wisconsin - Finesse against power, something tells me the Ducks will be roadkill
> Orange: Clemson vs. West Virginia - Honestly, just throw darts and tell the 10 people in attendance who's playing
> Sugar: LSU vs. Boise State - Tough draw for the Broncos, but they're as fearless as anyone
> Fiesta: Nebraska vs. Stanford - Lots of red in the desert and lots of smashmouth football

As for the rest of the league, the bowl locks ...

* ILLINOIS (projection: 9-3 / Outback Bowl) - The loss today probably hurt any B(C)S hopes (10-2 might have gotten an at-large berth), but the Illini should still finish decent with 9 wins and a New Year's Day bowl.

* PENN STATE (9-3 / Citrus Bowl) - The Lions are waaaay under the radar ... MSU has one loss against unranked ND and is #23 ... Arkansas has one loss against a same Bama team that beat the Piggies by much more than they did PSU and they're #10 (what the heck?) ... PSU is unranked for now but should climb back in soon with their "winnin' ugly" ways. If they can split the homestand with Illinois/UNL and split the road games at Wisky and OSU, they could wind up in Orlando.

* IOWA (9-3 / Gator Bowl) - The schedule gets a bit softer for the Hawkeyes in the middle, and if they defend home turf against Sparty and Big Blue in November, they should head into their game in Lincoln at a surprising 9-2 and with a shot at Indy. I don't think they'll win the Corn Bowl, but they should make it to Florida for New Year's Day.

* MICHIGAN (8-4 / Insight Bowl) - They won't disappear like last year, but the Wolverines' dreams of Indy died today. They can take solace, however, in that their finale with Ohio State may keep the Buckeyes from bowling.


* MICHIGAN STATE (8-4 / Texas Bowl) - A big win today, but with Wisconsin and Nebraska coming up (and a road trip to Iowa), the Spartans could be ready for a fall ... all the way to Houston.

On the bubble ...

* OHIO STATE (6-6 / Dallas Bowl) - Big win today, but they really need to beat Purdue and Indiana following their visit from the Badgers, or else they're gonna need to beat PSU at home and win in Ann Arbor to go bowling at all. The Illini upset, however, gave them legit hope for the postseason.

* NORTHWESTERN - Cats have an outside shot, but no room for error. They need to beat either PSU or MSU at home (tough tasks) and sweep Minny/Indy/Rice. Still alive, but barely.

* PURDUE - They need three more wins, but the problem is that they only play Indiana once. The other five games are Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Illinois and Iowa. If you can find two wins in those five, you deserve better than Detroit!

Making plans at home ...

* MINNESOTA and INDIANA.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT
 
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
________________________________



Penn State didn't appear to be having that great a day against Purdoo,
either.

The ugly game of the weekend has to have been the Hawaii - San Jose State
game last night, 12 turnovers in the game, and the margin of victory 
was a blocked extra point that was returned by the defense for two 
points, by a player who got a cramp at midfield but gutted it out and 
scored.
--
Mike Nolan

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