[NU Sports] Around the league ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

So I flip on ABC's start of Wisky/MSU and it's nice to see even Herbstreit is swallowing the B(C)S party line, yapping about how Wisconsin hasn't faced a top-level team like they will tonight.

Two problems with that:

First, MSU is not a top level team. They lost to Notre Dame.
Secondly, what is UNL? Chopped liver? How can Wisky's thumping of the Huskers be so easily dismissed?!?!

Sickening ... the SEC crew on CBS would never just buy into the BS ... the Big Ten needs to promote itself more. That's the game and we're fighting for B(C)S bucks here.

After the 14-0 start and likely win tonight (despite an MSU rally right now), the B(C)S machine will probably realize the first point and say that Wisconsin "just hasn't faced anyone yet." Even though they've played two teams better than anyone Okie State, the computer darling, has faced.

Meanwhile around the league ...

* ILL-NOISE is in a tailspin (too bad our game with them wasn't in November, after the Zooker implosion). The only sure win on their schedule is Minnesota, so it may be Texas again (Texas forever!) for the fighting Zookers.

* Don't count PURDOO as bowling, however. They need two more wins and while Indiana is a likely win, the other games are at Ann Arbor, at Madison and Iowa and OSU at home. They may need to beat the Buckeyes to head to Motown.

* Don't sleep in IOWA ... they're 5-2 and hitting the soft stretch in their schedule -- if they defend home turf against Michigan and MSU and win at Minny and Purdoo, they should be 9-2 heading into Lincoln. And we know Ferentz' teams usually are a heck of a lot better in November than they are in September.

* Speaking of UNL, the Huskers looked like the Huskers of old this week and should feed off the home crowd against MSU and NU to go 8-1 through the first weekend of November. After that, though, they visit Happy Valley and the Big House back to back weeks and wind up at home against Iowa ... but a rematch with Wisky in Indy is still the safe bet.

Right now, I'd say NU needs a second-half comeback or Sparty turkey hangover to make a bowl (and no slip ups against IU and Minny teams who -- since they don't face each other -- will be looking for their first Big Ten win against us). And the other teams sweating it out are OSU and Purdoo, as the winner of that game will likely make it to a bowl while the other heads home.

Projections ...

* WISCONSIN (12-0 / 8-0) vs. Oregon in Rose Bowl
* NEBRASKA (11-2 / 7-1) vs. Stanford in Fiesta Bowl
* PENN STATE (9-3 / 6-2) vs. Georgia in Citrus Bowl
* IOWA (9-3 / 6-2) vs. South Carolina in Outback Bowl
* MICHIGAN STATE (8-4 / 5-3) vs. Florida in Gator Bowl
* MICHIGAN (9-3 / 5-3) vs. Texas A&M in Insight Bowl
* OHIO STATE (6-6 / 3-5) vs. Texas in Houston Bowl
* ILLINOIS (7-5 / 3-5) vs. Texas Tech in Dallas Bowl

We need a rally - c'mon Cats!

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

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