My take on the Bowl Games involving the Big 10 Conference:
Michigan State -4 1/2 vs Wake Forest. Michigan State has no offense and their defense was very poor at times. Wake has played a rather soft schedule. Despite the cold weather, Wake scores enough to win this low scoring game. Huge line shift here from Wake -2 to MSU -4 1/2.
Iowa -2 vs USC. Iowa should win easily here. The idiot USC head coach (Clay Helton) has not even opened up practice yet. He is acting like he is just happy to be there. Iowa is taking the game much more seriously.
Memphis at Penn State -7. Had Mike Norvell not left Memphis, I would say that Memphis wins this game easily. The do have the superior offense. Penn State has the better defense, but are they really interested? They failed to cover 3 out of their last 4 games and lost two outright. Gun to head, I like the underdog. Very close game.
Ohio State vs Clemson -2. Ohio State s=looked great playing some over-rated teams like Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan. They have everything. Clemson looked great laying many weak teams. Big 10 homers in here love Ohio State in this game. Clemson has been there, done that. Knowing who the Big 10 Homers are in here, Clemson is the pick.
Illinois vs Cal -7. The fact that Illinois is even in a bowl game shows you how over-rated the Big 10 West is. Two of their wins came against Akron and UConn, teams that went a combined 1-23 this season. Cal has run hot and cold this season, but they have enough defense to win this game.
Michigan vs Alabama -7. The EGO bowl between Harbaugh and Saban. Alabama is obviously the most talented team of the two, but no one seems to be sure of exactly who is, or is not playing in this game. Tough to call when you have two teams. one with a Head Coach who cannot win a big game, and the other with a team that may or may not show up. I'll go with Michigan in an upset here. They have the most to gain.
Minnesota vs Auburn -7 1/2. Minny's bubble burst with a loss to Iowa and a disaster at home against Wisconsin. Auburn's 3 losses came to 3 teams in the Top 10. Malzahn loves to win Bowl Games and will have Auburn ready. Auburn wins this game in the 2nd half.
Wisconsin -2 1/2 vs Oregon. A game that will be decided between the two offensive and defensive lines. If you like good old fashion ass kicking football, this is your game. Both teams won critical games and both teams suffered some losses against very questionable opposition. I think that Wisky wears down Oregon in the 2nd half and wins a close one.
Indiana vs Tennessee -2. With the screwy bowl scheduling this season, this game is almost an after thought. Tennessee finished the season on a roll, winning their last 5 games to get here, thanks in large part to a defense that finally started playing to their potential. Indiana won 8 games, but lost to the only 4 bowl bound teams that they played. Tennessee wants this game more and wins.
I see the Big 10 winning 3 or 4 games. They are one of the most over-rated conferences around. The problem with a lot of these Bowl Games is that we really do not know who is going to bother playing and who is not.
Michigan State -4 1/2 vs Wake Forest. Michigan State has no offense and their defense was very poor at times. Wake has played a rather soft schedule. Despite the cold weather, Wake scores enough to win this low scoring game. Huge line shift here from Wake -2 to MSU -4 1/2.
Iowa -2 vs USC. Iowa should win easily here. The idiot USC head coach (Clay Helton) has not even opened up practice yet. He is acting like he is just happy to be there. Iowa is taking the game much more seriously.
Memphis at Penn State -7. Had Mike Norvell not left Memphis, I would say that Memphis wins this game easily. The do have the superior offense. Penn State has the better defense, but are they really interested? They failed to cover 3 out of their last 4 games and lost two outright. Gun to head, I like the underdog. Very close game.
Ohio State vs Clemson -2. Ohio State s=looked great playing some over-rated teams like Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan. They have everything. Clemson looked great laying many weak teams. Big 10 homers in here love Ohio State in this game. Clemson has been there, done that. Knowing who the Big 10 Homers are in here, Clemson is the pick.
Illinois vs Cal -7. The fact that Illinois is even in a bowl game shows you how over-rated the Big 10 West is. Two of their wins came against Akron and UConn, teams that went a combined 1-23 this season. Cal has run hot and cold this season, but they have enough defense to win this game.
Michigan vs Alabama -7. The EGO bowl between Harbaugh and Saban. Alabama is obviously the most talented team of the two, but no one seems to be sure of exactly who is, or is not playing in this game. Tough to call when you have two teams. one with a Head Coach who cannot win a big game, and the other with a team that may or may not show up. I'll go with Michigan in an upset here. They have the most to gain.
Minnesota vs Auburn -7 1/2. Minny's bubble burst with a loss to Iowa and a disaster at home against Wisconsin. Auburn's 3 losses came to 3 teams in the Top 10. Malzahn loves to win Bowl Games and will have Auburn ready. Auburn wins this game in the 2nd half.
Wisconsin -2 1/2 vs Oregon. A game that will be decided between the two offensive and defensive lines. If you like good old fashion ass kicking football, this is your game. Both teams won critical games and both teams suffered some losses against very questionable opposition. I think that Wisky wears down Oregon in the 2nd half and wins a close one.
Indiana vs Tennessee -2. With the screwy bowl scheduling this season, this game is almost an after thought. Tennessee finished the season on a roll, winning their last 5 games to get here, thanks in large part to a defense that finally started playing to their potential. Indiana won 8 games, but lost to the only 4 bowl bound teams that they played. Tennessee wants this game more and wins.
I see the Big 10 winning 3 or 4 games. They are one of the most over-rated conferences around. The problem with a lot of these Bowl Games is that we really do not know who is going to bother playing and who is not.
