Big 10 Week 1 discussion

pologq · 10-23-20, 02:52 PM

Originally posted by Orbison

been reading a lot of conflicting previews of the Big 10 season from different handicapping and media outlets. i'm wondering if there's anyone here who feels they have a firm grasp on what to expect from the conference as they head into their 1st week of games?..

specific match-ups of interest..

PSU/Indiana: i'm reading that each team here could win comfortably against the other, what gives?

Mich/Minny: a supposed rebuilding year for Mich but they're still stacked and have lots of speed but their young secondary could get burned? Minny's defense might be really bad but offense should be good, their QB is a statue though and the Mich DL may sack him a lot, and Minny might be missing 4-5 key starters due to Covid?.. should the tempting home dog be avoided here?

Iowa/Purdue: who's the better team on a neutral field? who has the better QB and offense? do current Iowa players support Ferentz?

Maryland/NW: can we really trust NW to lay DD? they were awful last year but i guess more experienced now at least? don't know much about Maryland but it's concerning they're not being discussed or considered at all

just looking for good info from anyone who's confident about this conference and this week's specific games

i like purdue as a dog at home. i believe the players are not backing ferentz and if they fall behind i am not sure they bust their ass to come back. getting the extra 1/2 is valuable.

Orbison · 10-23-20, 03:10 PM

yeah, i'm strongly considering Purdue as well but am seeing some contradictions in their power ratings and positional match-ups vs. Iowa. i want to feel confident if Iowa is due for a down year

johnnyvegas13 · 10-23-20, 03:11 PM

At a glance I like minny at home

dont know about injury or Covid tho

pologq · 10-23-20, 03:15 PM

i just read this by someone picking indiana. of course he makes it sound easy.

James Franklin is 42-11 SU over the last four years in Happy Valley but he enters this season without several key players. Star linebacker Micah Parsons (Big 10 Conference Linebacker of Year), who recorded 109 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks, four forced fumbles and five passes defended in 12 games, is gone. Journey Brown, who rushed for a team-high 890 yards and twelve touchdowns in ten games last season, is out with an illness.
Penn State is a money-burning 5-11 ATS in season-openers, whereas the Hoosiers are 33-5 SU in home openers and 14-2 SU in home-openers. Indiana ranks 11th in overall returning production (17 returning starters) and possesses a prolific pass offense that should exploit a suspect Penn State secondary. The Nittany Lions finished ranked 13th in the Big Ten Conference in pass defense last season.

Orbison · 10-23-20, 04:16 PM

Rondale Moore out for Purdue, think i'll pass on that one now

hawkeyeguy27 · 10-23-20, 07:44 PM

Iowa will throttle Purdue. You kidding me??

Enikk · 10-23-20, 07:53 PM

Originally posted by pologq

i just read this by someone picking indiana. of course he makes it sound easy.

James Franklin is 42-11 SU over the last four years in Happy Valley but he enters this season without several key players. Star linebacker Micah Parsons (Big 10 Conference Linebacker of Year), who recorded 109 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks, four forced fumbles and five passes defended in 12 games, is gone. Journey Brown, who rushed for a team-high 890 yards and twelve touchdowns in ten games last season, is out with an illness.
Penn State is a money-burning 5-11 ATS in season-openers, whereas the Hoosiers are 33-5 SU in home openers and 14-2 SU in home-openers. Indiana ranks 11th in overall returning production (17 returning starters) and possesses a prolific pass offense that should exploit a suspect Penn State secondary. The Nittany Lions finished ranked 13th in the Big Ten Conference in pass defense last season.

A little different this year being a conference game opener and not a cream puff laying 3-4 Tds against a mid american conference team. PSU has been horrible ATS openers past 20 years. Gonna wait see how they play and live bet week 1.