11 Sep 09
I am wondering if you are so high on USC (which could be justified or just down on the Big 10). Would you favor USC by more than a touchdown if they played at Alabama, Oklahoma State or Mississippi (other top 10 teams)? I also think that there are top teams not on the coast (Texas #2, Oklahoma State #5); Oklahaoma also was top 5 team.
11 Sep 09
Originally posted by quackquackProbably. Of course, it is hard to gauge how they would do against the elite SEC teams like Florida, because the two never meet. I think the Big 12 and Big 10 are on equal footing, at least the indication of this for me is how OSU has done against Texas the last meetings they have had. Although OSU lost 2 of the last 3 games against them, they have all been close games that could have gone either way. However, look at how OSU has faired against USC and the SEC. They simply are in a different league altogether.
I am wondering if you are so high on USC (which could be justified or just down on the Big 10). Would you favor USC by more than a touchdown if they played at Alabama, Oklahoma State or Mississippi (other top 10 teams)? I also think that there are top teams not on the coast (Texas #2, Oklahoma State #5); Oklahaoma also was top 5 team.
11 Sep 09
I actually tend to agree with you that this Ohio State team is not nearly as good as some of its others. Prior is not great (at least yet); Wells is gone; the defense had huge lapses. But I do believe that some of the games against SEC teams would have been very different if bowl games were not always road games for northern schools. I hope that if there is ever a playoff system, that the geography is neutral.
11 Sep 09
Originally posted by quackquackIf they are not going to implement a playoff system, the least they could do is match up USC against an SEC team in the Rose Bowl. Then they could match up a Big 10 and Big 12 teams elsewhere. Of course, tradition is hard to break but what choice do you have when USC has won the last thousand Rose Bowls against the Big Ten by an average spread of 30 points?
I actually tend to agree with you that this Ohio State team is not nearly as good as some of its others. Prior is not great (at least yet); Wells is gone; the defense had huge lapses. But I do believe that some of the games against SEC teams would have been very different if bowl games were not always road games for northern schools. I hope that if there is ever a playoff system, that the geography is neutral.
13 Sep 09
Originally posted by whodeyI didn't get to see it, but OSU gave the Trojans all they could handle. A great game in Ann Arbor; congrats to Wolverine fans - it looks like you've found a QB. For the second week in a row, a mid-major knocks off one of the supposed Big 12 powerhouses on their home turf.
If they are not going to implement a playoff system, the least they could do is match up USC against an SEC team in the Rose Bowl. Then they could match up a Big 10 and Big 12 teams elsewhere. Of course, tradition is hard to break but what choice do you have when USC has won the last thousand Rose Bowls against the Big Ten by an average spread of 30 points?
Very interesting so far.
13 Sep 09
1 edit
Originally posted by no1marauderAll in all I think it was a good day for the Big Ten. Its just a shame that OSU and the rest of the Big Ten, still cannot seem to beat USC....for the last 15 years that is. In fact, the last 6 big games OSU has been in they have lost. OF course, the reaction for many in these parts is that coach Tressel is to blame, however, I tell them that the difference between coach Tressel and those that have come before him is that coach Tressel actually makes it to big games as where coaches like Cooper always came up a game short of making it to a big game. The fact remains, talent flees to coastal teams like USC so expect more of the same with USC and the Big Ten. All in all I think that coach Tressel does the best he can with the cards he is dealt regarding the lack of parity in recruiting in college football.
I didn't get to see it, but OSU gave the Trojans all they could handle. A great game in Ann Arbor; congrats to Wolverine fans - it looks like you've found a QB. For the second week in a row, a mid-major knocks off one of the supposed Big 12 powerhouses on their home turf.
Very interesting so far.
13 Sep 09
I don't think that this Ohio State team is good as those of the past few years. Beanie Wells was great and not easily repaced and Prior probably one day will be dominant but he just is not there yet.
I was glad my Wolverenes won. I just think it is a huge win for a team that was so bad last year but I know they were helped by the fact that Notre Dame's receivers just don't catch the ball. Nevertheless, i think Notre Dame's offense will be good this year and that road games are tough but Notre Dame should win their fair share the rest of the way. Next week's Notre Dame - Michigan State game is a huge game because the loser really digs themselves a huge hole.
13 Sep 09
Originally posted by quackquackSo who do you think wiill win the Big 10? Will it be OSU, that team up north, or Penn State? I have to tell ya, I hate going into Unhappy Valley this year. It ain't gonna be all that much fun.
I don't think that this Ohio State team is good as those of the past few years. Beanie Wells was great and not easily repaced and Prior probably one day will be dominant but he just is not there yet.
I was glad my Wolverenes won. I just think it is a huge win for a team that was so bad last year but I know they were helped by the fact that Notre Dam ...[text shortened]... - Michigan State game is a huge game because the loser really digs themselves a huge hole.
14 Sep 09
2 edits
Originally posted by shortcircuitI have similar thought, but all I can say is, we have to play the games fo find out. That is what was so aggravating watching ND and Michigan duke it out. There relative strenghts were both somewhat mysterious. It reminds me of when OSU played ND in the Fiesta bowl. OSU rolled over them big time. Then the nest thing you know, OSU was rated #1 for the next sesason, in fact, all the way until the NCG when Florida rolled over them were they rakned #1. In fact, Florida was the underdog. LOL. I think part of the reason they were #1 at the beginning of the year was for their performance over ND. However, they should have questioned exactly how good ND was before making that decision. Of course, not that it matters because every week the ratings get blown out of the water it seems.
Shhhhh, don't tell Michigan they suck after beating the heralded Notre Dame.
15 Sep 09
Originally posted by no1marauderThought you were gone. At least that was the big hubub in general forum.
I didn't get to see it, but OSU gave the Trojans all they could handle. A great game in Ann Arbor; congrats to Wolverine fans - it looks like you've found a QB. For the second week in a row, a mid-major knocks off one of the supposed Big 12 powerhouses on their home turf.
Very interesting so far.
Then again they say everyone comes back.
15 Sep 09
Originally posted by no1marauderWhich mid-major was that? Are you referring to the University of Houston??? Hardly a mid major.
I didn't get to see it, but OSU gave the Trojans all they could handle. A great game in Ann Arbor; congrats to Wolverine fans - it looks like you've found a QB. For the second week in a row, a mid-major knocks off one of the supposed Big 12 powerhouses on their home turf.
Very interesting so far.
15 Sep 09
2 edits
Originally posted by shortcircuitHuh? They play in Conference USA, a non-BCS conference which hardly ever has a Top 20 team. That's a mid-major. They couldn't crack the Top 25 in the Coaches Poll this week and were rated 21st in the AP Poll, 5 spots below Oklahoma State, even after beating the Cowboys in their own house! Any team in a major conference that scored such a win, over the #5 team, in the second week would be rated in the Top 10.
Which mid-major was that? Are you referring to the University of Houston??? Hardly a mid major.
EDIT: Houston was voted into the AP Top 25, the first time the Cougars have been in the rankings since September 1991.
http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/team/houston-cougars-football/teamreport
16 Sep 09
Originally posted by no1marauderHouston played, quite successfully in the Southwest Conference. It wasn't until they got squeezed out by the mega conferences that they had to settle for a smaller conference. When they lost the money that they generated for the Southwest conference, their program deteriorated noticeably. They are on the rise again, thanks in part to some great work by Dave Maggard, prior to his retirement. They have a pretty solid foundation now in several of the sports and their facilities got a huge boost when they received a 40 million dollar contribution toward that end.
Huh? They play in Conference USA, a non-BCS conference which hardly ever has a Top 20 team. That's a mid-major. They couldn't crack the Top 25 in the Coaches Poll this week and were rated 21st in the AP Poll, 5 spots below Oklahoma State, even after beating the Cowboys in their own house! Any team in a major conference that scored such a win, over the #5 ...[text shortened]... since September 1991.
http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/team/houston-cougars-football/teamreport
I believe in size they compare favorably to Oklahoma State. Just in case you didn't know that. Of course, OSU has benefitted from two major benefactors, T. Boone Pickens and Garth Brooks.