Big 10 football

[SplitIdentity]

I wouldn't say that ISU is the third best team in the Big 12, along the same line I don't think Iowa is the 2nd worst team in the Big Ten.

Touche`... touche` indeed

Mmmm.....I think the state of Washington would really disagree. Both Wassu and UDub got destroyed by Big10 opponents. And turns out Syracuse is not so bad after all. The Big 10 is better than you think. (watch out for Illinois) And you have to look at matchups before you judge a team....there is no way you can say anything about the Iowa/Wisconsin game because they were almost identical teams slugging it out.

This is absolutely right. The Big Ten has some bad losses (App State for UM and ISU for Iowa (this is in terms of point spread)), but they also have some quality wins - Washington, Washington State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse (may not be great, but did go and win at Louisville), 3 times Notre Dame, and so on.

While there may not be as many high profile teams this year - because yes the Big Ten is down a bit - doesn't mean the conference is terrible.

[bellzisu]

This is absolutely right. The Big Ten has some bad losses (App State for UM and ISU for Iowa (this is in terms of point spread)), but they also have some quality wins - Washington, Washington State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse (may not be great, but did go and win at Louisville), 3 times Notre Dame, and so on.

While there may not be as many high profile teams this year - because yes the Big Ten is down a bit - doesn't mean the conference is terrible.

You are counting Syracuse and Notre Dame as quality wins.... Those two teams have a combined 1 win. Not eactly quality. In terms of points spread... Still not quality. Notre Dame had to wait until its fourth game to score.... I'm sure beating the spread with them wasn't too hard

[ajk4st8]

Wisconsin BARELY beat The Citadel and UNLV.

They are THE most overrated team in America.

[jdoggivjc]

(Though I could be wrong with the respect that is still given to the Big 10 in the USA today poll-coaches, see Iowa this week picking up 3 votes after a loss.)

Well, Kirk Ferentz, Bob Stoops, and Mike Stoops are all still convinced that Iowa is a quality football program

[St8Grad]

Hmm, I finally have to step in and disagree here. I am very similar to you in regards to my fan-ship but with a tilt to the ISU side. I cannot in good faith even try to argue that the Big10 has anyone outside of OSU that belongs in the top 20 maybe 15.

There is a reason you hear players and coaches in the Big 10 saying I just can't wait to get to Big 10 football, because they all have designed teams to combat the other teams in the conference. What is going on now though is that some teams are mixing it up and sneaking up on a few of the traditionally 2nd tier teams in the big 10. (UM and OSU are the only tier 1 teams on a consistent basis) They are doing this by revamping their offensive playing style and certain teams are not built to stop this, see Michigan this year and Iowa last year. This will be a very mediocre year for the Big 10 with only OSU really standing out although UM will have a strong record at the end of the year and play in a big bowl. The rest of the teams will be lumped in the middle with a depleted Iowa team in the bottom third of the league. (I am making this assumption with the latest injuries taken into consideration otherwise they would have been 6-7 win team.)

The Big XII will not be much better top to bottom but will fair better as far as bowl record and final season rankings go. (Though I could be wrong with the respect that is still given to the Big 10 in the USA today poll-coaches, see Iowa this week picking up 3 votes after a loss.)

You nailed it! I think the Big10 will be bad pre-season every year going forward, due to the evolving offensive schemes. Anybody with a spread offense has a chance vs Iowa, Wisc, etc. Indiana & maybe a couple others are the only Big10 teams that have begun to adapt offensively... which is a great move on their point & will keep them in nearly every game in that conference.

[ISUFan22]

Man...counting Notre Dame and Syracuse as quality wins?

That's crazy talk...

[SplitIdentity]

Man...counting Notre Dame and Syracuse as quality wins?

That's crazy talk...

No, I'm counting them as "not as bad as everybody thought" wins.

Syracuse beating Louisville doesn't mean they are a good team - it means they aren't the worst team in the nation.

Notre Dame - well, in the eyes of the media, going 0-3 against the BT is good for the BT.

[ISUFan22]

Could it be, that Louisville just isn't as good as most thought and was hungover from their prior week's loss?

Syracuse is STILL a very bad team - just as Notre Dame is.

Please, don't come here and sell crazy. We're all stocked up.

[h-towncyclone]

well the big-ten is abut as useful as a poopy flavored lollypop:Patches ohuillihan

[Wesley]

Iowa has our problem - not enough big stars.

[CrossCyed]

Coulda just put "Sucks" in the thread title and there'd be nothing left to discuss.