ghost

November 10th, 2013 at 5:21 PM ^

As far as the BCS is concerned Wisconsin will be the #2 team.  The BCS has always hated taking teams that lose conference chmapionship games and that would be especially true of an MSU team that hasn't beaten a ranked opponent all year.  If it happens that Fresno and N.Illinois both lose, Wisconsin or the #2 Big12 team would be next in line.

M-Dog

November 10th, 2013 at 4:06 PM ^

The B1G would be better off if we only played in the Rose Bowl and had nobody else in another BCS bowl or in the NC.

Then we won't have everybody playing a level of competition up from where we should be playing.  I actually think Wiscy and MSU could make some noise in FL against the SEC on New Year's Day.  It falls off considerably after that though.

At this point, the conference has enough money.  What it needs far more desperately is respect.  OSU will find that out if they go undefeated and are still watching the ACC playing in the NC instead of an undefeated B1G team.  That's rock bottom for the conference.  And it's somewhat self-inflicted.

 

 

 

xxxxNateDaGreat

November 10th, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^

It'll make it all the more Sparty when they keep winning only to get thoroughly embarrassed by Ohio in the B1G championship game and then destroyed by whoever their SEC bowl opponent will be.

LSAClassOf2000

November 10th, 2013 at 2:42 PM ^

Well, to be absolutely fair, not everyone left us unranked on their ballot. Indeed, one voter did not get their in on time from the looks of it, so among the tracts of "unranked", there is a single "not applicable". No, it didn't make me feel better either. 

treetown

November 10th, 2013 at 2:49 PM ^

IF MSU beats OSU - then they deserve the accolades. If the win in a major bowel - good for them.

The first step to fixing anything is to admit that there is something that needs fixing.

Oh, and let's stop using ND as a measuring stick - they aren't a major annual power anymore.

Mmmm Hmmm

November 10th, 2013 at 3:50 PM ^

Absolutely, because winning the most recent matchup is a necessary precondition of making fun of another team for any reason whatsoever.  

Thus: No jokes about Nebraska, Ohio State (can't call it Ohio now!), Michigan State, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Wisconsin, Appalacian State, Penn State (basketball and football!).  The list is significantly longer...

aiglick

November 10th, 2013 at 3:44 PM ^

Yeah seriously.

I want MSU, OSU, and I guess ND to be good. Do you know why? To be the best you've got to beat the best. The Big Ten is down in some part because we have not held up our end of the bargain of being an elite team along with OSU. Once we start doing that there are enough teams doing some things in the league that we will be able to compete with the SEC, Pac-12, Big 12, and I guess ACC.

Bo was a great coach but as many have said his bowl record was less than stellar. Is it coincidence that was the era of the Big 2 and Little 10? I think not.

We have the infrastucture, for now, to be an elite team but we've got to get it together. Get some competent offensive coaches that can use the talent on the roster and make it better from game to game and season to season.

ghost

November 10th, 2013 at 5:27 PM ^

Baylor took a huge chunk at of OSU's lead in the coach's poal. Down from 70 to 25 and if Baylor keeps winning they will continue to erase OSU's lead in the computer polls.  OSU may need to absolutely destroy MSU to stay in front of the Bears.  

mh277907

November 10th, 2013 at 5:53 PM ^

Ohio State didn't play. Of course the team behind is going to gain ground especially when they beat a ranked, albeit overrated, team. By the end of the season, it is very possible that none of the teams on Baylor's schedule will be ranked. Texas Tech will no longer be ranked after getting pummeled this week, Oklahoma and Ok St still play each other and you would assume the loser will likely fall out of the top 25, so if Baylor beats Ok St, which will be a tough road game, and Ok St beats Oklahoma, what game on Baylor's schedule looks better than OSU's win over Wisconsin? Even if OSU barely beats MSU, that is still a win over a ranked (I am assuming they will be ranked) team in a conference championship game that Baylor doesn't have the luxury of playing in because the Big12 doesn't have one. I don't think it is possible that Baylor jumps them.

Blue Mike

November 10th, 2013 at 8:47 PM ^

Of course, if you want to play that game, what about when Nebraska beats MSU in Lincoln next week, and OSU takes on a weak Nebraska team for the championship?  Which of their wins looks better than Baylor's best?

On a whole, it is generally accepted that the Big 12 is better than the B1G this year, so making it through that conference unbeaten should be considered a higher accomplishment than making it through this one unbeaten.  Both of their nonconference schedules are terrible, so that is a wash. 

The only real advantages OSU has over Baylor at this point: they have a conference title game that Baylor doesn't have (even if the opponent is weak), and they started the season more highly ranked.

mh277907

November 10th, 2013 at 9:28 PM ^

Wisconsin would still be a better win than any of Baylor's. As you mentioned, OSU has a conference championship. That is a huge advantage. And generally accepted that the Big 12 is better? I'll take MSU, Wisconsin and OSU against any three teams in the Big 12. The BCS just came out and Stanford jumped Baylor and OSU has a huge lead over Stanford so, again, Baylor jumping OSU won't happen.