Herbstreit on Mike and Mike: Picks Purdue to win the Big Ten

Submitted by rmic2 on

I listened to Herbstreit on ESPN Radio today on Mike and Mike. He was on for ten minutes, mainly talking about the big games of the weekend (Texas/WVU, USC/Georgia, ND/Miami, LSU/Florida). He then briefly said his two upsets of the weekend are Northwestern over PSU and Purdue over Michigan. He said Purdue was the best team in the Big Ten this year, and are now his pick to go to the Rose Bowl.

B-Nut-GoBlue

October 3rd, 2012 at 5:00 PM ^

Ummm...guys, it's like, HIS prediction.  Who gives a sh*t that us homer Michigan fans don't agree.  I don't mean this in that it's  a bad OP, more so, how about  chatting about his prediction and why you think it's wrong.  Not, Herbstriet is a loser because he thinks a decent Purdue might actually hang with and knock off a to-this-point mediocre Michigan team (at home, even).

LSAClassOf2000

October 3rd, 2012 at 5:32 PM ^

Naturally, the Journal And Courier was all over this - (link)

The exact quote apparently is as follows:

“I look at two upsets this week in the Big Ten,” Herbstreit said. “I think Northwestern goes on the road and is able to knock off Penn State and I think Purdue is able to knock off Michigan.”

As noted in the article, he also goes as far as to postulate a Northwestern-Purdue BTCG as a sign of things in the Big Ten. I suppose Kirk is trying to show that Nietzsche was right all along - "Battle not with Purdue, lest ye become Purdue, and if you stare long into the Hope Stache, the Hope Stache also gazes into you."

I think we have this one. 

Leonhall

October 3rd, 2012 at 6:05 PM ^

Prediction, not even sure it would be an upset the way we performed on the road 2 weeks ago. The b1g has Denard somewhat figured out, he just needs to execute some things better and fitz or Thomas need to get going to help Denard. The receivers need to play better too, if this all happens I think we win Saturday by a TD.

Anonymosity

October 3rd, 2012 at 6:08 PM ^

Purdue's regular season basically hinges on their game against Wisconsin, which is a home game for them. They have gimmes against Indiana and Illinois, and then, if they beat Wisconsin, they just need to pick up one win amongst the rest of their soft schedule (PSU, @Iowa, and @Minnesota are most winnable) to get to the magic 4-4 conference record. With that Wisconsin tiebreaker in hand, this will put them in the B1GCG as Wisconsin isn't winning more than 4 conference games- even after conceding Indiana and Illinois, they would need three wins from OSU, MSU, Minnesota, and @PSU.

So I'd say Purdue is the absolute safest bet of anyone to make the B1GCG at the moment. And none of the teams in the Ledge-Ends division appear to be much better than them.

graybeaver

October 3rd, 2012 at 7:30 PM ^

Some of you think that Purdue is as good as Oregon. That's bat shit crazy! Michigan will beat Purdue relatively easy in my opinion. I find it funny how all these national football analyst are writing Michigan off, but at the same time crowning Notre Dame as A top 10 type of team. Michigan only punted once all game against that so called elite defense. Michigan was the better team, but as we all know the better team doesn't always win.

Leonhall

October 3rd, 2012 at 7:40 PM ^

Also turned it over 5 or 6 times, so for anybody to say we will win fairly easy when we really have only played about 4 decent quarters the whole season, seems to be a little stretch, especially on the road, wining easily on the road doesn't happen often.

Picktown GoBlue

October 3rd, 2012 at 7:57 PM ^

Herbie and Spielman when they both put on their Scarlet colored glasses here on cbus sports radio, they see Michigan as about the third best team in the division. This prediction is no surprise.

turtleboy

October 3rd, 2012 at 8:15 PM ^

With the way Wisconsin has turned it around and played in Lincoln I'd think they can edge Purdue for their division now. MIchigan over Wisconsin in Indy.

Needs

October 4th, 2012 at 10:57 AM ^

Wisconsin had two drives the entire game when they did anything, and one of those was when Nebraska's secondary just lost track of Abbredaris. Other than that, they got two very short fields of 20 and 10 yards after turnovers, and a whole lot of nothing. 8 of their 10 non-scoring drives were 5 plays or less, and the defense gave up 4 consecutive scoring drives when the game was in the balance in the late 3rd/early 4th quarter. They're still a mess.

Don

October 3rd, 2012 at 8:56 PM ^

is basing that on hope and fandom. There is nothing we've done yet this season on the field to warrant being convinced we're going to crush anybody in the Big Ten. We got earholed by Alabama, were spotty and unimpressive against AF, pounded a shitty UMass team that's just come up from FCS, and shot ourselves in the foot repeatedly against ND. Right now, we really don't know what this team can do yet. Maybe we'll run the table on our way to the conference championship, but unless we develop a running game beyond Denard, get our DL to be more consistently dominant, and get into positive territory on turnovers, it's going to be tough sledding to get to Indy.

Leonhall

October 3rd, 2012 at 9:39 PM ^

I really hope people who are predicting us to win the B1G title are correct but I guess I don't see where they are getting their optimism based on what we have seen so far...you pointed out everything that we need to improve in...I guess people are very optimistic or just wear their maize glasses constantly and will be looking for a coach to blame later in the year.

E. Gordon Gee

October 3rd, 2012 at 9:56 PM ^

Wow, I see this made its way over to Mgoblog too.... I post an extensive reply on 11warriors and I wonder what you guys think. See below. 

 

Purdue will make it to Indy if:

1. They beat Michigan- They will have a huge up on cross divisional games unlike Wisconsin. I see Wisconsin winning 1 of 3 while the Boilermakers go 2 and 1. 

2. Purdue beats Wisconsin- I don't think this will happen but if it does, you can sign them off to Indy. Even if it doesn't, I don't think Wisconsin will have a better overall record for the tie breaker to even matter. 

3. Purdue holds the upper hand in suspended teams- I've got Purdue beating PSU but not OSU and Wisconsin losing to both. If Wisconsin wins their last two games of the season then they will go to the title game. 

On the other side who goes to Indy depens on the following

1. How does teams like UM and Neb does against OSU- If all these teams lose to OSU then everything is fine but if one of these teams beats OSU, I've got them booked to go to the title game. 

2. Can Northwestern knock off PSU- With a favorable cross division games against PSU, Purdue and Illinois can the Cardiac cats go 3-0

3. Will Iowa play the dark horse- I've got a good feeling that Iowa will prevent Michigan State from going, making this a three team race between Nebraska, Northwestern and Michigan 

4. Can Northwestern do it again- If Northwestern beats Nebraska and #2 occurs I've got them going..... 

5. Can Michigan win on the road- Michigan offense on the road is half of what it is at home. If Michigan loses on the road to Purdue, chances are they will lose a tiebreaker to Neb and might lose to OSU going 5-3 which is the worst case scenario. 

6. Gophers- Can Kill get a signature win over a program this year and play spoiler. I doubt this will happen but anything is possible if Gray comes back. Shotell just isn't the QB they need to pull of an upset.

Say I'm crazy now but if everything falls according to plan; Michigan, NW and Neb will all be 5-3. Michigan beats NW who beats Neb who beats Michigan. With a 5-3 tie their seasons will all come down to a tie breaker and how they do against the other Ledgens. By some string of luck Northwestern goes on to play Purdue. This is just one crazy scenario but anything can happen. 

The winner of the Purdue vs. Michigan game this weekend will go to Indy but don't be shocked that if Michigan wins this game that Michigan vs. Purdue will play again in Indy. 

funkywolve

October 4th, 2012 at 12:27 AM ^

Purdue is essentially competing against Wisky, Illinois and Indiana to get to the conference title game.  At this point, I give Purdue the nod to get to the championship game.  Then it's one game.

Don't forget, if Purdue does start winning and getting the inside track to the title game from that division, Herbie can say he was calling Purdue way back in September.

Perkis-Size Me

October 4th, 2012 at 9:58 AM ^

Because I care about what Kirk Herbstreit thinks.....

Purdue is an improved team,and could be a New Year's Day bowl team, but I'd take Michigan, Nebraska, and likely MSU over them in the BTCG every day of the week.

Besides, it doesn't really matter who wins the Big Ten. Whoever ends up going to Pasadena doesn't look like they'd last very long in the Rose Bowl. If Oregon ends up going to the Rose Bowl, the game will be over by the end of the first quarter.

Feat of Clay

October 4th, 2012 at 10:01 AM ^

Herbstriet has obviously forgotten how serious and academical Purdue's team is.  The team we're seeing now has not hit mid-terms yet.  It's all downhill after their Organic Chemistry & Diff EQ exams come back.  They'll all panic and double down on study hours, leaving no time for watching film.  It's the curse of being a serious school, and a burden which Purdue bravely shoulders alone in the B1G.

/DannyHope''d

Darth Wolverine

October 4th, 2012 at 10:14 AM ^

Wait, Mike and Mike were actually talking about something other than the NFL? This thread must be false.

Mich Mash

October 4th, 2012 at 12:24 PM ^

Saturday, October 13 probably determines the Leaders division winner.  Wisconsin at Purdue, 12pm (BTN).  Honestly I still see Wisconsin pulling this one out.  Purdue opens up B1G play with Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio in consecutive games.  I can easily see 3 losses right off the bat.

ohio

October 4th, 2012 at 12:29 PM ^

I still remeber seconds before the pass to Roundtree to beat ND last year Herbstreit suggesting Michigan just run left, take a knee and kick for overtime. Not that I have been very fond of Coach Hoke's clock management in recent weeks, but there is a reason Herbie is in the booth and not coaching anywhere. That said, he does tend to be pretty neutral most of the time and after Michigan's "preseaon" as a whole, I wouldn't be picking them to win if you held my feet to the fire. He will change his prediction if Mich wins in WL this weekend.