Last chance for the B1G

Submitted by M-Dog on

Today is the last chance for the B1G to show a pulse against Power 5 opponents:

- Utah (Pac 12) at Michigan

- Maryland at Syracuse (ACC)

- Iowa at Pittsburgh (ACC)
 
- Miami-FL (ACC) at Nebraska
 
- Indiana at Missouri (Big 12)
 
None of these is a "statement" game like Wiscy-LSU or MSU-Oregon could have been, but it is a chance to alter the narrative a little bit that the B1G is not even capable of playing against any Power 5 competition.
 
All but one of those look winnable.  
 
And all but one of those look loseable. *sigh*
 
[Edit:  Missouri (SEC)  Duh.]

LSAClassOf2000

September 20th, 2014 at 11:39 AM ^

Here's where Massey is at with these with respect to estimated Big Ten chances:

Utah at Michigan - 50% win probability for Michigan

Maryland at Syracuse - 34% win probability for Mayland

Iowa at Pittsburgh - 43% win probability for Iowa

Miami-FL at Nebraska - 63% win probability for Nebraska

Indiana at Missouri - 6% win probability for Indiana

bacon

September 20th, 2014 at 11:45 AM ^

The only team that probably has a playoff shot is Nebraska if they're undefeated at year end. All this bs about strength of conference is just that. In years past there was such an uproar in favor of teams like Boise st and others who played weak schedules being allowed into the single title game. No way they leave out an undefeated b1g team if there is one.

M-Dog

September 20th, 2014 at 12:39 PM ^

If the other 4 Power 5 conferences go undefeated, an undefeated Big Ten team definitely gets left out this year.  

If the SEC champion is a one-loss team and there is no undefeated SEC team, you will hear some serious chatter that the one-loss SEC team should go instead of the undefeated Big Ten team. 

Bodogblog

September 20th, 2014 at 11:53 AM ^

Miami has a freshman QB who'll probably be pretty good at some point, but simply isn't ready now. Even worse, in that game against Louisville his teammates showed him up after he made mistakes. Lots of head shaking and "what was that?" hands in the air. Golden's got a problem right now.

BlueKoj

September 20th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^

I clicked on the title thinking, "the chance to prove the B1G isn't the weakest of the P5 is waaay gone, already" but you're right. It is a chance to "show a pulse." So, we've got that going for us, which is meh.

Mitch Cumstein

September 20th, 2014 at 1:06 PM ^

Should have beaten LSU. I know they didn't, but anyone that watched that game knows the conferences are still playing the same sport.



That being said, I'd rather the b10 suck and us win it, than the b10 be great and us not win it just so the conference gets a playoff team.

Mr. Yost

September 20th, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^

...it's not going to move the needle.

The nation is going to beat and bitch about the B1G until we start competing in the major matchups and top 10 matchups.

All the B1G teams can win today and no one will care. People east of the Mississippi don't even know Utah is in the Pac 12 and Nebraska is ranked and Miami starts a true freshman QB.

We're going to have to wait until bowl season. Even then, conferences will say "well our teams are in the tournament, so you're playing your best vs. our 2nd or 3rd best."

Maizenblueball

September 20th, 2014 at 1:37 PM ^

Michigan needs a win today.  Also, it would be great if the other conference teams pulled off the win.  We could certainly use the W's as a conference to gain some respect back nationally.

Perkis-Size Me

September 20th, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^

The B1G could sweep today and it wouldn't matter. No one the conference plays today is a national power.

Win your bowl games. Win your big OOC games. That's the only way perception will change.



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