Picks for the BIG title game?

Submitted by Nieme08 on

Now that we have seen a few weeks of football, it looks like both divisions are pretty wide open.  I still think M and MSU are the major contenders in the legends division but I wouldn't be surprised to see Northwestern get into the mix.  The leaders division seems a lot more in doubt for Wisconsin now after the last 2 weeks.  

I can't believe I'm saying this but my prediction:

M vs Purdue 

Thoughts?

MGoBoard

NFG

September 16th, 2012 at 12:51 AM ^

It will come down to a battle of which positions are worse: UofM D-line vs. MSU passing attack. The group that excels against the other will win the game and the conference.

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Danwillhor

September 16th, 2012 at 6:47 PM ^

But his point is the one I made earlier: Our DL isnt atrocious but not good enough to stuff the run to keep msu from using play action and quick screens on us just like the last 5 years. They arent hard to beat when you can stop their run game, which negates play action (their only effective downfield passing game) and defend their quick screens well. you do that and they stall offensively. However, ND can do it because they are LOADED in their front 7. We arent. Bell will be effective enough to allow PA, etc. Also, ND once again gave a clinic on how to attack their defense. Move the pocket and attack down the field and the edges. DO NOT play manball with them because if we do (most teams as well) you will not score. They have a legit manball defense, just dont have a great pass defense or lateral defense.

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Danwillhor

September 16th, 2012 at 1:06 AM ^

Rematch but only becuse osu cant play in it. We wont beat msu this year (sorry....still need another year or two to right the world, IMO) and Wizzy will lose their share but not as many as Purdue, etc. Actually, I dont f'n know! haha. Almost all B10 teams look viable one week and horrible another. Only a few are absolute "no chance" teams. As of tonight, NW and Purdue wouldnt shock me. A rematch would shock me. Us and whoever wouldnt shock me. B10 is a mess and, sadly, starting next year osu is going to waltz into the game every year. THE reason Meyer left the SEC and came here. Can do half the work and win just the same. Divisions need re-aligned.

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Danwillhor

September 16th, 2012 at 4:47 AM ^

Im not "scared" of them. I just think this team is still Denard or Bust and teams with just good defenses know how to stop us: Load the box to stop his running and make the almost sure bet he cant hit a single covered WR with any consistency, especially under pressure. ND, for the second year, has shown what a one trick pony msu is on both sides of the ball and yet few teams follow their lead. We dont have their talent right now (sad fact but a fact) but we dont need it if we play their game. On offense, move the pocket and attack down field. DO NOT run right at them until having done so. Avoid the pocket/box until having done so. Their "come at me bro" defense is better than our "we're coming at you bro" offense just like ND. So, they moved the pocket and made their defense move laterally. Stopping msu's offense is plugging the run and screens. They cannot pass without play action or the quick game. You want them having to drop back in the pocket and throw down field as this lets you pin back and attack their always immobile QBs. So, why do we lose? Dont think we can stop their run, Dont think Denard can win a game with his arm and dont think the staff will even impliment that gameplan anyway. We'll be the same old team we've been and we'll lose lining up man on man with them. Not scared, just know this team.

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WingsNWolverines

September 16th, 2012 at 2:00 AM ^

I am just beyond stunned how freaking amazing the Tide is. Saban has these guys tuned and conditioned to the max. I honestly see them ripping apart every SEC team they face inculding LSU. LSU wasn't all that impressive against Idaho and even Georgia is a team I see getting destroyed by Bama also. Can weak NFL teams play the defending champions of this calibur? I mean this makes our loss look a lot better but seriously who can challenge them?

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coastal blue

September 16th, 2012 at 2:13 AM ^

Earlier I predicted that Alabama vs. LSU would be the NC game, aka the Rematch of the Rematch of the Rematch...and even though that was sort of a joke, I'm really not seeing much of an alternative. 

Who else is there? Oregon? Florida State? Oklahoma? West Virginia? 

I feel like one of these teams, if they played the perfect game, might have a shred of a chance, but its not looking good. 

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Vasav

September 16th, 2012 at 5:12 AM ^

But there's still a long season to go. Yes they beat the heck out of us, and WKU (who beat UK) and an Arkansas team that just lost to ULM. So they beat the Hilltoppers and two overrated teams. I think they're very good, but let's see where we end up before we crown them champs.

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Avant's Hands

September 16th, 2012 at 2:52 AM ^

Does anyone really win the B1G this year? Unless someone really turns up their game in the next couple months we are just deciding who gets to be the sacrificial lamb against USC or Oregon. I feel pretty confident that whoever comes out of the West division will beat the team from the East handily, though. M/MSU/UN-L should be the top candidates depending on whose o- and d-lines/passing offense/defense improves the most. Unless NW really is the best team in the conference.

I think at this point the question should be become: Has the Big Ten ever been this bad before? Obviously, there is plenty of time to turn it around, but this has been a non-conference season for the record books. NW is carrying the OOC banner and no one else is really that close as far as results go. Aside from them we have MSU scraping by a depleted Boise team and OSU squeezing past Cal when they stopped the Bears on 4th down and then played Worst Waldo on 3rd and long. Both of those wins came at home. At least Minnesota has managed not to lose to any directional schools so far? Improvement?

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Vasav

September 16th, 2012 at 5:42 AM ^

But seriously, What do we know so far? MSU got beaten pretty good by ND, Nebraska got beat by UCLA, Wiscy looks like they've fallen quite a bit, Ohio squeaked past Cal, ND squeaked past Purdue, and Illinois and Indiana are both very bad. Penn State looks better.than terrible, and we're much better than the worst team in IA but much worse than the best. Oh and NW looks all right too.

So...if UCLA wins the south, that wouldn't look so bad, would it? Or if ND beat SC? Neither of those seem ridiculous, do they? I think Oregon is still the clear favorite to repeat in the Pac12, but I don't think the Big Ten is any worse than we have been since we were hanging with the SEC in '07. So Wiscy has dropped off, Ohio is still transitioning, and we're not Alabama while Sparty's not ND. And we've got some terrible teams. I don't think any of us can hang with Bama which means yes we're down because we don't have a national title contender, but even that I'm not positive of - how do we stack up in the B1G? What if Purdue is as good as they were in 2000? What if Nebraska goes 12-1 and has a rematch with UCLA on January 1st? Neither one of those sounds far fetched to me.

My point is we need more data. The Big Ten wont produce a contender this year (unless it's Nevraska, NW, Purdue). But I don't think we're as terrible as everyone claims. Let's wait and see.

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Jay-Z

September 16th, 2012 at 3:03 AM ^

I think they could take it, but the B10 looks so bad right now it's hard to tell. Somebody will emerge for sure though when B10 play starts. Hopefully Michigan improves and we take it.

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Vasav

September 16th, 2012 at 5:26 AM ^

Illinois, Wiscy and IU have not looked as good as Purdue. I think OSU may still win a weak Easy, but Purdue will be the title game rep.

In the West, I think that everyone is flawed but other than Minny and Iowa everyone is decent. MSU has a strong D but their over aggressiveness left them exposed to counter and cutbacks. And their passing game isnt great. NW it's the D. Same with Nebraska's D looks worrisome, and we all know our problems up front, especially on D. The race is wide open.

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LSAClassOf2000

September 16th, 2012 at 11:11 AM ^

After staring at some box scores and the conference expanded standing on ESPN, it is still strange to say that, in the Leaders Division, unless Wisconsin can get it together on offense, Purdue has a legitimate shot to represent the Leaders. Granted, that's three games of data right now. In the Legends, it would have to be toss-up right now between Michigan and Nebraska if it is based on three games of trends, I would think, with MSU in the discussion potentially if they win conference with just serviceable defense. With nine games left, a lot can still change, but if you asked me right now, I would agree with others and say Michigan vs. Purdue is a sharp pick just by the numbers. 

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