Big Ten Championship Game Open Thread
Nebraska-Wisconsin. 8:00PM EST on FOX. Gus Johnson and Charles Davis are calling the game.
Various sources have the line in favor of Nebraska by 3. If Nebraska wins, Michigan is all but assured the Capital One Citrus Bowl against A&M (likely) or Georgia, while the conversation is a bit more complicated if Wisconsin wins.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:43 PM ^
You my friend truly have the gift for debate.
Extrapolate someone's whole life based on two sentences? Check.
Use gay slur to insult someone? Check.
I concede.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:44 PM ^
Your in the minority buddy, yes it is a penalty but I think lost here think they've gotten a lil excessive in the protecting the players penalties. What's he supposed to do? Set a basketball screen? If he hits him in the chest it's prob worse. The whiplash could've broken his neck.
December 1st, 2012 at 11:08 PM ^
I agree. But the point I've been trying to make is that it's still illegal. Both players had their head up, so I don't think it should be a penalty. But the rules makers disagree and going high on a player is now a penalty. Thus, that was a good call.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:32 PM ^
That was shoulder to shoulder. Not even close
December 1st, 2012 at 10:36 PM ^
Doesn't matter. He launched himself high on another player. You're going to get a flag for that with the new emphasis on player safety. I don't necessarily agree with it, but arguing it shouldn't get a flag because the rule is stupid is equally stupid logic. As the rules are currently enforced, it was a good call.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:43 PM ^
Your post said 'helmet to helmet'. My point was that was completely wrong.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:57 PM ^
Did the shoulder hit first. Yes. Did the helmets hit as well? To me they did. But I can also see the arguement net that any helmet contact was incidental to the initial hit. Either way, I still believe the hit is illegal under the current rules.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:35 PM ^
Didn't come close to hitting him in the head. Watch the replay again.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:28 PM ^
That was one hell of a block. Don't know about the penalty but he might have launched himself a bit in throwing the block and it isn't Nebraska's night.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:28 PM ^
What the actual fuck? Just looked up the score on ESPN
December 1st, 2012 at 10:29 PM ^
NOT helmet to helmet. Shoulder to shoulder all the way.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:29 PM ^
Is this even football we're watching anymore? Can we just institute a "You hit him too hard rule"? Everything about this game is a goddamn embarassment to the Big Ten and I'm sick and tired of this garbage. We're taking Maryland and Rutgers. Rutgers for godsakes! A damn commuter school in some crap town in New Jersey. Ruining the brand to bring in more money to throw at women's gymnastics or whatever the hell they're building after a damned $50 million dollar rowing facility. Get a damn Nautilus, that's all that "sport" is anyways. I can't stand this "football" anymore. Sickening.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:33 PM ^
"Can we just institute a "You hit him too hard rule"?"
You just saw it called.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:35 PM ^
You really need to get that sand out of your vagina
December 1st, 2012 at 10:35 PM ^
I would fully support spending $50 million to build the Nautilus.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:29 PM ^
Big Ten might legitimately end the bowl season 0-7.
We're going to be overmatched in every game.
Minnesota and Purdue are going to get crushed by whoever they play in their bowl.
Big Ten teams are going to end up facing SEC teams in the Capitol One, Outback and Gator Bowls that all have BCS credentials.
Sports Illustrated has MSU facing TCU. That might be the only realistic shot at victory the Big Ten has this season.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:30 PM ^
Calm down a little.
Overmatched is a bit excessive.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:33 PM ^
You think any Big Ten team could compete with an SEC team this year or a top 5 Pac-12 team? This league is garbage and everyone here just needs to put their tail between their legs and admit it.
~Herm
December 1st, 2012 at 10:36 PM ^
Implied /s, or r u 4 srs?
Wisconsin, if it puts together another game even half this impressive, has a chance at beating Stanford. If we get matched against Mississippi State like some are projecting, why wouldn't we be the favorite? Your blanket statement is stupid.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:41 PM ^
Wisconsin is 7-5 and has been massively inconsistent all year. Might I remind you we lost to the team currently down by 32... make that 39? Granted we had a high schooler at quarterback, but still... not impressive. Nebraska tackles like a bunch of drugged out hippies. This game is an absolute embarassment to the Big Ten. Damn shame the entire conference has gone to hell over the past decade.
~Herm
December 1st, 2012 at 10:43 PM ^
The transitive property doesn't hold in football; Nebraska's performance tonight has no relation whatsoever to our impending bowl performance. I don't disagree that the B1G is down (especially with two of the best teams ineligible), but I do think it's less grim than you're making it out to be. Our four losses came to teams with three (THREE!) combined losses (well, 4 now I guess), and we kept it closer than a touchdown with two currently undefeated teams on the road. We, at least, will be okay.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:48 PM ^
Nebraska will get the Capitol One vs. Georgia/LSU/Texas A&M/South Carolina
We will get the Outback vs. one of those four
I was incorrect: The Cotton Bowl and the Chick-Fil-A Bowl will take two of the teams, leaving Mississippi State vs. Northwestern. They might have a shot.
Stanford's defense is not Nebraska's. Wisconsin has not shown anything like this all season against a quality opponent. Perhaps not a sure thing, but Stanford will be a heavy favorite.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:33 PM ^
It could be rough. But in one of those games against the SEC we may catch a team that's having a letdown and doesn't want to be there.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:31 PM ^
Apparently blocking is now unnecessary roughness? What the heck was he supposed to do? The only option is to let him make the tackle if that is a penalty.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:31 PM ^
After all the calls Nebraska has received this year I guess you can say that's just karma (although it was an awful call.)
December 1st, 2012 at 10:31 PM ^
Could've made just as good a block without launching his shoulder like he did, but it really only looks bad because dude wasn't looking. I don't think it was blindside like Pereira said either, Bell hit him right in the chest.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:36 PM ^
Have you ever made that block? Making it any other way puts the blocker at risk...the defender is running full speed and to make sure YOU don't get run over you need to accelerate into him faster than he is coming.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:42 PM ^
I'm not a big guy, but have taken down much bigger guys with clean hits that they don't see coming. It's leverage and angle of attack. I think it was probably a clean hit (albeit devastating) but won't blame the refs if they think Bell launched himself. So "unnecessary" roughness, even though the implication is that there is necessary roughness.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:45 PM ^
Not a big guy, but have many many legal 'decleating' hits.'
December 1st, 2012 at 10:31 PM ^
Mike Pereira is worthless.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:34 PM ^
than the one against MSU, that helped Nebraska win that game. This is still football, Mike Peirera can say whatever he wants, that is a horrible call. He blocked a guy cleanly, who was right next to the ballcarrier.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:32 PM ^
After looking at the review, that was 100% a clean block. Bell lead with his shoulder and hit him right in the upper chest. The reason the Wisco player was down and possibly concussed was because he landed on his head, which you can't really blame Bell for. Horrible call, but live it was tough to make since the hit was just that good. Too good.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:32 PM ^
Wasn't the Neb receiver defenseless just then?
December 1st, 2012 at 10:32 PM ^
Pussification of America right there.....
December 1st, 2012 at 10:33 PM ^
Was the Nebraska receiver acting hurt there to get a call? The way he got up it sure looked like it.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:33 PM ^
Wow. Screw that Wiscy guy. He was trying to break Martinez' leg on that late hit.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:38 PM ^
Wouldn't he feel like a dick if he actually broke his leg, especially since they're already blowing them out. Then again, it reminds me of something I heard that last time M played Wisconsin- something about Bielema trying to get his OL to break Mike Martin's ankles...
December 1st, 2012 at 10:33 PM ^
Shame.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:38 PM ^
Just gives me an opportunity to say I hate Bielema. No I'm sure he doesn't teach or advocate dirty play, I just don't like the arrogant bastard.
I don't like Mark Pelini either. Like I said in an earlier post, there's only one Bo
December 1st, 2012 at 10:38 PM ^
after that penalty for the amazingly awesome legal block....when can we all just call the NCAA and NFL what it should rightfully be called...The NTBFL ( The National Teddy Bear Football League)
December 1st, 2012 at 10:35 PM ^
This neutral site stuff is BULLSHIT.
Do it like the Pac-12. Two divisions, the division champion with the better record is the host. Could you imagine a December game at Michigan Stadium? Maybe make it a 3:30 game?
It would definitely be the largest crowd for a conference championship game, ever.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:38 PM ^
So cold
December 1st, 2012 at 10:41 PM ^
They play it outside in January in Wisconsin. We can do it in Michigan too.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:43 PM ^
Not saying that's my opinion, I'd be at the game. That's likely why the conference won't do it, we can't even have November night games.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:42 PM ^
So cool.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:45 PM ^
It's one week after the Ohio game. Does it really get that much colder in one week?
December 1st, 2012 at 10:49 PM ^
This wasn't trolling.
Also, my point is the league won't let us play November night games, hence the reason they probably won't let the CCG be outside.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:49 PM ^
best conference record or best overall record? If its best conference record I agree
December 1st, 2012 at 10:37 PM ^
I'd have to imagine we're still headed to the "Citrus" bowl. If they have any say in the matter, I can't imagine they'd want anything to do with the Huskers after this shellacking at the hands of a 5 loss team.
December 1st, 2012 at 10:40 PM ^
The rule is that the Citrus has the first choice of non-BCS Big 10 teams, but can't pick a team that has 2 less wins or 2 more losses than someone eligible. Since Nebraska has 10 wins and we have 8, they can't pick is even if they want to.