B1G Week 1 Over-analysis Snowflakes
Sparty - offense as bad as advertised (maybe worse?)
Indiana - no D, but they can score
Iowa - LOL
Purdue - ROFL
Illinois - yeesh that was close
Nebraska - Martinez is deadly and improving, but that defense is regressing. 600 yards for Wyoming?
Northwestern - Scary offense. Hopefully we do a better job stopping them this year, because they are legit.
And ND - Rees looks okay. The defense was surprisingly porous. Kept the scoring down but ceded a lot of yards to a bad team.
Level of competition makes it hard to read too much in, but tentatively I fell like I like our chances against MSU and NEB better than I did before. Us vs NW for the division?
Beat Notre Dame!
September 1st, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
Confidence in beating MSU and Nebraska increased
Confidence in beating NW decreased
Confidence in beating OSU remained same
Indiana would be a nice reclamation project story if they win enough and be bowl eligible
LOL Iowa and Illinois
I think Purdue will be better than what they showed in week 1
Meh indifference to Minnesota, PSU, and Wisconsin
September 1st, 2013 at 11:19 AM ^
I don't know how anyone can lose confidence in beating NW after last night... They barely beat a mediocre Cal team with a Freshmen QB. What's your reasoning behind it?
September 1st, 2013 at 11:31 AM ^
and 14 points (difference in the game) came from pick-6's off of tipped balls. AND SIEMIAN THREW A PICK!
September 1st, 2013 at 12:08 PM ^
NW didn't look that great, IMO. Although first games are always tough to judge and extrapolate reliable data for the year. Although in our case I'd be happy with projecting out domination. That said, MSU and Neb do not appear to be good teams. I think we have a real shot at a back-to-back meeting with OSU.
September 1st, 2013 at 12:23 PM ^
I watched the entire game and the only reason I did is because I put $40 for NW to cover. NW's defense gave up 445 yards to a true freshman QB. Cal has a new coach, new offense and you barely won. Don't let the score fool you, this game was close the entire time, sans the last 8 minutes.
Gardner should have a field day throwing against them and if our secondary is playing ok, we will beat them by 14.
September 1st, 2013 at 12:38 PM ^
They're overranked at 22.
Still, even though Cal's starting a true freshmen QB, Tedford left Dykes a ton of skill position talent and they won't see a ton of hurry-up spread offense in conference.
More disturbing to me -- if I were a Wildcat fan -- was their inability to punch through on offense. They could've finished Cal off and didn't. Not a good team.
September 1st, 2013 at 12:23 PM ^
Perhaps it was that their starting QB, who is also a great rusher & receiver was knocked out of the game on the second play.
Mark also had limited touches, & did not return kicks. They were also missing a few other offensive weapons.
Cal played a NU offensive squad operating at half steam.
September 1st, 2013 at 2:41 PM ^
This. NW lost their better QB (and one of their best WRs) and their best RB early and still had an effective offense against a game Cal team, on the road in a late game on the West coast. How dominant would we have been against Cal without Gardner and Touissant?
September 1st, 2013 at 2:36 PM ^
We're on the road and so far under Hoke we're not a world beater on the road...yet
I think NW is going to be up for the game especially after how they lost least year.
September 1st, 2013 at 12:42 PM ^
Nothing about NW's play yesterday changed my feeling that they'll be a tough but beatable team. Winning a road game is nice, but Cal isn't some juggernaut.
Purdue may be "better" than losing by 28 points, but they still looked turrible. Nebraska will probably be better than they looked yesterday; that just felt like one of those games where an underdog keeps it close because it is early.
My confidence about beating OSU remains the same; my desire to beat that duck Meyer increased about a billion times after he went for 2 twice in the first quarter, then had to watch there with that dumb smirk as his team couldn't put away a 4-8 MAC team.
September 1st, 2013 at 1:28 PM ^
I'm also way more confident about beating NW after last night. Take away two super opportunistic TDs and their defense sucked. Their O wasn't that great either.
September 1st, 2013 at 10:58 AM ^
Devin will post better overall stats this year than Braxton. Braxton will still be heralded as the top skill position player in the conference.
September 1st, 2013 at 11:00 AM ^
Also, I have pre-2008 arrogance once again going into the MSU game. First time in a while I'm not worried about that game.
September 1st, 2013 at 2:44 PM ^
Eh, Braxton will likely run for more yards and TDs. Wouldn't trade Gardner for him, but still, he's good.
September 1st, 2013 at 5:11 PM ^
Devin will run for more TDs. Compare Devin's 5 games last year to Braxton's over the same stretch. It isn't close. Braxton will get more yards but Devin will have more overall yards, more TDs both passing and rushing, and a better completion percentage..
September 1st, 2013 at 11:02 AM ^
Northwestern played ok last night, but they didn't really impress barely beating a cal team with a true freshmen qb. Added on the fact all the injuries they kept having, really wasn't too inspiring for them.
September 1st, 2013 at 11:04 AM ^
That Treyvon Green guy is a burner. He's a TD threat. I don't know how much he plays but he looked impressive when I was watching it.
Plus I think a good majority of the injuries were cramps due to the heat.
September 1st, 2013 at 12:17 PM ^
The heat? You've obviously not spent any time in the Bay Area.
I saw the game and wasn't terribly impressed with NW, though they do have some speedy guys. Game could have gone to Cal quite easily.
September 1st, 2013 at 11:04 AM ^
A Midwest team playing on the west coast til almost 2 am central ? that's a tuff game for any team
September 1st, 2013 at 11:33 AM ^
Speaking of which, if we agree to a home-and-home with a West Coast school, I hope put it in the contract not to play at night over there. It's just too late for fans on this side of the country to watch on TV.
September 1st, 2013 at 11:57 AM ^
Every Red Wings fan on the blog is playing the worlds smallest violin right now
September 1st, 2013 at 2:05 PM ^
and the fact that they are 18-22 year old guys in awesome shape. They could play at 4 a.m. and not care. I miss college. And having energy. and being young....
September 1st, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
The reason Cal/NW was on so late was its limited interest to folks back east. Michigan automatically would have much more interest, whomever they played.
September 1st, 2013 at 11:08 AM ^
Not in my mind. I never understood the hype we've been giving them. They had the same kind of game as Air Force last year, but for some reason they are a juggernaut this year. And Siemian threw a pick!!! He is mortal!
September 1st, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
Don't you mean "injuries" ?
September 1st, 2013 at 12:17 PM ^
And took himself out of the game on the second play really sold it.
Kudos to Cal for booing!
When someone gets hurt, they should risk further in jury by hobbling off the field as fast as possible just to appease the opposing fan base.... /sarcasm
When a defense is on the field for 100 plays against Dykes offense, that's going to happen a lot. Gonna be a lot of sore throats & whining, instead of winning @ Cal.
'ThaPhukOuttaHere with your fake "injury" BS
September 1st, 2013 at 11:04 AM ^
I like our defense better than all of the above. Ohio might have more playmakers on offense. Northwestern and Nebraska have solid offense but I think we will play the read option better this year.
September 1st, 2013 at 11:05 AM ^
Confidence against Sparty: same (I figured they would be crap)
Confidence against Nebraska: increase (about the same on offense as last year, but worse on defense)
Confidence against NW: same (they looked good, not great, against Cal and I still think M should win a good game against them)
I didn't see OSU or ND play
B1G isn't great
September 1st, 2013 at 11:06 AM ^
Sparty will lose 4-5 games in conference.
Ferentz will be fired in 5 months or less.
Illinois will be crucified against Washington in 2 weeks.
OSU's defense is not at an elite level.
Nebraska will have a melt down against UCLA on defense.
Purdue wouldn't win 5 games in the MAC this year.
NW's skill on both sides of the ball is high. Going to be a tough team to play.
Lou Holtz is a pathological liar. ND looked good against Temple, but not scared.
Michigan is good. Real good.
September 1st, 2013 at 11:28 AM ^
I think we're going to beat them, and I do not think they're very good, but 4-5 conference losses? I don't think there is any way that will happen. Their schedule is trash. for them to get to 4 losses they would have to lose to either Iowa, Indiana, Purdue, Illinois or Minnesota. Maybe Illinois? but I'm not seeing it.
September 1st, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^
Illinois is awful. Minnesota or Indiana is kind of believable.
September 1st, 2013 at 11:50 AM ^
Indiana and Minnesota could be bowl teams this year. It's not out of the question that they could upset Sparty. MSU looks like they just can't score, and when that happens every game is dangerous.
September 1st, 2013 at 12:15 PM ^
its ONE game, and weather crap... . the MSU game is their super bowl, national championship, and last game on earth.... so beleive that they will play far better. they would rather lose every game and beat us, than go 11-1 and lose to us... believe it.....
September 1st, 2013 at 11:37 AM ^
Ferentz may survive, if only because his buyout is ginormous. Iowa is in a real pickle there. They may not be able to afford a good replacement.
September 1st, 2013 at 12:07 PM ^
OSU was missing Bryant and Roby. They weren't elite in this game, but that doesn't mean they can't be. Just like Michigan was missing Thomas Gordon, that affects the game.
Also, the problem with Ferentz isn't whether he should or shouldn't be fired, because it's obvious that he should. The problem is that they're locked into a long-term deal where they owe him vast piles of money. He can't be fired because they can't afford to.
September 1st, 2013 at 12:19 PM ^
Ferentz will be allowed to resign... Iowa has class.. don't forget their AD was I think Bump Elliott or some other Michigan man....
And we aren't real good....yet...... we will be when the OL solidifies and these freshmen have another five games of experience.
Sparty will be the same as last season...their defense is too good to be otherwise.
Give Cinci more credit and more to Purdue.... Cinci should be OSU's thorn like MSU is.... we can only hope.
September 1st, 2013 at 12:25 PM ^
Is better than you think. Their offense will improve and their defense is a rock. They always look shitty in their opener. They are formidable and will absolutely not lose 5 conference games. Michigan is very good but the um v. Msu game is still a pick em game. Don't believe the anti-hype, they will be solid by conference play.
September 1st, 2013 at 12:54 PM ^
Are you a Michigan fan? The lowercase "um" is a classic Spartan thing.
It's hard to be a formidable team with no offense. I'm not sure how MSU is going to score points. I just don't see a whole lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball for them. Dantonio has in the past unearthed a few diamonds in the rough (Cousins, Bell) but it's hard to build a consistent winner on the backs of low-rated recruits all the time.
I think they'll be a lot like last season, playing a bunch of low-scoring coin flip games, and ending up in a second-tier bowl.
September 1st, 2013 at 11:09 AM ^
Having watched the Northwestern game, I am no more impressed with or worried about them than I was 24 hours ago. Two lucky (but still impressive) pick sixes by Ellis were the difference in that one. Their pass D didn't look great, despite this.
Also, I'd like to quickly grumble about how blatant it was that the Wildcats were faking injuries on defense to slow to Cal's offense. Guys were sitting down after the play, getting "attended to," walking off under their own power, and then nobody would look at them on the sideline. Bad look for Fitzgerald's squad.
September 1st, 2013 at 11:15 AM ^
I guess my elevated opinion of NW is partially a lowered opinion of the rest of the division. They will probably beat Sparty, and will give NEB a tough game at the very least.
September 1st, 2013 at 11:54 AM ^
I don't really have a problem with that. It may not be the most honest thing to do, but if it helps diminish the edge that an offense has and disrupts their rhythm a bit, there are a lot worse things players and coaches do somewhat regularly.
September 1st, 2013 at 12:28 PM ^
I think it is bad sportsmanship. If a team is able to run a high-tempo offense, they should be able to run it. If you're on D and your guys are winded, take a timeout. If you want to save your timeouts, gameplan your rotations better.
It wouldn't even bother me as much if it was once or twice, but it was so often that it disrupted even watching the game.
The NFL has said it will punish teams for this, and I can only hope that the NCAA follows suit.
September 1st, 2013 at 8:21 PM ^
How is it bad sportsmanship? The spirit of sport is to do everything you can within the letter and spirit of the rules to win. If faking injuries was against the rules, then there would be a punishment for it (at least in theory - I know this is the NCAA we're talking about). Refs can't diagnose injuries on the field? Ok, fine. Plenty of punishments come after the games are reviewed. Put in a big fine, suspend players and coaches, whatever it takes if you want to end it. Until then, I'd be angry if a team didn't do everything it could - within the rules - to win.
September 7th, 2013 at 10:45 AM ^
It isn't against the rules to run straight to the tunnel after losing a game instead of shaking the other team's hands. Still, I would classify that as bad sportsmanship.
I think that the spirit of the game asks more of those involved than to do everything to win within the 'letter of the rules.'
September 1st, 2013 at 11:10 AM ^
and the conference is baaaaaaad outside of roughly 5 teams. Ok, a couple are in the "can beat you on a good day" category if you don't show up but this conference is really bad based on week one. NW is legit and our November... it's just unfair lol. Martinez continues to improve as a passer but their defense is a bit if a mess. osu game was closer than it looked if you didn't watch but they will come to AA undefeated. Cake schedule, Miller, etc. We get by nd and any loss before November is an upset of scary proportions.
September 1st, 2013 at 11:11 AM ^
getting lazy with droid Swype, not noticing simple mistakes/bad guesses.
September 1st, 2013 at 11:20 AM ^
actually "best" is an acceptable verb in that context
September 1st, 2013 at 8:22 PM ^
+1 grammar
September 1st, 2013 at 11:11 AM ^
This would be appropriate if we were playing each team next week...but we're not. Just ND. So with that, I hope everyone realizes that no one will look the same by the time we play them.
We probably beat Ohio a couple more times in the past 10 years if we play them week 1 vs. week 14 (or whenever it is)
September 1st, 2013 at 11:16 AM ^
Hence the title. Lighten up and have some fun.