Prospective divisions for expanded Big Ten and Pac-10
From SI
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/stewart_mandel/06/22/expa…
His divisions look good for UM, I'm sure other schools would cry though.
i would rather hear more about the deep water drilling moratorium
Ohio State (1) | Nebraska (3) |
Michigan (2) | Penn State (4) |
Purdue (7) | Wisconsin (5) |
Michigan State (8) | Iowa (6) |
Northwestern (9) | Illinois (10) |
Indiana (12) | Minnesota (11) |
We couldn't ask for an easier division than that scenario...
I don't see it being unbalanced like that though.
I think switching Purdue with either Wisconsin or Iowa would make both sides relatively even. Three tough teams in each division
played at the Rose Bowl to determine who the conference sends,
Much like the MAC championship.
I would personally LOVE playing Nebraska every year.
NORTH DIVISION (3 to 4 Good teams, 2 to 3 weak sisters)
1. Wisconsin
2. Michigan
3. Illinois
4. Ohio State
5. Northwestern
6. Minnesota
SOUTH DIVISION (4 Good Teams, 2 weak sisters)
1. Purdue
2. Michigan State
3. Penn State
4. Iowa
5. Nebraska
6. Indiana
Historically Purdue is better than MSU.
of "historically."
MSU: 617 wins, 425 losses, 44 ties -- 58.9%, #32 all-time
Purdue: 575 wins, 494 losses, 49 ties -- 53.6%, #56 all-time
Have to have the top six split 3-3, otherwise one division is a relative cakewalk. Also, I'm opposed to any crossover rivalry games being locked in; it means you play 5 teams in the conference only twice every five years.
Without the fixed crossover game, it is much cleaner and simpler. And, as you point out, you go no more than 2 years without playing everyone. They stick with 8 conference and 4 non-conference games, with 5 in division and 3 against teams in the other division. After two years (home and away), the games against the other division switch. Done.
Also, the fixed crossover game guarantees a more difficult schedule for certain teams (i.e. Michigan always plays Nebraska, OSU always plays PSU). On the margin, the more difficult a team's conference schedule is, the less likely that team is going to schedule top tier teams for its non-conference games. So, while it might be great to have Michigan play OSU and PSU and Nebraska every year, Michigan is more likely to schedule Alabama or Texas or Georgia if there are some years it does not play all the best B10 teams. And I would like to see some better non-conference teams on Michigan's schedule.