Big Ten Championship Game Open Thread

Submitted by ChopBlock on

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.

NOLA Wolverine

December 1st, 2012 at 9:00 PM ^

Are you even reading what I'm writing? To begin with, I never claimed that the SEC played quality football, I claimed it was better than the Big Ten, and then I said that when Alabama engages your defenders at the point of attack it's hard to get into position to make good form tackles. How you got "Georgia didn't miss a bunch of tackles" from that is beyond me.

MichiganManOf1961

December 1st, 2012 at 8:53 PM ^

It would not have to be strong kool aid.  Take off your rose colored homer glasses and look up for once.  There is a FIVE loss team playing in the Big Ten "Championship" tonight.  FIVE!  If you think either one of these teams could hold their own against either Georgia or Alabama, I have some ocean front property in Kansas to sell you.

~Herm

michfan6060

December 1st, 2012 at 8:56 PM ^

Ok is that seriously your argument?There aren't many divisions in football that are going to put a great team in a conference championship game if the best two teams in that division are ineligible. Also where did I say they would hold their own against Georgia or Alabama?

eamus_caeruli (not verified)

December 1st, 2012 at 8:44 PM ^

Wow, honestly as a conference and as a team we need to increase our talent to match the sec.

snarling wolverine

December 1st, 2012 at 9:01 PM ^

How do SEC teams have looser academic standards?  Aren't the NCAA standards the same everywhere?  

I think our league needs to stop blaming the weather and everything else and start committing itself to running better programs.  That starts with coaching.  No more hiring retreads like Ron Zook and Gerry DiNardo.  And while Kill and Beckman were somewhat better hires, I'm not sure an SEC school would have gone for them.  I'll be interested in seeing what MSU does about Narduzzi, who is sure to receive offers elsewhere.  An SEC school would cling for dear life to the guy.

MGoStrength

December 1st, 2012 at 8:47 PM ^

I'm assuming a Nebraska win is best for us, right?  A Nebraska loss would put them in the Capital One Bowl and bump us to the Outback versus South Carolina it seems.

bsgriffin1

December 1st, 2012 at 8:53 PM ^

im still just happy we are going to bowls especially vs good/fun teams to play against. After 'those three years' im not taking bowls for granted anymore and seeing Big Blue play an extra game 

denardogasm

December 1st, 2012 at 8:48 PM ^

Will TMart get drafted? Not shifty enough to be a speed back.  Not big enough to be a power back.  Can't throw well enough to be a quarterback.  Too much of a cocky jerk to be a coach.  I envision him hanging out in Lincoln for the rest of his life hitting on college girls.

Perkis-Size Me

December 1st, 2012 at 8:52 PM ^

The attendance at this game is pathetic. Didn't expect this from Nebraska fans. Looks like we should only expect sellouts when Michigan and Ohio play in the BTCG. Fortunately it looks like that will happen every year pretty soon.

LSAClassOf2000

December 1st, 2012 at 9:01 PM ^

Between Melvin Gordon and Montee Ball and now Derrick Watt, it seems like Wisconsin has basically established that they're going to basically run with the occasional short screen or flare. This suits Nebraska's very casual, unconcerned run defense. 

So, the so-called "barge play", where half of the state of Wisconsin lines up to give the RB or FB running room, works very well against a team like Nebraska. TD Wisconsin. If you can find nine big guys, including a few good blocking TEs and RBs, a backfield that is a galactic void is not a problem. Important takeaway here.