Big Ten Bowl Games

[MNBadgerGuy]

It looks like both Gopher fans and Badger fans are disappointed in their bowl placements. In terms of game match-ups, I would say UW got a little more screwed having gone from possibly playing a 7-5 Auburn team in the Outback to playing a 9-3 Miami team. Jacory Harris is a good QB and the Badger secondary has plenty of problems. The Gophs went from possibly playing the aerial attack of Texas Tech to the much less potent ISU. Either way, it got me to thinking about the rest of the B10 match-ups, and as a UW and B10 homer I like the chances of the B10 having a good bowl season.

Rose Bowl:
No. 7 Oregon vs. No. 8 Ohio State

Orange Bowl:
No. 10 Georgia Tech vs. No. 11 Iowa

Capital One Bowl:
No. 9 Penn State vs. No. 13 LSU

Outback Bowl:
Northwestern vs. Auburn

Champs Sports Bowl:
No. 15 Miami vs. No 22 Wisconsin

Alamo Bowl:
Texas Tech vs. Michigan State

Insight Bowl:
Minnesota vs. Iowa State


I already mentioned that I'm a B10 homer and UW homer, so my initial quick take on these games was

-I think OSU has the defense to figure out Oregon. I'm not so sure they have the offense to put up a big number, but Oregon's defense is fairly average. OSU obviously would like to get the recent BCS monkey off their back, and with a month+ to work on the offense, I think Ohio State wins.

-I really like what Paul Johnson has done with Georgia Tech, and like the option offense he runs there. I was impressed with Iowa all season. Not sure if or when Stanzi is coming back, but I like Kirk Ferentz figuring out Georgia Tech's option attack. It will be a great game, but Iowa has found ways to win good bowl games recently and I like them in this game.

-The Cap One match up doesnt really do much for me. I haven't been overly impressed by Penn State at any point of the season, but like LSU even less. I think Les Miles is a dolt, and that clock management which ended in a spike with 1 second on the clock to start the play was a complete embarrassment. I'll take Penn State.

-Northwestern beats Auburn. Northwestern has the better defense and I like Kafka and the offense.

-UW has been very good against the run all season long, so I think Miami will be pretty one dimensional through the air, which could be a bad thing with the inconsistent secondary the Badgers have. UW handled an at times potent Hawaii passing game Saturday night which could be a good sign. The offense will score points against Miami, if the O-line can give Tolzien time.
I hate when the media constantly plays the speed vs. power card in regards to the B10, but in this game it looks to be the case. Clay is the real deal. I'm a homer and I'm taking Wisconsin.

-Sounds like things are crazy around East Lansing with the suspensions and State's defense wasn't good to begin with. Tech should light the Spartans up. Texas Tech wins.

-Gopher D has been pretty solid all year long, but the same cannot be said about the offense. I'm not a webber hater because I thought he was very good his frosh and soph years, but boy he looks lost in the fisch offense. I don't know if Gray can hit his targets, but he is an athlete and maybe, just maybe Brew will give him a full series or two and he can do something positive. I dont think Iowa State will do much against the gopher D, and see Minnesota winning this one.

So, one complete Big Ten and UW homer's take is that the B10 goes 6-1. There is chance we go 0-7 and most likely we go 3-4 or 4-3, but I got us at 6-1.

What do you gopher fans think about the B10 match ups?

 

[maxwellsmart]

First, I will be on the bandwagon for each and every B10 team playing in a bowl game. This year's match-ups appear better for our conference than last season's. I don't trust OSU (or anyone else from the B10 for that matter) in the late afternoon shadows of the Rose Bowl, so have to predict Oregon. Iowa has plenty in the tank to beat GT, but is the carburetor working properly? Still, I'll go with the Hawkeyes. PSU beats LSU. Northwestern plays well but loses to Auburn. Wisconsin beats Miami (please beat them), Texas Tech over MSU. Gophs take ISU (I'm a homer too). What's that, 4-3? I'll stick with that number, even if I'm wrong about inidividual games. Will be interesting.

 

[holereader]

I guess the Gerogia Tech coach did not need three years to coach his recruits

this just shows that a good coach can be successful with any players - he did not need three plus years to prove he could coach "his recruits" - he came in and was successful right away - maybe he just had talent - who knows but this just shows you that this nonsense of having to wait for Brew to coach his recruits has a very strong counter point

 

[MaxyJR1]

this just shows that a good coach can be successful with any players - he did not need three plus years to prove he could coach "his recruits" - he came in and was successful right away - maybe he just had talent - who knows but this just shows you that this nonsense of having to wait for Brew to coach his recruits has a very strong counter point

So your thoughts on the B10 bowl season is that GT's coach didn't need three years?

I like the match-ups for the Big 10 to have a 4-3 or 5-2 bowl season. Mainly because of the defense played in the conference this year.

 

[MNBadgerGuy]

this just shows that a good coach can be successful with any players - he did not need three plus years to prove he could coach "his recruits" - he came in and was successful right away - maybe he just had talent - who knows but this just shows you that this nonsense of having to wait for Brew to coach his recruits has a very strong counter point

Not really the question in the thread. Either way, Paul Johnson's system is MUCH different than Brew's or ANY coach coach in CFB, save maybe a similarity to Navy. Plus, I would argue GT had a LOT more talent than Minnesota did when Johnson took over in comparison to Brew. I really like Johnson, but I think the ACC will catch on to the offensive scheme he runs and defend it a little better the next few years.

I think Iowa has the defense to stay disciplined enough and take care of their assignments. Don't know what the Hawkeyes have left on offense.

Despite my homerific projection of a 6-1 bowl season, I would say of all the match ups I feel most confident with Minn vs. ISU. It feels weird writing that, since the offense has been so mediocre to bad since the loss of decker, but I like how the defense has played and don't think ISU will move the ball consistently all game. May see some defense or special teams (or special forces or whatever the hell Brew calls them) TD's.

 

[alphagopher]

From a gopher in SEC/ACC country: No chance NW beats Auburn. I realize that his is a middle of the pack SEC team folks- but the war eagle have a vastly talent superior squad with decent coaching and a very creative OC, let's get real here. WI will struggle to stay close to the "other U", MSU should just forfeit-that game will be very ugly, GA Tech and LSU will romp IA and PSU w/o question, and the OSU/OU game looks to be the best game by far.. As for us and isu in the turd bowl, two very evenly matched, but inept and generally poor teams. coin flip that one.

 

[MNBadgerGuy]

From a gopher in SEC/ACC country: No chance NW beats Auburn. I realize that his is a middle of the pack SEC team folks- but the war eagle have a vastly talent superior squad with decent coaching and a very creative OC, let's get real here. WI will struggle to stay close to the "other U", MSU should just forfeit-that game will be very ugly, GA Tech and LSU will romp IA and PSU w/o question, and the OSU/OU game looks to be the best game by far.. As for us and isu in the turd bowl, two very evenly matched, but inept and generally poor teams. coin flip that one.

That's what you people said about the Wisconsin-Auburn game in the Cap One bowl in 06. Then Wisco came out and abused Auburn the entire game, and Calhoun ran by people like they were standing still. I like Malzahn's offense, I even have his book he wrote on the hurry up no huddle, but Arkansas, Kentucky, LSU, Georgia, and Bama figured it out and I think Hankwitz and Northwestern will contain it as well.

LSU and GT are going to romp PSU and Iowa? Really? this LSU team? I think PSU is a little better than Louisiana Lafayette and Tulane. No one knows who will win the Iowa-GT game, but I will be SHOCKED if Iowa gets romped.

This is an overrated conference:
2009 SEC Standings
EAST CONF OVR
Florida #5 8-0 12-1
Tennessee 4-4 7-5
Georgia 4-4 7-5
South Carolina 3-5 7-5
Kentucky 3-5 7-5
Vanderbilt 0-8 2-10


WEST CONF OVR
Alabama #1 8-0 13-0
LSU #12 5-3 9-3
Mississippi 4-4 8-4
Arkansas 3-5 7-5
Auburn 3-5 7-5
Mississippi State 3-5 5-7

 

[Gophers507]

Ohio State- I'm iffy on this one but ill go for it. Please don't choke.

Georgia Tech- Have you seen that offense!?! Jonathan Dwyer?! That's all I gotta say.

LSU- This is gonna be a good one proly closer than some think but LSU is deeper, faster, and has played tougher teams. PSU had the cupcakes all year.

Auburn- Again I think Northwestern can hang with these guys but it might come down to pure speed and talent and we all know who wins that battle.

Miami- I like Miami and hate wisky might be a shoot out because I don't see either D stopping the offenses but Miami's D has the better chance.

Texas Tech- Look what WE did to MSU...end of story.

Minnesota-Tough game but if we can get in rhythm and put up some points I don't see our D having to much trouble stopping these guys after what I saw at Iowa.

2-5 sounds bout right

 

[Rog]

Vegas thinks otherwise

It looks like both Gopher fans and Badger fans are disappointed in their bowl placements. In terms of game match-ups, I would say UW got a little more screwed having gone from possibly playing a 7-5 Auburn team in the Outback to playing a 9-3 Miami team. Jacory Harris is a good QB and the Badger secondary has plenty of problems. The Gophs went from possibly playing the aerial attack of Texas Tech to the much less potent ISU. Either way, it got me to thinking about the rest of the B10 match-ups, and as a UW and B10 homer I like the chances of the B10 having a good bowl season.

Rose Bowl:
No. 7 Oregon vs. No. 8 Ohio State

Orange Bowl:
No. 10 Georgia Tech vs. No. 11 Iowa

Capital One Bowl:
No. 9 Penn State vs. No. 13 LSU

Outback Bowl:
Northwestern vs. Auburn

Champs Sports Bowl:
No. 15 Miami vs. No 22 Wisconsin

Alamo Bowl:
Texas Tech vs. Michigan State

Insight Bowl:
Minnesota vs. Iowa State


I already mentioned that I'm a B10 homer and UW homer, so my initial quick take on these games was






-I think OSU has the defense to figure out Oregon. I'm not so sure they have the offense to put up a big number, but Oregon's defense is fairly average. OSU obviously would like to get the recent BCS monkey off their back, and with a month+ to work on the offense, I think Ohio State wins.

-I really like what Paul Johnson has done with Georgia Tech, and like the option offense he runs there. I was impressed with Iowa all season. Not sure if or when Stanzi is coming back, but I like Kirk Ferentz figuring out Georgia Tech's option attack. It will be a great game, but Iowa has found ways to win good bowl games recently and I like them in this game.

-The Cap One match up doesnt really do much for me. I haven't been overly impressed by Penn State at any point of the season, but like LSU even less. I think Les Miles is a dolt, and that clock management which ended in a spike with 1 second on the clock to start the play was a complete embarrassment. I'll take Penn State.

-Northwestern beats Auburn. Northwestern has the better defense and I like Kafka and the offense.

-UW has been very good against the run all season long, so I think Miami will be pretty one dimensional through the air, which could be a bad thing with the inconsistent secondary the Badgers have. UW handled an at times potent Hawaii passing game Saturday night which could be a good sign. The offense will score points against Miami, if the O-line can give Tolzien time.
I hate when the media constantly plays the speed vs. power card in regards to the B10, but in this game it looks to be the case. Clay is the real deal. I'm a homer and I'm taking Wisconsin.

-Sounds like things are crazy around East Lansing with the suspensions and State's defense wasn't good to begin with. Tech should light the Spartans up. Texas Tech wins.

-Gopher D has been pretty solid all year long, but the same cannot be said about the offense. I'm not a webber hater because I thought he was very good his frosh and soph years, but boy he looks lost in the fisch offense. I don't know if Gray can hit his targets, but he is an athlete and maybe, just maybe Brew will give him a full series or two and he can do something positive. I dont think Iowa State will do much against the gopher D, and see Minnesota winning this one.

So, one complete Big Ten and UW homer's take is that the B10 goes 6-1. There is chance we go 0-7 and most likely we go 3-4 or 4-3, but I got us at 6-1.

What do you gopher fans think about the B10 match ups?

Vegas thinks it will be 2 and 5 with MN and PSU the only wins. Vegas is where people bet their money and are not "Homers". Hope they are wrong for once