The Most Comically Underrated Team in the Big Ten

[Iceland12]

Sorry if this has already been linked here.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1854435-meet-the-most-comically-underrated-team-in-the-big-ten

"Again, this is a team that is 4-2 in Big Ten play and won consecutive games at Northwestern, versus No. 24 Nebraska, at Indiana and versus Penn State.

The only other eight-win teams not in the AP Top 25 are 8-2 Cincinnati, 8-2 East Carolina, 8-3 Old Dominion, 9-2 Ball State and 8-2 Louisiana-Lafayette.

So, with the exception of Minnesota, no eight-plus win squad from a “big five” conference (the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC) is ranked outside of the AP Top 25.

Furthermore, LSU (No. 18) and Ole Miss (No. 24)—both 7-3 teams—are ranked in the AP Top 25 while the Gophers are not.

Regardless of schedule, future prospects, statistics or generally accepted beliefs, Minnesota is a shoe-in for “most-shafted program” honors in 2013.

What’s Their Story?

Minnesota came into 2013 with 16 returning starters from its 6-7 product from a year ago, but still carried low expectations. Phil Steele predicted that the Gophers would finish last in the Legends division and had them at No. 66 nationally in his power rankings.

Though Minnesota ranked No. 45 last season in scoring defense, its No. 96 rank in scoring offense was a major liability.

Here’s a look at the statistical improvements from one year to the next..

 

[die hard gopher]

i was thinking about posting this article but didn't knowing i would get a lot of grief with it being from BR

 

[Goldmember]

It's safe to say that the Big Ten teams are all ranked about 5 spots lower than they reasonably should be. The never-ending, decade-long smear campaign has become quite effective.

Except OSU ... who should easily be at least #2, andbis only ranked 3 or 4, depending on the poll.

 

[kellyleeks]

OSU may end the season on a 26-0 run without having played for a national title during that time. Any team from a top 5 conference that is on a 22-0 run deserves more respect than OSU is getting.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

i was thinking about posting this article but didn't knowing i would get a lot of grief with it being from BR

The writer is a Texas Tech fan, striking a "Guns Up" pose in her profile picture. That said, she has over 4 million article reads, so she's at least a half step above a lot writers on that site.

 

[MaxyJR1]

OSU may end the season on a 26-0 run without having played for a national title during that time. Any team from a top 5 conference that is on a 22-0 run deserves more respect than OSU is getting.

Urban Meyer knows how to coach.

Overall 127–23 (.847)
Bowls 7–1 (.875)

 

[GophersInIowa]

It's safe to say that the Big Ten teams are all ranked about 5 spots lower than they reasonably should be. The never-ending, decade-long smear campaign has become quite effective.

Except OSU ... who should easily be at least #2, andbis only ranked 3 or 4, depending on the poll.

I don't think Ohio St. should be ahead of Alabama or Florida St. I just don't think they are as good as those two teams.

 

[Rodney's Open]

I don't think Ohio St. should be ahead of Alabama or Florida St. I just don't think they are as good as those two teams.

This. Alabama obviously gets the nod ahead of OSU.

And OSU doesn't have a signature win like the blowout @ Clemson or home against Miami.

 

[station19]

It's safe to say that the Big Ten teams are all ranked about 5 spots lower than they reasonably should be. The never-ending, decade-long smear campaign has become quite effective.

Except OSU ... who should easily be at least #2, andbis only ranked 3 or 4, depending on the poll.

Who do you think shot Kennedy?

 

[cemba99]

This. Alabama obviously gets the nod ahead of OSU.

And OSU doesn't have a signature win like the blowout @ Clemson or home against Miami.

I'll give you the signature win over Clemson, but Miami is looking pretty mediocre these days.

I still do not know why ACC has not taken more heat compared to the Big 10. Most of the ACC is just tripping over each other with very few decent wins outside the conference. Clemson's only "signature" win was at home by three points over a 6-4 Georgia team. Miami's only "big win" was to beat the worst Florida team in decades by only 5 at home. Granted the Big 10 non-conference wins are nothing to brag about, but Duke in an ACC championship game?

"The Battle of the Palmetto State" (Clemson at South Carolina) on Nov 30 may provide some good insight as to how good Clemson really is.

 

[GophersInIowa]

I'll give you the signature win over Clemson, but Miami is looking pretty mediocre these days.

I still do not know why ACC has not taken more heat compared to the Big 10. Most of the ACC is just tripping over each other with very few decent wins outside the conference. Clemson's only "signature" win was at home by three points over a 6-4 Georgia team. Miami's only "big win" was to beat the worst Florida team in decades by only 5 at home. Granted the Big 10 non-conference wins are nothing to brag about, but Duke in an ACC championship game?

The ACC is terrible. I'd put the Big Ten ahead of them overall. I'm guessing it has to do with the ACC historically not being very good.

 

[kellyleeks]

1. SEC
2. PAC 12
3. Big 12
4. Big Ten
5. ACC

 

[Lakeville Goldy]

Who do you think shot Kennedy?

OK - so I freely admit I'm stirring the pot a little and I also freely admit that I don't know who all gets to vote for different rankings BUT...

Is it possible that since ESPN is so tightly involved in the BCS and ESPN owns part of the SEC Network and Longhorn Network that they could be influencing the standings to promote the teams they are invested in?

 

[FreakyDeke]

OK - so I freely admit I'm stirring the pot a little and I also freely admit that I don't know who all gets to vote for different rankings BUT...

Is it possible that since ESPN is so tightly involved in the BCS and ESPN owns part of the SEC Network and Longhorn Network that they could be influencing the standings to promote the teams they are invested in?

Without question.

 

[stocker08]

OK - so I freely admit I'm stirring the pot a little and I also freely admit that I don't know who all gets to vote for different rankings BUT...

Is it possible that since ESPN is so tightly involved in the BCS and ESPN owns part of the SEC Network and Longhorn Network that they could be influencing the standings to promote the teams they are invested in?

Probably. Come out with a good bowl showing, and hopefully we can reverse the negative vibes surrounding the Big Ten.

 

[GopherinPhilly]

OK - so I freely admit I'm stirring the pot a little and I also freely admit that I don't know who all gets to vote for different rankings BUT...

Is it possible that since ESPN is so tightly involved in the BCS and ESPN owns part of the SEC Network and Longhorn Network that they could be influencing the standings to promote the teams they are invested in?

What?!? ESPN with questionable ethics and bias - NEVER! (Read Sarcasm)

 

[tato2001]

OK - so I freely admit I'm stirring the pot a little and I also freely admit that I don't know who all gets to vote for different rankings BUT...

Is it possible that since ESPN is so tightly involved in the BCS and ESPN owns part of the SEC Network and Longhorn Network that they could be influencing the standings to promote the teams they are invested in?

I think there is definitely a bias, but I think it is simpler and subtler than that.

Football is bigger, more important in SEC country. End of story. That means the SEC teams get more press on all national college football media outlets. It is simply about money and eyes on the screen. Lightening up on Big Ten coverage costs you a lot fewer eyeballs than it would to lighten up on SEC coverage. This leads to a self-reinforcing bias because when the SEC gets more press, it gives the appearance that they must be better. Repeat do loop.

Any quantitative analysis shows the PAC 12 and BIG TEN are very competitive with the SEC historically, yet that is not the impression the situation described above gives.

 

[FreakyDeke]

I think there is definitely a bias, but I think it is simpler and subtler than that.

Football is bigger, more important in SEC country. End of story. That means the SEC teams get more press on all national college football media outlets. It is simply about money and eyes on the screen. Lightening up on Big Ten coverage costs you a lot fewer eyeballs than it would to lighten up on SEC coverage. This leads to a self-reinforcing bias because when the SEC gets more press, it gives the appearance that they must be better. Repeat do loop.

Any quantitative analysis shows the PAC 12 and BIG TEN are very competitive with the SEC historically, yet that is not the impression the situation described above gives.

I think that is true, but it would be interesting to see if things would change if ESPN was involved with the Big Ten Network and the SEC Network had FOX instead of the other way around. Eyeballs or not, I think they would be kinder to OSU, MSU, and WI.

 

[justthefacts]

OK - so I freely admit I'm stirring the pot a little and I also freely admit that I don't know who all gets to vote for different rankings BUT...

Is it possible that since ESPN is so tightly involved in the BCS and ESPN owns part of the SEC Network and Longhorn Network that they could be influencing the standings to promote the teams they are invested in?

Each team in the Big Ten is getting $10.9M from ESPN in TV revenue this year. ESPN is basically just as invested in the Big Ten as they are in any other conference.

It all boils down to out of conference games. The Big 10 has sucked in big time out of conference games including bowls and that leads to situations like this year's polls. This is true in both tangible and intangible terms. From an intangible perspective, it feeds the perception people have of the Big 10 as a weak conference, which surely influences their voting. From a tangible perspective teams that win bowl games are more likely to be ranked higher the next year. Without question teams like SoCar and A&M are benefiting from where they started the season in the rankings.

 

[Fuzzy Rumpton]

Slightly on topic of the B1G being seen as weak: http://www.offtackleempire.com/2013...s-national-championship-alabama-florida-state

 

[Norsk_Gopher]

I don't really care about the ranking, I'm not sure if we are a Top 25 team. Don't get me wrong, I rather be ranked than not rank and I am very happy with the Gopher's this year, but are we really Top 25? If we had beaten Iowa or Michigan, maybe; or if those two teams had better records (such as also being in the Top 25). If we beat Wisconsin or MSU, sure, but so what if we aren't in the Top 25 (we are in BCS, USA Today, CFN), the Gopher's have improved, big time. I'm happy for that.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

If we have a problem with B1G respect, the B1G should win some major bowl games this year to reverse the trend.

 

[Great Plains Gopher]

It's safe to say that the Big Ten teams are all ranked about 5 spots lower than they reasonably should be. The never-ending, decade-long smear campaign has become quite effective.

Except OSU ... who should easily be at least #2, andbis only ranked 3 or 4, depending on the poll.

You are right on the mark. Bowl games are home games for sunbelt teams, but somewhat bizarre excursions for B1G teams, who tend to peak in November.