Around the Big Ten

[Cody_Russell]

The loss of gameday revenue would be a legit concern, but IDK if Purdue has cause to worry about embarrassment. I think if you told the average fan around the country that Purdue had 22,000 show up for games scheduled even at ideal times, they'd be rather surprised.

Regardless, it sounds like this was a condition of the fat ESPN contract so its an opportunity for the marginal-draw schools to tote some water.

Surprisingly attendance at Ross Ade this year has averaged around 36,000 people.
I forgot this point: Breakfast Club
One of the huge draws for Purdue football games with the 18-30 year old crowd is waking up early Saturday morning, wearing a costume, and drinking.
Now you are taking from two huge crowds if the game is Friday night.

However, I wouldn't have to worry about watching Michigan and Purdue at the same time... so that's a good thing.

[hack]

One of the huge draws for Purdue football games with the 18-30 year old crowd is waking up early Saturday morning

At that point right there some other questions arose. So you're saying that Purdue students are early risers on Saturday mornings? That suggests to me that perhaps there aren't Friday night options in West Lafayette, and therefore football would be a welcome option.

[Cody_Russell]

At that point right there some other questions arose. So you're saying that Purdue students are early risers on Saturday mornings? That suggests to me that perhaps there aren't Friday night options in West Lafayette, and therefore football would be a welcome option.

Early risers and late fallers.
Be lucky to get an hour nap between Friday night and Saturday morning.

Just watch though. Attendance, which is averaging 36,000 right now, will be low 20,000 on that game.
...
unless this new head coach is randomly a great hire.

[iam416]

3-3 last week, 34-22-1 on the season. Really riding that improbable 11-1 back-to-back for all she's worth.

This week's slate of B10 games violates several provisions of the Geneva Convention, numerous OSHA regulations and, certainly, some provision of the Constitution. So, with that let's dive into the fetid bog of misery.

Purdue (+17) at Minnesota. Long time readers know I have several tenants. In particular, "Good Boiler/Bad Boiler" and "The Goofer Don't Cover Big Numbers." It's Good Boiler week and it's a big Goofer line. No further analysis of this rectal sore is needed. I'll back Purdue keep it within the number.

Indiana (-14) at Rutgers. Indiana hasn't beaten anyone by 14 this year. That includes Ball State, Florida International, Wake Forest and Michigan State. They lost to Rutgers last season at home and two years ago were BLOWN OUT by Rutgers in Jersey. And Chris Ash is coming off a bye week which has to worth at least 21 points. I'll back fucking Rutgers and take the points.

Michigan State (-7) at Illinois. Seriously, who's playing QB in this game. For either team. Dear god. I just don't care. I'll flip a dead cat and say Sparty somehow covers the TD because Illinois is such poop.

Maryland (+31) at Michigan. Line opened at +26', but HARBAUGH!!!! has moved it 5 already. M let me down last week, but they're back at home where the Death Star is fully operational. Maryland's defense is bad and their offense isn't the kind that does much against good defense. I'll back M to cover, though HARBAUGH!!! won't run up the score against Durkin the way he did against Ash, so it could be a little dicey in the 4th.

Iowa (+7') at Penn State. Seldom do you see two coaching titans match wits at the pinnacle of their careers, but here we are with Ferentz-Franklin I: Pacquiao and Mayweather are bitches. I dunno, I think you're looking at two very similar teams. They can both run the ball reasonably well. They both have significant issues passing the ball. And both play good enough defense to make it hard on mediocre offenses -- especially now that PSU is reasonably healthy. So, I'll take the TD and the hook and back the Hawkeyes in what I think is a toss-up. I really hope PSU loses. C'mon Akrum Wadley!

Wisconsin (-7) at Northwestern. Wisconsin struggles mightily in the Vortex of Suck. I don't know why. It just is. nFw isn't particularly bad. They were particularly bad, but somewhere along the way Clayton Thorson started throwing good balls and Austin Carr emerged as a real WR. In fact, for those enamored with PFF, he's the best WR in the country PFF-wise. All that's to say that Evanston High is good enough to capitalize on their hex they have on the Badgers. Sure, they'll get pushed around, but I'll take nFw to stay within a TD at the Vortex of Suck and I think they win outright.

Nebraska (+17) at Ohio State. I don't understand what people see in Ohio State. This is a stupid fucking number. It should be 10 points lower. I unequivocally back Team Husker to stay within 17.

[AlabamAlum]

Sandbagging dolt.

[iam416]

I wish. I remember the days when Ohio State was the goddamn American Army scourging Georgia. But it ain't so these days.

It's almost like people refuse to believe what they see and think "Ohio State will snap out of it" when, in fact, the evidence is pretty clear that OSU is what you see.

But, they're also what I expected at the beginning of the season. My expectations suffered an erroneous deviation with Oklahoma (good offense, but horrid defense) and Rutgers (horrid). I'm back to where I was. This team reminds of the 2003 team that lost a tough night game on the road, was offensively challenged, and ground out some ugly wins to get to 10-1 until they eventually ran into a M team firing on all cylinders.

[AlabamAlum]

I have watched a few Ohio State games now. OU, NFW, Penn State, parts of Wiscy.

As you know I watch line play more than skill players. I really like the OSU center. Both guards get lost, though, especially the right. The RT seems to fall for stunts and allows the pocket to collapse and loses contain too quickly on pass pro. At least that seems to be true on the few games I have watched. They all have talent and those deficits are coachable.

Urban, at Florida, used to drag the TE behind the line of scrimmage as an outlet. It was hard to stop and would regularly gash the D for 7-9 yards. I don't see that as much.

[iam416]

Yeah, the center is a first 3 round NFL draft pick. The LG is a true freshman. He'll be really good, but not yet. The tackles are both really young, too, but both have talent. They'll get there. Again, they aren't there yet.

The problem OSU is facing at the moment is that the teams are able to play deeper zones against them and OSU isn't making them pay with (a) a pounding running game or; (b) a short passing game. Last year you sort of had to respect Elliot or, more aptly, live in mortal fear of him ripping your defense, so everything was geared toward that. When teams sat back, Elliot -- and a veteran OL -- had their way. Teams aren't as afraid of the running game this season. OSU still grinds out good yardage from their base runs, but the big plays aren't there (the other benefit of Elliot was that pulling the safety up to stop the run opened things up for huge plays). They're also doing a better job of taking the short passing yardage. JTB, IMO, has been really good in the short passing game from the 2nd half of the Wisky game through last week. The problem is that these are long, long drives. A penalty or negative play puts them in a deficit that this team has trouble overcoming.

Against nFw, the offense played pretty well. The defense couldn't get off the field and you ended up with a limited possessions game that favored the underdog.

But, as things currently stand, OSU's offense relies on 10+ play drives to score TDs. That just won't cut it when you run into really good defenses. They'll still score some, but they won't go past 20. Is what it is.

[iam416]

On the defensive point, last year M sat back. They generally forced OSU to go on long drives. They did give up one big Elliot run b/c their safety took a shit angle/underestimated Elliot's speed and another big play because JTB dropped an inch perfect pass into Thomas. But, otherwise it was a grinding, methodical offense that took 9-10 plays per drive to score and bumped into several 3rd downs along the way (and, I think, a couple 4th downs).

That's sort of how teams are playing OSU this year, but they don't have a coherent running strategy at the moment. They oscillate between Weber and Samuel instead of having some sort overall approach that incorporates both on a routine basis. When Samuel is in the backfield now, it's almost always his carry. No bueno, IMO. It's forced. With Elliot, the running game was remarkably simple and thus coherent and unified.

And, yes, I still miss Ezekiel. And Joey.

[Wild Hoss]

Nebraska (+17) at Ohio State. I don't understand what people see in Ohio State. This is a stupid fucking number. It should be 10 points lower. I unequivocally back Team Husker to stay within 17.

Hhhhmmmm. I dunno. Our offense is roadkill....OSU might only need to score 20 to cover.

I anticipate that Armstrong will chip in six points as well.

[AlabamAlum]

Elliott was special. Strong, great balance. Always seemed to pick the right hole. Similar problems at Bama. Last year, Henry would fall down and still get +3 yards. And his stiff arm, Jesus, LBs would crumple.

We have Cam at LT who is touted as an "all-american" but stunt in his general direction and he will false start. Guaranteed. We have a freshman guard and journeymen at the other positions. We went to a mobile QB out of neccesity, not some paradigm shift in philosophy.

Anyway, maybe Bama and Ohio State can meet in the Outback bowl or whatever.

[WingsFan]

Nebraska (+17) at Ohio State.

Has to be the mortal lock of the season, I don't get that spread?

[The Oracle]

Usually means osu will cover.

[Hannibal]

Has to be the mortal lock of the season

The mortal lock of the season was last week.

[WingsFan]

I was on your side for the most part on that one