Around the Big Ten

[Jamie H]

Didn't realize Christ was a senior. Yes he can probably get the exemption.

[iam416]

Yeah. I mean, he's not Russell Wilson, and he isn't even that good period, but it's still a crapball exception, IMO.

[Jamie H]

It's a big loophole, that is for sure.

[Mike]

I haven't really handi-capped the free agent market. Anyone out there Michigan could use? I thought that stupid loophole was closed. Guess not.

[Hannibal]

I don't mind it since its usefulness is still highly limited.

[entropy]

http://sports.omaha.com/2011/11/30/big-ten-blah/

[Hannibal]

Not sure that the venue makes that much of a difference. If fans aren't packing the stadium in Indianapolis, they wouldn't be packing Lambeau field either. And as I said previously, I think that you are less likely to get neutral fans sit out in the windy cold than in a comfortable dome. Maybe the conference should consider having a team host the game.

[lineygoblue]

How would you figure out who hosts? This year you have two teams with the same record. You could say that "head-to-head" determines, but would it really be fair to make Wisconsin fans travel to East Lansing again? Would Sparty be willing to give up 50% of the tickets to Wisconsin fans?

I agree about the indoor venue. With the weather forecast this week, the only teams that would go to an outdoor stadium are the two teams' fans. No neutral fans are going to trek to Soldier Field, Lambeau or Cleveland to watch MSU v Wisconsin.

The B1G just has to face it. Neutral fans don't care about this game. At least not enough to go to Indy, buy a ticket, and go to the game. Neutral fans who have interest will simply stay home and watch it on TV.

[Hannibal]

MSU has a better conference record than Wisky, so you wouldn't need to worry about the tiebreaker this year.

I still like the neutral site, but there are going to be some problems filling the stadium sometimes.

[iam416]

This underscores the value of UNL to the conference, IMO. The B10 was lacking in "big time" programs. Wisky and MSU are NOT it. Big time programs sell this game out.

In contrast, the SEC has a nice inventory of programs that would sell out any SECCG. I mean, in terms of where they rank in their respective conferences, this is a matchup almost identical to Auburn-South Carolina.

[Hannibal]

This is probably middle of the road as far as matchup attractiveness goes. It's not Michigan vs Penn State, but it's also not 8-0 OSU vs a 5-3 Iowa team that OSU beat by three touchdowns in October. That kind of game will be a total stinker.

[iam416]

Yes, but it would be sold out. Heh.

[hardtimesjake97]

Well, people NOW know there is B1G title game this weekend, amazingly because of an internet prankster.At first I was thinking that the powers that be might find this guy and have him prosecuted for defamation, but you know what? They ended up getting a lot of free publicity.

[WM Wolverine]

By my math; this is B10 #6 (Wisky behind Iowa as Iowa travels really well) and #7 (MSU probably tied with Illinois for #7 as Illini imo would find themselves a lot more bandwagon fans if they were actually good for a few years in a row)... Awful draw for the B10 championship game for ticket sales and ratings too...

Give the B10 CCG a couple of PSU, OSU, Neb, M or Iowa and the place is to capacity with tickets selling above face value.

[entropy]

WM.. that is how I see it. Wisky and MSU are just middle of the pack for traveling.