The Big Ten Season begins on Thursday, August 31st, so it’s time for the annual Sigforum Big Ten football thread.

Requests:

Keep this thread about the Big Ten teams & players, the weekend’s Big Ten match-ups and opponents, kudos for Big Ten players/coaches/administrators, and Big Ten conference champ predictions.

If you’re a fan of a team from another conference, join in for some good-natured ribbing when your team plays a Big Ten team. Otherwise, please start a thread for your favorite conference.

It’s just a game so let’s keep the ribbing good-natured.

Season Predictions:

The pundits are predicting my beloved Boilermakers to not finish last for the first time in a long time. First year head coach, Jeff Brohm, will have the team good enough to be better than the Illini.

Many pundits are predicting the Wal-Mart Wolverines will win the Big Ten Conference Championship and be in the playoffs. I like Harbaugh a lot, but I think it's too difficult with only returning 5 starters.

The October 28th tOSU and PSU match-up will decide the Eastern Conference.

The September 30th WI and NWU match-up will decide the Western Conference.

The Badgers and Buckeyes will be in the Big Ten Championship, and the Buckeyes will win.

Goodish natured ribbing:

Not So Pure Michigan: UofM Football

Not So Pure Michigan: Michigan State Football

Not So Pure Michigan: Wisconsin and Ohio

Q: If you have a car containing a Buckeyes running back, a Buckeyes linebacker, and a Buckeyes defensive back, who is driving the car?
A: The cop. In all seriousness, in order to be a contender for the playoffs the Buckeyes need to keep their players out of handcuffs and in the classroom.

Kudos:

Week 1 – Rutgers for scheduling Washington, Maryland for scheduling Texas, UofM for scheduling Florida, and my Boilermakers for scheduling Louisville. It takes cajones to schedule a real opponent week 1 instead of a cream puff.

Week 2 – tOSU for scheduling Oklahoma, and NE for scheduling Oregon. I’m a huge fan of scheduling real opponents prior to the Big Ten season and despise the practice of Power 5 conference teams playing cream puffs to boost their wins.

Week 3 – My Boilermakers for scheduling a SEC team (Missouri)

Week 4 – MSU for scheduling Yoder Dame and the Fighting Amish.


EDIT NOTES:
1. Every week I change the title to give page # for this week's discussion of the games.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tatortodd,

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Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

quote:

The pundits are predicting my beloved Boilermakers to not finish last for the first time in a long time

I think the Fighting Illini will probably occupy that spot. Lovie though is supposedly doing his best. Their players are a little bigger than the students. They are already looking forward to basketball season.

I watched Coach Jeff B. Play in the state final high school game as a QB and the guy was a phenom in high school.
He has a great mind for coaching QBs.

Yeah, personally I have not heard many predict UM to win the East. I do not think that will happen either. I am not a fan of Harbaugh at all.
Not sure the Buckeyes will either. I watched their spring game and their offense was not very offensive and looked incredibly like last years lack luster performance. They lost Hooker and Powell to the NFL out of the defense secondary and lost their stud linebacker to the NFL, who tore his ACL in the first scrimmage. The good thing is they play PSU at Columbus, daughter has tickets, but Mich at Mich.

N.W. probably will not be near what they were last year after losing the players they did on offense especially their star WR, Carr.

quote:

Week 2 – tOSU for scheduling Oklahoma. I’m a huge fan of scheduling real opponents prior to the Big Ten season and despise the practice of Power 5 conference teams playing cream puffs to boost their wins.

Check me if I'm wrong but, isn't Nebraska playing Oregon, on the road, in week two?!? Top 25 in some polls, certainly not a "cream puff" in anyone's mind...right?

Being a Gopher and going thru too many coaches to name, I'm justifiably jaded. Hoping P.J. Fleck is more than speeches and hype about "Rowing the Boat."

quote:

Requests:
Keep this thread about the Big Ten teams & players, the weekend’s Big Ten match-ups and opponents, kudos for Big Ten players/coaches/administrators, and Big Ten conference champ predictions.
If you’re a fan of a team from another conference, join in for some good-natured ribbing when your team plays a Big Ten team. Otherwise, please start a thread for your favorite conference.
It’s just a game so let’s keep the ribbing good-natured.

tatortodd tries to do this thread every year, and it seem like every year someone comes in from outside the Big Ten, goes beyond fun, and wrecks things. I'm just sayin', I'll report that stuff in a heartbeat to Para and/or Mods.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:

quote:

Week 2 – tOSU for scheduling Oklahoma. I’m a huge fan of scheduling real opponents prior to the Big Ten season and despise the practice of Power 5 conference teams playing cream puffs to boost their wins.

Check me if I'm wrong but, isn't Nebraska playing Oregon, on the road, in week two?!? Top 25 in some polls, certainly not a "cream puff" in anyone's mind...right?

Sorry. I missed it, and have edited my post.

I am an Iowa fan and this weekends game with Wyoming will be a real test for defensive backfield, best back suspended for the game and several others have little playing time.
The Wyoming quarterback has the pros attention could be an interesting game.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin1069:

quote:

Requests:
Keep this thread about the Big Ten teams & players, the weekend’s Big Ten match-ups and opponents, kudos for Big Ten players/coaches/administrators, and Big Ten conference champ predictions.
If you’re a fan of a team from another conference, join in for some good-natured ribbing when your team plays a Big Ten team. Otherwise, please start a thread for your favorite conference.
It’s just a game so let’s keep the ribbing good-natured.

tatortodd tries to do this thread every year, and it seem like every year someone comes in from outside the Big Ten, goes beyond fun, and wrecks things. I'm just sayin', I'll report that stuff in a heartbeat to Para and/or Mods.

Most years the silliness holds off until the Big Ten Championship, and occasionally even holds off until Jan 1st. tOSU and Urban tend to be the "objects of affection."

I've only used the report feature on one instance. The guy was already on Para's radar so acting up in the Big Ten thread was strike #2 (he was a douche and then ban hammer came pretty quickly afterward).

OP so I get it that you are anti OSU, but what is the handcuff comment about?

What is the rationale for Big Ten conference game as the opener?

I mean, the Big Ten doesn't do anything that isn't about money these days.

So why are my Hoosiers being led to an early slaughter at the hands of nuts... I mean Buckeyes?

Clare

quote:

Originally posted by Aquabird:
OP so I get it that you are anti OSU, but what is the handcuff comment about?

Clarett, Lyle, Conley, Barrett, Washington...

quote:

Originally posted by RFSALES:
I am an Iowa fan and this weekends game with Wyoming will be a real test for defensive backfield, best back suspended for the game and several others have little playing time.
The Wyoming quarterback has the pros attention could be an interesting game.

Yep. And watching Wyoming play in Lincoln they, like North Dakota State, come to play. I think the Hawks should be on their game and not skiff them off.

Oh..... go Rutgers!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by 357fuzz:

quote:

Originally posted by RFSALES:
I am an Iowa fan and this weekends game with Wyoming will be a real test for defensive backfield, best back suspended for the game and several others have little playing time.
The Wyoming quarterback has the pros attention could be an interesting game.

Yep. And watching Wyoming play in Lincoln they, like North Dakota State, come to play. I think the Hawks should be on their game and not skiff them off.

Oh..... go Rutgers!!!!!

Go Pokes Our son's alma mater

Well somebody has to say it.


Let's go Maryland!

It's the beginning of the season. Gotta think positive......

I know it is early but Indiana seems to be holding their own against Ohio State.

quote:

Originally posted by bcereuss:
Clare

quote:

Originally posted by Aquabird:
OP so I get it that you are anti OSU, but what is the handcuff comment about?

Clarett, Lyle, Conley, Barrett, Washington...

I'm far from anti-OSU and I root for them when they play anybody except Purdue. I made fun of UofM, MSU, Wisconsin, and tOSU just as I have done every year when starting the Big Ten thread. In fact, it's the exact same joke from the opening post in the '14, '15, and '16 thread.

Uh, sorry. Go big ten, Have been to games at Purdue. Son went to Purdue BB camp when Gene Keady was there, good camp.

I had a Boss that graduated from Purdue. We also had a Ford Dealership run by Mike Pruett...until he ran it into the ground.
I also had a boss who was married to Randy Cooper.. probably from way before your time, think he was older than I am, but he was a pretty good college football running back for Purdue.

Gophers beat (won) vs. Buffalo. 17-7. An interception in the end zone and two missed field goals left Coach Fleck not as excited as he could have been. Buffalo was supposed to be a blowout for us.

It looks to me like you either have some ringers in there, or the name should change to the Big 14.