2020-2021 Big Ten Bowl Games and Playoff Semi-Finals (Central Time Zone):
4 Big Ten teams in bowl games plus tOSU in the play-off semi-final. 16 bowls have been canceled and 22 teams have so far opted out of bowls including MD, MSU, MN, NE, PSU.

Dec 30 - Wake Forest @ WI at 11:00 AM on ESPN in Charlotte for Duke's Mayo Bowl

Dec 30 - IA @ Missouri at 3:00 PM on ESPN in Nashville for Music City Bowl

Jan 1 - Auburn @ NWU at Noon on ABC in Orlando for the Citrus Bowl

Jan 1 - Clemson @ tOSU at 7:00 on ESPN in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl / Semi-final Playoff

Jan 2 - Ole Miss @ IU at 11:30 AM on ABC in Tampa for the Outback Bowl

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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:

Wake Forest @ WI at 11:00 AM on ESPN in Charlotte for Duke's Mayo Bowl

^^^^^^^^^^^^
Mayo bowl? I would prefer horseradish. Demon Deacons vs. Badgers hmmmmmm

OSU vs. Clemson again... I hope we don't mess it up like last year.

Dabo is giving out a lot of bulletin board material.

Go Bucks!!!!!

Really?? Wisconsin QB breaks Mayo Bowl trophy. Well it is 2020.

Well, WI got off to a slow start by giving up 2 TDs on WF's first 2 possessions while WI's offense was flat the 1st quarter. The O started off the 2nd quarter with a 75 yard TD drive and a few minutes later the D got a stop and special teams blocked WFs punt giving the ball to the O on the 9 yard line. The game was 14-14 at half, and WF's 1st possession of the 2nd half they scored a TD. Then, WI's special teams shined again with a 57 yard kick return and the O drove the remaining 33 yards to tie the game back up. At this point WI's D takes over the game and WF's next 5 drives end on downs, INT, INT, INT, and downs. WI isn't just intercepting it, they were averaging 44 yards on the return leaving the O a short field. At this point it's WI leading 42-21, but they gave up a garbage time TD.

On offense, nobody had a statistically significant game since the D and special teams left them with a short field frequently. 4 different WI defenders had INTs.

Congrats to WI for a bowl game win and ending the season on a high note.

During the game, WI's QB Mertz threw 0 INTs and had 0 fumbles. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about his victory celebration with the Duke's Mayo trophy (see embedded Twitter video) .

That will buff right out

Before kicking things off, it's a good time for a decorum reminder for fans of non-conference teams visiting this thread.

quote:

Requests:

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.

New Year's Day Big Ten Bowl Games and Playoff Semi-Finals (Central Time Zone):

Auburn @ NWU at Noon on ABC in Orlando for the Citrus Bowl - the Wildcats are favored by 4 over the Tigers. Statistically, Auburn is 2 ppg better on offense and NWU is 8 ppg better on defense. Against ranked teams Auburn (4 ranked teams) has been scoring 17 and giving up 28, and NWU (2 ranked teams) has been scoring 13.5 and giving up 14.5. I think the biggest intangible is Auburn fired their head coach and has a new head coach, but on the other side Coach Fitz is the maniac who recruited them and coached them to Big Ten Championship appearances 2 out of the last 3 years. Wildcats win and cover.

Jan 1 - Clemson @ tOSU at 7:00 on ESPN in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl / Semi-final Playoff - the Buckeyes are 7 point underdogs to the Tigers. Statistically, Clemson has a 2.5 ppg edge on offense and 3.5 ppg edge on defense. Against ranked teams Clemsn has been scoring 38.5 and giving up 24.5, and tOSU has been scoring 34 and giving up 23. Intangibles - Clemson's Coach Dabo keeps running his mouth about ranking tOSU behind 3 loss team Iowa State which is great bulletin board material (Urban Meyer said it totally turned around tOSU practice over the holidays), Clemson's offensive coordinator is out with COVID, and tOSU QB Fields has had bad games vs good defenses (NWU and IU). I'd like tOSU to pull off the upset, but I'm going with Clemson winning but failing to cover.

What are your predictions?

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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.

Clemson blows out OSU. Dabo becomes more annoying. Dabo dancing with his team after the victory.

Good luck to the Ohio State fans.

There’s been a trend in the bowl games with players “opting out.” I can’t believe a player with his team in the semis would opt out, but... Any word on this?

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
There’s been a trend in the bowl games with players “opting out.” I can’t believe a player with his team in the semis would opt out, but... Any word on this?

No word on today's games that I've seen, but I did watch a football program a day or two ago saying that "opting out" is significant in bowl games but a non-factor in playoffs. tOSU doesn't announce who is out until shortly before the game so we wouldn't know unless the player blabbed on social media.

The interesting thing is whether or not increasing "opting out" is a long-term trend or it's just a blip due to COVID. Some unique things about this year:

Many of these players haven't seen their families since summer, and past years many programs gave them 2 or 3 days for Christmas. However, due to fears of bringing back COVID to the program those programs aren't doing that this year. This morning, Urban Meyer said one year he didn't give a Christmas Break and school started for National Championship so players didn't get a break until Spring Break. Pretty tough emotionally.

There is no week spent in a new location with a bunch of events and gifts. Since all of the Big Ten is in the North, a week in a warm Southern or SoCal city is appealing. Flying in 1 or 2 days early and only practicing and being in a hotel room isn't appealing.

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.

Purdue's Rondale Moore, who graduated in 2.5yrs, has announced that he will be going pro.

quote:

Originally posted by Shaql:
Purdue's Rondale Moore, who graduated in 2.5yrs, has announced that he will be going pro.

Not surprised. Smart kid with a ton of talent and work ethic. I think he'll be able to disprove his doubters about playing in NFL at 5'9".

SBNation is speculating New Orleans Saints which would pair him up with former Boilermaker Drew Brees. Interesting since Brees' favorite target at Purdue was 5'9" Vinny Sutherland.

Auburn losing to Northwestern has got to sting. Will see if the Boise State coach can turn it around. IMHO there were better choices for a coach. At least they did not hire Hugh Freeze.

Citrus Bowl Wrap-up
NWU played a very solid game.

They came out of the blocks strong and ended the 1st leading 14-0. In the 2nd quarter, the offense went to sleep but the defense remained solid only giving up 2 field goals. I got a little nervous in the 3rd when Auburn busted a 57 yard TD, but then the D got stingy and offense reawakened to the tune of 3 straight TDs.

Kudos:

NWU Defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz - wrapped up 51 years of coaching with his 400th win. Going into the game, NWU had the top defenses in college football and they certainly played like it today.

NWU offense - They racked up 5 TDs from 291 yards passing and 166 yards rushing. They had an 11.5 minute time of possession advantage.

NWU defense - Held Auburn to 61 yards rushing (2.3 ypc), forced a fumble on Auburn's 24 yard line, held them to 2-13 on 3rd down attempts.

NWU QB Ramsey - 24 completions for 291 yards and 3 TDs (0 INTs) plus had 50 yards rushing and a rushing TD (nice 30 yard run). As far as the season, he had been replaced at IU and when he graduated he enrolled in grad school at NWU and won the starting QB job. Pretty remarkable story of overcoming adversity and leading a team to a NYD Bowl Game. Now, he has the choice of coming back for next season or entering NFL draft.

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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.

Tide fan checking in to pull for "THE" Ohio State University ... Buckeyes !!!

A little late, but it’s 7-7, so I guess I can go ahead and make a prediction. I think Ohio State wins tonight

Sermon is a beast!

35-14 at half.

tOSU's TE's had an awesome first half combining for 3 TD receptions.

Fields is a tough hombre. I'm betting he broke a rib or two when he got speared.