Any Penn State folks here who can give a Mississippi State fan the lowdown on your (now former) offensive coordinator? Inquiring minds want to know, seems like a good coach and person from what I'm able to gather. Then again, I just had to take down my life sized poster of Matt Lauer this evening, so maybe I'm not so good a judge of character?

Dang boys, did I killify the thread?

quote:

Originally posted by slabsides45:
Dang boys, did I killify the thread?

Nah, but you are asking someone to admit to being a Penn State fan

In all seriousness, JustJoe is Pennsylvania resident and football fan, but not sure if he likes PSU. Maybe he'll chime in.

Yes, I'm in PA, but not a Penn State fan. All the crap with Sandusky soured me on them. Not the guys out on the field playing the game, but the whole administration from the president to the deans to the head coach-- it stank to high heaven.

I have watched some of their games on tv, and Moorhead was an excellent offensive coordinator. He brought a varied and unpredictable offense to Penn State. He coached Trace McSorley, who was an outstanding quarterback. I think he'll be a very big plus for Mississippi State.

Before we discuss the Big Ten Championship, I'd like to remind everyone of the decorum expected in this thread. I post this every year at the start of the season, but the Big Ten Championship tends to be the first time everyone needs a reminder. I won't hesitate to hit the report button.

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.

Big Ten Championship:
#8 Ohio State at #4 Wisconsin at 7:00 CST on Fox - The Buckeyes are favored by 4 to 6 points 4.5 to 6 points (2 of 3 odds services changed their spread to 4 while I typed my post) depending on which odds service you believe.

Statistics:

tOSU is better on offense and WI is better on defense.

tOSU has not faced a better offense or defense this year

WI has not faced a better offense or defense this year

Common Opponents (to be fair, 4 of 6 stink):

Nebraska - both teams won in lopsided games, but the Buckeyes won by 42 vs the Badgers winning by 21.

Maryland - both teams won in lopsided games, but the Buckeyes won by 48 vs the Badgers winning by 25.

Illinois - both teams won, but Buckeyes destroyed them (38 point margin of victory), but Badgers won by 14 (to be fair it was 21 until garbage time TD with 53 seconds remaining).

Indiana - both teams won in lopsided games, and margin of victory is a tie at 28 points.

Michigan - Badgers won by 14 and UofM's QB Peters was knocked out of the game and O'Korn played 1.5 quarters. Buckeyes won by 11, but O'Korn was the UofM QB the entire game. Peters was a spark plug for UofM, and they pass blocked better, rush blocked better, fumbled less, and dropped less passes with him as QB. Therefore, this was a more meaningful win for Wisconsin.

Iowa - this match-up is the biggest differentiator. Iowa curb stomped tOSU and won by 31. Wisconsin whooped Iowa by 22, but the Wisconsin defense actually pitched a shutout (Hornibrook threw 2 pick 6's to Josh Jackson).

Keys:

Whether Barrett starts or Haskins starts. Barrett has a lot of experience playing in the big game, but Haskins only has 1/2 a game experience playing in the big game.

Hornibrook being accurate and not telegraphing passes

Whether or not tOSU's front 7 can match-up on the run with WI's massive O-line. Hornibrook is a better passer when the run is working well.

Whether or not tOSU's O-line can protect the QB and open holes for the RBs. WI's front 7 are outstanding.

Prediction:
Badgers pull off the "upset" (i.e. Buckeyes lose and don't cover)

Gotta go with Wisconsin in that one.

Going to have to root for Wisconsin. I don't think OSU can get into the championship.

On Wisconsin!

quote:

Originally posted by Chance:
Going to have to root for Wisconsin. I don't think OSU can get into the championship.

On Wisconsin!

That's where I'm at. My heart wants tOSU to win and get in but their chances are slim. Would rather guarantee a Big10 team is in. Also don't think tOSU deserves to get in after their performance at Iowa. Boy was my daughter pissed as she was at the game with her best friend.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:

quote:

Originally posted by pwelch001:
That's quite a resume. I'm just glad that buffoon Beilima? Didn't get hired.

Until it’s official I won’t exhale, but I couldn’t agree more, Bielema is a bag.

You can exhale, Frost is the new Nebraska coach

Bama fan here rooting for Ohio State - go get 'em Buckeyes!

(Actually a close game where OSU pulls it out at the end would be best...It's Bama's only chance to get in now)

Only a couple minutes until kickoff, but not too late to get your predictions/wishes in.

Gotta vote for OSU (especially since I am an alumni)

I would be hard pressed to root for Wisconsin ever.

When I went to boot camp for the second time in 2010, one of the Drill SGTs for 3rd platoon was a Wisconsin alumni and he was the biggest prick. Not the usual drill SGT persona, but a certifiable a**hole. After having to suffer 11 weeks of his crap, I vowed never to root for the badgers.

It's 21-7 at half-time.

The Badgers defense has given up the same number of 50+ yard plays (84, 77, 57) in 1 half than the rest of the season. 2 of 3 were from bad tackling.

Hornibrook has been very inaccurate plus has thrown an INT. Sure the Buckeyes are putting on pressure, but even on plays like screens where the line is supposed to let the defender past Hornibrook isn't throwing from an athletic stance.

Barrett had arthroscopic knee surgery on Sunday and still started. He threw 1 pick 6, threw for 2 TDs (1 off bad tackling and 1 from a great pass), has thrown for 182 yards, and rushed for a gutsy goal line stand TD.

Never seen this before...

Good game

I think we just watched Ohio State send Bama to the playoffs. IMO the win was not convincing enough to play their way in.

As a fan Im content with the B1G title and a big bowl game.

Congrats to JK Dobbins for a great season, a great game and the MVP tonight.

O-H!!

Congratulations to Ohio State.

Hats off to Wisconsin for making some nice adjustments at half time which made for a more exciting 2nd half. Also, congrats on a great season.

quote:

Originally posted by lbsid:
O-H!!

N-O!!