2017 MAACC...er, and now Big Ten, midweek spectacular SOC thread

[MichiFan87]

I had mistakenly made a post indicating that Arizona State had been upset, but apparently the CBSsports.com scoreboard was messed up for some reason. Regardless, it still amazes my how Arizona State has regressed under Graham from his first few years.

Conversely, New Mexico State has been terrible for a long time. This is tangential, but I still don't get why the Sun Belt is dropping them even though they can now have a CCG with just 10 teams (I get dropping Idaho, since they're so far from everyone else). If anything, it would make sense for them to add NMSU back in all sports (which they were in before the WAC), since they'd be a top basketball program for them. For comparison, I get why there apparently isn't any interest between the Sun Belt and Liberty (which has it's own political / religious motivations like BYU), but they could add also another FCS program like they just did with Coastal Carolina to even it up.

As it is, it will be interesting to see how they and the other two low-profile independents (Liberty and Massachusetts) manage. I think it is feasible for NMSU, because they can schedule UMass & Liberty and various MAC / CUSA / SB teams along with an FCS home game, they have annual rivalry games with UNM and UTEP, and then they just need to take 2 or 3 guarantee game trips like tonight. If they get to 6 wins they're now virtually guaranteed a bowl game because the conference tie-ins for the low-profile ones have become essentially meaningless with 5-7 teams getting bowl bids..... Hypothetically, North Dakota State (name your top FCS program) could get 6-9 wins every year with a similar schedule if they wanted to.

[Brutus Buckeye]

Yeah, the Red Aggies got screwed. 

The Big XII made it so you don't need 12 teams anymore to have a ccg.

The SunBelt teams behave as though traveling across TX is akin to taking a trip to the moon.

Their two biggest rivals are holding them down, as NM is blocking them from joining the MWC, while UTEP is blocking them from joining CUSA. 

Both of those teams do schedule NMSU annually in the Non Conference, though, so that will give them a good start on an Independent schedule every year; as well as give them something to play for if they aren't getting to Bowl games. 

[GopherRock]

Thoughts from last night:

-This team needs work. A lot of it. OL was getting no push, secondary was thin as rice paper, and neither QB could sustain drives. 

It's a good thing that the next living, breathing team on the Gophers schedule is at Iowa  on the 28th of October. They need all the reps they can get. 

-The Row the Boat shtick is already a beating in stadium. 

[Mdot21]

I think Indiana knocks off either Penn St or Michigan this year.

They don't have the burners that OSU needed in order to put this thing away.

They get the Wolverines at home.

Indiana is definitely going to be a problem for most teams in the B1G. Don't think they knock either PSU or M off though. Indiana just doesn't have the team depth. Sooner or later they break down in the 2nd half because of this. It's been a recurring theme there. I think it'll be more of the same.

And if they do knock M off, it won't be because of lack of "burners"- DPJ, Eddie McDoom, and Dylan Crawford all figure to get minutes at WR- and all three of them can run now. Crawford and DPJ both ran top 10 times in the low 4.4's at the nike opening event, and McDoom was widely talked about as the fastest guy on M's team last year- besting Peppers (4.43 at NFL combine) and Chesson (4.46) in foot races.

Don't think the issue is speed or lack thereof. The issue would be how the Michigan offense tries to use that speed. Completely different style of offenses and passing games. Ohio State's offensive style is better IMO. Up-tempo, use run game to set up the pass and get the ball out to speedy players in space and let them use that speed.

[847badgerfan]

-The Row the Boat shtick is already a beating in stadium.

Taking a beating? 

[MrNubbz]

Don't think the issue is speed or lack thereof. The issue would be how the Michigan offense tries to use that speed. Completely different style of offenses and passing games. Ohio State's offensive style is better IMO. Up-tempo, use run game to set up the pass and get the ball out to speedy players in space and let them use that speed.

Rinse & repeat good defenses will take away the deep stuff thus shortening the field.OSU heading down the same path.OSU's over all depth tired out the Hoosiers in the 2nd half.Buckeye defense will keep them in any contest unfortunately the offense will not give them much choice against deeper squads.hey I'm still glad the season's here

[847badgerfan]

Off to The Lake all. Not sure if I'll be on tonight or not depending on the party going on, but I will be watching television.

On, Wisconsin!

[FearlessF]

enjoy the Lake before it freezes

[MrNubbz]

Off to The Lake all. Not sure if I'll be on tonight or not depending on the party going on, but I will be watching television.

On, Wisconsin!

Anchors aweigh 847

[nuwildcat]

that's what I'm talking about ... go Scarlet Knights!!

[FearlessF]

looking good early

of course the Hoosiers looked good early

[MaximumSam]

Wisconsin still on the boat

[Brutus Buckeye]

Poor Blue Aggies. 

[bayareabadger]

Wisconsin started slow, then released pain.