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Topic: B1G West, 2020

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847badgerfan

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B1G West, 2020
« on: December 22, 2019, 03:50:49 PM »
By now it's become pretty obvious that the West goes through Madison. They have won it 4 times in 6 years, while Iowa and NU have each won one. Next year is going to be interesting for sure.

UW Schedule:

Indiana
Southern Illinois (WTF)
Appy State
@ Michigan
Notre Dame (Lambeau)
Minnesota
Idle
@ Maryland
Illinois
@ Northwestern
@ Purdue
Nebraska
@ Iowa

Not liking 4 of the last 6 on the road. Opening up with Indiana could be tricky, but it's in Madison (probably on a Friday??).

Who are the contenders next season? Iowa? Minnie? Are the others ready to make a move?

Iowa's crossovers are Michigan State, @ Ohio State and @ Penn State - back-to-back-to-back.

Minnie's are @ Maryland, Michigan and @ Michigan State.
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Brutus Buckeye

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Re: B1G West, 2020
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2019, 04:54:00 PM »
Wisconsin has a great crossover, with the three worst B1G East teams (other than Rutgers). Iowa's crossover on the other hand is too tough, while Minny will take a Purdue sized step back after a breakout year. Thus paving the way for the Illinois duo to be the primary challengers for the Badgers in 2020.

The Illini are finally trending upward under Lovie Smith and his Santa beard, while Fitz will no doubt have the Wildcats back in the mix, after suffering a down year.

Nebraska with Frost will be the B1G West's version of the Wolverines under Harbaugh, annually favored to win their division in the preseason, but then trailing off into the middle of the pack once the season gets underway.
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847badgerfan

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Re: B1G West, 2020
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2019, 05:14:51 PM »
Wisconsin has a great crossover, with the three worst B1G East teams (other than Rutgers). Iowa's crossover on the other hand is too tough, while Minny will take a Purdue sized step back after a breakout year. Thus paving the way for the Illinois duo to be the primary challengers for the Badgers in 2020.

The Illini are finally trending upward under Lovie Smith and his Santa beard, while Fitz will no doubt have the Wildcats back in the mix, after suffering a down year.

Nebraska with Frost will be the B1G West's version of the Wolverines under Harbaugh, annually favored to win their division in the preseason, but then trailing off into the middle of the pack once the season gets underway.
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LittlePig

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Re: B1G West, 2020
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2019, 05:36:23 PM »
Fans always focus too much on the cross-overs.  The West division has always been won by the team with the best  intra-division record.   


Hawkinole

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Re: B1G West, 2020
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2019, 01:30:13 AM »
We should wait to write the epitaph after the 2019-20 season ends. In short, if we were to write it today, Iowa is in deep trouble for 2020. 

There will be a new QB with very little experience. Tristan Wirfs and AJ Epenesa are likely to turn pro after their junior year. Chauncey Golston is a junior and had a better season than AJ Epenesa, and if Chauncey turns pro it will be another big blow. There are a few other seniors, but this was not a senior dominated roster this year. It's just that some of the key underclassmen players are leaving, and the Big Ten schedule which was daunting in 2019, is more daunting in 2020.

My belief  is that Wisconsin, which outperformed my 2019 expectation, will again be atop the BTW in 2020. I see Minnesota coming on, but Minnesota has not had the recruiting success to overcome the Badgers.

FearlessF

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Re: B1G West, 2020
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2019, 10:23:43 AM »
it's the Badgers until proven otherwise

but, ya gotta keep one eye on Fleck after this season

Iowa just does what Iowa does.  If they are discounted pre-season they could be even more dangerous

Interesting to see if Northwestern will bounce back.  I assume they will and have a solid season
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Cincydawg

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Re: B1G West, 2020
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2019, 10:31:19 AM »
My vague memory is that it's Wisconsin and 1 or 2 other teams who "come out of nowhere" in effect to compete.  Maybe Nebraska is primed?  They seem to be forgotten.

We've seen NW, Minny, and Iowa compete when not really expected to be there.  Even Illinois is showing some moxie, and Purdue had one year better than expected.  I don't know what Wisconsin's worst year since the divisions has been, but my guess is they were second anyway.


847badgerfan

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Re: B1G West, 2020
« Reply #7 on: December 23, 2019, 10:43:05 AM »
My vague memory is that it's Wisconsin and 1 or 2 other teams who "come out of nowhere" in effect to compete.  Maybe Nebraska is primed?  They seem to be forgotten.

We've seen NW, Minny, and Iowa compete when not really expected to be there.  Even Illinois is showing some moxie, and Purdue had one year better than expected.  I don't know what Wisconsin's worst year since the divisions has been, but my guess is they were second anyway.


Tied for 2nd, both times they didn't win it.


The only school that is recruiting "better" than Wisconsin right now is Nebraska, but that's how it's always been anyway.
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Abba

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Re: B1G West, 2020
« Reply #8 on: December 23, 2019, 10:44:25 AM »
 I don't know what Wisconsin's worst year since the divisions has been, but my guess is they were second anyway.

Pretty good guess. 

They tied for 2nd last year at 5-4 with Purdue and Iowa.  Northwestern ran away with it at 8-1. 

In 2015, they tied for 2nd with Northwestern at 6-2, while Iowa took the division at 8-0

fezzador

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Re: B1G West, 2020
« Reply #9 on: December 23, 2019, 11:18:53 AM »
Tied for 2nd, both times they didn't win it.


The only school that is recruiting "better" than Wisconsin right now is Nebraska, but that's how it's always been anyway.

It's simple really.  Nebraska throws out a lot more nets than either Wisconsin or Iowa.  The more nets you cast, the more fish you're likely to get.

Wisconsin and Iowa are 2 of the choosiest schools when it comes to recruiting, both are looking for a certain type of player and it works for them because the parts all work well together.  Nebraska's got some very good individual parts, but Frost needs to figure out how to get the most out of his talent.  I don't think he's gotten there yet.

I really think he's better off taking a page from the Badgers and Hawks and look for some hungry players.  A three-star with a chip on his shoulder and is willing to redshirt to learn the system often works out far better than hotshot Joey Fourstar.  

FearlessF

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Re: B1G West, 2020
« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2019, 12:52:23 PM »
Pelini liked the 3 star kids with huge chips on their shoulders

he almost won enough games

he came under fire for not recruiting stars
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847badgerfan

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Re: B1G West, 2020
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2019, 02:01:09 PM »
UNL really should have kept him., in hindsight. I liked the Riley hire, but, hindsight. Man, he really set the program back.
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CWSooner

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Re: B1G West, 2020
« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2019, 02:56:34 PM »
I liked the Riley hire too, but it turned out to be a disaster.

Leo Durocher could have said, "I told ya so!"
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Brutus Buckeye

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Re: B1G West, 2020
« Reply #13 on: December 23, 2019, 03:56:50 PM »
All those 2 stars that Nebraska recruits get reclassified as 3 stars, with the helmet bump.
1919, 20, 21, 28, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 42, 44
WWH: 1952, 54, 55, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 67, 68, 70, 72, 74, 75
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