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Big Ten Examiners of the Round Table: Week 10
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Every week the Big Ten Examiners of the Round Table collaborate for a heated debate over the current state of the conference that started it all. At times it can get rather ugly. Many teeth, strands of hair and part of an earlobe are now missing because of these meetings, yet our gatherings persist for the sake of the readers.
This week's questions come courtesy of Penn State Examiner Kevin McGuire.
Penn State and Ohio State play the big game this weekend in the conference, and we'll touch on that in a minute, but we first focus on the lone unbeaten team, Iowa. The Hawkeyes enter this week ranked fourth in the BCS. It seems like we ask this, or a derivative of this, every week, but is there any chance Iowa does indeed go undefeated? Should they go undefeated, what are the chances they make it to the BCS Championship game?
This Iowa team has as good a shot as any to complete the season with an unblemished record, and a BCS Championship Game berth will likely ensue if they manage to complete the Miracle on Turf. Condemn them with foul words like lucky. Label them resilient. Give ‘em a nice pat on the arse for their gladiator-esque mental fortitude. But the 2009 Hawkeyes refuse to lose.
That Iowa has won by two points while forcing six turnovers (30-28 victory over Michigan) and won by 18 points while coughing the ball up six times (42-24 over Indiana) is why no one in their right mind should bet against them going undefeated.
When your starting tailback is a true freshman, your Ray Guy Award hopeful is responsible for a nine-yard punt, your quarterback throws more interceptions in one quarter than Tim Tebow's thrown in his whole career, and you still cover the 17.5-point spread, it might just be your season.
Their victories are about as savory as a 60-year-old armpit on botchy ball Sunday, but that 9-0 record is delectable nonetheless. Serve with a side of sweet potato fries, because this is Idaho after all.
The road, however, will not be without a few curb checks and a dent on the hood from plowing through a stop sign. Things could get Nick Nolte like at any moment. So Iowa fans beware.
Northwestern holds a 7-5 edge over Iowa since 1995, and is the only Big Ten foe with multiple victories in Kinnick Stadium this decade.
Iowa’s recent performances in Columbus have been about as smooth as Carl Lewis singing the national anthem, and the Buckeyes could be playing for a Rose Bowl berth if they beat Penn State Saturday.
And Minnesota…Well, the 1990 Rose Bowl team managed to lay an egg at home against the Gophers, by the score 24-31, to end the regular season once their ticket to Pasadena had already been punched, so anything is possible.
What would be better for the Big Ten: Iowa making BCS championship game and losing and Penn State/Ohio State making another BCS game and winning, or Iowa and Penn State/Ohio State going to a BCS game (not the championship game) and both winning?
Weird question. The ideal scenario would be Iowa winning the national championship and Penn State/Ohio State winning another BCS game. But that’s not an option here. That would be just too freaking easy, now wouldn't it?
I’ll go with the latter: Iowa and Penn State/Ohio State both winning BCS games, neither of which is the NC game. This because Penn State/Ohio State could win their game by 50 points over Alabama, but if Florida beats Iowa by three points in the NC game, ESPN and the other delusional Big Ten haters across the country will dismiss it all as a farce, focusing all their attention on how Iowa shouldn’t have been in the title game to begin with.
As I said, Penn State and Ohio State play a pretty important game this weekend in State College, Pa. Who needs this victory more and why?
Penn State. It’s evident that this is somewhat of a rebuilding year for Ohio State, albeit a rebuilding year that could end with ten victories – not too shabby. The Nittany Lions, on the other hand, have a veteran team that deserves another crack at the BCS. A loss on Saturday almost certainly eliminates that possibility.
Michigan seems to have stalled recently and they are one win away form becoming bowl eligible. They have Purdue this weekend followed by a road game at Wisconsin and a home game against Ohio State to finish the season. Crystal ball time - does Michigan go to a bowl game?
Not a chance in Satanville. The Wolverines might – might – pull off a victory this Saturday against Purdue, though considering what Rich Rodriguez’ team has displayed on the field as of late, that’s a long shot. Even if they do right the ship for one week, the Badgers and Buckeyes are loading up their torpedoes with the intent of sinking the U.S.S Ann Harbor.
Which Big Ten team should be on the highest upset alert this weekend?
Iowa. Without a doubt. The Hawkeyes are ranked No. 4 in the BCS. Have the entire college football world in an anti-Big Ten frenzy. Play a mid-level conference foe that has dealt them a number of devastating losses in recent years. Furthermore, not even NASA can calculate the number of gallons (or ounces) left in the Herky Luck Tank.
Finally, as always, tell us something to look for from the team you are covering this weekend?
10-0. Baby. Ten and OH.
