Thursday Thoughts, 2010 Week Seven

Buckeyes at Camp Randall
If you know any Buckeyes fans, they always talk about their recent struggles against Wisconsin at Camp Randall.  Jim Tressel is actually 2-1 at Wisconsin, but all 3 games have been decided by a TD or less, with an average margin of victory of .33 points/game.  I imagine we can expect another low-scoring close game this time around.  First one to 17 points wins.
Statistically speaking, "at Purdue" is actually the game (besides BCS games) that Jim Tressel's Buckeyes have struggled with the most (with at least 3 games played): he is 2-2 at Purdue, with an average margin of victory of .25 points/game.  Tressel is 4-0 at Indiana and Minnesota with average margin of victory of 25.5 and 17.75, respectively.  He is also unbeaten, 3-0, at Michigan State with an average margin of victory of 27.3 points.  He is 4-1 at Michigan, 3-1 at Northwestern, and 3-2 at Penn State.  He is 1-1 against Iowa, a blowout loss and a blowout win, with another date there later this season.

Baseball Playoffs
Last year was the first time in my memory, besides my mission, where I did not watch a single pitch during the World Series.  It looks as though we are headed for a rematch of my least favorite World Series matchup of all-time (well, maybe Cardinals-White Sox).  Sad that an avid fan like me will have so little interest in the World Series two consecutive years.  I was secretly hoping for a Twins-Reds World Series when this thing got started until the sweeps started...I can still hope for a Rangers-Giants series though.

The Iowa Factor
Hawkeye fans sure feel like they are going to have a say in the Big Ten title.  They just thumped Penn State two weeks ago at home.  That looked great until Penn State lost by a similar margin at home to Illinois.  But let's be honest here, Hawkeye fans, Iowa has to play each of the good teams in the Big Ten: @ Michigan, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State.  They may get three of them at home, but, come on, it's still Iowa.  They always find a way to to choke, even if it isn't against good teams.  Last year it was Northwestern before the overtime thriller loss at Ohio State.  Two years ago take your pick: Northwestern, Michigan State, Illinois.  Iowa may play spoiler to a Big Ten contender, but, for me, they are, as always, just a pretender in the most overrated conference in America.

Defense is SECondary This Year 
Two top 15 SEC teams meet this Saturday when Arkansas travels to Auburn.  One would expect a game involving two highly ranked SEC teams to be a defensive struggle.  Not in this year's SEC West.  Auburn is barely in the top 50 in scoring defense.  Arkansas has fared better, but they are helped by a schedule that includes an FCS team and a Sun Belt team.  I expect this game to get into the 30's for one or both teams.  A shootout in the SEC West?  Get used to it this season.  Alabama is the only SEC West team with anything closely resembling a defense, and they gave up 35 points last weekend...

Change of Scenery
Who would have thought at the beginning of the season that the game with the biggest impact on the MWC race this weekend would be Air Force at San Diego State?  With TCU-BYU on the docket, and an expected blowout, that is exactly the case.  It is a bit refreshing to have two other teams matter this season, but, given how different the MWC will look next year, I would rather have things back to the way they were.