The Big Ten title game this year is a literally a play-in to the college football playoff. Winner is in the top four and headed to the sport’s “champions league.” Since it’s a Final Four in the #CFBPlayoff, this game is a de facto “Elite 8” match-up. So instead of “March Madness” we have “December Delirium.” It’s also a chance for Iowa football to prove all the naysayers wrong.
Anyone who says “Iowa football is the worst 12-0 team ever” will either eat crow or receive validation very late Saturday night.
SPREAD: Iowa football +4
TV: FOX 7:17 CST
Iowa Football Preview:
One of the most common gripes that Hawkeyes critics have is the old “I can’t even name three players on their team.” Well, I feel ya on that one. Before October, I really struggled to name any Iowa football player outside of Armand Tanzerian.
Oh wait, that’s the real life name of Principal/Sgt. Seymour Skinner on The Simpsons. I meant to say Jordan Canzeri. He made third team all conference while QB C.J. Beathard was second team All-Big Ten.
You already know those names, so let me edify you on some more.
On offense, you should also keep an eye on wide receiver Matt VandeBerg and offensive lineman Sean Welsh.
Flipping over to the defense, the team’s best overall player by far is Defensive back Desmond King, who took home league player of the year honors. Linebacker Josey Jewell was named second team all-conference while defensive end Nate Meier and safety Jordan Lomax were named to the third team.
Defensive players earning honorable mention recognition include senior linebacker Cole Fisher, junior defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson, and sophomore outside linebacker Ben Niemann.
So there you go- we mentioned a whole plethora of Iowa football players, and now you have no excuse not to be able to name a few right off the top of your head.
MSU Preview:
If there is a Big Ten Athletic Director who’s the polar opposite of what Mike Thomas was at Illinois, it’s Michigan State’s Mark Hollis. Football is #5 and playing for a national title while hoops is #3 and you know what Tom Izzo does in March. Credit Hollis for keeping Izzo in East Lansing and not in the NBA. MSU reaches the Elite 8 with regularity in basketball, but this will be their first elite 8 game in football.
Here’s more on the current Golden Age of MSU Athletics that we’re now living through.
Indeed, Michigan State is the standard that Illinois should aspire to as they slowly try to rebuild the shattered remains of their revenue producing sports.
Of course, MSU almost didn’t get here. Up until late November, the Michigan St. “No Fly Zone” decline into nothing but deregulated, laissez-faire airspace. The lack of a pass rush or pass coverage reared its ugly in the loss at Nebraska.
Michigan State is kicking ass and taking names again on defense, led by Shilique Calhoun and Malik McDowell on the line, Riley Bullough and Darien Harris in the linebacking corps.
Playoff Possibilities:
It’s still possible for the Big Ten to get two teams into the playoff, but it would require some chaos, and most certainly both an Alabama, and a Clemson loss. Too bad we’re at just 4, and not 8, with three Big Ten teams all bunched up there at 4-5-6.
It’s also too bad that the only set of rankings that actually matters is “made for TV crap just like every sport is now.”
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/671725964477530113
PREDICTION: MSU 31, Iowa football 17
Connor Cook just has too much to play for as his career winds down- playoff berth, national title, increasing his recently devalued NFL Draft stock. He embodies the Spartans ethos.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous television and radio talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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