In 1999, ESPN created the Big Ten/ACC Challenge as a made for television "event," with the purpose of trying to drum up interest in preconference college basketball. Generally, interest in college hoops at this time of the year, during the NCAA Tournament, is on par with the Super Bowl. The rest of the year, it's probably about as popular as Major League Soccer. However, the … [Read more...] about Big Ten, ACC “Challenged” Considerably on First March Madness Weekend
Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State vs UCLA is Biggest Brand First Four Game Ever
Typically, the First Four, the play-in games of the NCAA Tournament, bring us match-ups of mid-majors and low-majors, but this year is quite different. Usually, the play-in games are staged on the Wednesday night before March Madness begins in earnest on Thursday. This year, the tournament really begins on a Friday, with the First Four on a Thursday, and one really marquee … [Read more...] about Michigan State vs UCLA is Biggest Brand First Four Game Ever
Despite Upset Loss, #8 Northwestern Wildcats Still Legit this Year
Don't write off the #8 Northwestern Wildcats this season just because of what happened tonight. Saturday afternoon, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, we saw Michigan State continue a trend that's been a prevailing theme in the recent history of their football program. MSU football is like that friend you have who is great in a serious crisis, but completely falls to pieces … [Read more...] about Despite Upset Loss, #8 Northwestern Wildcats Still Legit this Year
2020 NBA Mock Draft 11-18-20 Final
The NBA Draft is now scheduled for November 18. The order is almost set. If you're into mock drafts, then you have come to the right place. If you're into NBA betting, then this link is certainly the place for you. Here is the link to our final MLB mock draft, the NHL mock can be found at this link and the 2021 NFL mock draft is available at this link. As far as we know, … [Read more...] about 2020 NBA Mock Draft 11-18-20 Final
College Football Players Literally Fighting for their Right to Survive
American football is as much a contact sport as his humanly possible. Whereas in other sports, contact is sometimes encouraged and/or advantageous in regards to the situation, football sees at least a dozen guys getting to know each other, up close and personal on every single play. Contact sports and social distancing go together like a Trump press conference and the … [Read more...] about College Football Players Literally Fighting for their Right to Survive
Michigan State Football in Quarantine Amid COVID-19 Outbreak
The Michigan State football program became the third of the Big Ten East division's seven teams to suffer a coronavirus outbreak this summer. Just minutes ago, the school made an announcement that included the release of recent testing data. The school tested 122 athletes from July 20-24, and found 16 positive cases. Are we going to have a college football season to bet on? … [Read more...] about Michigan State Football in Quarantine Amid COVID-19 Outbreak
Five Leading Candidates to Replace Mark Dantonio at Michigan State
On some levels, the retirement announcement Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio made yesterday was surprising. After all, it's a very strange time in the calendar to be stepping away from college football. On other levels though, this was totally expected. In September, rumors that Dantonio was set to retire at the end of the year ran rampant. It was a poorly kept … [Read more...] about Five Leading Candidates to Replace Mark Dantonio at Michigan State
Big Ten Basketball Chaos, Parity Fun for Fans, Excruciating for Coaches Says Chris Collins
Absolutely anyone who cares about Big Ten basketball, no matter the size of their audience, publishes a Big Ten basketball power rankings. It's the least original endeavor possible, and this year all of these power rankings are created equal. From the Midwestern paper of record to somebody on Twitter with three followers and no avatar, to the people who make college … [Read more...] about Big Ten Basketball Chaos, Parity Fun for Fans, Excruciating for Coaches Says Chris Collins
#8 Michigan State Above, #19 Michigan Middling in Congested Big Ten
The Big Ten may not have the greatest concentration of Final Four contenders in the nation, according to college basketball public betting data, but it certainly has the highest number of likely NCAA Tournament and NIT teams. In terms of league title contenders, you have to start in the state of Great Lakes Splendor, with the two teams who met in last season's conference … [Read more...] about #8 Michigan State Above, #19 Michigan Middling in Congested Big Ten
Who are the Leading Big Ten Contenders? Chicago Legends Size it Up
Today saw Gonzaga become the sixth different team to be ranked #1 in the AP poll. The all time record, for an entire season is seven, and today is just Christmas Eve Eve/Festivus. In other words, that record will inevitably be shattered to pieces and this fact conveys just how much chaos there really is, nationally, in college basketball this season. Not just nationally, but … [Read more...] about Who are the Leading Big Ten Contenders? Chicago Legends Size it Up