Anyone who has ever coached will tell you a conference game has a different feel to it than other regular season games. That perception has created some surprising outcomes over the years. Just ask Nebraska, the last time they played Northwestern was in the 2000 Alamo Bowl, a record setting 66-17 blasting of the Cats. In fact, the 66 points the Huskers piled on the Wildcats was the most they have scored in their 47 game bowl history. So how does one explain Northwestern’s 28-25 win over Nebraska and doing it in Lincoln to boot. To me it is simple… it’s called a conference game.
Let’s take a look at some of the meaningful games left in the Legends Division and who has the inside track.
Michigan State holds all the cards right now, if they win @ home against Indiana and then beat Northwestern at Ryan Field, they will win the division. However, two other teams, Michigan & Nebraska are still in the hunt.
If Michigan is to win out, they will have to beat both Nebraska and Ohio State. While both games are in the “Big House” this is still a tall order. If the Wolves win both of these games, to me, it clearly suggests that they are the best team in the Legends. But the sad truth is it will not matter unless Michigan State loses, not one, but both of its remaining games. Michigan needs Michigan State to finish @ 5-3 or turn out the lights, the party’s over. The Spartans beat the Wolverines in their head to head battle, 28-14, and if they both finish 6-2, the Spartans have the tie breaker. So…. Michigan, while alive, is clearly on life support.
Nebraska heads to Ann Arbor for a showdown of the two best rushing QB’s in the Big Ten, Taylor Martinez & Denard Robinson, and with the Legends championship swaying in the balance. If Nebraska wins, they stay alive for one more week, if they lose and Michigan State wins, both Nebraska and Michigan are eliminated and the Spartans are the Legends Champs. For Nebraska to have a chance, they must beat Michigan and then beat Iowa @ home in a short week, the Friday after Thanksgiving.
That said and done, it will not be enough, the Huskers need help from the team that put them in this predicament, you’ve got it… Northwestern. If the Cats claw the Spartans, not only will that leave both teams at 6-2 (Provided MSU beats the Hoosiers @ home), but since the Huskers beat State, 24-3, they have the tie breaker and will win the Legends. If this happens, I, for one, say they deserve it! Last week they won @ State College in front of 107,282 PSU faithful (college football second largest venue), this week they will play at Michigan Stadium (college football largest venue) in front of 109,091 committed Wolverine fans, and then return home to battle the Hawks in that short week.
All good, but remember the Huskers need help! So if you hear “Go Cats” reverberating across the American Great Plains… you now know why! And while you might say “Michigan State is better than Northwestern… so forget it” and I would say, “so what if they are better…it’s a conference game”.
Tomorrow let’s take a look at the SEC and what those games can / will mean to the BCS National Championship Game.
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