Old dude, the Vikings are over in London, hoping to enjoy their trip by beating the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns? They're still in the league? I assumed they were playing Chelsea.
Tickets would be too expensive, Geritol Fan.
I suppose you're right.
This game is starting way too early for Vikings fans. Why can't they just play it at noon so it can be in prime time for the folks in London, and we can get football on at a normal time?
Well, do you really want to watch them?
Good point.
I have them sometimes.
Don't flatter yourself. Anyway, back over here, we have more football games to discuss, and a rant from me about why the so called experts are giving one undefeated team a bad message of disrespect. So feel the HYYYYYPPPEEE! and watch me work!
Minnesota Golden Elite Boat Rowers (+7) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes. It is the battle for Floyd of Rosedale, and the Gophers are hoping to win a trophy game to prove that they can row the boat with the best of the elite. Mr. Fleck has struggled in Year 1, as he has not had a huge victory yet, and Iowa is a team that would be a pretty decent win. However, the Hawkeyes are tough to play in Iowa City, and are always going to be game opponents. I like Iowa in this matchup, as the Big Ten West teams continue to knock themselves off while the lead dogs stay the course. Hawkeyes 21, Gophers 14.
Far as I can tell, the Gophers still don't have a quarterback. That's a bad scenario in Kinnick Stadium. I think Iowa rolls in this one. Iowa 34, Gophers 13.
Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (-27.5) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini. All right, time for a Very Special Comment. The Badgers are undefeated and are in great shape and should be viewed as a top 4 contender. The media would have you think differently, because they are biased and do not like Wisconsin. Why? Because Wisconsin is not a blue blood program, nor have they received the respect they have earned. Alabama, Penn State, and Georgia are undefeated and have gotten a lot of love, but outside of Georgia winning at South Bend, what have those teams done this year? The SEC is down, and Alabama's best win out of conference is a bad Florida State team. Penn State has not played a difficult game all year, and they likely can lose at Columbus this weekend. Some more food for thought, why is a one loss Clemson team even being talked about as a contender this year, when they lost to freaking Syracuse on the road? The Badgers get panned for playing a soft schedule, but they won double digit games against a very difficult schedule a year ago, and Barry Alvarez has scheduled quality opponents in recent years like LSU, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Washington State, and UCLA. Isn't this what the powers that be in the sport want? Why is Jonathan Taylor, who is having an amazing freshman season, not getting more love for the Heisman? It is a complete joke that the Badgers get panned for scheduling a cross country trip to a very respected football program in BYU and get crapped on because this is the year BYU decides to suck? Meanwhile, Clemson loses to a bad team in conference, Alabama gets credit for beating bad Florida State team, and those programs get a free pass for it? What a freaking joke that Wisconsin, a team who has won multiple conference titles this decade and has proven that they are a consistent threat every year getting panned? Why? The reason is because Wisconsin does not seek credit for doing it, and because their program is based on doing their job and not playing a flashy game. The college football media is really doing a disservice to the fans, and what makes it worse is that the Big Ten is not promoting the success the Badgers are having in getting good players into the program, kids who are good human beings and very good college students.
Now that I got that rant out of my system, Illinois is a team that the Badgers always get a tough game from, and I expect that the Badgers will not blow them out. I like the Badgers, and I hope that the powers that be really take a long look in the mirror and give Paul Chryst, Alex Hornibrook, Jonathan Taylor, T.J. Edwards, Jim Leonhard, and Barry Alvarez the credit they deserve and move them up into the 4th slot in the next rankings. Wisconsin vs. Everyone 45, Illinois 27.
I take your point, Benster, but the Badgers need to be more flashy to get the attention of the silly people in the national media. You know what gets the attention of the media? A beatdown, that's what. Wisconsin 77, Illinois 0.
Penn State Nittany Lions (+6) vs. A School in Columbus. This game matches the other two Big Ten contenders, and for Ohio State, this game is the big one. Ohio State has not been challenged since Oklahoma had the stones to not only win, but plant their flag in the middle of Ohio Stadium. Penn State has not really had a win against a good team, but since they are a brand name program and have a coach that is respected and plays the game with the media, they still get a pass. This game is going to be physical, and I expect Penn State to get enough plays in order to eliminate Ohio State from the playoff, and to set them up for a run at the Big Ten Championship Game and a national title. Penn State 17, O-H-N-O 9.
I have no idea how to pick this one. Penn State looked very good against Michigan, but it's possible Michigan is a mirage this season. Ohio State is playing lights out football right now and the game is in Columbus. So we disagree. Ohio State 38, Penn State 27.
Cornell College Rams (NL) vs. Knox College Prarie Fire. The Fire are having their Homecoming celebrations this weekend, meaning that all the alums are back and looking for a win. Cornell is not the greatest outfit, and Knox has been very good at home this year. I like Knox to win again, and continue the fun I have had at games this year. Fire 31, Rams 17.
Knox is having a pretty good year, actually. I think they win a close one. Knox 24, Cornell 21.
Minnesota Vikings (-9.5) vs. Cleveland Browns, in London. The NFL continues to try and export the league over to folks in the United Kingdom, but why are they sending the Browns? That is like having the Premier League send Brighton and Hove Albion over to play a match against Newcastle in the Rose Bowl. That is not a shot, but it does not seem like good marketing. The Vikings are going to be fine, considering that they are a game up in the North, and Aaron Rodgers is doing rehab and will not be playing until December. I like the Purple's chances in this one, but don't let Anthony Barr tell whomever the Browns quarterback is that he is number one. Vikings 34, Clowns 0.
I think Brighton and Hove Albion would be a tougher matchup. Vikings cruise, but trouble awaits later on. Vikings 28, Browns 7.
Enjoy your weekend of football and if the media and the playoff committee have issues with my brutal message of truth and wisdom, you are welcome to debate me. Ben out!
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