So Ohio State, you didn't get it done last week? Well, I have something special for you that I have been waiting to bust out. And a quick correction. I said that Ryan Day had won twice against Michigan. He's only won once, as I forgot that the 2020 game was cancelled.
Sounds like it's gonna get all Ole-tangy in here.
You might say that.
I did.
Meanwhile, the Badgers didn't play well at all against the Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat, but Sunday went far better. Luke Fickell was someone who I mentioned back in October as a choice for the head coach, but I thought that we wouldn't get him. For Wisconsin to get one of the hottest coaching candidates, with zero leaks until Sunday was incredible and a statement for what Wisconsin can do. I do feel bad for Jim Leonhard, and hopefully he can be the next DC for the Packers. I'm glad to welcome Fickell to the Wisconsin family, and wish him every success.
He's legit and, given how people are feeling about those Buckeyes, there's a certain amount of low-key consternation in and around central Ohio these days.
Oh, but I have more for them. Oh my yes I have more. But before that, note well -- I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYPPEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Kansas State Wildcats (+2) vs. TCU Horned Frogs, in JerryWorld So we don't really talk about the Big XII much on here because neither of us have ties to the conference and wouldn't generally watch those games. TCU has been impressive under Sonny Dykes of all people, and I believe that Dykes deserves Coach of the Year honors nationally. Max Duggan leads an offense that is one of the most explosive in the nation, and Duggan is someone who I believe should be on a plane to New York next week for the Heisman ceremony. Kansas State is always a tough program and I am glad to see Adrian Martinez have success after fleeing from the dumpster fire of the Huskers. TCU did win down in Fort Worth by 10, and will be playing a home game in Jerry World. I like TCU to make it to 13-0 after winning a fairly close game and be a great infusion of new blood to the playoff. Also, it's interesting to note that both times since Texas and Oklahoma announced that they were heading to the SEC, the Big 12 has featured a conference title game with schools other than the Longhorns and Sooners. TCU 35, K State 24.
Lotta purple on display. The Horned Frogs are legit and they will get a chance to prove it in the playoff. I think they get there. TCU 28, Kansas State 24.
Purdue Boilermakers (+16.5) vs. Michigan Hail to the Victors, in Indy Michigan flat out broke the Buckeyes in the Horseshoe and ripped out the soul of the Buckeye program in front of 100,000 people in the stands, and 20 million people watching on television. I didn't know Fox was into televising such destruction, but oh well. Michigan is a heavy favorite to win this game even without star running back Blake Corum, but Purdue is a tough nut to crack. The Big Ten West may have been a complete tire fire all year, but Purdue doesn't lack for talent and are well-coached. Remember, this game is in Indy and there will be a fair amount of black and gold in the stands. I wonder if Michigan can get up for this game with all of the talk of Purdue being an easy opponent. History tells us that the Spoilermakers are for real, and get ready for the biggest upset in a conference title game since the 2003 Big XII title game. Spoilermakers 42, Michigan 17.
Uh, no. Purdue makes it interesting for a while, but Michigan will pull away. Michigan 35, Purdue 21.
New York J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS (+3) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Vikings are coming off a very solid win against New England on Thanksgiving night, and should have no issues in getting at worst the 2 seed depending on how the Eagles and Cowboys do the rest of the year. The Jets are a very good team that has been flying under the radar, and have already beaten one NFC North team in what was at the time a stunning upset, but now is no upset. The Vikings need to win a game by 9 or more points to show that they can win games other than dogfights. I think they get it done here, with a big help for Dalvin Cook. Why Dalvin? Because he starts for me in fantasy football this year. Vikings 49, Jets 30.
The Jets are offensively challenged, but defense is their calling card. No way the Vikings put up seven touchdowns. Of course the Jets will put up fewer than the Vikings. Vikings 31, Jets 23.
Glorious Green Bay Packers (-3.5) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck Last week the offense finally showed up, but the defense was a complete joke. It's like Joe Barry never has faced a quarterback who can run. Both Aaron and Justin Fields will give it a go this week, and this game seems winnable. Aaron always plays well against the Bears, and having the worst Packers team in my lifetime sweep the Bears would be hilarious. Something tells me that the Packers have their get right game this week, and Aaron owns Chicago. Packers 24, Bears Still Suck 10.
The Bears say Fields is ready. I'm not so sure. They are fixing to get him killed. Not sure Rodgers will be that great either as he begins his 40th trip around the sun, but ownership has its privileges. Packers 24, Bears 17.
And now, it's time for A Very Special Comment.
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| Bring me the head of Brutus Buckeye |
Ohio State, you didn't win the Big Ten, and now the morons in your fanbase want Ryan Day fired and are calling him Ryan Cooper. There are some who are wondering what happened to the team. I have the answer. The Buckeyes are suffering from the Curse of the Six Game Minimum, and will be until things are changed. Allow me to explain.
Back in 2020, Kevin Warren passed a rule stating that to be eligible for a spot in the conference title game, you had to play 6 games. Ohio State only played 5 regular season games after some late season COVID cancellations hit them. By the rules that the Buckeyes and every school agreed to when the Big Ten returned to play in October, they should have been barred from the title game. Instead, the Big Ten made the decision to abolish the rule right before the conference title game to allow the Buckeyes a chance to get into the top 4. That's right, the Big Ten changed the rules in the middle of the season to benefit Ohio State. That was the worst decision in the history of the conference. The Indiana Hoosiers are the rightful winners of the 2020 Big Ten East, and their reward for following the rules was that they got screwed over by their own conference. Northwestern also got screwed over because they won the West fair and square, and instead had to prepare for a different team. Ohio State won, and eventually lost to Alabama in the title game that year. The 2020 Big Ten championship trophy and banner sit somewhere at Ohio State to this very day. I'll give Indiana a ton of credit for taking the high road and congratulating the Buckeyes, which was noble and classy. While Ohio State fans may claim that Indiana lost their chance to win the East by losing in Columbus, the thing is that the rule was made clear at the start of the year and applied to everyone. Until they didn't.
Hoosier daddy?
One way of looking at it. But pay attention. In the past two years, Ohio State has lost to their hated rivals in devastating fashion, missed out on every one of their goals, and Ryan Day has been branded a failure who isn't good enough to coach the Buckeyes and was handed a powerhouse program without deserving it. I have no sympathy for the Buckeyes. You won a tainted championship in 2020. The football gods know it, and they will punish Ohio State for it as long as they want to. In fact, I am announcing that the Buckeyes are under a curse. They will never win the Big Ten until the 2020 banner and championship trophy are returned to the Big Ten to be shared between Indiana and Northwestern. If they don't do the right and honorable thing like Indiana did to them in 2020, further misfortune will surround the Buckeye program. That title is tainted, and deep down the Buckeyes know it. And for the record, I would be embarrassed as a Badger fan if we had won the Big Ten that year in that manner, and it wouldn't feel right. Do the right thing Ohio State, unless you want this curse to continue forever.
You realize you're talking about Ohio State, right? I don't think curses apply, or even bad karma, but it's one way of looking at things. And this is your feature.
It's how I see it. Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.
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