Sporting News Big 10 preview

[ham55]

No, it was Tate, the QB the entire year. Good try, next.

[El-Moldo]

I'm sorry. It was their running back. In the PSU game, it was the first time a WALK-ON started at runningback for the Hawkeyes since 1987. I knew there was something about their offense that was hurting. THEY HAD NO RUNNING GAME that day. Maybe that's why they only scored 6 points. NO running attack. Is that a better try? Iowa shows up to play in front of 107,000 hostile fans with a walk-on at runningback, and still wins!!!

[WPIAL~Titan]

...YEAH and holds PS-Ewww to a pair of 2 run homers!!!! LOL!!!

WT

[ham55]

You guys are right, PSU gave up over 40 points a game last year. And were totally demolished in every game. Iowa played with a depleated backfield all year, and STILL ENDED UP A TOP 10 TEAM. Yet, Pitt doesn't finish in the top 25 and still goes to a BCS bowl to get blown out by a real BCS team. But you're right, Pitt is leaps and bounds ahead of PSU. Keep beating up Rutgers and Furman (in 2 OT's). Hell, if 8 wins is enough for you to get a BCS bid, why not schedule all D-IAA teams?

[ham55]

Just so you know, Iowa averaged over 24 points a game...

[Boilerman]

I believe that you can only count one division 1AA opponent win toward bowl eligibility every five years so if you scheduled an entire season of Division 1-AA opponents then you would not have enough victories to be bowl eligible. I think that is probably a big reason not to schedule all division 1AA opponents.

Boiler Up!
Boiler OUT!

[WPIAL~Titan]

I can sense the frustration of all you PSU fans...Your team stinks and doesn't go to bowl games.

You play a great schedule? DON'T FORGET PSU has lost to its share of bad teams over the past few years, teams that FURMAN and RUTGERS would BEAT!!! Northwestern and Mich State immediately come to mind.

WT

[ham55]

And PSU can help that those two teams are in the Big10?

Boilerman,

I'm well aware of that fact..

[fleaflicker]

If I recall, last year, Michigan State beat Wisconsin, yet lost to Hawaii, and yes, to Penn State. Isn't it interesting?

And Pitt played the best conference in college football, which consisted of itself, Boston College, Connecticut, West Virginia, Syracuse, Rutgers, and Temple, the last three being by far the strongest teams.

Penn State had a weak conference schedule by comparison, playing Michigan State, Northwestern, Indiana, Purdue, Minnesota, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Iowa, the last two being the weakest teams the Little Ten has ever seen.

Next year, Pitt has an awesome schedule. Here, I'll post it for you.

9/3 Notre Dame
9/10 at Ohio
9/17 at Nebraska
9/24 Youngstown State
9/30 at Rutgers
10/8 Cincinnati
10/15 South Florida
10/22 Syracuse
11/3 at Louisville
11/12 Connecticut
11/24 at West Virginia


Those are all top 25 teams, and Youngstown State and Ohio (not to be confused with the weakling Ohio State) are in the top 5, definately. Rutgers, South Florida, and Syracuse also figure to be really tough games.



Penn State's 2005 schedule is as follows:

9/3 South Florida
9/10 Cincinnati
9/17 Central Michigan
9/24 at Northwestern
10/1 Minnesota
10/8 Ohio State
10/15 at Michigan
10/22 at Illinois
10/29 Purdue
11/5 Wisconsin
11/19 at Michigan State

South Florida, the almighty powerhouse that Pitt faces, is also on Penn State's schedule. However Michigan, Ohio State, and Purdue really drag down the strength of schedule. I know this is the Little Ten, but playing the three weakest teams in I-A football (aside from oneself) is ridiculous. If Penn State can't even get a winning season with their own schedule, how would they even win ONE GAME with Pitt's schedule? It simply couldn't be done! You're right, Pitt is the do all and end all of college football, and anybody who doesn't think Pitt plays a national championship schedule in the almight Big East is simply trying to fool themselves. I'm so sad that my team can't beat teams half as good as those that Pitt plays (especially like the powerhouses Temple, Rutgers, and South Florida).

[El-Moldo]

I don't see Temple on Pitt's schedule. However they are on PSU's schedule 3 out of the next 4 years starting in 2006. Of course 2 of those games are at Beaver Stadium. Also PSU "elected" to schedule South Florida, Cincinnati, and Central Michigan as non-conference opponents. NO conference tie-ins there. I'm sure most everyone noticed that 2 of Pitt's non-conference opponents are Notre Dame and Nebraska. By the way, did Illinois win a game last year? Didn't Rutgers beat Michigan State last year? I see also that the PSU-Central Michigan game WILL NOT be televised this year. Why?