TAKE THE POINTS!!!!!

Belichick learned us in that AFC game against Denver..twice..TAKE THE POINTS...!!!

That might change even before this day is over.

And it doesn't mean that much, obviously.

I've seen almost all of the Big Ten bowl teams get matched against higher-ranked opponents in the past, with nearly all of them expected to lose by the oddsmakers. Then their poor bowl record, which was often better than predicted, was later used by some talking heads as some kind indictment against the overall strength of the conference.

It generally boils down to the individual bowl game match-ups, and something akin to "gerrymandering" can occur sometimes. I suspect it's random and not intentional.

Too often these teams don’t play each other but they give 2 conferences much more respect than the others. If it was based on conference play only no one would probably expect Oregon to beat Ohio State on the road and the Ducks would probably lose if they played again — Utah is a much better team. Ducks were handled by Oklahoma so obviously they aren’t a top 15 team.

None of Utah's players have opted out, but four of the best Buckeyes players decided to protect their health for the NFL draft and not play.

Understandable decisions by them, but it's also a little surprising since it's the ROSE BOWL! I doubt those decisions would've been made prior to the BCS/playoff system.

Ohio State might as well try to use the Rose Bowl as an opportunity for younger players to exhibit their talent for next season, I guess.

I hadn't heard that some of the best players have stepped back.

So yes looks like Buckeyes may not win.

Bookies have OSU winning but only a 4.5 spread. So that means it is a toss up.

With 5 bowl games remaining for the Big Ten, since 10 of them were invited to bowls.

The lone win, so far, was Carolina beating North Carolina today, 38-21!

Roll Tide!

The Alabama linemen will probably look like giants in comparison to Cincinnati's.

swarmed by fire ants..Roll Tide!!

... knocking down pins in a bowling alley.

I think Alabama will have to commit several turnovers and make many other mistakes to lose that game.

That is the one thing I think will help keep it close in comparison to other mid majors.

https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/stat/opponent-yards-per-pass-attempt

They could get turnovers considering how talented their secondary is.

They had these numbers by the Notre Dame game before conference play.

Edit also having a Senior QB helps like Kellen Moore helped out Boise State.

Last edited Fri Dec 31, 2021, 05:04 PM - Edit history (2)

Unless Nick Saban is a fool, and he's not, Alabama will mostly steamroll them with running plays.

Cincinnati is pathetically out-sized and out-muscled against a team like Alabama.

EDIT: Alabama's coaches just MIGHT be fools, allowing Cincy's quickness to be a factor as they continue to pass too much. I don't care if Aaron Rodgers was the Alabama QB, they should be relying on their power advantage and almost entirely running the ball.

Poor Cinci, I hope they kick some butt back.

Edit to add: bookies only have Alabama winning by 13 points.

if you get a chance to catch the highlights, that game was bonkers. 4 TDs in the last quarter, really in the last like six minutes.

Instant classic.