Big Ten Rose Bowl jinx?

[SteveDeace]

Here is an interesting stat...

According to my public school math, since the modern Big Ten/Pac-10 Rose Bowl agreement began in 1947, Big Ten teams are 16-8 in the Rose Bowl versus all other Pac-10 teams besides USC and UCLA. On the other hand, the Big Ten is 13-21 in Rose Bowl games versus UCLA and USC.

What does that mean?

It means having to play the Trojans and Bruins in virtual road games -- where they don't have to alter their regular season preparation routines at all and the local walk-up crowd goes even further to create a home-field atmosphere -- has been a tremendous advantage for those two programs and thus the Pac-10 over the past 60 years.

 

[iahawk20]

Very interesting!

 

[HawkeyeShane]

Nice work Steve...it appears the only "jinx" involved is USC and UCLA getting home games...and Washington getting to play Iowa...

 

[DeanMarshall]

Great stat, Steve! Nice work.

Hey, don't bash your public school smarts too much, because I don't care what everyone else says about you, I think you are OK.



Congrats to Cyclone nation on a very good Bowl win, on NYE, as well.

 

[hawkaddict]

Shocking, but not surprising...does that make sense? Thanks for calc'n!

 

[Saginawbay]

Nice work agree 100% has always been a home game for those two programs. That is one problem lots of the bowls present for the Big Ten look at the MSU game last night all Texas Tech fans. It was nice watching Wisconsin play Miami in 45 degree temperatures instead of 78 plus. Really saw a big difference the Miami players were hugging heaters. Would be great if the Big Ten had some bowl games in the Midwest would give us a hudge advantage for sure. GO Hawks!!

 

[TecmoSuperHawk]

My public school math also tells me that the Big Ten is .500 in the Rose Bowl since 1947, something I would not have guessed before you presented the numbers.

 

[jameskalina]

It's been mentioned by other sources over the years of an apparent advantage USC and UCLA have in the Rose Bowl as if it's a home game for them.

Steve, you solidified this perception with your stats.

 

[bcl20]

Yes it's a home field advantage for those two teams but UCLA and USC have had really good teams as well and that could easily be the deciding factor in that record.

I personally feel that home field advantage is a tad overstated. Especially in a bowl environment.

 

[HawkIreign]

Here is an interesting stat...

According to my public school math, since the modern Big Ten/Pac-10 Rose Bowl agreement began in 1947, Big Ten teams are 16-8 in the Rose Bowl versus all other Pac-10 teams besides USC and UCLA. On the other hand, the Big Ten is 13-21 in Rose Bowl games versus UCLA and USC.

What does that mean?

It means having to play the Trojans and Bruins in virtual road games -- where they don't have to alter their regular season preparation routines at all and the local walk-up crowd goes even further to create a home-field atmosphere -- has been a tremendous advantage for those two programs and thus the Pac-10 over the past 60 years.

While people are constantly looking for excuses as to why the Big Ten loses certain games you may want to throw talent level into the Equation. True USC and UCLA have a home field advantage but they have also put some pretty talented teams on those fields.

 

[bcl20]

While people are constantly looking for excuses as to why the Big Ten loses certain games you may want to throw talent level into the Equation. True USC and UCLA have a home field advantage but they have also put some pretty talented teams on those fields.

Exactly, just throwing up a win/loss record and then stating one reason for it when there are many variables that go into that win/loss record is really bad reasoning. Sure it could be home field advantage but a true home field advantage has been found to not mean as much as people think. There could likely be other factors, really good USC/USC being really good compared to the Big Ten team, the Big Ten sending their second best team out there because they have a team in the title game. Maybe USC/UCLA got a lot of breaks in their wins and their winning record is mostly luck. It's hard to say.