HawkU
Well-Known Member
So - the Easts' only argument they have is that they have won all CCG so far? Lol and that's not enough evidence to suggest they are the superior division. Lol x 10.
x-overs and their unfairness to West Division teams.
- Thread starter Unknownbadger
- Start date
So - the Easts' only argument they have is that they have won all CCG so far? Lol and that's not enough evidence to suggest they are the superior division. Lol x 10.
guffus
Well-Known Member
Wait I thought your argument was that west was not that strong compared to the east, but the cross-division records so far suggest otherwise.
While it is a big deal, so far it really hasn't affected the champion since the West/East realignment. The last 3 years the best team in the division won despite the fact that in each of those seasons the winner had the scheduling favor against them.
Wisconsin had a huge disadvantage last year with scheduling the cross over opponents but still won the championship
In 2015 Iowa had a disadvantage as far as their road division opponents yet still won
In 2014 Iowa had the advantage in home division games but Wisconsin won it
NCHawker
Well-Known Member
Which Western teams have the best chance to up their game to even things out with the east? Of course Wisconsin has been doing the heavy lifting here. However the next team that comes to mind is Iowa. The outsiders would say Neby, but people paying attention would say Iowa was the next team that people would expect to pick up the slack.
And Fk me freddy, its time for the Hawks to up their game. Enough with the mediocum. Beat somebody who's havign a great year for crying out loud!
And Fk me freddy, its time for the Hawks to up their game. Enough with the mediocum. Beat somebody who's havign a great year for crying out loud!
NCHawker
Well-Known Member
Whats New ? OC and Offensive staff.
What's not new? Philosophy
Honestly Iowa has changed a lot of things over the last several years. Last year they began to defer on the opening kick off, when they won the toss. Previous year they faked a few punts. With increasing frequency Iowa has gone for it on 4th down over the last 3 years as well.
The hawkeyes return 4 starters on the O-line and the 5th had a lot of playing time. Iowa also returns Akrum Watley who rushed for over 1,000 yards and it was an exciting 1,000 yards ! The guy has moves.
Unlike many, I expect the QB play to be pretty decent in 2017, and better in 18.
The WR position will improve dramatically (how could they be worse).
The greatest concern is the interior of the D-line. So Iowa fans think I'm going to say something about DBs. But Phil Parker has consistently delivered sound DB play. I'm not worried.
I think Iowa will surprise most people in 2017
guffus
Well-Known Member
if you use last year's records, there is not a big difference between Iowa's 2016 and 2017 crossover opponents.
2016 (2016 big ten record)
@Rut 0-9
@PSU 8-1
Mich 7-2
overall 15-12 but 2 road games
2017
@MSU 1-8
PSU 8-1
OSU 8-1
overall 17-10 but only 1 road game
not a big difference
2016 (2016 big ten record)
@Rut 0-9
@PSU 8-1
Mich 7-2
overall 15-12 but 2 road games
2017
@MSU 1-8
PSU 8-1
OSU 8-1
overall 17-10 but only 1 road game
not a big difference
The Big LeHAWKski
Well-Known Member
If you want to BE THE MAN, you've got to beat the Man.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Agree. I'd rather want to get up for a good game to watch with a chance to lose to a decent team than watch a sure win against a Northeastern ..............
I mean if a year is truly going to be special and you are going to have a special team contend, they should be able to beat a solid P5 team, otherwise, your just tricking yourself and pulling the wool over people's eyes. Go Big or Go Home, IMO.
I'd rather see all good games.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
I was going to point this out as well. I think the West has better bottom feeder teams which makes it formidable as a whole. The east is top heavy with Ohio St, Penn St and now Michigan.
hawkdrummer1
Well-Known Member
bingo. bitching about who you play in conference is weak. They're IN YOUR CONFERENCE. That means you should be playing at their level. suck it up and play ball.
Unknownbadger
Well-Known Member
However, the competition for the Division title can and has been skewed by who teams play in their x-over because of the make-up of the East. The Michigan schools, Tosu, and PSU have distinct advantages over EVERY western program when it comes to recruiting. That has been proven over and over again. When iowa went 11-2 in 2015, the only competitive teams they faced in conference were in its own division. Wisconsin has had a similar season in 2014. Perhap both could have beaten some of the best in the East but we didn't get the opportunity to. We both lost in the championship game.
Unknownbadger
Well-Known Member
LOL. That IS true BUT if you have to face a combination of Tosu, UM, PSU or MSU and the rest of your division does not then you are at a disadvantage you must overcome. The odds in Vegas or elsewhere are against you. You do need to beat who you face but the overall job becomes harder. Harder than your divisional competitors.
Unknownbadger
Well-Known Member
Not bitching. Just objectively saying what the world currently is. Maybe Iowa can wait for another 2015 and Wisconsin can wait for another 2014 when each of us played nobody from the other division to come around again in the next few years. As it is, I'll take Wisconsin's chances over the rest of the division and I'm not trying to be snarky about that. The fact is the Divisional title is helped by who those x-overs were.
Wisconsin was fortunate to go 1-2 (MSU, UM, Tosu) in the x-overs in 2016. It required us to sweep the West to win the West. And I never bet on us against Iowa, Nebraska, or NW.
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Shouldn't matter who we get. Have to play them and win them no matter who they say we have to play. No running and hiding like scare little school kids. Did we complain in 2015 when the crossovers were a bit weak??? And we get Penn State and Ohio State at home this year. So hard, maybe but they are coming to Kinnick. I could totally see us pulling one of those off. If I got to pick which one it would be Ohio State.
judzeehawk
Well-Known Member
Please kick the snot out of the fuskers! That's a must! Got it!
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Yea, good points. I guess I was pointing more toward OCC games and not the X-over games. Guess I got off track a bit!
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
I don't think a team should be left out of the playoff or NC game if they play who they are scheduled in conference. They played who they are scheduled. I think the "choice" of playing a crappy OCC team is what can doom a team from being invited to the now playoff. This is where teams need to schedule wise or could come back to haunt them. I guess I don't think the conference x-over games have that much bearing on a teams chance of getting selected, nor should it. It's the non-conf schedule that should.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Certain years, if a team like Iowa had to play OSU and Michigan who were quite dominant in a season, they may be able to take a loss from one of those teams and still be fine. All 3 or 4 of the x-over wouldn't be scheduled in one year so there is a chance a team could absorb that loss if the other two are having outstanding years.
This even more true when they expand.
guffus
Well-Known Member
Couple of assumptions we should challenge
The first big misconception we should fix is that Wisc's 2016 cross-over was so much harder than everybody else in the west. Lets compare Iowa and Wisc
Wisc 2016 crossover schedule
@MSU 1-8
@Mich 7-2
OSU 8-1
Overall 16-11
Iowa 2016 crossover schedule
@Rut 0-9
@PSU 8-1
Mich 7-2
Overall 15-12
Or Iowa and Wisc are about the same
Next is it true that Iowa has the hardest crossover in 2017. Lets compare Iowa and Nebraska.
Iowa 2017 schedule
@MSU 1-8
PSU 8-1
OSU 8-1
Overall 17-10
Neb 2017 schedule
RUT 0-9
OSU 8-1
@PSU 8-1
Overall 16-11
So Iowa and Neb are about the same except Iowa gets PSU at home and Neb has to play @PSU.
The first big misconception we should fix is that Wisc's 2016 cross-over was so much harder than everybody else in the west. Lets compare Iowa and Wisc
Wisc 2016 crossover schedule
@MSU 1-8
@Mich 7-2
OSU 8-1
Overall 16-11
Iowa 2016 crossover schedule
@Rut 0-9
@PSU 8-1
Mich 7-2
Overall 15-12
Or Iowa and Wisc are about the same
Next is it true that Iowa has the hardest crossover in 2017. Lets compare Iowa and Nebraska.
Iowa 2017 schedule
@MSU 1-8
PSU 8-1
OSU 8-1
Overall 17-10
Neb 2017 schedule
RUT 0-9
OSU 8-1
@PSU 8-1
Overall 16-11
So Iowa and Neb are about the same except Iowa gets PSU at home and Neb has to play @PSU.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Um, I think MSU in 2016 was a huge anomaly. That overall record could easily be 22-5. That MSU year was a fluke compared to the previous 5 years before it.
