BIG East vs West

[hdhntr1]

Everyone knows how strong the top two teams in the East are but it has little else. (Maybe Mich) But the West while it does not have the powerhouse teams at the top is strong top to bottom. Basically everyone other than Purdue could be slated between 20-35 in the country right now. MN, IA, NE, WI, IL and NU all look in that range right now. In the East, only MI is in that range. In fact, with MI as one of our crossover games, we play 6 teams in that range. Nobody in the East plays that level of top to bottom schedule (but everyone in the West does) .

In the end, a couple teams will likely get hot and hopefully we are one of them but definitely top to bottom, the West is really really balanced. This is what always made the BIG tough is the top to bottom balance. At this point the West has it but not the East.

 

[yiana]

Still not sold on Illinois, we'll see. The other 5 look pretty even for the most part.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Nebraska has to play Michigan State! Wisky has to play an improved Illinois team along with Rutgers. Minny has to play Ohio State and Illinois, and Iowa has to play Illinois. While the cats get a weaker PSU! Pretty favorable for us and Iowa which also plays Maryland! Nebraska seems like they have a really tough schedule as they also play Miami, Florida, Southern Miss and Rutgers. All possible losses.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Nebraska has to play Michigan State! Wisky has to play an improved Illinois team along with Rutgers. Minny has to play Ohio State and Illinois, and Iowa has to play Illinois. While the cats get a weaker PSU! Pretty favorable for us and Iowa which also plays Maryland! Nebraska seems like they have a really tough schedule as they also play Miami, Florida, Southern Miss and Rutgers. All possible losses.

Rutgers?!? Don't you think they will have disbanded their football program before they get to Nebraska on their schedule? Or perhaps moved their home games to the NJ state penitentiary.

 

[shakes3858]

Nebraska has to play Michigan State! Wisky has to play an improved Illinois team along with Rutgers. Minny has to play Ohio State and Illinois, and Iowa has to play Illinois. While the cats get a weaker PSU! Pretty favorable for us and Iowa which also plays Maryland! Nebraska seems like they have a really tough schedule as they also play Miami, Florida, Southern Miss and Rutgers. All possible losses.

Doesn't Northwestern and Iowa have to play Illinois because they're in the division (hint: we play Michigan and Penn State across the division).

 

[hdhntr1]

Doesn't Northwestern and Iowa have to play Illinois because they're in the division (hint: we play Michigan and Penn State across the division).

What I am saying is that for the most part, teams in the East have an easier route to bowls than those in the west. For example, While Mich has to play MSU and OSU, they get to play Rutgers, MD, PSU, and IN. While in the West, a reasonably strong team like NU while they do not have to play OSU and MSU, we do have to play MN, WI, IA, IL and NE all at a comparable level. Much harder to win say 4 conference games in the West than in the East for a reasonably quality team.

 

[hdhntr1]

Nebraska has to play Michigan State! Wisky has to play an improved Illinois team along with Rutgers. Minny has to play Ohio State and Illinois, and Iowa has to play Illinois. While the cats get a weaker PSU! Pretty favorable for us and Iowa which also plays Maryland! Nebraska seems like they have a really tough schedule as they also play Miami, Florida, Southern Miss and Rutgers. All possible losses.

I am only talking about the strength within the division. Suggesting that the West is harder to get through than the East. Yes the East has the top two teams but 6 of the next 7 teams currently appear to be in the West. 4 of the bottom 5 teams seem to be in the East.

 

[shakes3858]

What I am saying is that for the most part, teams in the East have an easier route to bowls than those in the west. For example, While Mich has to play MSU and OSU, they get to play Rutgers, MD, PSU, and IN. While in the West, a reasonably strong team like NU while they do not have to play OSU and MSU, we do have to play MN, WI, IA, IL and NE all at a comparable level. Much harder to win say 4 conference games in the West than in the East for a reasonably quality team.

Yes, I agree with that. If you place the Big Ten in tiers:

Teams you'll most likely lose to:
OSU E
MSU E

Teams that will be tough to win vs:
Wisconsin W
NU W
Minnesota W
Iowa W
Nebraska W

Teams that you think you can beat
Illinois W
Michigan E
Penn State E

Teams that you should beat
Maryland E
Rutgers E
Indiana E

Bad teams you better beat
Purdue W

So yes, if your goal is to get 4 out of 6 division wins I agree it's more likely to do it in the East if you view OSU and MSU as improbable wins.

However, you missed my point.... which was Wrassler seems to have no idea which way is East and West... and where Illinois is.