So, as you may have read somewhere on the Internet yesterday, the Big Ten isn’t just floating around the idea of expanding from 11 to 12 teams: it’s apparently moving the issue to the “front burner.”

So why? Teddy Greenstein has the answers:

The biggest reason, as always, is the stuff that doesn’t grow on trees: money. If the league expands to 12 teams and two divisions — like the SEC, Big 12 and ACC — it would create a Big Ten title game that could be worth $5 million or more to the league. The Big Ten Network would love to televise it, and the conference has a 51 percent ownership stake in the network.

Ah yes: money. It’s always about money. I’ll admit that I’m a bit of a Big Ten traditionalist so I’m not 100 percent on board here, but all things told, this makes sense: it evens out the conference so it can be split into two divisions, and then the two champs of each division can play in a Big Ten title game, and the league can get a little more buzz and exposure and money at the end of the season. Then each team can go get crushed in a bowl game like always.

So what teams are we looking at here? Greenstein throws out that “Paterno has mentioned Rutgers, Syracuse and Pittsburgh. Rutgers would give the league an ‘in’ to the New York TV market. Missouri has been rumored forever. Cincinnati and Louisville might be considered.”

Again, the traditionalist in me here would prefer a team that’s located in the middle of this fine country, so Missouri — which would be the best choice, I think — Cincinnati and Louisville could be fun.

The Big Ten-ACC Challenge has been sort of a joke the past 11 seasons. This is because there hasn’t been much challenge. The ACC is 11-0. The Big Ten came close last season — they finished 5-6 against the ACC — but still, it’s never come out on the winning side of this thing. WHERE IS YOUR MIDWESTERN PRIDE, BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE LAST 11 YEARS.

Yet, if there’s any year to strike on this, it’s now. As some guy with a weird Irish name points out, the Big Ten is more complete top to bottom this season, while the ACC is just sort of top-heavy. Purdue (No. 4), Michigan State (No. 9) and Ohio State (No. 15) are playing good basketball out the gate. (Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota were also ranked earlier this season, but losses have dropped them out of the 25.)

The Big Ten also has a head start: Penn State beat Virgina last night. So they need five more wins.

Gary Parrish adds this:

Consider that home teams are 61-28 all-time in Big Ten/ACC Challenge play, and that the Big Ten — which entered with home-court advantage — already has a road win thanks to Penn State winning at Virginia. In other words, six of the final 10 games in this year’s event are in Big Ten arenas, and the Big Ten only needs five more wins to clinch.

Oh, and here’s the lineup:

Tonight: Maryland at Indiana, Michigan State at North Carolina, Northwestern at North Carolina State, Virginia Tech at Iowa, Wake Forest at Purdue.

Tomorrow night: Boston College at Michigan, Duke at Wisconsin, Illinois at Clemson, Florida State at Ohio State, Minnesota at Miami (Fla.).

So yeah: the Big Ten is in a nice spot right now. But, you know, there’s still time to blow it.

Pretty much every time ESPN cut to the announcers during Saturday’s Indiana-Michigan State basketball tilt, the dude behind them was flossing with this Blackhawks hoodie. Must be part of John McDonough’s viral marketing plan.

Also, this has to explain why Devan Dumes decided to play like an actual hockey player, instead of a collegiate basketball guard.

After last night’s docket, the Big Ten/ACC Challenge is notted up at 3-3. And if Illinois had actually decided to SHOOT THE BALL BEFORE THE CLOCK RAN OUT, and Iowa didn’t send a kid to the line that was 3-of-14 on FT attempts on the year, there’s a chance — a small chance — the Big Ten could be up 5-1 in the challenge. A challenge they’ve never won since its inception in 1999.

But no, it’s knotted up at 3-3. Here’s how I see it playing out.

Indiana at Wake Forest — Did you see how Indiana looked against Notre Dame and St. John’s in the Maui Invitational? Hint: The Hoosiers did not look very good. Wake Forest is a 24-point favorite. If my alma mater pulls this off against the Demon Decons, I will give each reader of this blog a brand new puppy.*

North Carolina at Michigan State — This is an intriguing matchup, with Tyler Hansbrough still iffy for tonight’s affair and freshman Tyler Zeller out for the year. Michigan State is pretty dang good. It’s also at Ford Field. But yeah: This is North Carolina; there was a reason they were the unanimous preseason No. 1. Carolina wins this won.

Keep reading →

The loss of Rashard Mendenhall to the NFL kind of made me think “step-back” for Ron Zook and the Illini. Juice Williams is a nice quarterback, but, uh, that’s really stretching it, no? I mean, his name’s Juice. Kidding. But seriously, he made huge strides last year and still finished with just 13 touchdowns and 12 picks. For a Rose Bowl team.

Flash forward to this past Saturday, and if you find defense offensive, then you were in silly scoring heaven as Missouri outshot Illinois 52-42. (Although if you’re an Illinois fan, you might not have been in heaven, I suppose.)

Chase Daniel, predictably, lit the scoreboard up to the tune of a 26-for-45 day with 323 yards passing, three touchdowns and one pick. Yet, there was Juice … outperforming Daniels and throwing up career numbers all over the place. He was 26-for-42 with 451 yards and FIVE touchdowns (with two picks). Yes, “WTF” would be appropriate.

So is it real? Has Juice evolved into this Zook-fueled passing machine of death that will throttle the Big Ten as soon as he gets back in conference and take the Illini to the championship game? Not so fast, my friend. There’s hope for Juice’s future, but …

Keep reading →