What 2 Watch 4 on Saturday

Posted by Big Party

(Ed. note: I meant to post this yesterday.  I’m bad at stuff.)

With the Gophers off on Saturday today, many Minnesotans are probably wondering what they heck they are supposed to do with themselves.  I see you there sports fan, staring blankly out the window, contemplating what you did to anger God so much while pouring the bottom of that ½ pint of Beam into your morning coffee so you can face the day.   A life without purpose is no life at all. 

Well, luckily your #1 pal Big Party is here to help you get through this.

It’s been a fun four weeks since the last bye, and though we can’t cheer on our beloved Gophers this weekend there are still plenty of games that will have an impact on the rest of the season.  Here are some of the games worth watching, as well as who you should cheer for to help the Gophers claim an even more  successful season:

(Team to root for in Bold)                              

Goal: B1G Legends Title and a trip to Indy

#16 Michigan State (-5.5) @ Nebraska – 2:30 PM – ABC

In order the win the B1G Legends division, the Gophers need to win out and get a little bit of help. Michigan State is undefeated in conference play and needs to lose to either @ Nebraska or @ Northwestern (along with losing to the Gophs on Nov. 30). Nebraska needs to lose one of their last three games (this game, @ Penn State, home against Iowa).  I think Gopher fans should be rooting for Nebraska to win this one.  It’s much more likely that the Huskers would pick up a loss on the road at Happy Valley or home against Iowa than for Michigan State to lose in Evanston.

Goal: Improved Ranking/Bowl Game

Ball State – 27 @ #15 Northern Illinois – 48 - Wednesday

This game already happened, but it’s worth noting that a loss by Jerry Kill’s old squad would be good for his current one’s post season aspirations.  NIU’s current success is a lot of fun to watch, both for the joy of watching a small team shake up the normal college football power structure and the idea that we’re potentially looking into the future of what our program could become.  However, if NIU makes it into a BCS bowl for the 2^nd straight year they could potentially be taking a spot from a B1G team, which would  move the Gophers down the B1G bowl food chain.

#3 The Great Satan’s Army (-33.5) @ Illinois – 11 AM – ESPN

I hate Urban Meyer.  By all accounts he’s a snake and a bad person, who apparently hates himself and his family (see: any announcement he made about his reasons for retiring from Florida).  My negative feelings about him started long before he came to Ohio State because FSU grad Flony would give us (completely unbiased) reports about the BS that Meyer would pull while at Florida.  However, if they keep winning they could end up in the BCS National Championship, or still stay in the BCS picture if they end up losing the B1G championship game.  This could move the Gophers up to a better bowl.

Michigan @ Northwestern (-2.5) – 2:30 PM CT – BTN

We need to get some distance between us and the Wolverines in the W/L department.  I think most bowls would select a Michigan team with a slightly poorer record over Minnesota purely due to the size of their fan base and the strength of the Michigan brand. 

Goal: College Game Day in Minneapolis on Nov 23

#12 Oklahoma State @ #24 Texas (+3)  - 2:30 PM CT – Fox

and

Texas Tech (+27.5) @ #5 Baylor – 6 PM CT - Fox

Baylor travels to OK State next weekend for what is expected to be the marquee game of the day.  The game has already been scheduled for 7 PM on ABC, and his time slot is often accompanied by the ESPN Game Day crew coming to town and making a big day of it on campus.  However, plans could change if Texas were to reclaim some of that old magic and take down OK State and Texas Tech were to go all “Guns Up” on Baylor and shock the world.

I know what you’re thinking: If the 7 PM ABC game is in Stillwater, OK, that means Kirk Herbstreit won’t be in Minnesota.  To that, I say “Not so fast, my friend!” and then gag on my own obvious Lee Corso joke.  I don’t know if Herbie flies commercial, but if he does he has a couple options to get from MSP to Stillwater in time:

Stillwater is only about an hour drive from OKC or Tulsa, Herbie.

Oregon St @ #18 ASU (-13.5) – 8:30 PM – Pac-10 Network

The 21^st ranked Sun Devils travel to 13^th ranked UCLA next week.  UCLA and their TD machine LB/RB already destroyed Washington on Friday, so we need ASU to make this match-up less interesting by stumbling against the Beavers.

Other note: Texas A&M and LSU are both off this weekend, but they play on Nov 23^rd.  The national media and ESPN seem to be over Johnny Football, but you can never underestimate grown men’s need to feel morally superior about something.  We just have to hope that old man Corso doesn’t get an itch in is finger and politick the rest of the crew to let him wag it at a 21 year old kid down in Baton Rouge. 

Goal: Be Really Conflicted

Game: Indiana @ Wisconsin (-26.5) – 11 AM CT – ESPN 2

Umm…  So if Gopher fans really want Game Day to come to town we need Wisconsin to take care of Indiana in this game.  However, if the Badgers were to stumble here, it could help the Gophers’ end of season bowl standing.  Also, as Kellen eloquently stated, Bucky Badger is just a skunk in a popcorn box.  I don’t know what to do here. Are you motivated by the delicious taste of schadenfreude? Go with Indiana.  Do want the Gophers victory over the Badgers next weekend to be even more meaningful?  You'll have to root for ... you know, I can't even type that.  Do whatever the heck you want, it's a free country.