There’s a lot of history between Michigan State and Wisconsin.  Since Coach Dantonio came to East Lansing, the Spartans have never lost to the Badgers at home and never beat them in Madison. 

But whether the game was in Madison or East Lansing, every game since he arrived has been up for grabs until late in the game.  There was the, “Hail Sparty” win in East Lansing earlier this year, and a last minute field goal in 2008. In 2009 and 2007, the games at Camp Randall could have gone in either direction, but the Badgers prevailed.

Tomorrow’s game will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium, a neutral site.  It’s in Indiana, and a four to five hour drive for either team.  Both bands will be present, and the fan bases of both teams will fill the dome. It will be like a bowl game atmosphere, but without the warm weather outside.  The neutral site will allow all the talk of home field advantage to be put away, and the title to be settled on the field, the way it should be.

The winner will go on to face the Oregon Ducks and their high-energy, high-speed offense in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks have a recent history with both teams, playing each in a home-and-home series.  In every game, the home team won.

For Michigan State, this game seems to be about respect.  People seem to think that they won the October meeting because of a fluke play.  That game had numerous twists, turns, and even play throughout. It’s all overshadowed by the final play.  For Wisconsin, this game seems to be about making sure everyone knows they are the best team in the Big Ten.   

Regardless of the outcome of the first ever Big Ten Championship Game, the Badgers and the Spartans have been forging an outstanding rivalry that will unfortunately end for a few years due to the Big Ten Conference’s move to divisional play. Here’s hoping the two meet in a future Big Ten Championship Game. 

Virginia Tech is matched up against Clemson this weekend. Even the common fan knows that VT has continually had winning seasons, but most wouldn’t realize that in the seven ACC Championship games since the conference expanded for the 2005 season this is the fifth time that Tech has won the Coastal Division. In four previous attempts at winning the ACC Championship, the Hokies have booked a trip to the Orange Bowl three times. This week is only Clemson’s second appearance at the ACC Championship game, having lost in their first attempt in 2009, when they were led by C.J. Spiller.

The Hokies bring eight All-ACC players including ACC Offensive Player of the Year David Wilson, who was a unanimous first-team selection.  Wilson and the Tech offense will look to bring a spark to this game, that they could not in their first encounter with Clemson, when they only managed to score three points. Since that game the Hokies have reeled off seven consecutive victories, winning by nearly two touchdowns a game. Easily the most rewarding game for any Hokies fan during that time span was the game versus UVA (Virginia) when the Hokies took on a team that believed they could emerge victorious.  The Cavaliers were quickly reminded who the big brother in Virginia is, and Tech won 38-0.

Hopefully, Virginia Tech can bring the momentum created from last weekend’s blowout over Virginia into Saturday’s battle against Clemson.

I came across a blog earlier from a Clemson fan which I believe sums up the ACC fan’s idea of both Virginia Tech and Clemson. The link to his blog is posted after his story.

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech
I usually do not want what I don’t have. Too many times in life I see people wasting time concentrating on what they don’t have instead of being thankful for what they do have.

I can’t remember ever feeling envious. But I must admit that I want my football program to have what Virginia Tech has.

What we will see Saturday night is exactly what I want. I want a football program that has an identity.

I want a football program that is consistent.

I want a football program has has stability in its coaching staff.

I want to be a tough football program.

I want to be a fundamentally sound program.

I want an attacking defense.

I want to be a program that improves each week.

I want a football program that doesn’t have to brag on recruiting rankings in February but one that can just show you their rings each year.

I want a program that does not let injuries define its season.

I want Clemson to be Virginia Tech.

The Hokies have won at least ten games in eight straight seasons. I want that kind of consistency.

In the last 16 years Tech has played in four Orange Bowls and three Sugar Bowls. I want to play in big games like that.

Don’t misunderstand what happens in Blacksburg though. Their fans want more than they have right now too. They are not happy all of the time. A few years ago Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer stopped taking phone calls on his radio show because fans were upset with a couple of bad years on offense.

Last season fans in Hokie Land were complaining about a defense that allowed 20.6 points per game.

Tech fans want to be able to beat the nation’s elite teams which is something they have not done a lot of.

But But Saturday night Tech will try to win their 85th game in the last eight years. They are 84-22 in that stretch.

Tech is looking for its fifth ACC Championship in the last eight years Saturday night.

They don’t rebuild at Tech and that is what I want. They lose Michael Vick or Marcus Vick at quarterback but their program does not slide. They lose Kevin Jones or Darren Evans at running back but they still win division and conference titles. They graduate Hall, Adibi or Moore on defense but they still win at least ten games. That is what I want.

Virginia Tech is a program that has an identity which is toughness. They usually play great defense but when they don’t it doesn’t matter because they are mentally tough. When the offense lacks talent or experience, the defense carries that year’s team. Last year it was Tyrod Taylor that carried them when the defense was down.

The names change but the toughness doesn’t and thus the record doesn’t.

Next year Tech will be without four starters on the offensive line. They will lose the two most prolific receivers in school history. They may lose the ACC Player of the Year in David Wilson if he enters the draft early. But next year they will still be the same old Virginia Tech team that will be fundamentally sound and will win 10 games and the ACC’s Coastal Division again.

Earlier this season I went to Blacksburg and I saw Clemson destroy Virginia Tech. I saw the Tigers beat Virginia Tech soundly in all three phases of the game. Clemson was the more physical team. The Tigers out rushed Tech. Tehy out passed them. They out blocked the Hokies and out tackled them. They even won the special teams battle against a program that prides itself on Beamer Ball.

After the game I heard Beamer tell his team that he wanted another shot at Clemson. He said he wanted to comeback and win this division so he would have another shot at a team that embarrassed his team on their home field.

At that time I thought he was crazy. Clemson looked superior in talent and scheme to Tech. The Tigers looked like the faster team that first night of October. Tech looked like it had no one who could stretch the field. Clemson looked like a modern offensive scheme while Tech looked like it was stuck in the eighties.

Here are nine weeks later and these two teams have gone in opposite directions. Virginia Tech lost at home by 20 points to Clemson nine weeks ago and the Hokies are a touchdown favorite heading into Saturday night. Who would have thought that?

I want what Virginia Tech has. I want ACC titles and Saturday night Clemson could start to gain what Tech has by beating them at their own game in Charlotte

http://www.tigernet.com/blogs/plyler/?entry=virginia_tech

After a whirlwind season that started with back-to-back losses, followed by 10-straight victories, the Dawgs will be traveling to the Georgia Dome to play against LSU for the title of SEC Champion.  This weekend will be the second straight weekend the Bulldogs will be traveling to Atlanta, and this game holds much more at stake.

While LSU is ranked #1 in the BCS standings and Georgia is ranked #14, I think the Bulldogs still stand a chance.  Aaron Murray, the starting Quarterback for the Bulldogs and their offense are our determining factors against this matchup. As long as the Bulldogs show up as the team that stomped all over the Auburn Tigers and not the team that played against the Kentucky Wildcats, we could come out with a W. The Bulldogs need to redeem themselves in the Georgia Dome so the public can forget their season opener against Boise State, which was also played in the Georgia Dome.

This weekend in Atlanta, I plan to also be there for the second straight weekend supporting my Dawgs. With finals starting next week, this game gives me even more reason to continue my “senoritis” and put off studying. I plan on traveling to Atlanta for the whole weekend with a group of friends as we aim to make the most of our last regular season game as students of The University of Georgia.

 This weekend we have no reason to hold anything back as we cheer for our boys and all the hard work they have put forth this season. No matter the outcome of this weekend, this has been a season to remember and I couldn’t ask for a better way to end my college career. While this might be my last regular season game as a college student, I will forever bleed Red and Black. Go Dawgs!

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

College bowl games offer the chance for football fans to travel and experience games on a different level.  University of Iowa Alum, Kenneth Eifrid, went to the FedEx Orange Bowl in 2010 as a senior, when the Hawkeyes took on Georgia Tech.

“The atmosphere was a lot more intense than a standard home game in Iowa City,” says Eifrid. “The weight of the game was bigger than a regular Iowa game at Kinnick.”

The Orange Bowl, which is held in Miami, Florida, is the second oldest bowl along with the Sugar Bowl and Sun Bowl.  It has been around since 1935.

The Hawkeyes have been known for their reputation for having a loyal fan base that loves to travel.  At the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl, Eifrid claims there were about 75% Iowa fans and 25% Yellow Jacket fans.

“It was great to see how well the Iowa fans travel, seeing as we dominated the stadium,” he says.

Many enjoy going to bowl games because they are often located in warm weather states, such as Florida, California, and Arizona.  It gives Iowa natives a chance to leave to bitter winter and bask in some sunshine.

“It was cool to be in Florida,” says Eifrid.  “It was a lot of fun to go down there with a bunch of friends and experience the Miami Dolphins home stadium.”

If you attend a bowl game, you could potentially become apart of history.  “The Catch” is one of the greatest plays in Iowa football history, which occurred at the Capital One Bowl on January 1, 2005 against the defending BCS National Champion LSU Tigers.

“It was one of the greatest moments in Iowa bowl history when Drew Tate threw bomb with no time left on the clock that eventually won the game for Iowa against LSU,” says Eifrid who watched the game on television.

There are number of bowl games to attend.  They offer a chance to escape the cold weather and support your favorite college football teams.  Bowl games are a great way to experience the game you love in a new environment.

 A D V E R T I S E M E N T

See multiple games, share great experiences

 The Florida Bowls Tour  - The Champs Sports Bowl, and the Outback Bowl, Capital One Bowl or Gator Bowl.

Start in Orlando and then head up to Jacksonville, Tampa or just stay in Orlando. Depending on the tour you choose, you may see teams that have won 10 national titles since 1990 and 13 since 1980. See great football and share great experiences with other college football fans.  Have great seats for the game, stay in wonderful hotels, party with other fans, enjoy a football vacation. We make it fun, easy and affordable –BOWLJET.com     (248) 432-6957

This weekend in the SEC is rivalry week. All the football loving, Southern states below the Mason Dixon line will be divided. Neighbors in Alabama will no longer be cordial as they don their Auburn or Alabama apparel, and most importantly Georgia will be divided between engineers and the finest fans in the land.

The University of Georgia and Georgia Tech have met as rivals since 1893. The series record is 61-39 (5 ties not included), in UGA’s favor. Georgia currently holds the latest streak, scoring a victory the past two meetings, and we hope to continue it this upcoming Saturday.

This year the game is being held in Atlanta, but that will not stop me or my friends from cutting our Thanksgiving break short. I plan on occupying Atlanta all weekend in my Red and Black, proudly supporting my Dawgs.

Not only is this win important for every UGA fan, but it will also be played in memory of longtime UGA Football announcer Larry Munson, whom recently passed. Munson was an announcer for the Dawgs from 1966-2008. My memories of watching Georgia football growing up all include Munson. Because of him, I fell in love with both football and The Georgia Bulldogs. I know he will be looking down on the game this Saturday singing “Glory, glory to Georgia, and the heck with Georgia Tech!”

This Friday, the Hawkeyes travel to Lincoln to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first playing of the Heroes Game.    If Iowa can pull off the upset victory in Lincoln on Black Friday, and get a little help from the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Hawkeyes will finish in second place in the Big Ten Legends Division.

The road has not been kind to the Hawkeyes.  Last Saturday, the Hawks won on the road for the first time in more than a year when Iowa defeated Purdue in a sloppy game that featured seven fumbles and some uninspiring special teams play.  Iowa fans hope the win at Purdue gives the Hawkeyes new confidence for going on the road.

“Winning for the first time on the road this year is huge for us,” says Gabe Lancaster, a senior at Iowa. “Along with our win and Nebraska losing to Michigan, it gives us some momentum to go into Lincoln and beat the Huskers.”

After the win at Purdue, the Hawkeyes no longer face the pressure of being unable to win on the road.  With that monkey off their backs, the Hawks can go into Nebraska and just play football.  Last weekend, Nebraska was blown out at Michigan.  If Iowa wins Friday and Michigan loses to the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, the Hawkeyes will take second place in the Legends Division.

The win at Purdue was highlighted by strong offensive performances.  James Vandenberg got his first win away from Kinnick Stadium in West Lafayette.  Vandenberg was an effective 22 of 32 passing, with 273 yards and three touchdowns.  Two of those touchdowns were thrown to Marvin McNutt, who set Iowa’s new single season record holder for receiving touchdowns and receiving yard Saturday.  These two records give McNutt four broken records for the season, having already broken the records for career touchdown receptions and career receiving yards.  He is within striking distance of career and single season receptions.

Sophomore tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz also caught a touchdown pass Saturday and has started to play a larger role in the Hawkeyes offense.  He has started the past two games, and scored in each game.

“Using the tight end is something Iowa has done a lot of in the past,” says Lancaster.  “ It is encouraging to see them start using C.J. more often than they have been earlier in the season.”

Fiedorowicz came to Iowa as a consensus 4-star recruit, but had limited impact on the playing field for the Hawkeyes until the last few weeks.  In the early part of the season, the redshirt sophomore was sharing time with senior Brad Herman, and redshirt junior Zach Derby.  Now that Fiedorowicz has a hold on the starting tight end position, the Iowa should return to its previous success utilizing the tight end.

Getting the road win last weekend changes the landscape of the Hawkeyes future.  If the Hawkeyes can get past Nebraska Friday, Iowa would have eight wins and could become an attractive choice for a Florida bowl game.

I was cocktailing in Fayetteville, Arkansas talking to a Razorbacks fan who wanted to know if the Hogs could make it to the SEC Championship Game.  I told him that was the last thing he should wish for.  I said that he should dream higher, because Arkansas probably couldn’t make it to Atlanta, but could make it to the BCS Championship Game.  I laid out a potential scenario where the Razorbacks would need to win out including a victory at LSU, but by virtue of an early loss to Alabama, would not get to play for the SEC Championship.   But I didn’t think it could or would happen, because it would take about 10 games to go a certain way.  Here we are, with the Razorbacks sitting at 10-1, playing outstanding football,  with a date against top-ranked LSU coming up Friday.  If the Hogs win, they may have the opportunity to play for the BCS Championship.

Even more surprising is a possible opponent in the potential match-up.  Less than two weeks ago, Virginia Tech was ranked 14^th, and even though the Hokies had just one loss, they weren’t on anyone’s list as any sort of BCS contender. The Hokies have been getting better every week, have kept winning, and have been the beneficiary of the same craziness that helped Arkansas.  Even though polls aren’t out today, the Hokies have the potential to be rated number four today.   Even if the Hokies don’t climb that high this week, they still have games against 8-3 Virginia, and 9-2 Clemson, and will have the chance to move up.

Rankings aren’t out yet, but teams from the SEC might be ranked numbers 1,2 and 3.  After that, there are about five one-loss teams, all of which can make a case for a chance to play in the BCS Championship.  I cannot wait to see the bowl projections when they are released.

Don’t look ahead.

Mississippi State at Arkansas – The Bulldogs are the best 5-5 team in the country.  The Razorbacks have been playing like one of the best teams period, and might be confident about next week’s LSU match-up.  They can’t be caught waiting for LSU.

Wisconsin at Illinois – Illinois started out 6-0 and is now 6-4.  Head Coach Ron Zook is on the hot seat, and has nothing to lose by trying everything he can to beat the Badgers, who will have the opportunity to win their division next week.  If they get by the Illini.

USC at Oregon – The Trojans are the best 8-2 team that you haven’t heard about.  With a victory, the Ducks have a chance to move up in the BCS based on strength of schedule.  USC is athletic enough to be able to win by turning in on towards when it matters.  The whole game matters tomorrow.

Oklahoma at Baylor – The Sooners have dominated the Bears, winning all 20 times the two teams have met.  Will the Sooners be thinking about where they can be if they defeat Oklahoma State next weekend? Can RGIII lead the Bears to their first win against the Sooners ever?