When I first looked at the 2010 Home football schedule, it didn't seem like something that I would get that interested in.  PSU could be in a transition year with a number of key starters departing that may cause us some second thoughts about being disappointed about this year's 10-2 season.  Being a little bored, I wanted to see how the 2010 home schedule compares to the 2009 schedule. 

I decided to assign an arbitrary numeric value of what I call the "buzz factor" in terms of interest level for each game from 1-10.  This was done taking into account how we may have felt toward the games on the 2009 schedule AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.  Here's my estimate for the 2009 Big 10 schedule, with my reasoning for this:

Ohio State (10) - expected to be the Big 10 game of the year, Terrell Pryor factor, we won at OSU last year, etc.

Iowa (8) - they crushed our national title hopes last year/revenge factor.  I didn't rate it higher because (I may be in the minority about this) but I felt that we were a better team last year and I did this year, and I definitely didn't expect them to be undefeated until November.

Minnesota (5) - besides Decker and Weber not much there, Homecoming.

Indiana (2) - has there ever been a memorable moment from an Indiana home game?

Total = 25

For the 2010 schedule, these are my estimates:

Michigan (7) - for all the talent they get up there, they are bound to turn it around at some point.  Plus the hate factor, etc.

Illinois (6) - the Zooker will be fighting for his job so I think they will have somewhat of a bounce-back season, Homecoming.

Northwestern (6) - back to back 8 win seasons under Pat Fitzgerald has helped Northwestern become somewhat of a gutty team and seem to be in pretty much every game.

Michigan State (6) - Senior Day, interest in # of time outs called by MSU, etc.

Total = 25

Now obviously you can dispute my estimates, but my point being is that, even though this year we had two very attractive B10 matchups, we also had two clunkers.  And for 2010, all 4 B10 opponents bring something to the table, and based on our expected personnel losses, all of those games look to be very competitive.

And for the non-conference I think it will be very similar with our best home game being vs Temple.  I would gladly trade one home game to watch PSU go to Alabama. 

Any thoughts?  Take it easy on me, first fan-post.

The casual fans are gone, the Big Ten season's done...

Nothing left to do but wait till January 1.

This year left us all wanting a little more

But its far better than 2003 or 2004.

So raise your glasses BSD'ers, enjoy the holidays

Saint Joe and the boys will be back soon to make the bad guys pay.

Merry Thanksgiving... I like my turkey deep fried and stuffed with bacon!

via lh6.ggpht.com

So, for those of you who recall how Meyer negative-recruited against us with Floyd, dig this:

He's getting our stud WR recruit on campus! I don't have the special access, but it appears that Coxson is visiting. While he's been committed for a while, and that makes me feel pretty good, the fact that scUF is losing 5 WRs this season and that Meyer is recruiting-trail-scum, this frightens me.

Keep your fingers crossed.

And before y'all start ranting, I know this maybe isn't exactly FanPost material, but I've written enough in my anger at the news to take up too much space in a FanShot.

BSD - Bumped. Cuz, like, duh...

Edit: The file can be downloaded here. Double edit: I forgot to re-randomize Okla St.'s RNvariable after testing something.  Just copy and paste one of the random number generators in cell P12.

The regular season is done.  Penn State stands at 10-2 and is the college football equivalent of a "bubble team."  Three questions remain:

1) What are the chances of us going to a BCS game?

2) Who are our likely opponents?  Who do we have no shot of playing?

3) Who do we hate?

Ladies and gents, I present The Chart of Answers:

The chart in all of its excel precedent/dependent glory. It looks like a plate of hurl.

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[Formatted this a little for you. - RUTS]

I can't take it anymore.

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I believe we have enough information to make an informed and educated ranking of the BCS conferences using a combination of Sagarin ratings and Phil Steele Power Ratings.....This will hurt a lot of you who think your conference is still what it was ten years ago....They say things go in cycles,but without doubt...these are pretty spot on. I welcome your comments....

SEC     11/1495       11= 2,1,3,1,1,2,1
Pac 10  14/1464       14= 3,2,1,2,2,1,3
ACC     19/1458       19= 3,4,1,3,4,2,2
Big 12  22/1456       22= 1,3,4,3,3,4,4
Big 10  38/1391       38= 5,6,5,5,6,6,5
Big East 39/1391      39= 6,5,6,6,5,5,6

As you can see,quite a margin between #4 and #5 and Big 10 and Big East are basically the same. I used top 7 teams in each conference and the first number represents ranking vs other conf for that slot (1 for highest rated 1st place team,3 for third rated team across the six leagues.) SEC came in at 2,1,3,1,1,2,1 meaning their third best team was also third when compared to all the other leagues 3rd best team.

Larger number is total of the seven teams Sagarin Rating + Power Rating.

FYI - Notre Dame would be 5th best team in Big East and Big 10 and 7th best team in Big 12 and Pac 10.

The Challenge usually leaves Big Ten fans shell shocked and talking to themselves.

Like this:

It was one thing when they lost the first five. "At least it's in single digits". Then it got to 0-10. Yeah.

Let's review. I'll offer the disclaimer that I'm fairly new to this "basketball" thing.

Schedule:

Game #1:

Monday, 11/30, 7:00PM: Penn State @ Virginia (ESPN2)

Ehh. Predicted winner: Virginia

Game #2:

Tuesday, 12/1, 7:00PM: Wake Forest @ Purdue (ESPN)

Wake loses their leading scorers from last year (Jeff Teague and James Johnson), but the Deacons return budding talented (but developing) sophomore Al-Farouq Aminu. Chas MacFarland gives Wake good size up front, but the Deacons are still young. Meanwhile, Purdue reloads for the third year in a row with JaJuan Johnson, Robbie Hummel, Etwaun Moore and Chris Kramer all returning. The Boilermakers have the edge in depth and experience. Predicted winner: Purdue

Game #3:

Tuesday, 12/1, 7:00PM: Northwestern @ N.C. State (ESPNU)

Northwestern is supposed to be good. Some experts have them in the tournament. Did I mention that Kevin Coble is injured and out for the year? The only preview of N.C. State I could find was a Bleacher Report article. Predicted winner: N.C. State

Game #4:

Tuesday, 12/1, 7:30PM: Maryland @ Indiana (ESPN2)

So what does Indiana do when they have their worst season ever? Only sign a great recruiting class. Maryland still has that trash talking Venezuelan guard and some other guys (Gary Williams is finally recruiting to the standard UM fans want), so I guess they can't be too bad. Still, I'll be stupid and go with my hunch. Predicted winner: Indiana

Game #5:

Tuesday, 12/1, 9:00PM: Michigan State @ North Carolina (ESPN)

North Carolina loses Lawson, Hansbrough, Ellington, and Green. Only Deon Thompson and Marcus Ginyard return. Along with (SHOCK!) a great recruiting class. Michigan State, on paper at least, is more experienced and maybe more talented than UNC, but the Heels are solid on their front line. I'm really not sure what to expect, but UNC is young, and Izzo will get his revenge. Predicted winner: Michigan State

Game #6:

Tuesday, 12/1, 9:30PM: Virginia Tech @ Iowa (ESPN2)

This does not require a preview. I watched both of Iowa's first two games (partly due to boredom, partly due to loving the sarcastic humor in the open threads on BHGP), and it is quite possible that Kirk Ferentz's football team will win more games than Todd Lickliter's basketball team. Predicted winner: Virginia Tech

Game #7:

Wednesday, 12/2, 7:15PM: Illinois @ Clemson (ESPN)

Illini fans are excited because they finally, finally!, signed Mr. Illinois Basketball. This time, it's swingman Brandon Paul. Illinois is a mixed team, with experience on the front line, but young (talented) players at the guard spots. Good depth as well. Maybe a middle Big Ten team (if the conference is as good as predicted), but they should be in the NCAAs. Dick Vitale says both Illinois and Clemson will surprise people. I don't feel like writing about Clemson, so go here if you care. Predicted winner: Clemson

Game #8:

Wednesday, 12/2, 7:15PM: Minnesota @ Miami (ESPNU)

Minnesota returns most of their guys. Miami rode outside shooter Jack McClinton and another guy (can't recall his name) to the tourneys, and now they're very, very young. I think Minnesota may surprise some people this year. Predicted winner: Minnesota

Game #9:

Wednesday, 12/2, 7:30PM: Boston College @ Michigan (ESPN2)

After Michigan wins, go to MGOBLOG and watch as some guy writes a "Is Michigan a basketball school?" diary and gets "negbombed" [to have his "points total" lowered by so much that he can't post diaries] by other members into submission. Seriously, though, it is funny to watch them ignore their football team with talk of the greatness of John Beilein. Not that I can blame them, I guess. Predicted winner: Michigan

Game #10:

Wednesday, 12/2, 9:15PM: Duke @ Wisconsin (ESPN)

Wisconsin loses key players, doesn't replace them with blue chippers. Duke loses key players, replaces them with blue chippers and then some. Ho hum. Predicted winner: Duke

Game #11:

Wednesday, 12/2, 9:30PM: Florida State @ Ohio State (ESPN2)

Florida State was decent last year, but Toney Douglas, who led all other scorers by more than 10 PPG, is gone. I actually had a hard time finding anything about FSU, so go here (yes, that place) for more. Ohio State is interesting in that they have no freshman (to make room for more Matta one-and-dones blue chippers). Evan Turner is now trying to go all Magic Johnson as the starting PG. Outside threat Jon Diebler starts at 2-guard, David Lighty starts at SF. The talented Dallas Lauderdale may be out with a foot injury (I'm really not sure), leaving "Zisis Sarikopoulous" to start at center (sadly, he'll probably be better than most Penn State Europeans). They tried him against UNC and he sucked. Ohio State has good depth and experience, and Matta may be able to choose a lot of playing styles. I can't believe I spent this much time on Ohio State. Predicted winner: Ohio State

Final prediction: 6-5 Big Ten.

The BCS  has been a hot topic today on the site.  One of the the discussions that has spawned from the greater subject is conering  TV rankings.  I have been trying to nail down some of these elusive stats and comparisons but  it has proven to be a little  difficult.  However, I have found the attached link concerning TV rankings and CFB.  It is from the WSJ via the Statesman. The information is a bit dated but does provide some interesting analysis and perspective.   If anyone else has some good data then I would thnk it would be interesting to see.

It is unfortunate that the standing system does not allow for the "most deserving"  teams to play it out H2H but the below information is the type of data that does play into  the decision making process by the selection committees.,

NCAA  TV Ranking Analysis

While Penn State's official wrestling team is competing in the Sprawl & Brawl Duals today in Binghamton, NY. , yesterday saw a number of PSU's 'Shadow Team' take to the mats at the East Stroudsburg Open. I'm not sure what to call our wrestlers that are either redshirting, temporarily ineligible or not yet out of high school, so 'Shadow Team' it will be - at least until someone comes up with a better label. These are the guys we'll see competing next year (or in the case of the Alton twins, possibly 2 years - as they're still in high school, and may be redshirted next year as freshmen).

Let's look at a few weight classes to see what's in our future, shall we? (Links take you to bios or ranking pages).

141:  High school senior and uber-recruit Andrew Alton (ranked #1 in the country at 145) had a decent day. If, of course, by 'decent' you mean going 4-0 and winning the whole thing. This isn't some pansy tourney for team leftovers, either: with over 400 wrestlers entered, there are plenty of top-flight collegians here, with excellent teams sending their starting line-ups.  Andrew Alton worries not about that. Nice future for him, to say the least.

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Its never too early to take a look at next year.

I've compliled a list of 'players of note' who are coming back. 'Players of Note' means that I think I remember seeing them doing something good on TV at least once during the year.

BEHOLD THE FUTURE!

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