Speaking of smack, you're talking it! ;-) I dunno, the Badgers are not what they have been the past several years but I think at 0-3 in conference they are going to be itching for a win. Their "not as good as usual" is still not so bad. A two point loss to Michigan (in which they gave up a big lead in the 2nd half) and a three point loss to Ohio State aren't so bad. Last Saturday vs. Penn State, well, uh, that was a tough one ;-) But Penn State is having that effect on a lot of teams this year. I think they are the one genuinely top flight team in the conference.

On my last job the guy I worked most closely with had been a starting tight end at Wake Forest. As you might guess, he is pretty savvy about football. He predicted Michigan would have a rough season under Rodriguez, at least early. He said you need completely different personnel to run the spread and the guys they have now are more suited to pounding the ball.

>Michigan is going to be scary good when Rich Rod gets players that fit his system. Imagine the Colts offense suddenly expected to change to a spread option - I bet they would struggle at first also even with Manning at QB.
>
>Plus, I'm glad the coaching staff changed, because it gave Iowa's future QB a ticket out of Michigan.
>
>Oh, it's going to be sweet to smack Bucky around this Saturday.
>
>>With the MAC continuing to move up and the Big Ten continuing to drop down, I don't think the gap between them is all that great any more. There is still a gap -- lots of MAC players are guys who didn't get Big Ten scholarship offers -- but it's shrinking.
>>
>>>I've gotta say I didn't see the Browns win coming. I don't have much faith in the coaching (look at the penalties) but the offensive and defensive coordinators really stepped up on this one - even a bit of that Flash offense Miami is using to such great effect. Delightfully surprised by the whole thing.
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>>>College ball gets weirder all the time - Toledo over That School Up North - wow.
>>>
>>>
>>>>>This is why God loves the NFL
>>>>>
>>>>>At the 2 minute warning the Browns are up over the Giants by 3 touchdowns.
>>>>>
>>>>>Underdogs everywhere, take heart.
>>>>
>>>>I am not shocked by that. I thought the Browns are better than their record, and the Giants not as good. Maybe this will be the kick start the Browns need.
>>>>
>>>>Here there is a great gnashing of teeth about the Bears' decision to squib kick with 11 seconds left and a one point lead. The Falcons completed a sideline route (GREAT game by rookie QB Matt Ryan), then kicked the game winner with 1 second left. It was an absolutely perfect pass -- any longer and time would have run out, any shorter and it would have been out of field goal range. It was the first Bears game I have seen this season and very exciting, although obviously I would have liked the opposite outcome.
>>>>
>>>>Patriots get thumped again -- I like it! Even with Brady out, seeing them lose is still satisfying.