Big Ten Bias
I think everybody in Wisconsin, and frankly every Big Ten supporter west of Toledo (and in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Rutgers have yet to understand only being around three years), understands what I mean by this. When neither Michigan, Ohio State or Michigan State make the Big Ten Championship game, it gets called things like "pointless" or "meaningless" or a "waste of time", including but not limited to a national broadcaster (and Michigan alum, go figure) Rich Eisen. I think it's more of a mass ignoring of key statistics, strength of schedule, and talent when the great teams are not involved. Why do you think people are pushing for USC and Oklahoma over Wisconsin? Blue blood programs.
Don't know what I'm trying to say, imagine this scenario involving Wisconsin and Ohio State. Have them switch places, Wisconsin would be in the East and Ohio State in the West, schedules would be swapped, preseason rankings, and total wins and losses. That means that Wisconsin would beat Michigan at home to end the season, lose to Penn State, and have Ohio State lose to them. Meanwhile, Ohio State played and beat LSU, and only lost each game by a combined total of 14 points. Ohio State would represent the West in the Big Ten title game, where Penn State would be in the East, with Wisconsin looking in with Michigan. Would all of you honestly, truly keep Wisconsin where it is?
Ohio State would still have Urban Meyer, it would have the same players, style of play, but it would be 10-2 instead. Had Ohio State done exactly the same thing as Wisconsin, being 4-2 against the current top 25 (AP) not including the games against Michigan State, Minnesota and Northwestern, overcame tremendous doubters, and only lost by a combined total of 14 points to two of the top five teams in the country. Meanwhile, Wisconsin would have won a road game in Oklahoma, lost to Penn State, beat Ohio State and Michigan. The Nebraska game cancels itself out, as they both had home wins over the Cornhuskers.
Would you seriously believe that the Badgers would deserve a spot over Ohio State without a Big Ten Title based on this? If this was any non-Michigan team, would you think that they would earn a spot over Ohio State? If it were Illinois, or Iowa, or Nebraska, or Purdue, nobody gets in unless they have the same record. Yet, these same people say that a three loss USC team deserves to get in just because they are playing well right now. When Washington State won eight in a row, how come they didn't receive credit? Miami of Ohio won their last six after starting 0-6, do they deserve a chance since they are now playing great?
My point is, a lot of analysts out there see names and think that they automatically deserve more of a chance than the lesser known schools. Few people know Wisconsin almost beat Ohio State, and could have beaten Michigan if not for an amazing play (and with that, only held that offense to 14). Yet, nobody takes that into consideration, they just see "Wisconsin" and don't think they should be in. Wisconsin has played the best schedule in the country, ultimately led to the firing of Les Miles from LSU, started the destruction of Michigan State, and held everybody except Ohio State to 20 points or less. Alabama can't even say that. Why not Wisconsin?
