I'm so sick of the Big Ten always having to play on everyone elses homefield. On top of that, the Big Ten is always given unfavorable matchups so they end up losing and the haters can state how bad the Big Ten is again and again. Just look at this year's matchups:

Insight.com Bowl - Tempe, Arizona
Minnesota (6-6) vs. Texas Tech (7-5)

Possible the only matchup without being on the opposing conferences home turf. Yes, Texas Tech fans only have to drive across one state, but it's not in their territory. It's also the Big 12's 6th best team vs. the Big 10's 6th best team. I'll call this the only fair matchup.

Champ's Sports Bowl - Orlando, Florida
Purdue (8-5) vs. Maryland (8-4)

A game that features two teams of pretty much equal talent, in ACC territory. Yes, Florida belongs to the SEC and the ACC, but the homefield advantage will go to Maryland. Not as unfair as the next couple of matchups, but we're just starting.

Alamo Bowl - San Antonio, Texas
Texas (9-3) vs. Iowa (6-6)

Are you kidding me? Texas gets to stay right in the comfort of their own home and play Iowa? Iowa is the 7th place Big Ten team and they have to go against the second place Big 12 team? Who makes these matchups?

Outback Bowl - Tampa, FL
Tennessee (9-3) vs. Penn State (8-4)

A game in the heart of SEC territory, against two pretty equal opponents, at least in terms of standings. I fully expect Tennessee to beat the crap out of Penn State, but I've been wrong before. At least they're similar in wins and losses.

Capitol One Bowl - Orlando, Florida
Arkansas (10-3) vs. Wisconsin (11-1)

A game that I'm looking forward to because I think that Wisconsin will beat the crap out of Arkansas, but look where it's being played. Does the SEC play a bowl game (except for the NC) outside of SEC territory? 3rd best Big 10 team vs. 3rd best SEC team.

Rose Bowl - Pasadena, California
Michigan (11-1) vs. USC (10-2)

A great game in terms of matchups, but it's also being played in USC's backyard. The "Grandaddy of them all" has always been Advantage: Pac 10. Yes, Denny, it's better weather in Cali, but where's the fairness in that. This will be fun to watch after I get over the disappointment, but I'm sure Lloyd isn't letting his players think about that.

National Championship Game - Glendale, Arizona
Ohio State (12-0) vs. Florida (12-1)

I can't complain about this game. It's in neither conference and it's the National Championship game. My head will explode because I hate OSU, but I'll be rooting for them for the first time in my life because of that whiney bitch Urban Meyer.



Where's the bowl games in Big Ten Country? Why does the B10 have to overcome these odds year in and year out? Where's the Lansing Bowl, Ann Arbor Bowl, or Happy Valley Bowl? Don't tell me that the biggest stadium in the country wouldn't pull in some money. And if Boise has their own bowl, then the weather can't be that much of a problem.

You have a good point, but the reason why they have them in warm weather places is because they want the bowl to be a reward. Teams don't want to be rewarded with a bowl in snowy Michigan.

Both schools do get equal number of tickets, but it is easier for travel purposes if it is close.

I understand that part, but I just don't find it fair that half the games that the SEC and Pac 10 teams play in are on their home ground. Switch it up, make sure that teams play outside of the conference territory.

And in terms of it being a reward, I'm pretty sure the players are happy enough with being out of school and getting X-boxes and prizes like that. No, they can't go and layout in the sun in B10 Country, but they can entertain themselves.

it sucks, but I can't complain too much. unless you have a dome like Ford Field or Minny, where are you going to play up here? And they won't move a bowl because of the tradition. It's a lost cause to complain about really. The only way it changes is if they go to a playoff system and there is a chance to get some games in northern domes. Even then I doubt the money grubbers will allow any major games up here.

I can understand the beef with the Rose/Sugar/Fiesta and Orange though. Why not rotate the bye ins? That way USC and Michigan could play in Florida, for example. Why should USC always play in california, SEC always play in Sugar (close by), etc? You won't get bowls up here, but they could mix around the conference tie ins.

I think if they go to a playoff system that will happen. The major bowls will hold certain "rounds" and there won't be conference tie ins to specific locations.

And add to it, taking a month off. P10 does that too, but how can a team come out play like they did during the regular season after a month layoff?

They need to get the playoff system going and start it a couple of weeks after the conference champ games.

It's not so much a reward for the players, it's for the rich alumni who they want to travel there and spend. It's all about the $$$. It's alot easier to get Michigan alumni to go to pasadena than it would be to get USC grads to fly to Ann Arbor in January.

We could somehow utilize the Silverdome and give it a big ten bid, the "Silverdump bowl?"

We get more exposure in certain parts of the country, which in turn help the Big Ten to recruit. This is the biggest advantage we have. It was especially true 15+ years ago.

As far as matchups. Maryland is way overrated. They should in all honesty be a 6 win team at best. PSU vs Tenn will be a good matchup. I expect Tenn to win because they can actually do something on the O side of the ball, but PSU has a stout D and will be no pushover.

Arkansas is a gimicky sort of team, but I have no real true feeling of how good Wiscy is. They only played one really good team and lost.

I fully expect the Big 10 to get 5-2 with the two losses being Iowa and Penn State.

I have one point to make about the Rose Bowl. Went there all 3 times Wisconsin was there in the 90s. The first two times they played UCLA. So it wasnt just in UCLA area like it is for USC, its actually their home stadium. In both of those games, the stadium was 65-75% red. They were total Badger home crowds. So the point is, if your team travels well you can have home field advantage even in the other teams home stadium.

I think there is another point (probably already made) that your team and conference goes to another region of the country for recruiting and exposure.
I also think that conference won-loss records mean exactly NOTHING to the conferences, AD's, conference commissioners, etc. It's just more fodder for media and fans to talk about.
The idea that the conferences could rotate bowl tie ins is a great one, and I thought that was yet ANOTHER phony excuse for the BCS. You WOULD get matchups like LSU Notre Dame in the Rose, Michigan and USC in the Sugar, and all that.
As for "tradition", well, most of the people that cared about old traditions are now dead.
Start some NEW traditions, goddammit!