Is the B1G Easier than the Pac-12?

[FishDuck Article]

In any sort of competitive gaming, whether it is sports, cards, board games or even video games, there is something that is created by their respective participants: the metagame, or “meta” for short. This is the game within the game that, over time, determines the best way of playing. The reality is that there isn’t just one definitive answer to ...

 

Is the B1G Easier than the Pac-12? | FishDuck

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In any sort of competitive gaming, whether it is sports, cards, board games or even video games, there is something that is created by their...

[30Duck]

Four out of the B1G's 18 teams have emerged as contenders. USC is 4 plays away from being on top of course and will spend the rest of the season fighting for bowl eligibility.  Ohio State's talent is obvious, but its having trouble lately finding its game.

 

Indiana is living the dream, but it could get a wake up call as the competition stiffens from now on. Penn State hosts Ohio State this week. Penn State hasn't beaten Ohio State in a long time, but Ohio State needs to win this one. Oregon needs to keep on keeping on against Michigan.

 

Upsets did seem more likely in the Pac-12 than they do in the B1G. The bottom 14 can knock off each other but are unlikely to take down any of the top 4.  The top 4 are the most complete teams, their offensive diversity, strength in the trenches and defensive backs standout. 

[HappyToBeADuck]

David thanks for the article and your valid points.

 

Of course we have 4 more games to play to have a full season to review. From this fans perspective I see the BIG being more predictable than easy.

 

Idaho, BSU and tOSU brought more diversity in their game plans. Similar to how you explained the divetsity within the PAC. Those 3 games were a greater challenge for OBD's andx2 of those games were decided on the last plays. And all of us were on the edhe of our seats, well i was.

 

While Michigan is one dimensional on offense and the Duck D should dominate, their Defense will be stout!

 

Go Ducks.....beat the wolverines.

[David Marsh]

On 10/31/2024 at 7:43 AM, HappyToBeADuck said:

While Michigan is one dimensional on offense and the Duck D should dominate, their Defense will be stout!

In truth I'm feeling a bit more nervous about this game than any of the others, outside BSU and Ohio State. 

 

Michigan is in wounded animal mode and are desperate for a good win. They are also starting to figure things out a bit. 

 

They are like Illinois but without a quarterback. But if they start getting that QB picture together they are a much better version of Illinois. 

[Autzen Magic]

Absolutely agree with the premise of this article.

 

I’ve  been thinking about how much easier it is to navigate the B1G as compared to the PAC.  I agree the style of play is a major reason why.  More specifically,  the QB play was vastly superior in the PAC as compared to the B1G.  
 

But I vehemently disagree with the following statement in the article: “The Pacific Northwest teams of Oregon and Washington may be strange for B1G foes with our cool weather at times and massive downpours of rain into November.”  It NEVER rains at Autzen Stadium!

[Jon Joseph]

 

The Triumverate (OK, the Top 2 and Penn State) is now a Quartet with Puddles flying East and the Hoosiers (one Rose Bowl apperance in 1968) crashing the party in 2024.

 

The B1G has been top heavy for years with the East Division winner usually destroying the West Division winner in the Champ game, be it Iowa or Wisconsin. 1 BCS champ, Ohio State, sigh, and two 4-team PO champs, tOSU and Michigan.

 

But being top heavy was also the case in the Pac-12. Arizona never played in a Rose Bowl game and a handful of contenders competed for the laurels. In Pac 8-10 and in Pete Carroll years in the Pac-12, it was SC Student Body Right and Every Body Else.

 

It appears that a largely unregulated right to transfer and NIL is evening the field somewhat for coaches who can take advantage. Norvell in 2023 but not 2024. Cignetti in 2024. And, sigh, Mari(o) who, taking advantage of his Ward and a war chest, is close to O in 2024.

 

This, and 16 to 18 team Mega-Conferences have given some tough schedules and others, easy-peasy schedules. See Mizzou compared to Georgia. Rutgers compared to UW. Miami compared to Pitt. 

 

This season, OBD has both tOSU and Michigan on the schedule. In 2025 the Buckeyes and the Wolverines are not on the schedule.

 

Thanks, David for another terric artical.

 

WASTE THE WOLVERINES. Play like it's 2007 !

 

[Jon Joseph]

 

Thanks again for a terrific and spot-on article.

 

A "PERFECT" B1G Game was contested last Saturday. Iowa 40 / Northwestern 14. Neither team passed for 100 yards. With a prototype B1G Meta-game plan, Iowa is usually at or near the top of the middle of the conference and then is plastered by an SEC team in its bowl game.

 

The Michigan D Line has not played as well as expected this season, but I imagine they will be mega-fired up on Saturday. Michigan DC Wink Martindale will, as is his practice, bring The House in The Big House. Michigan will try to test both LOS early on. I wish Burch was available to help set the edge on D, something Michigan State could not do when QB Orji was in the game last Saturday. This close to November, every team is banged up. 

 

GO DUCKS! Silence 100+K! Play like it's 2007!

[JabbaNoBargain]

I believe yes, for OBD.

 

As we well know from decades of personal experience, any team that can actually throw the ball with creativity has a punchers chance, no matter how questionable they may be up front. Most B1G are pretty well built up front and able to mash. But when the mash strategy is neutralized most of them flounder…been that way forever.

Edited 10 hours ago by JabbaNoBargain

[David Marsh]

On 10/31/2024 at 9:51 AM, JabbaNoBargain said:

Yes, for OBD.

 

As we well know from decades of personal experience, any team that can actually throw the ball with creativity has a punchers chance, no matter how questionable they may be up front. Most B1G are pretty well built up front and able to mash. But when the mash strategy is neutralized most of them flounder…been that way forever.

But there is a mindset that is stuck in that style of play. 

 

Washington State saw they weren't winning any games so they went out and hired Mike Leach and his air raid offense. Sure he had runningbacks on his roster but they got just enough carries to be dangerous but more often they were just another pass catcher. Washington State under Leach weren't always good but they certainly had some good seasons and they were always interesting. They were also always good for stealing a game or two away from a top team in any given year. 

 

How do you stop that kind of air raid offense? It's certainly possible and if given enough time to prepare very doable. Leach lost a lot of bowl games and some of them badly because his opposition could take weeks to prepare. Washington State also never won any conference championships or went to any major bowl games under Leach. In the end if given time any good team was going to beat him. 

 

However, if you're a team struggling to get top recruits and you just want to be good and bowl eligible most years then adopting the air raid or other off-meta offense can certainly do that. Teams lost to Washington State because they couldn't adequately prepare in a week, and even if they did they were often in some dog fights of games. 

 

The B1G meta (excluding the newbies) just doesn't have really any of these strange teams outside of Ohio State. 

[Drake]

A good team can also have a very favorable BIG conference schedule. This year is a good example, if you don’t have to play at Oregon, tOSU, Penn State, or Indiana as an away game you can rack up wins. 
 

Oregon had tOSU at home, and misses the others. However, Michigan is struggling, and we never know who the next Indiana is going to be in any given year. 
 

A BIG schedule may allow a team to completely avoid playing the conferences top ranked teams. 
 

So, my conclusion, the BIG can be easier based on your schedule. 

[JabbaNoBargain]

On 10/31/2024 at 10:00 AM, David Marsh said:

But there is a mindset that is stuck in that style of play. 

 

Washington State saw they weren't winning any games so they went out and hired Mike Leach and his air raid offense. Sure he had runningbacks on his roster but they got just enough carries to be dangerous but more often they were just another pass catcher. Washington State under Leach weren't always good but they certainly had some good seasons and they were always interesting. They were also always good for stealing a game or two away from a top team in any given year. 

 

How do you stop that kind of air raid offense? It's certainly possible and if given enough time to prepare very doable. Leach lost a lot of bowl games and some of them badly because his opposition could take weeks to prepare. Washington State also never won any conference championships or went to any major bowl games under Leach. In the end if given time any good team was going to beat him. 

 

However, if you're a team struggling to get top recruits and you just want to be good and bowl eligible most years then adopting the air raid or other off-meta offense can certainly do that. Teams lost to Washington State because they couldn't adequately prepare in a week, and even if they did they were often in some dog fights of games. 

 

The B1G meta (excluding the newbies) just doesn't have really any of these strange teams outside of Ohio State. 

Becomes interesting, because most B1G are or have been stuck but refuse to be creative for whatever reason. Look at Indiana. Import a bunch of JMU skill players and a different philosophy and suddenly they’re world beaters in year 1.

[DUCati855]

Thanks David. Always love to read your thought provoking articles.

 

My opinion: Yes, the B1G is easier to navigate. Especially given the new playoff format.

 

The old Pac12 was far more competitive top to bottom and most teams (except Stanford) had the ability to put up quick points. This made for many exciting games, with lots of points on the board. Pac12 football was much more fun to watch. Good teams had to keep their foot on the pedal well into the 4th quarter in order to feel good about the lead they had.

 

The 1st halves of this seasons conference games (for the Ducks) have been fun. But, the 2nd half... SO BORING (except tOSU). DL's plan makes perfect sense. Get a lead, protect it for a quarter, then get the young guys some experience. This is the smart way to navigate this conference with this playoff model. But, I find I only want to watch two hours of each game.

 

Navigating such a top heavy conference is far easier. But, I feel there are several teams that will step it up in the coming years and make this conference more competitive, and hopefully more exciting, in the years to come. Autzen has definitely opened some eyes. These big stadiums will see the need for some new energy. Maybe, just maybe, Oregon will make the B1G fun.  

[Jon Joseph]

 

One of the Keys to OREGON Becoming Nationally Relevant - 2007 in the B1G House.

 

627 Yards on O and 4 Takeaways. 

 

"Let's Go Back, Get Together, and Do It Again!"

 

 

Oregon launched national title hopes at the Big House in 2007. Can it finish the job in 2024?

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Much has changed since Oregon beat Michigan 39-7 in its last visit to Ann Arbor in 2007. Now, the Ducks are in the Big Ten too — and No. 1.

[noDucknewby]

One thing I see is that the home field advantage is not as big as it was in the Pac-12.  Every year a mediocre team wound up knocking off a contender at home.

 

Despite the Bay Area and LA schools, places like the Palouse, Rice-Eccles, fusky and bean dip stadiums and the desert teams at night can be very difficult road games.  Of course the rest of the conference absolutely hated coming to Autzen.

 

I just don't see that in the B1G as much.  Maybe Camp Randall or Happy Valley, otherwise I'm just not seeing it.

[Charles Fischer]

Oregon teams prior to Dan Lanning would have difficulty in the B1G, (IMHO) because we did not have enough talent or depth in the trenches...especially at defensive line. Lanning's arrival and recruiting set us up perfectly to compete and win better than any Oregon team of the past.

 

Lucky timing for us!