SI.com's Top 15 gamebreakers

[TG1996]

What is everyone's problem with Smith? Upset that he didn't go to an Ohio School?

Not so much a problem as just wondering why he gets all the hype he does. He was supposed to carry Mizzou to new heights. They've been non-descript at best, especially considering the suckhole of a division the Big XII North has been.

[Bleeding Orange]

Nah, he isn't the secong coming, but, I do think he is very good. I also think Brucieboy is good too. But, I guess Omar is the only good MAC QB.

No, Omar is not the only good quarterback in the MAC. It just gets old hearing Miami fans say "If Betts had not been preceeded by Roethlesberger..." He is not as good as Skinhawk fans would like to think he is. As much as I hate Brucie-Bruce and Turdledo, I can respect Gradkowski much more than I can Betts.

I don't want you to think that it is any aversion to Miami that has formulated this opinion in my case. I hope that is evinced by my respect for Ryne Robinson.

[mk455]

Nah, he isn't the secong coming, but, I do think he is very good. I also think Brucieboy is good too. But, I guess Omar is the only good MAC QB.

no, he's just the best of the mac qbs...

oh wait, the best of any qbs

[MiamiBando]

That I'll go for mk....

[Schadenfreude]

Brad Smith is not even worth talking about. He can run fast. Wippity doo

What is everyone's problem with Smith? Upset that he didn't go to an Ohio School?

The Falcons schooled him two years ago, and I guess some of us aren't all that sure what the hype is about.

[BGALUMNI]

Brad Smith is not even worth talking about. He can run fast. Wippity doo

What is everyone's problem with Smith? Upset that he didn't go to an Ohio School?

The Falcons schooled him two years ago, and I guess some of us aren't all that sure what the hype is about.

Smith himself is a great player and I would take him as my QB any day. Coaching is a major problem at Mizzou. Pinkel tried to make him a drop back passer last season and forced him to stay in the pocket.

If Brandon or Meyer were coaching Smith I think you guys would have a completely different outlook. Having seen him in person a couple of times, he does deserve the hype.

Smith has even admitted that the hype had gotten to him last year as well.

So you take a coach trying to change the guys style and all this media hype and that spells almost certain disaster.

Pinkel is a moron. Plain and simple.

I think you are way of base with Smith in my opinion. Smith is 10x the athlete Eric Crouch was and doesn't get half the hype he had.

The Big 12 North is weak, expecially compared to the south, but only BG or Miami would have a shot at challenging for a title if they were in that division.

[hammb]

The Big XII is overrated. Texas & Oklahoma are the only schools there that I think could consistently beat BG. Year in, year out its the most overrated conference in college football. They all schedule the biggest patsies they can OOC and build up huge records, so every team in the conference is 3-1 or 4-0 coming into conference play. At the end of the year they have a great overall record, but they're never as good as that record would indicate.

Smith is a great athlete, but BG's defense totally stoned him 2 years ago. Since that game, I've had a real hard time thinking that he's anything special. Of course he could've (and should've) improved since that time, but its the only time I saw him play live, so its what sticks with me.

As for Omar with Miami's WRs? Nance is great, no doubt, but on the whole I like BG's corps better than Miami's. Robinson is an outstanding PR, but he's not any better than Sanders or Sharon, and I think Partridge might end up being better as well. I'll keep BG's corps, thanks

[BGALUMNI]

The Big XII is overrated. Texas & Oklahoma are the only schools there that I think could consistently beat BG. Year in, year out its the most overrated conference in college football. They all schedule the biggest patsies they can OOC and build up huge records, so every team in the conference is 3-1 or 4-0 coming into conference play. At the end of the year they have a great overall record, but they're never as good as that record would indicate.

Smith is a great athlete, but BG's defense totally stoned him 2 years ago. Since that game, I've had a real hard time thinking that he's anything special. Of course he could've (and should've) improved since that time, but its the only time I saw him play live, so its what sticks with me.

As for Omar with Miami's WRs? Nance is great, no doubt, but on the whole I like BG's corps better than Miami's. Robinson is an outstanding PR, but he's not any better than Sanders or Sharon, and I think Partridge might end up being better as well. I'll keep BG's corps, thanks

LOL...the Big 12 might be, but not nearly as overrated as the Big 11...I mean Ten...

AND don't make the mistake of knocking their OOC schedules. Many Big 12 Teams had MAC teams on their schedules the last couple of years. We can't build up the MAC and at the same time knock the Big 12 for playing lower level MAC teams. That just doesn't make sense.

Smith in 2003 would have given BG fits. It would have been close and I don't know who would have won, but it would have been a good game.That was before the tinkering by Pinkel.

EDIT: Stone Walled? 334 yards isn't exactly a stone wall hammb. Looking back, it was more of the fact that BG managed to contain the run and Harris and Alls were able to score on the Mizzou defense. So I wouldn't call that a stone wall peformance.

I live in the heart of Big XII country and get to see them play much more than most BG fans. I have to say that Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Ok St., Kansas State, and even Mizzou would easily give BG a run for their money every year.

I say that because I have a ton of respect for the MAC, BG and the Big XII.

I can't stand it when people have to knock other conferences and teams in the hopes of making theirs look better.

[BGSU-Ph.D.]

The Big XII is overrated. Texas & Oklahoma are the only schools there that I think could consistently beat BG. Year in, year out its the most overrated conference in college football. They all schedule the biggest patsies they can OOC and build up huge records, so every team in the conference is 3-1 or 4-0 coming into conference play. At the end of the year they have a great overall record, but they're never as good as that record would indicate.

Smith is a great athlete, but BG's defense totally stoned him 2 years ago. Since that game, I've had a real hard time thinking that he's anything special. Of course he could've (and should've) improved since that time, but its the only time I saw him play live, so its what sticks with me.

As for Omar with Miami's WRs? Nance is great, no doubt, but on the whole I like BG's corps better than Miami's. Robinson is an outstanding PR, but he's not any better than Sanders or Sharon, and I think Partridge might end up being better as well. I'll keep BG's corps, thanks

LOL...the Big 12 might be, but not nearly as overrated as the Big 11...I mean Ten...

AND don't make the mistake of knocking their OOC schedules. Many Big 12 Teams had MAC teams on their schedules the last couple of years. We can't build up the MAC and at the same time knock the Big 12 for playing lower level MAC teams. That just doesn't make sense.

Smith in 2003 would have given BG fits. It would have been close and I don't know who would have won, but it would have been a good game.That was before the tinkering by Pinkel

I live in the heart of Big XII country and get to see them play much more than most BG fans. I have to say that Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Ok St., Kansas State, and even Mizzou would easily give BG a run for their money every year.

I say that because I have a ton of respect for the MAC, BG and the Big XII.

I can't stand it when people have to knock other conferences and teams in the hopes of making theirs look better.

Big Ten vs. Big Twelve

Some will be inclined to switch the order of the teams, especially the top three in the Big Ten.

Ohio St. > Texas (This is close. Some might disagree, but we will find out soon enough).
Michigan > Oklahoma (I hate Michigan so this pains me to write).
Iowa > Texas A & M
Purdue > Texas Tech

Then, it seems to be pretty even. If one goes by the USA Today poll, Wisconsin, Penn St., and Minnesota come next before Nebraska and Kansas St. show-up. Then again, the poll isn't much help if the claim is that those very pollsters are overrating the Big Ten (I think Wisconsin received more votes than they merit). Regardless, this year the Big Ten is much stronger than the Big Twelve.

On a different note, considering that BG would get home games against these teams if they played in the Big Twelve, I think BG would have a shot at winning the Big Twelve North this year.

[BGALUMNI]

BGSU-Ph.D.


Personally, unless the teams play head to head I don't see how you can say that.

Ohio State is EXTREMELY overrated. Every flipping season.

As a matter of fact every team in the country is overrated this time of year because nobody has even played a down.

[BGSU-Ph.D.]

BGSU-Ph.D.


Personally, unless the teams play head to head I don't see how you can say that.

Ohio State is EXTREMELY overrated. Every flipping season.

As a matter of fact every team in the country is overrated this time of year because nobody has even played a down.

Wait a minute! I was responding to your claim that the Big Ten was more overrated than the Big Twelve. If I can't make team to team comparisons, then how can you make conference to conference comparisons?

Of course, we never really know until games are played.

Ohio St. wasn't overrated when they won the NC.

[BGALUMNI]

BGSU-Ph.D.


Personally, unless the teams play head to head I don't see how you can say that.

Ohio State is EXTREMELY overrated. Every flipping season.

As a matter of fact every team in the country is overrated this time of year because nobody has even played a down.

Wait a minute! I was responding to your claim that the Big Ten was more overrated than the Big Twelve. If I can't make team to team comparisons, then how can you make conference to conference comparisons?

Of course, we never really know until games are played.

Ohio St. wasn't overrated when they won the NC.

I'm like the NCAA, I won't recognize a National Champion in football until there is a playoff.

EVER single year the Big Ten is the media darling as the top conference in the country. But by the end of the year the SEC or PAC 10 or Big 12 has taken over as the top conference.

I mean for goodness sakes, does it really matter. It is a subcetive piece of propaganda anyhow.

Once again people use those terms to knock down other conferences to make their team, their conference look better. If the Big 10 is up this season and BG beats Wisky, then BG looks better. If BG was playing OU again this season, it would be better to have the Big 12 be the best conference.

I just don't buy into that BS. This is the stuff that caused me to stop watching college basketball and football for a while. It is nonsense.

Okay I will get off my soapbox now.

[BGSU-Ph.D.]

BGSU-Ph.D.


Personally, unless the teams play head to head I don't see how you can say that.

Ohio State is EXTREMELY overrated. Every flipping season.

As a matter of fact every team in the country is overrated this time of year because nobody has even played a down.

Wait a minute! I was responding to your claim that the Big Ten was more overrated than the Big Twelve. If I can't make team to team comparisons, then how can you make conference to conference comparisons?

Of course, we never really know until games are played.

Ohio St. wasn't overrated when they won the NC.

I'm like the NCAA, I won't recognize a National Champion in football until there is a playoff.

EVER single year the Big Ten is the media darling as the top conference in the country. But by the end of the year the SEC or PAC 10 or Big 12 has taken over as the top conference.

I mean for goodness sakes, does it really matter. It is a subcetive piece of propaganda anyhow.

Once again people use those terms to knock down other conferences to make their team, their conference look better. If the Big 10 is up this season and BG beats Wisky, then BG looks better. If BG was playing OU again this season, it would be better to have the Big 12 be the best conference.

I just don't buy into that BS. This is the stuff that caused me to stop watching college basketball and football for a while. It is nonsense.

Okay I will get off my soapbox now.

I wasn't knocking any conference. But, there are teams and conferences that schedule weak OOC opponents on a consistent basis. Yes, the MAC relies on teams being willing to schedule Buffalo and directional Michigan, but some of these "bigger" schools load up on 1-AA and the worst 1-A opponents they can find.

[BGALUMNI]

No conference has a lock on scheduling those games.

Iowa-Northern Iowa.
Indiana-Nicholls St.
Minnesota-Florida Atlantic

Sure the FA is on the Big 12 schedule as well.

The only team that I have complete respect for in terms of scheduling is Notre Dame. Year is and year out, they have a strong schedule.

[hammb]

LOL...the Big 12 might be, but not nearly as overrated as the Big 11...I mean Ten...

I disagree entirely. I think the OSU-UT matchup will go a long way to seeing the top levels of the conference clash. OSU absolutely demolished Okie St. last year in their bowl game...with their backup QB.

AND don't make the mistake of knocking their OOC schedules. Many Big 12 Teams had MAC teams on their schedules the last couple of years. We can't build up the MAC and at the same time knock the Big 12 for playing lower level MAC teams. That just doesn't make sense.

You won't hear me building up those MAC teams. If you aren't playing BG, UT, NIU, or Miami you ARE playing patsies. Outside of the top 4, the MAC sucks. Any MAC fan should be able to realize that. We have 7 or 8 teams that are consistently among the worst 15 in all of college football. When BigXII teams are playing those guys its pretty obvious they're scheduling patsies.

EDIT: Stone Walled? 334 yards isn't exactly a stone wall hammb. Looking back, it was more of the fact that BG managed to contain the run and Harris and Alls were able to score on the Mizzou defense. So I wouldn't call that a stone wall peformance.

I was at that game. He put up some yards, but was handled quite easily. Most of those yards came in jump balls to Gage, who was a phenomenal college WR (16 catches 236 yards). Also about 200 of those yards came after Mizzou had fallen down by 20 in the 2nd quarter and it was pretty obvious that the game was over. BG was simply toying with Mizzou for that game. They also held him to only 14 yards on the ground, which is supposedly his specialty.

I live in the heart of Big XII country and get to see them play much more than most BG fans. I have to say that Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Ok St., Kansas State, and even Mizzou would easily give BG a run for their money every year.

We're a better team than when we trounced Mizzou a few years ago. Texas and OU are the only teams in that conference that scare me in the least.

I can't stand it when people have to knock other conferences and teams in the hopes of making theirs look better.

I don't have to knock the other conference to make BG look better. It's just a simple observation of mine that the Big XII sucks. I wish Mizzou & Kansas were traditional powers, then our wins over them would look better, but they aren't. The Big XII was also the only conference to get embarassed in not one, but TWO, bowl games last season.

I'm sorry, but the Big XII is the most overrated conference in college football, IMO. I don't expect OU to be nearly as good as they were the past couple years either, so it stands to be even more overrated now.