Badgers still on the mind

First, this is mesmerizing.  It is a lesson in geography and culture and, unfortunately, branding.  But there is still something more.  We're talking about going to meet sixteen year-old kids.

Urban Meyer is still king at what usually matters most, wins and recruiting rankings.  The corporation that is Alabama is dull in comparison.  Brand and Dave Brandon talk is even worse.  He's out to earn his enormous compensation.  The Harbaugh effect is unprecedented.

How would Harbaugh fare in a head to head with Nick Saban?  Why not.

The Wisconsin-Ohio State game lived up to its hype and was hours of live drama.  What a spectacle.  What energy.  Wisconsin played their very best and had a multi-score lead.  Paul Chryst is a really good coach, but...  Ohio State is a machine and when Urban Meyer crouches on the sideline and directs an offensive drive they are almost certainly going to score.  They are good.

Wisconsin came within an eyelash of winning because they were able to run the football and control the clock, until the end.  The Buckeyes are beatable.  Michigan held the Badgers to 159 yards.

The Big Ten is weak and Michigan is very strong; anything, at the end of the season, is possible with this team.  The defense is number one in the nation and the offense--you can see why Harbaugh wants to incorporate so many freshmen--is continuing to show diversity and unpredictability too.  Wilton Speight will continue to improve and that is the number one thing about following college football--going from recruiting to gone.  Basketball and other sports have that too but they cannot match the spectacle, which is number two.

For Michigan and its pro coach this season is like playing them all to get to the playoffs, with a one-game elimination at Ohio State.  Illinois promises to start the second half in mild fashion, competitive-wise.