Monday, January 07, 2008

Get Gamm - Big Ten Basketball, Week 2...
Well, no time like the present to get to the week's bball picks. OSU is again laying an egg after an electric start. What a shame. I thought they would get it done this year.

Since we're late in the game with Tuesday starts, I'll keep this brief. Picks are due by the tips on Tuesday. Look for updated standings on Tuesday as well, as well as final Get Gamm Football Standings.

Observations...
What a crazy first week in the Big Ten. Home court rules in this conference and yet the friendly confines were not so much in the first four games of league play. Home teams went 0-4 to start last week and wound up 4-5. That will change at some point. It's just not that easy to win on the road in this conference.

One team who really felt that heat? Illinois. The Illini got beat not once but twice at home. Ouch.

Team of the week? Penn State. Two road wins for a team surging and getting it together.

Player of the week? Hard to argue Big Ten.org picks Geary Claxton and Raymar Morgan. Both were HUGE in wins for their teams last week.

The Games...
1/8 - Indiana at Michigan: Indiana is young but also experienced where it counts. Michigan is going to struggle all season long. IU rolls. Indiana 81 - Michigan 63.

1/8 - Purdue at Michigan State: The Izzone is back, Purdue is young and very up and down. I don't see MSU playing as poorly in two straight. Michigan State 74 - Purdue 62.

1/9 - Iowa at Ohio State: Good battle between old friends. Iowa is gutsy but OSU has more talent. Will be better and closer than it might first appear. Ohio State 71 - Iowa 65.

1/9 - Northwestern at Minnesota: 'cats gave it a run in Columbus, Minnesota had Michigan State against the wall in E.L. Minny is better than I thought they'd be - by far. Minnesota 75 - Northwestern 58.

1/10 - Illinois at Wisconsin: Can you picture a sub .500 season for the Illini? You might have to. After digging a hole at home, the Illini go to Wisconsin where the Badgers just don't lose that often. Wisconsin 69 - Illinois 59.

1/12 - Minnesota at Penn State: I love how the Nits are playing right now. An underrated game and one to watch if you get the Big Ten Network. Penn State 73 - Minnesota 72.

1/12 - Ohio State at Purdue: Another good Saturday tilt. Two young teams that need more signature wins. Games like this will go a long way come March... Purdue 68 - Ohio State 65.

1/12 - Michigan at Northwestern: These teams might be fighting to stay out of the cellar all season. Northwestern holds serve at home. Northwestern 67 - Michigan 66.

1/12 - Michigan State at Iowa: First road test in conference play for State, who opens with two in a row at home for the first time since 1986. This won't be easy, but I like how the Spartans are playing. Michigan State 67 - Iowa 62.

1/13 - Illinois at Indiana: CBS wishes Illinois was a lot better than they are. This is an Eric Gordon grudge match! Illinois will play as well as they have all year, but E.G. will get them in the end. Indiana 72 - Illinois 70.

5 comments:

mayo170 said...

1/8 - Indiana 84 at Michigan 63
1/8 - Purdue 51 at Michigan State 60
1/9 - Iowa 58 at Ohio State 64
1/9 - Northwestern 49 at Minnesota 65
1/10 - Illinois 52 at Wisconsin 62
1/12 - Minnesota 58 at Penn State 56
1/12 - Ohio State 61 at Purdue 59
1/12 - Michigan 51 at Northwestern 55
1/12 - Michigan State 74 at Iowa 63
1/13 - Illinois 52 at Indiana 61

Anonymous said...

1/8 - Indiana 79 at Michigan 67
1/8 - Purdue 62 at Michigan State 72
1/9 - Iowa 56 at Ohio State 70
1/9 - Northwestern 51 at Minnesota 55
1/10 - Illinois 61 at Wisconsin 69
1/12 - Minnesota 60 at Penn State 66
1/12 - Ohio State 64 at Purdue 61
1/12 - Michigan 55 at Northwestern 58
1/12 - Michigan State 72 at Iowa 693
1/13 - Illinois 61 at Indiana 72

Phats said...

INDIANA 65 michigan 61
MICHIGAN STATE 75 purdue 64(this hurts to pick)

OHIO STAATE 64 iowa 53
MINNESOTA 77 northwestern 56

WISCONSIN 80 illinois 69

PENN STATE 64 minnesota 63
PURDUE 64 ohio state 60
MICHIGAN 68 northwestern 63
MICHIGAN STATE 66 iowa 46

ILLINOIS 67 indiana 66 UPSET!

Dan Meyer said...

INDIANA 72 at Michigan 62--Enjoy this year, Hoosier fans, storm clouds are gathering.

Purdue 60 at MICHIGAN STATE 66 :(
Boilers throw legitimate scare, but Neitzel goes 7-8 at foul line in last 90 seconds.

Iowa 66 at OHIO STATE 74--Hawkeyes a little better than expected, but not enough to beat Bucks at home.

Northwestern 56 at MINNESOTA 65--Can Gophers get to NIT (or better)?

Illinois 60 at WISCONSIN 72--These are the times that try Weber's soul.

Minnesota 64 at PENN STATE 70--From doormats to Game of the Week in one year? Congrats to DeChellis and Smith on their first week.

Ohio State 63 at PURDUE 66--Biased pick; hope Boilers not too beat up from Tuesday's game.

Michigan 58 at NORTHWESTERN 62--The winner gets a little hope; the loser looks hopeless.

MICHIGAN STATE 70 at Iowa 63--Looks like another dreaded "moral victory" for the Hawkeyes.

Illinois 63 at INDIANA 72--Not the Eric Gordon grudge match YET, Hoosiers use FTs to put away Illini late.

AndrewJ1313 said...

Sorry to get this in late. I was kind of removed from the world yesterday. I guess I miss last nights game, but here are the rest.

1/8 - Indiana at Michigan
1/8 - Purdue at Michigan State
1/9 - Iowa 53 at Ohio State 72
1/9 - Northwestern 55 at Minnesota 65
1/10 - Illinois 60 at Wisconsin 64
1/12 - Minnesota 60 at Penn State 57
1/12 - Ohio State 66 at Purdue 63
1/12 - Michigan 49 at Northwestern 53
1/12 - Michigan State 80 at Iowa 58
1/13 - Illinois 55 at Indiana 63