Oh hey there. I see you. You in the office pool who put your week's beer money on the line, hoping that this would be the year that Mizzou forgot that they've never been to the Final Four. You who gritted your teeth going all in on Duke, because even though they so often disappoint, can we really be so sure they won't repeat 2010? Or maybe you were the person who was absolutely sure that Syracuse would be the top seed upset in the round of 32. Maybe this year you tried to ride the hot hand, to find this tourney's VCU or Butler in the form of the Murray State Racers (or hell, even VCU themselves).

Yeah, I see you.

And I want you to know, I feel your pain. I really do.

I'm just like you. I stare at my entry on ESPN, knowing that my top ranking in our pool won't last when I only have 820 PPR. It's just a matter of time really. It's inevitable that I'll soon be shipping another bobblehead out west to Jon or down south to Bama Hawkeye. My entry will sink to the bottom like a too-soused Chicagoan going for a dip in the green dyed river.

But I'm here today to tell you... there is light at the end of the Busted Bracket tunnel. Gather round friends. I come bearing wisdom. You too can find peace in failure.

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I have this morning ritual on the weekends. I get up, I make coffee, and I read the New York Times. It's something I've done since I was in high school, and something I probably will do until I die or the world has ended in a fiery Mayan prophesied apocalypse.

So today when I pulled up the New York Times I noticed an article in their Education Life section entitled, "How Big-Time Sports Ate College Life." I rolled my eyes. You see, before even clicking on the article, I had a feeling I knew what was waiting for me inside. And I was right. Amidst recaps of recent college athletics scandals (including the tragedy that occurred at our very own Penn State, which we'e discussed at length in our recent potluck), the article quotes some cantankerous academics who are jealous about the position of, oh I don't know, the medieval art history department vis-a-vis major college football. And of course the story wouldn't be complete without references to a few new studies, one that purports to show that male college students at Oregon drank and partied more while studying slightly less when the Ducks football program was doing well, and another which inversely charted the number of electronic article downloads from campus libraries to the length of participation of the school's basketball team in March Madness.

Well you know what? I've had enough.

I am so tired of the articles that malign college sports as a corrupting force on our sacred institutions of higher learning. As a cancer whose size (as calculated by athletics budgets) somehow acts to warp the priorities of students and seemingly will cause the end of the world if we don't get it under control.

I've had enough of all this, because, frankly, it's wrong.

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Let's be honest. Two of the easiest columns to write (and get feedback from your readers) are 1) the power rankings column and 2) the pop culture comparison column. Much like that magical day when somebody got their peanut butter on my chocolate (or did I get my chocolate in her peanut butter?), it was predestined that one day these two great columns would be brought together...

If there's one thing true of Off Tackle Empire, it's certainly that we don't lack for boldness. Instead of covering one or two Big Ten teams, we cover (nearly) all of them. We don't eat just waffles, we eat baffles. Our tailgate recipes don't just involve meat - they involve deep fried meat. And need I even mention Bama's bowl predictions? I didn't think so.

So when we discussed how to present our final power poll of the season, the one that takes into account the results of all the bowl games, we decided we couldn't just do a standard poll. We decided to do it big. And do it with charts. Big. Charts. Oh, yes.

Below in this very special power poll you'll not only see where we ranked the teams after the bowl games were concluded but also what the rankings looked like during the season. Some teams hovered pretty consistently around one point, while others were... well... kind of Zooky. See what I did there?

A special thanks goes out to writer BabaOReally for his contribution of the poll's pop culture analysis.... let's get started...

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Listen, B1G... we need to talk. Oh please don't get all emotional. I promise this is just as hard for me as it is for you. Really.

We've been together a long time, you and I. I still remember the time we met. A crisp fall day near Lake Mendota. The smell of bratwurst and slightly stale beer in the air. The way the early afternoon light glinted off your sousaphone when you dotted the "i"... well I knew you were something special and I was falling hard.

Don't get me wrong... we've had some great times over the years. Our annual trip to California to see your west coast family is always fun. And remember that vacation we took to Arizona in 2003? That was pretty special. And even when the air turned frigid we sure had some good times down at Assembly Hall, didn't we?

But... well... lately I just don't know. Things haven't been the same.

I've always been there for you... even when everyone else said that I was wasting my time. That I really should find a nice southerner to light up my living room. But I knew they were wrong. I knew that a southerner would seem all nice. At least until a younger, better edition of me came along. Then I'd be dropped faster than a one loss team from the MNC discussion. I knew you would never do that to me, though. No, you had principles.

So I stuck it out with you. And I was there for you even when you did some strange things. I wasn't really sure how to feel when you said you wanted to bring another into our relationship... and your sudden obsession with corn was, frankly, a little disturbing. And, yeah, I was a little nervous when you said you wanted to start televising everything we did. But I admit that really has worked out for the most part.

But now I feel like I'm doing all of the work. Oh, I know you've had a rough year. Your knees are still bothering you (have you considered taking a multivitamin?) And the actions by some of your family members were... downright troubling. Still, it really seems like you've let yourself go. Like you've let the win, fight, try out of the relationship.

No, please don't protest. I know, I know... it's true you are better than some other options. But, honey, that girl down the street you're comparing yourself to is from Kalamazoo. And she's really a one trick pony. It's not a high bar to hurdle.

Listen, I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet. We've shared too much for me to just give up on you like that. But... there need to be some changes. I can't go on like this. And I think I need a little space. Maybe until the spring. I hope you understand.

As part of our blogger bet, David from Addicted to Quack and I agreed to exchange pieces on our respective teams. The theme of the piece was to be: five things you didn't know about the opposing team that could make the difference in the game. These things aren't necessarily good attributes, in fact in both cases we've listed items that could mean our respective team loses the Rose Bowl, and horribly.

My set of five things about Wisconsin is live over on Addicted to Quack, and below you'll find what David has to say about the Oregon Ducks. Take it away David...

1. The defense is sneaky good - The offense gets all the accolades, but its actually the change in defense that is most responsible for Oregon's success the last three years. Yes, they give up more yards and points than you normally think of a good defense giving up but, given the fast pace of the offense, they also face many more plays than most teams do. To get an apples to apples comparison, take a look at yards per play. The past three years, Oregon has finished first, first, and second in the Pac-10/12 in yards per play, and this despite routinely going 21-22 deep on that side of the football. They also rank second in the country with 43 sacks. Nobody is going to shut down Wisconsin. But when you're Oregon, you only need to hold them down enough times to outscore them. This defense could certainly be up to the task.

2. Oregon's receiving corps is-at best-the second worst in the Pac-12 - Last year's slot receiver, Lavasier Tuinei is now our starter on the outside and has no ability to stretch the field. Last year's #4, Josh Huff, is now Oregon's #2, but has been so injured that he hasn't seen a lot of the field, and never at 100%. The Ducks have been searching for a reliable #3 all season, a trip that has gone through walk-on Justin Hoffman, who started most of the season before being lost due to concussions, fellow walk-on Will Murphy, who will forever be known as a guy who routinely drops screen passes, JuCo transfer Rashaan Vaughn, who didn't do enough to hold down the job, and is currently occupied by Daryle Hawkins, who spent last year at QB and has had his share of the dropsies but has apparently managed better than the others. Only DeAnthony Thomas, who plays a good share at slot when he's not in the backfield, has been a reliable threat. Wisconsin's corners need to cover him. Don't worry so much about the other guys-they are unlikely to hold onto the ball.

3. Jackson Rice is one of the best punters in the nation - Rice is averaging 45.8 yards per punt this season, and only 15 of his 45 punts have even been returned. RB/WR/KR DeAnthony Thomas, arguably the freshman of the year in the nation, is also Oregon's punt return gunner, meaning that those that are returned don't get very far. Getting a stop on Oregon is only half the battle. Starting the next drive deep in your own territory is the other half.

4. The Ducks cannot kick field goals, at all - That USC game, where Alejandro Maldonado missed the 38 yarder to send it into overtime? That wasn't a fluke. 6-11 on field goals on the season, Maldonado is only 2-7 outside of 35 yards. If this game comes down to a field goal, Oregon is in trouble.

5. The Ducks haven't won a Rose Bowl since 1917 - That's 95 years. 95 freaking years. We need this. Don't screw it up for us.

Hey there Off Tacklers! Those of you who have been reading this site for a while have probably noticed something missing from this year's bowl season. The food bet. No, I haven't died -- but the holiday season and the unresponsiveness of Texas A&M bloggers made this a bit more challenging this year.

So, we're going to switch it up a bit. In years past, I've arranged for a food bet between myself and a blogger for whatever team Northwestern plays in their bowl game. I've lost. Every single time. But still, I continue. Persistence is a bitch, huh?

Anyway, this year I wasn't able to get a Texas A&M blogger to commit to a food bet. I know, I was disappointed too. But I did manage to set up a bet based on the outcome of the bowl for that other team that I write about. You know, the better one. Wisconsin. And since the bet involved Wisconsin, what better thing to put on the line than beer? I mean, it just seemed appropriate. After all, this is the land of Miller and Leinenkugels. Of Capital Brewery and New Glarus. Of Point Special and (*shudder*) Schlitz. Fortunately, friendly blogger David from Addicted to Quack agreed to the bet with me.

The terms are simple. Beer to the winner, and a frosty mug of bitter disappointment and salty, salty tears to the loser. So what do I have on the line? Why, none other than a nice six pack of one of my favorite Wisconsin beers, New Glarus' Cabin Fever Honey Bock. And, because shipping just a six pack seems a little cheap, I'm going to throw in a set of New Glarus Pilsner Glasses straight from the brewery gift shop. So what is the Cabin Fever Honey Bock you might ask. Well, this is how New Glarus describes it on their website:

"Cool days draw us close to the warmth of home fires. This is the season to sip away the chill and embrace quiet evenings with friends and family.

You hold a Wisconsin Style Honey Bock, easy going and more approachable than its traditional dark German cousin. Bock beers have existed in Wisconsin for over 150 years. This pale bock is brewed with an exclusive blend of Wisconsin two row barley that balances seamlessly with our special European hops. Naturally sweet Clover Honey was added in the kettle accenting warm flavor notes on your tongue.

Whether you reminisce the passing summer sun or thrill to squeaky steps through drifting snow one thing is certain about winter in Wisconsin, this too shall pass. "

Now doesn't that just make you want to drive all the way to Wisconsin to buy some? Yeah, me too. So what do I get if Wisconsin dominates Oregon in this year's Rose Bowl? Well... head on over to Addicted to Quack to find out.

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Those of you who have read OTE for more than a year know that I have a little bit of a tradition with food bets when it comes to bowl games. Two years in a row I've lost out on tasty bbq thanks to Northwestern's ineptitude in the post-season football field. And yet, I continue to make these bets despite knowing that I have little chance of success.

Well this time, this time I think I might just win. To commemorate the very first ever Big Ten championship game, MSULaxer and I have agreed to make a food/beer bet on the outcome. If you're new in town or just especially forgetful, the way these things work is that each of us puts some food product on the line that best represents our school or our state, and the loser ships the product to the winner.

It's a simple thing, really, but I've always found that it adds just a little something extra to watching the games as they play out. And, like I said, I think this year I actually have a decent shot at winning. That's because I think Wisconsin is going to come away with this one handily.

Given that I'm in the midst of finals here in my last year of law school, I was unable to contribute my prediction for the game to the staff predictions post in time. But, I agree with the lines and the commentator consensus -- Bucky will come away with this game. Now, that's not because I think the Spartans are a bad team.... far from it. They got to the championship game, right? So by virtue of that fact alone they're pretty good.

Oh and... they did beat my Badgers once before, so I guess I have to give that to them. But all the same, I subscribe to the idea that lightening can't possibly strike twice. And that's what happened in the first game. I'm not just talking about the Hail Mary pass to end it here, though of course that is an example...

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It's always around this time of year that I begin to sound like a child on a road trip to Disney land. Are we there yet? Are we done with non-con play? No? Awwwwww. The first two weeks of the college football season are exciting because I've missed it for so long. The third week sometimes feels a bit stale, but it's really in the fourth week that I get the most frustrated.

As Bama noted earlier today, this week's schedule sucks. It just plain sucks. The game for Wisconsin -- against the University of South Dakota -- is no exception. Unlike last week, when both Ricardo and I thought there was at least some chance that the game between the Badgers and NIU would be close, neither of us is under that illusion this week. Barring some terrible tragedy, Wisconsin will win this game. By a lot. Because of the lack of suspense, this week's over-undercard is a bit abridged. We'll do a more complete recap of the competition so far next week when we put together the card for what will surely be an epic Nebraska game. For now, here's this week's edition of the over-undercard...

Week Four Over-Undercard:

1) If you look simply at the scoreboard, it would appear Wisconsin is playing near flawless football. Those of us watching closely know that to be not the case. For the pessimists and the cynics among us, there is downright worry for concern. The chief culprit? Penalties. And many of them by the offensive line. In the first three quarters (ideally the Badgers' starters will be out by the second, but let's assume they stick around into the third), how many penalties will the Badgers' front wall commit? 

Ricardo: 1. These guys were upset about their performance against Oregon State, a game where the line finally came alive in the second quarter (assisted by a passing attack that forced the safeties back and got the ninth and occasional tenth man in the box to back out). That was followed up by a dud first quarter against Northern Illinois (which also stacked the box). I'm betting Bielema and Bostad lit a fire under someone's ass. One ticky-tack hold or a lapse by Rob Havenstein (freshman making his first start for the injured Josh Oglesby) mar an otherwise solid performance against an over-matched opponent.

Hilary: 3. Yeah, I'm not nearly as optimistic as Ricardo on this front. While I certainly expect that the Badgers will easily win this romp, I would not at all be surprised if the players are looking past this game towards next week. It now seems like, just as with last year, Wisconsin will play host to both a marquee conference opponent and ESPN's College Gameday when Nebraska comes to town. Given that, I fully expect that this game against the Coyotes will be sloppier than I'd like.

Over/under: 2

2) An FCS school. In Camp Randall. A program that eight years ago channeled its inner-reverse Appalachian State. At the half, by how many points will Wisconsin be winning?

Ricardo: 35. I was fortunate enough to miss narrowly playing against Jake Sprague in high school. Sprague played on two Rose Bowl winners at Wisconsin, and is now the defensive coordinator at South Dakota. Let me put it this way: the lines he played on at Oak Creek High School were significantly bigger than the one he now coaches at an FCS school. To top it off, they're in a base 3-4. Three down linemen. Against Wisconsin's offensive line. Let's just go ahead and predict there will be even less resistance than there was against Northern Illinois. You might counter that South Dakota knocked off Minnesota last year. I'll just thank you for reminding me and start laughing.

Hilary: Uhhhhhm.... 28? Like Ricardo up there, I think this game is a total laugher. And I fully expect an absolutely ridiculous score by the end of the game, but 35 seems a bit much after only two quarters (oh who am I kidding I'm almost certainly wrong on this one). I guess it just depends on how much attention Bielema pays to "the card."

Over/under: 31.5

3) Nick Toon has a penchant, not just for drops, but for drops that cause Ricardo to break into spontaneous, profanity-laced haikus (What Saves Small Corner? Quick Lapse of Concentration. Oh fucking bullocks.) How many drops will Nick Toon have this week? 

Ricardo: 1. Against an FCS opponent I anticipate Toon has one lapse, netting his first drop of the year.    

Hilary: 0. HOORAY! I get to be the Toon optimist this week! I've been burned on this question before, so it is with the enthusiasm of a Bob Barker obsessed Price is Right contestant (yes, I know, Drew Carey hosts the show now, but to me there will only ever be Bob Barker) I go for the undercutting bid. $1 Bob!!

Over/under: 0.5

So that's where we are this week... What do you think?

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Well, though Wisconsin had quite the successful game against Oregon State, it was a much less successful weekend for me. Ricardo dominated me in the first edition of our new weekly Over-Undercard series in which we make odd (and sometimes ridiculous) prop-bets as a way to talk about the 2011 Wisconsin football season. Before we get to this week's bets, let's take a look at how last week turned out. Take it away, Ricardo...

The Badgers' front seven will record how many big plays (sacks, TFLs, turnovers)? 

Over-under: 9

Wisconsin's defensive front seven owned the line of scrimmage. Despite holding the Beavers to a mere twenty-three yards rushing, the Badgers' linemen and backers recorded only six big plays. Chris Borland and Mike Taylor each took down ball carriers in the backfield, and David Gilbert and Beau Allen hit the score sheet with sacks. Jordan Kohout recovered a fourth quarter fumble that stifled Oregon State's best scoring chance. Finding only six big plays by the front seven does not do the respective units justice. Ethan Hemer, for the second game in a row, was impressive at the point of attack, recorded stops for no gain, and broke up a middle screen. The aforementioned Gilbert came up just short of sack-strip, drew a holding penalty, and did a good job of setting the edge in the run game.

Defensively, the real story of the game was the secondary, which managed to record ten passes defended. Devin Smith was strong in coverage before suffering what would turn out to be a season-ending foot injury (more on this below). His replacement, Marcus Cromartie, was similarly solid in coverage, strong in run support, and good at wrapping and preventing yards after the catch when playing zone or soft man. Shelton Johnson did his best Jay Valai impression (sans headhunting), by forcing a fumble and recording a TFL on a fourth down.

Winner: Ricardo (prediction of 8) bests Hilary (10)

Russell Wilson will complete how many passes in double coverage? 

Over-under: 1.5

Wilson completed zero passes into double coverage, his only attempt to do so coming on a deep ball to Nick Toon in the first quarter. The transfer continued to impress, taking advantage of an Oregon State selling out against the run by cheating their safeties up. Unsurprisingly, the primary beneficiary of this was tight end Jacob Pedersen. The chemistry Wilson and Toon seem to have developed is downright amazing; the touch on Toon's touchdown reception was a thing of beauty.

Winner: Ricardo (prediction of 1) over Hilary (2)

How many total push-ups will Bucky Badger do in the first quarter? Remember, these are cumulative: for example a touchdown (seven) succeeded by a field goal (making the total ten) nets seventeen total pushups. 

Over-under: 31.5

Oregon State was not only sold out against the run early, their defensive line more than held their own and allowed backers and safeties to flow to the ball. Despite redeeming himself in the second and third quarters, center Peter Konz was particularly bad, and the entire offensive line seemed to have bad pad level. Consequently, Wisconsin managed only one touchdown in the first quarter, that being gifted after an Oregon State punt lost four yards (giving Bucky the ball on the 14 yard line). The following drive (beginning at the UW 6 with 6:30 remaining) looked promising, but came to a crashing halt when left defensive end Rusty Hernando absolutely whipped right tackle Josh Oglesby (with what appeared to be a rip move) to the inside and dropped Wilson for a sack.

Winner: Ricardo (predicted 21) over Hilary (42)

Past the jump, Ricardo makes a Haiku about Nick Toon and we lay out our bets for the match-up against NIU...

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This is for all you new people: I only have one rule. Everyone fights. No one quits. You don't do your job, I'll shoot you myself. You get me? 

I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order! 

- Lt. Rasczak, Starship Troopers

I. Case History/Opening Statement

A.  Case History

Wisconsin has been here before. Been ranked highly, been expected to contend for a Big Ten crown, and maybe a national championship. Highly regarded in the news media....

2000: AP Top 25 pre-season ranking: 4

2007: AP Top 25 pre-season ranking: 7

2008: AP Top 25 pre-season ranking: 13

How'd those seasons go? Roughly like this:

Somebody made a big mistake in those 2007 rankings...

Wisconsin finished 9-4, 9-4, and 7-6 in those seasons. Now, sure, nine wins is nothing to sneeze at. But when you're looked at as a possible national title contender before the season begins, finishing with more than one or two losses can only be looked at as a disappointment.

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The Sox missed out on a golden opportunity late Wednesday night as they found themselves on the wrong side of a short series sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels.

Though both the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians lost earlier in the evening, the Sox still couldn’t find a way to gain ground in the AL Central race, squandering their chance by getting blown out by Jered Weaver and the Angels.

Zach Stewart had a disappointing trip to the mound, pitching 6.0 innings and giving up seven runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out four. The Angels started the scoring in the bottom of the second, as a string of hits put them up 2-0.

They added another in the bottom of the third, as Torii Hunter hit his 18th home run of the season to left center. Stewart settled down for a little while, but more damage was done in the bottom of the seventh. A leadoff single by Howie Kendrick was followed by a walk to Vernon Wells, a passed ball, and a bases clearing double by Erick Aybar, to put the Angels up 6-0. Josh Kinney came on in relief of Stewart but failed to keep any inherited runners from scoring and the score ballooned to 8-0 by the time the frame was done.

At the same time, Jered Weaver was baffling the Sox offense. He threw 7.0 shutout innings, giving up just four hits and two walks while striking out eight. The Sox failed to get anything going against him all night, and were similarly stymied by the Angels bullpen in Bobby Cassevah and Fernando Rodney.

The White Sox are off on Thursday before continuing their west coast road trip with a visit to Safeco field and a series against the Mariners.

Randy Wells was as sharp as he’s been all season, and the Cubs put up just enough offense to support him as they took game three of a four game set against the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field on Wednesday Night.

Wells had one of his best starts of the year, throwing 6.2 innings, giving up just one run on two hits and two walks while striking out six. Derek Lowe, of the Braves, was good but not quite as solid in his own start, throwing 7.0 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks, while striking out six.

The one mistake Wells made came in the top of the seventh, when he gave up a home run to Chipper Jones to center field, Jones’ 13th of the season.

By then, the Cubs had already built a three run lead off of Derek Lowe. They scored all of their runs in the bottom of the second inning. After Tyler Colvin led off the inning with a walk, Alfonso Soriano blasted his 22nd home run of the season to center field, putting the Cubs up 2-0.

The Cubs added another run on a bizarre sequence of events. Tony Campana reached base on an error by Atlanta’s Dan Uggla. He then successfully stole second and advanced to third on a balk. A soft groundout by Randy Wells would send him home to give the Cubs their three run lead.

Kerry Wood made things interesting for the Cubs in the top of the 8th, giving up a leadoff home run to Alex Gonzalez, his 12th, which pulled the Braves within one run. But he settled down after that and combined with Carlos Marmol to quell the threat. Marmol finished the night with his 30th save of the year.

Randy Wells was as sharp as he’s been all season, and the Cubs put up just enough offense to support him as they took game three of a four game set against the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field on Wednesday Night.

Wells had one of his best starts of the year, throwing 6.2 innings, giving up just one run on two hits and two walks while striking out six. Derek Lowe, of the Braves, was good but not quite as solid in his own start, throwing 7.0 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks, while striking out six.

The one mistake Wells made came in the top of the seventh, when he gave up a home run to Chipper Jones to center field, Jones’ 13th of the season.

By then, the Cubs had already built a three run lead off of Derek Lowe. They scored all of their runs in the bottom of the second inning. After Tyler Colvin led off the inning with a walk, Alfonso Soriano blasted his 22nd home run of the season to center field, putting the Cubs up 2-0.

The Cubs added another run on a bizarre sequence of events. Tony Campana reached base on an error by Atlanta’s Dan Uggla. He then successfully stole second and advanced to third on a balk. A soft groundout by Randy Wells would send him home to give the Cubs their three run lead.

Kerry Wood made things interesting for the Cubs in the top of the 8th, giving up a leadoff home run to Alex Gonzalez, his 12th, which pulled the Braves within one run. But he settled down after that and combined with Carlos Marmol to quell the threat. Marmol finished the night with his 30th save of the year.

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