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These are both teams tough to characterize. You did a good job. Only thing I might disagree with is that Cal was far from a lock against MSU who can blame their own mistakes as much as Cal's performance for the loss. Most pople had MSU in their top 5. A few had them as high as 3. Their 3rd place finish is impressive but not a shock.

Nice work as always. I will miss your blogs in the off season.

Well, thanks PI, but where were you seeing MSU in the Big 10's top 5, let alone top 3, for the pre-season.

Coaches preseason national poll had Ohio State #3, Wisconsin #12, Illinois #19, Penn State #22, Michigan #24 (yes, very funny), and Michigan State well outside the top 25 with just 9 total votes.

AP poll was the same order, though slightly different national rankings, with MSU outside the top 25 and getting 21 total votes (behind Michigan's 36.)

The ESPN preseason power poll had them fifth, again outside the top 25, just ahead of Michigan.

Phil Steele had them in a three-way tie for seventh, behind Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan and Illinois. WAYYYYY down the national rankings and well outside the top 25

The Sporting news got the closest to seeding MSU properly, but seriously messed up most of the others:

#2 Ohio State
#10 Illinois
#14 Wisconsin
#18 Michigan
#27 Michigan State
#29 Penn State

So... as I said, fifth in the conference was the most GENEROUS spotting of the major analysts, and more or less conforms to about eight wins. Six or seventh in the conference, an equally typical projection, fits with seven regular season wins, and maybe even six.

Nine wins, and still shooting for ten, sitting third and with a top-20 ranking, was on no major radar screen that I can find.

UGA had a disappointing season, but they are no Iowa. There offense is extremely explosive if they get in a rhythm. It isn't really a running team though they use the PA pass to set everything up.
Despite some redzone woes( due to a young OL) I'd rate them as one of the top 10 offenses in the SEC over this decade. That just shows how much the injuries hurt the D, which was UGa's weakest this decade by far.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 03:08 AM ET  12.12 by Ken Braun

Well, thanks PI, but where were you seeing MSU in the Big 10's top 5, let alone top 3, for the pre-season. Coaches preseason national poll had Ohio State #3, Wisconsin #12, Illinois #19, Penn State #22, Michigan #24 (yes, very funny), and Michigan State well outside the top 25 with just 9 total votes.AP poll was the same order, though slightly different national rankings, with MSU outside the top 25 and getting 21 total votes (behind Michigan's 36.)The ESPN preseason power poll had them fifth, again outside the top 25, just ahead of Michigan.Phil Steele had them in a three-way tie for seventh, behind Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan and Illinois. WAYYYYY down the national rankings and well outside the top 25The Sporting news got the closest to seeding MSU properly, but seriously messed up most of the others:#2 Ohio State #10 Illinois #14 Wisconsin #18 Michigan #27 Michigan State#29 Penn StateSo... as I said, fifth in the conference was the most GENEROUS spotting of the major analysts, and more or less conforms to about eight wins. Six or seventh in the conference, an equally typical projection, fits with seven regular season wins, and maybe even six.Nine wins, and still shooting for ten, sitting third and with a top-20 ranking, was on no major radar screen that I can find.

Pre-season (in some cases REALLY early preseason picks) a FN group that died shortly after the great FN format change of 2008 had MSU picked from 3rd to 6th. This was by no means a major screen, but then again I give little credence to polls and sportswriters.

Of the 11 participants, 2 had MSU at #3, 4 at #4, 5 at #5. Our surpries were NW and Wisconsin. Most had Michigan low, but noted they could drop further. Everyone had Minnesota in the bottom 2, but suspected they could do better (I think they had 5 or 6 losses by a TD or less).

In these picks and the polls, was the surprise the elevation of MSU, or the fall of Wisc, Mich, and Illini? MSU's performance against BC had everyone scrambling to the record to see MSU lost all of their games by a TD or less.

It was kind of cool to see the rankings you looked up. I don't follow them closely, but had thought the general consensus was OSU, PSU, and Wisc fighting for the top, Illini, Iowa, MSU finishing the top 6, Mich, NW fighting for the bowls, Indi, Minn, Pur fighting to stay out of last place.

Our picks are here. If you follow the blog you will se a couple of picks blogs.

http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/188935

Elvis:

I beg to differ. My comparison btw Iowa and Georgia was "level of difficulty" not necessarily "style of team."

Iowa has a very stingy defense (No. 12 in the nation right now) and a strong running game. Overall offense suffers because Shonn Greene is the whole show, but their upset of Penn State was no fluke. The defense is good -- held Penn State to just 289 yards.

On a general level of effectiveness, Iowa and Georgia are not that different.

Agree to disagree I guess- I think the level of offensive firepower would elevate UGA to a higher degree of difficulty than Iowa. UGA is the #3 team in the SEC, which though it is down , can still be considered a better conference than Big 10, in which Iowa is 4th-5th best.
UGa has certainly stubbed their toe badly at times - primarily due to playing too many young guys in key positions... Iowa may has a better overall defense though.