Author: BillH

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Fans Off- Possible Upsets With No Spectators

God forbid, there’s no football this fall. This coronavirus has wreaked havoc on our economy, our population’s health and our sanity. But the death knell would be the cancellation of football. I would lose it. The next possible scenario is football with no fans, and it’s a real possibility, especially the first month of the college football season.

Best case, we’re back to normal by July and fall camp starts on time, campuses are open and we can get drunk at a tailgate without having to sip through a mask. But, in case the government tells us we shouldn’t be sitting next to each other, yelling and germinating all over the place, here’s a few potential upsets that could happen if the home team has no fans in the stands in September.

Week 1

Michigan at Washington

The Wolverines are about a point favorite at the moment at Husky Stadium, so no real upset here if Khaki Jim pulls it off. Who really knows with unknowns at quarterback for both teams, but the absence of crowd noise on Lake Washington will make the debut of Dylan McCaffrey or Joe Milton that much easier.

Southern Cal vs Alabama, Jerry World

Bama fans would likely make their way to Arlington, Texas, for this neutral site showdown after being quarantined in that god-awful state for nearly five months (I was born in LA, lower Alabama, so don’t @ me). The Tide are two touchdown favorites and the Trojans will bring some firepower on offense, so without the fans, USC could pull the … yeah, I don’t really think it will happen either.

Week 2 

Tennessee at Oklahoma

Oklahoma is breaking in a new quarterback, and Tennessee is one of the hottest teams of the offseason. The Vols still don’t have a quality signal caller, but that offensive line is one of the best in football. Oklahoma, at 7-point favorite early, is pretty good up front, too, and Jeremy Pruitt still hasn’t closed the talent gap with elites yet. Still, without fans in Norman, it gives a young Tennessee team reason for hope. Still, Georgia State …

Texas at LSU

Texas returns the favor after a 2019 showdown in Austin that gave us an early glimpse of what Joe Burrow would do. Now, the Tigers get Texas and veteran gunslinger Sam Elhinger in Baton Rouge’s Death Valley with no Burrow and nearly its entire offense gone (save for Ja’Marr Chase). No rowdy Cajuns, no “Neck” chant from the class of Louisiana, no pregame heartburn. That would just be weird, man. The Longhorns could make it close without the homefield advantage.

Oregon vs. Ohio State

Oregon’s governor has already said she wanted everything shut down until September or later, so this primetime game looks fan-less at the moment. Autzen Stadium can get loud despite its size, so that’s a real advantage for the Buckeyes, who’ll be a road favorite to begin with. Justin should have a “Fields’ Day.”

North Carolina vs Auburn, Atlanta

Interesting matchup that likely favors Auburn in the Benz with butts in the seats. The Tar Heels and Mack Brown are red hot on the recruiting trail right now and have built momentum to be challengers in the ACC. An upset over a mercurial Tigers squad with sophomore Bo Nix and a solid defense would be big. No fans favors UNC.

Week 3

Georgia at Alabama

Big-time matchup in SEC territory. Tide fans may riot if they try to close Bryant-Denny for a night game under the (LED) lights. An empty stadium favors the Dawgs, and if Jamie Newman can get right in a new Georgia offense, this one could get interesting. Still, Mac Jones has plenty of weapons, and he’ll need them against a nasty Dawgs defense. Should be fun with or without the fans, but let’s hope we don’t even have to consider it come late September.

Appalachian State at Wisconsin

Why on earth would you schedule App State? Seems like they beat a quality Power 5 every year. Ask Michigan, Tennessee, South Carolina … just don’t do it Wisconsin. Too late. Camp Randall’s crowd would be a big help, and the Badgers will be heavy favorites, but with no fans, the smart money will likely be on the boys from Boone.

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Quarantine Recruiting- Big 12 2021 Commits

Let’s take a look at how your favorite team in the Big 12 is recruiting during the national pandemic

Baylor- Big 12 Rank, No. 2

Despite the departure of Matt Ruhl Baylor is sitting at the No.2 spot in the Big 12 recruiting rankings. This class is on pace to be one of the best in school history if head coach Dave Aranda continues to add key pieces. The 2021 class has a total of nine commits, highlighted by running back Jordan Jenkins, who has a composite score of .8863.

Iowa State – Big 12 Rank, No. 3

Head Coach Matt Campbell is arguably the hottest coaching name in the country. Not only is Campbell a great coach, but he is also a great recruiter. The Cyclones come in a No.3 in the conference and their class is highlighted by wide receiver Robert Army, who has a composite score of .8593.

Kansas- Big 12 Rank, No. 4

Kansas is known to be one of the toughest jobs in the country, but that hasn’t stopped Les Miles on the recruiting trail. The Jayhawks are currently fourth in the Big 12 in recruiting. The 2021 class has ten commits, highlighted by running back Devin Neal, who has a composite score of .8660.

Kansas State- Big 12 Rank, No. 8

Chris Klieman and the Wildcats are making improvements in the recruiting ranks although the numbers may not indicate that. Their average composite score is .8737, which is an improvement from last year’s mark of .8439. The 2021 class has six commits, highlighted by pro-style quarterback Jake Rubely, who has a composite score of .9292.

Oklahoma-Big 12 Rank, No. 7

Lincoln Riley has built a juggernaut in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners are currently the seventh-best team in the conference in recruiting. While the ranking is in unfamiliar territory for Oklahoma, they only have five commits. The average composite score for the class is .9017, which is the norm for them. The 2021 class is highlighted by Cody Jackson, who has a composite score of .9556.

Oklahoma State- Big 12 Rank, No. 10

Mike Gundy and his mullet are off to a slow start in recruiting as the Pokes are dead last in the Big 12. By the time the class commences, Oklahoma State should be in the top 5, which is generally the norm for them. The 2021 class is highlighted by ball-hawking safety Ty Williams, who has a composite score .8647.

TCU- Big 12 Rank, No. 9

The Horned Frogs have only 4 commits, which is why they are ranked No.9 in the Big 12 in recruiting. This class is highlighted by defensive lineman Chris Murray, who has a composite score of .8647.

Texas- Big 12 Rank, No. 1

The Longhorns hold the top spot and by looking at the history, they should not finish lower than No.2. Tom Herman continues to prove that he is one of the best recruiters in the country, but that hasn’t necessarily translated to success on the field. That said, it long overdue for Texas to take the next step to be on par with the top teams in the country. Texas’ 2021 class is highlighted by in-state ATH Ja’Tavion Sanders, who has a composite score of .9873.

Texas Tech- Big 12 Rank, No. 5

The Red Raiders come in at the No.5 spot.  The 2021 class is highlighted by promising quarterback Behren Morton, who has a composite score of .9127.

West Virginia- Big 12 Rank, No. 6

Neal Brown has been recruiting at a high level since coming to Morgantown. In his first class, WVU finished in the top 4 in the conference and now they are sixth place. The good news is that the Mountaineers only have six commits, and the average composite score is .8804, which is higher than Brown’s 2020 class. The 2021 recruiting class is highlighted by in-state offensive tackle Wyatt Milum, who has a composite score of .9651.

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Quarantine Recruiting- A Look at the SEC 2021 Commits

Let’s take a look at how your favorite team in the SEC is recruiting during the national pandemic

Alabama- SEC Rank, No. 12

No, this is not a typo. The Crimson Tide are currently twelfth in the conference in recruiting. If I were a betting man, I would imagine that this will not remain for too much longer given their average composite score rating is .9299. Nick Saban is a master recruiter and if Phyllis (Perkins) from Mulga, Alabama isn’t worried, neither should Bama fans. Their 2021 class has three commits, highlighted by wide receiver Agiye Hall who has a composite score of .9687.

Arkansas- SEC Rank, No. 10

Head man Sam Pittman is trying to change the culture in Arkansas and the only way to do that is to recruit at a high level. As of now, they sit at No. 10, which is slightly better than last year when they finished No.11. The 2021 class has 5 commits, highlighted by offensive lineman Terry Wells who has a composite score of .8805.

Auburn- SEC Rank, No. 8

Year after year Gus Malzahn proves that he is one of the top recruiters in the country. The 2021 class is highlighted by defensive lineman Lee Hunter who has a composite ranking of .9782. Although, the Tigers have the eighth-best class in the SEC, expect a surge from them as the season nears.

Florida- SEC Rank, No. 2

This shouldn’t come as a surprise as the Gators sit at the No.2 spot. Dan Mullen has an extensive track record of being an elite recruiter and after a strong 2020 class, the standard is now set going forward. The 2021 class is highlighted by in-state dynamo Tyreak Sapp, who has a composite score of .9575.

Georgia- SEC Rank, No. 4

Kirby didn’t make the smart decision when he decided not to start Justin Fields over Jake Fromm, which ultimately led to Fields becoming a star at Ohio State. Because of that, Georgia took a step back in 2019. The Bulldogs are currently in a good spot as they are the fourth-best team in the SEC in recruiting. Their 2020 class was the best in the country and despite them being No.4 with the 2021 class they are still among the best in the country. This class is highlighted by five-star Brock Vandagriff, who has a composite score of .9915.

Kentucky- SEC Rank, No. 11

The 2021 recruiting class has six commits highlighted by Chauncey Magwood, who has a composite score of .8742. The Wildcats have planted flags in the Columbus, Ohio area as well as the Metro Detroit area and it’s expected that they will get a few commits from players from both regions just as they did in the 2020 class.

LSU- SEC Rank, No. 3

The reigning National Champions are still the champs until they get dethroned. The Bayou Bengals sit at No.3, but they are still a top-ten class in the country. When looking at the history, LSU hasn’t finished outside of the top 5 in conference recruiting since the year 2000. Ed Orgeron hit the jackpot with securing a commit from LB Raesjon Davis who has the makeup to be the next best linebacker to suit up for the Tigers.

Miss St.- SEC Rank, No. 6

The Mike Leach era will be one to behold at Mississippi State. The wildly entertaining coach is making his imprint as the 2021 recruiting class is currently No.6 in the conference. This class is highlighted by pro-style quarterback Sawyer Robertson, who has a composite score of .932.

Missouri- SEC Rank, No. 7

The Eliah Drinkwitz era is underway and he has an uphill battle to get the Tigers back on the right track. Currently, he’s doing just that as Mizzou has the seventh-best class in the conference. The 2021 class is highlighted by defensive lineman Travion Ford who has a composite score of .9357.

Ole Miss- SEC Rank, No. 14

Lane Kiffin is back in the SEC looking to avenge his short-lived stint in Knoxville. Now, with Kiffin at Ole Miss, he is looking to breathe life into a program that hasn’t won 10 games since 2015. Although the Rebels are last in the conference in recruiting, they have plenty of time to make a surge. The 2021 class has three commits and is highlighted by wide receiver Bralon Brown, who has a composite score of .9217.

South Carolina- SEC Rank, No. 9

The Gamecocks are coming off of a solid year where they had the eighth-best recruiting class in the SEC. Currently, they are in similar territory as they are in the No.9 spot. The class has a total of six commits, highlighted by Trenilyas Tatum who has a composite score of .8924.

Tennesee- SEC Rank, No. 1

Things are on the up in Knoxville, Tennessee. Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt has the top recruiting class in the SEC with a whopping 18 commits and is building a roster of top talent to compete with the top-tier teams of the SEC. The 2021 class is highlighted by OLB Terrence Lewis, who has a composite score of .9944.

Texas A&M-SEC Rank, No. 5

There hasn’t been a lot of excitement since Jimbo Fisher arrived in College Station. The Texas A&M faithful have been patiently waiting for him to turn things around, but it still hasn’t transpired. Despite failures on the field, Fisher continues to recruit at a high level. The Aggies are currently the fifth-best team in the conference in recruiting. The 2021 class is highlighted by wide receiver Shadrach Banks, who has a composite score of .9598. In addition to Banks, the Ags also have five other commits.

Vanderbilt- SEC Rank, No. 13

Vandy comes in at the unlucky No. 13 spot. Derek Mason and the Commodores had the worst class in 2020, and as of now, there is a slight improvement. Whether if they slide to the last spot is remain to be seen, but when you are the bottom, you have to take any amount of improvement. The 2021 class has a total of four commits, highlighted by wide receiver Jack Bech, who has a composite score of .8667.

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Quarantine Recruiting- A Look at ACC’s 2021 Commits

Let’s take a look at how your favorite team in the ACC is recruiting during the national pandemic.

Boston College, ACC Rank, No. 9

Newly hired head coach Jeff Hafley has an uphill battle ahead of him, but in time he will prove he’s the man for the job. As of now, Boston College has 4 commits, highlighted by three-star LB Owen McGowan, who has a composite score of .8577.

Clemson, ACC Rank, No. 2

Dabo Swinney continues to prove he is one of the elite recruiters in the country. As of now, the Tigers hold the second ranking in the ACC and they are fourth nationally. Depending on the week, the Tigers and Tar Heels will joust for ACC supremacy. If we are looking at history, this class will not fall lower than third in the country and atop of the ACC when the class of 21 commences. This class is highlighted by Korey Freeman, and he has a composite score of .9997. In addition to Freeman, Clemson has five other top 100 recruits.

Duke, ACC Rank, No. 7

The Duke Blue Devils sit at 7th in the ACC in recruiting. They are in a position to have their highest ranking since 2016. Three-star LB Cole Bishop highlights the 2021 class. Bishop has a composite score of .8516.

Florida State, ACC Rank, No. 5

New head man Matt Norvell has a huge task in getting Florida State back to relevancy. The program sputtered during the Willie Taggart era. At one point, it was so bad that wide receivers didn’t know how to line up. Once upon a time, the Seminoles were one of the blue bloods of college football and the only way they can get back to that level is through recruiting. The Seminoles currently sit at the No. 5 spot in the conference. They have ample time to improve given they only have five commits. The class is highlighted by OLB Branden Jennings who has a composite score of .9657. If players of Jennings caliber take their talents to Tallahassee, the program will be on the right track to win the ACC in a few years.

Georgia Tech, ACC Rank, No. 11

Geoff Collins and the Yellow Jackets are fresh off a top-5 recruiting class in the ACC in 2020. The 2021 recruiting class hasn’t gained much steam as they only have 4 commits, but in time they will improve. The 2021 class is highlighted by WR Malik Rutherford who has a composite score of 0.8577.

Louisville, ACC Rank, No. 10

Scott Satterfield and the Cardinals are currently at the No.10 spot in ACC. Despite only having four commits, things are heating up as they have had all four commits pledge commitments this spring. The class is highlighted by Victoine Brown, who has a composite score of .8789.

Miami, ACC Rank, No.3

Hurricanes fans are partying like its 2001 with them being ranked in the top 3 in recruiting in the ACC. The 2021 class has a whopping 13 commits, which is highlighted by running back Thad Franklin, who has a composite score of .9180. Franklin looks to join the long lineage of great Hurricane RBs. While it’s still early in the class, the Hurricanes have yet to receive a commit from a quarterback, but on the bright side, they have a lot of talented prospects on the offensive and defensive line. Miami won’t be “The U” that terrorized college football, but it seems like Manny Diaz is on the right track. While recruiting seems to be on the up, the next facelift that has to come is switching from Adidas back to Nike.

NC State, ACC Rank, No. 12

When it comes to recruiting it’s never flashy with the Wolfpack, but Dave Doeren has compiled 47 wins, including four bowl victories. The 2021 class currently sits at No.12, and their class is highlighted by speedy wide receiver Julian Gray, who has a composite score of .8678.

North Carolina, ACC Rank,  No. 1

Mack Brown has completely changed the culture in Chapel Hill. Now, if we keep the dance videos to a minimum, that would be great. The Tar Heels are top of the ACC in recruiting yet again. At this point, it shouldn’t come as a surprise as Brown is one of the best coaches in the past twenty-five years. The 2021 class has the makings to be the best in school history as they currently sit at No.2 in the country. This class has a total of 14 commits, and they have an average composite score of .9159, led by QB Drake Maye who’s composite score is .9758.

Pittsburgh, ACC Rank, No. 5

Pat Narduzzi continues to build a solid program, but it’s time for them to take the next step as a program. To no surprise, Pitt’s 2021 class is fifth-best in the conference.  They have seven total commits, highlighted by Nahki Johnson who has a composite score of .9360.

Syracuse, ACC Rank, No. 13

Dino Babers & Co. hasn’t had much to celebrate during this off-season. The Orangemen only have three commits thus far, but Syracuse has been active in the transfer portal over the past few seasons. That said, don’t be surprised if they land a few transfers when football resumes. The 2021 class is highlighted by defensive lineman Terry Lockett who has a composite score of 0.8477.

Virginia, ACC Rank, No. 4

Bronco Mendenhall has had some success recruiting, and it’s starting to translate on the field. The Cavaliers are in fourth place in the ACC and their 2021 class is highlighted by defensive lineman, Josh McCarron who has a composite score of .8958.

Virginia Tech, ACC Rank, No. 6

The Hokies come in with the sixth-best class in the ACC. The 2021 class has six commits highlighted by dual-threat quarterback Dematrius Davis who has a composite score of .9419. Davis will have a lot of pressure on him as he’s the fourth-highest (Tyrod Taylor, Marcus Vick, and Bryan Randall) rated QB recruit in VT history.

Wake Forest, ACC Rank, No. 14

For those who may not know it, but Wake Forest has a football team. Dave Clawson is one of the most underrated football coaches in the country. His 30 wins over the past four seasons is a testament to the work he’s putting in. Despite that, the Demon Deacons are dead last in the conference in recruiting. The 2021 class is highlighted by Santino Marucci who has a composite score of .7819.

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Betting- Over/Under Win Totals in the Big Ten

As the US continues with a national emergency and all sports are cancelled, degenerates are still finding ways to lose money. According to William Hill Sportsbook in Vegas, they are taking a decent amount of action on Russian Table Tennis; this is not a drill. Many of us are guilty of wagering on teams that we’ve never even watched before, but Covid-19 has taken some bettors into a new paradigm of problem gambling. 

However, as sports leagues are devising plans to get their seasons started back up in the coming months, Menace2Sports has you covered (pun entirely intended). As we get closer to sports, and particularly college football, we are hoping you check back regularly for gambling insider info. During #CoronaBreak2020, we have put together several resources to get you prepared to crush your sportsbook in the near future.

First up: the over/under win totals for the Big Ten. Wagering on season win totals takes patience. However, it is a lot safer than getting backdoored when your team is winning by four touchdowns before they put in the walk-ons and give up a meaningless score because the coach who is getting blown out still has the starters in to try to make the score look respectable. And your wife wonders why you just yelled at the TV during a 28-point game.

It is smart to approach future bets similar to stocks, knowing that you need to be patient and watch your money increase over time. The reason why sports betting is much safer than stocks is almost everything in the sports world is available to the public. You can read up on a team, watch the film, do your research and sometimes even get inside info. 

Note: in most cases, season win total wagers only pay even money or a little less. Doesn’t seem to make much sense (or dollars, for that matter) to bet 10 bucks just to try to make 20 a half year later. But if you think a team could be great or terrible, load up, enjoy the season, and then collect! And without further ado:

Ohio State (11 Wins) – Take the over. It is almost a lock. Even if they win 11, it’s still a push and you get some money back. Conference Championship games and bowl games count. Ohio State will have the best offense in the country. They will have a chip on their shoulder. Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer both won National Championships in year two at OSU. If the season goes like they hope, Ohio State will play 15 games. You will literally need to score 40 points to beat the Buckeyes. OHIO STATE HAS WON 11 GAMES OR MORE IN ALL OF THE LAST 8 SEASONS. 

Penn State (9.5 wins) – Once again, the OVER. Penn State returns their QB, several weapons on offense, and the best defensive player in the country. Road games include at Virginia Tech, at Michigan, at Indiana, at Nebraska, and at Rutgers. Expect them to play some tough games with a sweat, but they will get to double digit wins even if it takes a bowl victory to get there. 

Wisconsin (9.5 wins) – Take the UNDER with Wisconsin. They had a remarkable season last year and still only won 10 games. They lose Jonathan Taylor and several other weapons. We will find out how good Jack Coan is without them. Wisconsin opens with a challenge vs Indiana and later travels to Michigan in week 4 (revenge game for Michigan) right before a week 5 matchup with Notre Dame. In an improving Big Ten West, Wisconsin takes a step back.

Michigan (9 wins) – UNDER, but it will likely push with a bowl win. Notice Michigan does not have a .5 (a hook) after their win total. Michigan is just good enough to win 9 games\. Jim Harbaugh averages 9.33 repeating wins in his five years at Michigan. That’s just who they are. However, winning more than 9 is going to be very tough. They open at Washington, have two cupcakes, and then play Wisconsin and Penn State at home before going to East Lansing and Minnesota. All back to back to back to back. The schedule softens up enough for Harbaugh and Gattis to win the fan base back before they finish the regular season in Columbus. We predict Michigan will win 8 regular season games and then wipe someone bad in a bowl game to push the total at 9 wins. The under bet is safe because you will likely get your money back in the worst case. Betting against “9 Win U.”

Minnesota (9 wins) – Take the OVER. The Gophers went 11-2 last year. They lose Tyler Johnson and Antoine Winfield to the NFL, but they return Tanner Morgan and Rashod Bateman. Assuming they can beat Iowa at home week 3, Minnesota should open the season 5-0. Meaning that in order for you to at least get your money back, they would only have to finish 4-4. We believe they can steal a big win vs Michigan, Wisconsin, etc. that will get them over the hump. There’s great value in the Gophers. 

Indiana (7.5 wins) – Cash the OVER. Warning: you are probably starting 0-1 with them opening at Wisconsin who they never beat. However, they will be solid favorites in their next 5 games before playing MSU and PSU at home. Michael Penix Jr. is heading for a breakout season. They were a fluke ending in the bowl game away from winning 10 games last year without him. Cash out with the Hoosiers. This is one of our most confident plays.

Iowa (7 wins) – STAY CLEAR/NO BET. This looks like a trap line. Iowa won 10 games last year. Initially, it seems like easy money to take the cover. However, when something looks too good to be true, it usually is. Does Vegas know something that we don’t know? They graduate their QB and their best defensive player. Looking forward, Iowa will be an underdog in all of their road games (at Minny, at OSU, at PSU, at Illinois, at Purdue). It seems that they will have several tossup games at home. Gun to my head, I’m taking the under. But the final reason to stay clear is to save yourself the boredom of watching Iowa football. Even if they made it so all sports were cancelled for Coronavirus except Iowa football, I still couldn’t watch it!

Nebraska (6.5 wins) – UNDER again. Nebraska has won 4 games and 5 games in Scott Frost’s first two seasons respectively. They have another tough schedule coming up with Purdue week one and Cincinnati week four. Looking at the schedule initially, we only saw two games (South Dakota State and Rutgers) that we counted as sure wins. Central Michigan is week 2 and they won the MAC last year, be careful. They didn’t do anything in year one or two that leads us to believe much will change. 

Northwestern (5.5 wins) – UNDER again. Pat Fitzgerald had the Wildcats in the Big Ten Championship just two seasons ago. But last year, they went 3-9 overall and 1-8 in the Big Ten. Like Nebraska, we simply didn’t see anything that led us to believe much would be different this year. However, we also didn’t assume they would go from West Champs to 1-8 so the Wildcats are tough to figure out. They open with a complete tossup at MSU week one. We strongly believe that outcome will play a huge factor in their win total.

Illinois (5 wins) – OVER. With caution. Bowl eligible last year and a returning QB, Illinois will be a double-digit favorite in their first four games. They have a great chance to start 4-0. So, Vegas is banking on Illinois finishing 1-7 and not making a bowl game? The end of their season is absolutely brutal. They won’t be favored in hardly any games. However, we think they can get at least one of their last eight games to get to at least a push. They aren’t going to lose to Illinois State, Connecticut, Bowling Green or Rutgers to start the season, are they? Illinois looks safe to at least push.

Purdue (5 wins) – UNDER. Even though they are getting Rondale Moore back, Purdue’s schedule is an absolute gauntlet. Their non-conference is Memphis, Air Force, and at Boston College. They literally have one guaranteed win and that is Rutgers. Purdue could be a good football team and still not win 5 games. Who is responsible for making that schedule?

Michigan State (4.5 wins) – UNDER. Michigan State was a steady top fifteen program in the country just a few years back. Now they are an absolute dumpster fire. The Spartans did go 7-6 last year but they are another team with a tough schedule. They are at BYU, Toledo at home, and the Miami Hurricanes at home for the non-conference. Then they have to deal with the Big Ten East. Vegas isn’t lying; the Spartans are bad and it’s going to take a while for them.

Maryland (3.5 wins) – UNDER. It seems disrespectful to say a team with a prominent name and location like Maryland won’t get four wins. But the truth of the matter is they have two guaranteed wins in Towson and Rutgers (both at home). After that, they won’t be favored in any contest. They will be a punching bag in the Big Ten East once again.

Rutgers (2.5 wins) – UNDER. Rutgers will beat Monmouth College to open the season and then lose the rest of their games. That’s all there is to it.

by: Julian Thomas

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Quarantine Recruiting- A Look at the Big Ten’s Commits

This year, recruiting in college football is looking extremely different compared to previous years. Due to COVID-19 putting the world on pause all face-to-face interactions have been suspended.  While it’s unknown when things will get back to normalcy, recruiting in the college football world hasn’t slowed down one bit. Although face-to-face interactions have been prohibited, coaches and recruits are keeping in contact through social media, phone calls, texts, FaceTime, etc. Let’s take a look at how your favorite team in the Big Ten is recruiting during the national pandemic

Illinois – B1G Rank, No. 14

As of now, the Lovie Smith’s Fighting Illini is dead last in the Big Ten in recruiting for the 2021 class. Their lone commit Samari Collier is a dual-threat quarterback that hails from Desoto, Texas. His composite ranking is .8336.

Indiana – B1G Rank, No. 11

The Hoosiers may be at No.11 now, but when the 2021 class fills out, it could be one of their best yet. They have five commits, and their top-rated player Cooper Jones (DE) from Valparaiso, IN has a composite score of .8839.

Iowa – B1G Rank, No. 4

Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes are in a great position at the No. 4 spot. To no surprise, they have nine commits, with OG Connor Colby from Cedar Rapids, IA being their top recruit. Colby’s composite score is .9154 and they also have two athletes in Justin Sullivan and Cooper DeJean that have the makeup to be instant impact players.

Maryland – B1G Rank, No. 3

Last season didn’t go as planned for the Terps, but head man Mike Locksley is making waves in recruiting for the 2021 class. Maryland has ten total commits, and to no surprise, this class is headlined by four DMV natives Demiioun Robinson and Taizse Johnson, Antwain Littleton, and ZionAngelo Shockley. Robinson, who has a composite score of .9763 is the highest rated out of the group. At this rate, Locksley and his staff are on the path to take the next step in the Big Ten. Look out.

Michigan – B1G Rank, No. 6

If you look at James T. Yoder’s and former All-American Jourdan Lewis’ twitter pages, it will tell you that Michigan isn’t doing well at recruiting. In year five, Harbaugh continues to show that he is not the elite recruiter that he needs to be for Michigan to become an elite program. While it’s still early, Michigan has seven commits, highlighted by five-star J.J. McCarthy who has a whopping composite score of .9899.  One interesting thing to pay attention to with the 2021 class is how the state of Michigan is recruited.  With Giovanni El-Hadi committing in April of 2019, the Wolverines seemed like they were in a prime position own the state. Since then, it’s been quiet with recruiting the home state up until Detroit Cass Tech’s Raheem Anderson pledged his commitment to the Wolverines. Anderson’s commitment ended a drought where the Wolverines did not have an in-state commit in over a year for the 2021 class.

Michigan State – B1G Rank, No. 13

Head coach Mel Tucker got a late start as he was hired a few months ago. Tucker is taking a page out of Mark Dantonio’s book in recruiting three-star recruits with the focus on coaching them up to maximize their potential. The 2021 class is highlighted by hometown hero OT Ethan Boyd, who has a .8577 composite score. Given the state of MSU football, I don’t see the 2021 class making much improvement. This rebuilding process will take longer than what many expect, but will Tucker get the time to get the job done?

Minnesota – B1G Rank, No. 8

The boats are still rowing in Minnesota after an 11-win season and they are using that momentum in recruiting the 2021 class. The Gophers have eight commits highlighted by dual-threat quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, who’s composite score is .9013

Nebraska – B1G Rank, No. 9

Last year didn’t go as planned for Scott Frost, but in recruiting he is making his mark. Frost’s 2020 class was No.4 in the B1G, and now they are No.9 with just four commits, highlighted by ATH Randolph Kpai who’s composite score is .9300. The Cornhuskers will get a wave of commits within a few months and that would likely put them in the top 5 in the conference.

Northwestern – B1G Rank, No. 12

Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats are in familiar territory at No.12. This class is highlighted by in-state LB Mac Uihlein and Michigan’s own Caleb Tiernan, who have composite scores of .9050 and .9005 respectively.

Ohio State – B1G Rank, No. 1

It seems like Director of Player of Personnel Mark Pantoni is tweeting out “BOOM” every second. While it may appear that way, it’s evident that Ryan Day & Co. are far and away the best team in the B1G when it comes to recruiting. The 2021 class is highlighted by DE Jack Sawyer, who’s composite score of .9987. In addition to Sawyer, fellow five-star recruits TreVeyon Henderson (RB), Kyle McCord (QB) are big-time gets and to no surprise, the Buckeyes are in the mix to get a few more five-star recruits. The Buckeyes are the epitome of the saying “the rich get richer” as they have 11 top 100 commits, which is more than the SEC, ACC, B1G, Pac-12, and Big 12.

Penn State – B1G Rank, No. 7

James Franklin has been a recruiting dynamo at Penn State and in 2021 that will continue to be the trend. As of now, they are No.7, but with only 7 commits, they will rise in the rankings. Franklin and his staff are doing his usual damage in the DMV as the class is highlighted by OT Landon Tengwall who’s composite score is .9771. On top of that, Franklin is starting to plant flags in Detroit as he got three commits from Jalen Reed, Kobe, and Kalen King, who are all players that held offers from just about every Big Ten school.

Purdue – B1G Rank, No. 10

Jeff Brohm and the Boilermakers are sitting at No. 10, but they will jump a few spots. As of now, the only have five commits, which is highlighted by their newest commit Bryon Threats who has a composite score of .8627. Purdue is sneaky when it comes to recruiting and given the success with their past two classes, they will have a few sleepers from Detroit, and other surrounding areas in the Midwest to round out their class.

Rutgers – B1G Rank, No. 5

Greg Schiano isn’t playing games as Scarlet Knights are No. 5 in the conference. While they may not stay that high, it has to be positive to see them not associated with being in last place in any aspect. This class is highlighted by in-state talent Khayri Banton (LB), who has a composite score of .9013.

Wisconsin – B1G Rank, No. 2

The Wisconsin Badgers aren’t a sexy program, they just do everything the right way. Whether it’s their style of play or the way they recruit, they do it with a blue-collar approach. The Badgers is usually a top-five program in the conference when it comes to recruiting and that will likely remain the case for the 2021 class. This Badgers class has the makings of being a special one as it is highlighted by OT JP Benzschawel whose composite score is .9446.

by: Ron Hampston

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KJ Hill, A Rough Draft…

Michael Thomas, Terry Glenn, David Boston, Michael Jenkins, Santonio Holmes, Ted Ginn Jr., Joey Galloway and Cris Carter. What do all these players have in common? Captain obvious response: all Buckeye great receivers who have gone on to fantastic careers in the NFL. More in-depth response: while Ohio State has been a wide receiver factory over the last 30 years, none of these players caught more passes in college than KJ Hill. 

Quez Watkins, James Proche, Dezmon Patmon, Darnell Mooney, Isaiah Coulter, and John Hightower. What do you all these dudes have in common? Simple response: no clue because you’ve probably never heard of any of them. The truth: all are wide receivers who were drafted ahead of KJ Hill in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Not throwing shade at the guys mentioned, of course. Menace2Sports is here for the culture and we hope each of them go on to have tremendous professional careers. However, we are also here for keeping it 100 thousand and KJ falling into the 7th round is absurd. 

He wasn’t even the first guy named KJ drafted. Hell, he wasn’t even the first receiver named KJ drafted. Penn State’s KJ Hamler caught a little over one fourth of the balls KJ Hill caught in college, though. No big deal. At least his weekend was better than KJ Un’s. Too soon?

ProFootballFocus had KJ Hill listed as the 73rd prospect in the draft. He ended up 220th. To be clear, the Chargers picked up a high 3rd rounder in the 7th. Good for them, I guess.

Many questioned his 40 time (4.60) at the combine. Ironically, two of the premier WRs in the NFL ran a very similar time; Michael Thomas and DeAndre Hopkins both ran a 4.57. Are we suggesting KJ is the next Hopkins, of course not. But it is food for thought.

And like these two high volume receivers, KJ has hands and he gets open. He was open in the Big Ten. He was open against Clemson. And more interestingly, he was open against Marshon Lattimore, Eli Apple, Denzel Ward, Gareon Conley, Damon Arnette, Jeff Okudah, etc. at practice the last few years. So we are falling in love with these Buckeye corners but not the players who are having success against them regularly?

The silver lining for KJ is he was selected to move to Los Angeles and compete for a spot in an offense that thrives in the short passing game. He’s going to be just fine.

Of course, Buckeye receivers have been passed over recently and gone on to prove their value. Exhibit A: THE aforementioned Michael Thomas. CantGuardMike owns numerous NFL records including most receptions in a season and most receiving yards for a player in their first four seasons. Simply put: he’s goated. However, here are the players selected before him in 2016: Corey Coleman, Will Fuller, Josh Doctson, Laquon Treadwell and Sterling Shepard (Insert Homer Simpson hiding in the shrubs gif here).

Just last year, Terry McLaurin led NFL rookies in receptions and was second in receiving yards. He would’ve likely led comfortably in both but he missed two games with injury. Heading into the season, ESPN talking heads were labeling McLaurin a career special teams guy. However, Terry spent his rookie Sundays in the endzone flexing. 

KJ Hill’s 201 career catches at Ohio State is a record that’s going to be safe for a while. He is also 6th in receiving yards and 6th in touchdowns. Until the controversial loss to Clemson in the national semifinal, Ohio State was undefeated in games that KJ caught a touchdown. 

When thinking of a pinnacle career moment, was it the game winning touchdown at Penn State his junior year? Or was it the back to back touchdowns his senior year in the Big Ten Championship game? The one-handed snag vs Minnesota? We considered a more simple play:

Last season at Michigan, Ohio State leading 28-16 in the 3rd quarter. Third and goal from the 6. Michigan can get off the field and keep it a two score game. OSU lines up in bunch and isolates KJ on Josh Metellus. KJ stems him and up, bullies him, and safely secures another clutch TD. Ball Game. Guess which player was drafted first, smdh…

Check with the Ohio State coaches or ask Buckeye Nation, KJ Hill is one of the most beloved of his generation. And as the myriad of NFL Buckeyes continue to show out on Sundays, will KJ be the next one? That will be up to him. 

Until then, get those Homer Simpson gifs ready.

by: Julian Thomas

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The Rise & Sudden Fall of Michigan State Football

Mark Dantonio was hired at Michigan State on November 27th, 2006. Then, a 50-year-old head coach with just 13 wins in his two-year stint University of Cincinnati was taking over a Michigan State program that vastly underachieved under Bobby Williams and John L. Smith. At the time, Michigan State epitomized mediocrity as they had one 10-win season from 1965 to 2006.

To say Dantonio was the perfect hire for MSU was an understatement. Under the tutelage of Nick Saban and Jim Tressel, Dantonio’s blue-collar approach meshed well with the Spartan faithful and he was a great up and coming coach.

It didn’t take long for Dantonio to right the ship as he went 7-6 his first season. That win total was the highest the university seen since 2001. Just three seasons later, the Spartans were 11-2 giving them the most wins in a season in school history. From 2010 to 2015, Michigan State was amongst the top teams in the Big Ten and the country.

With Dantonio at the helm, the Spartans were in unfamiliar territory as a national power. While they weren’t in the same pantheon as the Ohio State’s and Alabama’s, they were becoming special in their regard. More importantly, they were the top team in the state as the Michigan Wolverines, became the “little brother” to the Dantonio-led Spartans.

The Spartan Dawgs played a ferocious style of football. They played great defense led by NFL standouts Trae Waynes, Vernon Gholston, Darqueze Dennard, and many more, ran the ball well the likes of Le’Veon Bell and Jeremy Langford, and they were a cradle of quarterbacks as guys such as Brian Hoyer, Kirk Cousins, and Connor Cook led them atop of the Big Ten.

They won three Big Ten Championships, made an appearance in the College Football Playoffs, and won a Rose Bowl. Spartan Football on the Banks of the Red Cedar was king. Mark Dantonio could do no wrong and he was to Michigan State Football as Tom Izzo is to Spartan hoops.

Fast forward to today. If you were to tell me that Dantonio would abruptly resign without warning one day before National Signing Day years after a historic run, I would call you crazy.

As we know, this just occurred on February 3rd, 2020.

The semi departure of MSU’s beloved head football coach raised questions and some of those answers rose quite a bit of speculation. It’s difficult any time a head coach steps away from the team, but especially difficult when it’s unexpected. It’s even odder to resign 20 days after he received a $4.3 Million retention bonus, but that’s what transpired.

For those who have been following MSU Football for years they knew the day was looming, but not in this manner.

Since 2016, Dantonio was 27-24. Outside of a 10 win season in 2017, the Spartans failed to surpass the 7-win mark. During this time Dantonio’s loyalty to his style of play, philosophy, and staff became his Achilles heel. Rumors surfaced about him being fired, but as arguably the best coach in school’s history he earned time to turn the tide around. Change never came and redundancy became the norm. Dantonio’s organizational restructuring consisted of playing musical chairs instead of firing inept coaches.

He also failed to alter his style of play to compete with the teams’ top teams in the country. Dantonio held on to three yards and a cloud of dust mantra, while his peers focused on lighting up the scoreboard by using tempo and spread concepts.

The most glaring issue is and was recruiting. This comes as a surprise given that there are accusations that MSU and Dantonio broke NCAA rules while doing so.  The 2020 Class—now Dantonio’s last class is ranked 10th out 11 Big Ten teams per 247Sports. However, just five short years ago, the 2015 class was ranked 3rd per 247Sports. Dantonio was never an elite recruiter, but he could get the most out of his recruits. Over time that was no longer a thing.

So what happened?

Some can say that their style of play isn’t attractive to top-tier high school talent. With 8 players in the transfer portal, it is evident that what was being sold during the recruiting process didn’t materialize. Top skill players in the state of Michigan glanced over East Lansing as they chose other schools. One would think to be a great college town such as East Lansing would be attractive to recruits.

With the recent news of depositions and possible NCAA involvement, It seems like there was a volcano brewing that has begun to show signs of erupting in EL. Former MSU Director of Player Personnel Curtis Blackwell’s contract wasn’t renewed in 2016 and since then the program has gone downhill.

Coincidentally, since Blackwell’s departure, their ability to recruit top in-state and national talent has suffered. And now with Dantonio stepping down amid legal issues, what happens to Michigan State football from here?

With legal troubles and possible NCAA sanctions, recruiting will continue to take a hit. Today things are murkier than they were when Dantonio took the job thirteen years ago. There is a huge talent gap compared to Wisconsin, Penn State, and Ohio State.

Mark Dantonio cemented his legendary status during his time in East Lansing. In thirteen years, he achieved just about every imaginable accolade. He turned a once dormant football program into a national power. Despite that, he leaves a complicated legacy that is still being written. For now, we have to sit back to see what unfolds.

by: Ron Hampston

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The Rich Get Richer

“You’ve got to win in February to win in the fall.” It’s an old adage referring to recruiting in college football; so old, in fact, it doesn’t really apply anymore. Considering the majority of players now sign with schools in December, February’s National Signing Day has become an arbitrary date.

December or February, doesn’t really matter. The thoroughbreds in college football continue to build iron horses. If you’re looking for parity like the NFL, look elsewhere. Recruiting rankings aren’t the end all, be all, but they tell a big part of the story. If you’re not loading up on blue chip recruits, you can just about forget playing in January. And unfortunately for more than 95% percent of colleges, only about five teams have cornered the market, although there are some outliers.

Here’s a look at each Power 5 conference and what the recruiting rankings, courtesy of 247 Sports’ overall team talent (a combined score of all scholarship players’ recruiting rankings on the roster) and recruiting rankings (the average ranking of 247 Sports, Rivals and ESPN), tell us.

SEC

We start with the SEC because, well, no other conference comes close when it comes to recruiting. There’s a reason five different teams from the conference have played for the national championship the past 11 years. From the 2020 recruiting rankings, seven of the top 10 teams reside in the SEC. Sure, the conference has built-in advantages like living in the recruiting hotbed of the South and having the SEC winner almost assured to receive a playoff invite. But there’s no denying what Alabama has done in recruiting, and it’s not stopping. The Crimson Tide had the top-ranked overall roster from 2019 in the team talent rankings and finished second in the 2020 composite recruiting rankings. Of course, ‘Bama was upended in the regular season by eventual national champ LSU, which had the fifth-ranked overall roster and finished fourth in 2020 recruiting. The Tigers lost a ton in talent and coaching after the title game, but the depth is there to make another run this fall, especially with ‘Bama going to Death Valley. Georgia continues to dominate the SEC East in roster talent and recruiting, with Kirby Smart capturing another recruiting title in 2020. The Bulldogs had the third-ranked team talent roster in 2019, but on-the-field results in the biggest games haven’t followed. And, for the third time in five years, Georgia is bringing in a new offensive coordinator, so it remains to be seen if offensive continuity can be built with a new quarterback.

On the Fringe: Texas A&M (No. 12 roster in 2019, No. 6 composite recruiting ranking in 2020)

Big 10

Not breaking news: Ohio State recruits at the highest level, and, as a result, it owns the Big 10. The fact that the Buckeyes had the second-ranked roster nationally in 2019 is a testament to Urban Meyer’s recruiting, and Ryan Day hasn’t missed a beat, finishing with the fifth-ranked composite recruiting ranking in 2020. From a talent standpoint, no other team is relatively close. Penn State featured the No. 10 most talented roster in 2019 but finished No. 15 in 2020 recruiting. Michigan had the 11th-ranked roster and finished No. 14 in recruiting. Wisconsin continues to outproduce its talent on the field, having not collected a top 20-ranked recruiting class in the past five years, but the Badgers haven’t been able to overcome the massive talent gap with Ohio State.

On the Fringe: Nebraska (No. 24 composite roster in 2019, No. 20 recruiting ranking in 2020)

ACC

We could just write Clemson and move on, but that doesn’t explain what Dabo Swinney has done in the past four years. The Tigers had the ninth-ranked most talented roster in 2019 and haven’t finished higher than seventh in the recruiting rankings during their run, despite winning two titles in the last four years. They played for another championship in 2019 because they don’t miss on QB evaluation and have been able to keep a coaching staff together during the run, save for Chad Morris and now Jeff Scott. Brent Venables is the new Bud Foster; the guy just won’t leave. For the first time, Clemson put together an elite recruiting class in 2020, finishing third in the composite rankings, although the top three classes between Georgia, Alabama and Clemson are nearly interchangeable, not to mention the Tigers got another stud QB. That’s bad news for the rest of the conference, which has no suitable challengers. Florida State had the No. 6 best roster in 2019, but Willie Taggert failed miserably. Recruiting rankings only go so far; player development has to take over at some point.

On the Fringe: Miami (No. 18 in 2019 composite roster talent; No. 13 in 2020 composite recruiting rankings)

Big 12

Oklahoma (No. 8 roster in 2019; No. 11 in 2020 recruiting) and Texas (No. 7 roster in 2019; No. 9 in 2020 recruiting) have made this a two-horse race in recruiting. Baylor had the 35th ranked roster in 2019, a testament to Matt Rhule, who’s now off to the Carolina Panthers, and the Bears had the 54th ranked recruiting class in 2020. Good luck with that, Dave Aranda. Oklahoma at least makes an appearance in the college football playoffs, thanks to its elite QB play and offensive line recruiting and development. Texas is the anomaly. The Longhorns have built one of the most talented rosters in the country, but Tom Herman has yet to figure it out. Eventually a blind squirrel will find a nut, right?

On the Fringe: TCU (No. 30 roster in 2019; No. 28 recruiting ranking in 2020)

Pac-12

Oregon (No. 17 in 2019 roster rankings) appears to be the class of the current Pac-12, but the team with the most roster talent in 2019 jumps off the page: Southern Cal. USC had the No. 4 ranked composite roster in the country last year and managed to go 8-5. The Trojans didn’t crack the top 50 in recruiting rankings in 2020, meaning Clay Helton may be a dead man walking. Mario Christobal, on the other hand, has found a way to bring five-star talent to Oregon (No. 12-ranked class in 2020). In the past 17 years, Oregon is the only team to play for a national title without a five-star recruit on the roster. Even Chip Kelly has five stars on the roster at UCLA.

On the Fringe: Washington (No. 19 team roster in 2019; No. 16 in 2020 recruiting rankings)

by: Matt Stewart