Big X + 2???

With the news that the Big 10 (which actually has 11 teams in, and has since 1994) is searching for a team to add to the conference I feel like I should blog about my ideas about who the new team should be.

Obvious choice: Notre Dame
You will hear Notre Dame talk. I think it makes sense and they would be a good fit for the conference, but they will never do it. They get all kind of TV money from NBC and they get to hand pick their schedule every year (how else do you explain a bye week before USC game every year). That being said they play most of the conference (Michigan, Michigan St., and Purdue annually play ND). My odds of seeing ND in the Big 10 - 1%.

Regional Choices: Missouri, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Louisville, West Virginia, Kentucky, Iowa State.
All these schools would make sense and become geographic rivals with several schools. Out of all of these I think I like Pittsburgh best. They would become a natural rival for Penn State and Ohio State and they also could give the Big10 credibility in basketball. I really believe it will be Missouri. Mizzou is not great at either football or basketball but they can compete in both sports. They already are rivals with Illinois and adding the team on the west side of the dvision would make the divisions look like this - EAST - Ohio St, Mighigan, Penn St, Mighigan St., Indiana, Purdue. WEST - Missouri, Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. The addition of Mizzou would also give the Big 10 a new viewing market to expand coverage of its television network.

And before all you MAC guys jump on me for not giving a shout out to one of you MAC schools, I do not apologize. Toledo, Ohio U, and the likes are not a good fit for the Big11 as they do not compete athletically nor would they bring credibility to the conference.

Outside the box choices: Nebraska, Virginia Tech, Boise St.
My friend Jon Lamb can elaborate on the reasons (www.fourthandxx.blogspot.com) but word is Nebraska is not excited about being the Big12 North not playing powers Oklahoma and Texas every year. I think they could be a great fit in the new Big 12 in the West Division. But if they dont like not playing Oklahoma and Texas would they like not playing Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn St every year? Probably not. I like the thinking but I would put the probability that Nebraska leaves the real Big 12 and 2%.

Virginia Tech could be a very interesting choice. They would expand the conference to a different region. And they would compete athletically and are very similar in terms of academic institution. The downfall with them is that they would make the East very strong and I believe you have to keep both Indiana teams together - and this would force a split. Odds they leave the ACC .5%.

Boise St is the team I really doubt we will hear, but it makes all the sense. They want the chance to play with the big boys every year. Almost every single one of their conference mates should be playing in 1AA. That does not help their chances at a national title, which they believe they should be a contender for. Going undefeated in the Big 11 would give them that opportunity. I think Boise wants it, but would the big 10? I do not think they will toss the idea around,although having Boise could boost the Big10's national reputation which has taken a big hit with the most recent losses in big games. I believe that Boise has 0% chance of landing in the Big 10, but I think they would be an obvious replacement for Missouri in the Big 12 should they ever leave.