National Game of Disinterest (Week 4)

While there aren't many marquee match-ups, this could be a fun weekend. We've seen everyone play at least two games, so we're getting a sense for who's actually worth watching. And most teams have started conference play. The Dawgs finally get a cupcake game with a noon kick-off, so we can enjoy what should be an easy win before easing into full day of football. We won't be watching this week's National Game(s) of Disinterest, though: anything involving the B1G.

You might be thinking that Michigan State at Notre Dame is worth watching. It isn't. After a seemingly promising start Notre Dame lost an ugly game to Michigan, who almost lost to Akron at home last weekend. Michigan State, on the other hand, has one of the best defenses in the country but ranks 111th (ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH) in passing offense on a YPA basis. This game has the potential to be the 2013 remix of "Baby I'm Burnin'," and it's the best the conference has to offer this weekend.

How bad is the B1G this year? It's so bad that, despite having faced just 3 ranked teams as a conference, the average B1G team would rank 40th in points scored and 53rd in points allowed. This is against the likes of Indiana State, the directional Michigans, Bowling Green, and Tennessee Tech. (It's probably not surprising that the B1G has lost 2 of those 3 games played against ranked teams.)

The B1G is so bad that the American Athletic Conference has the same number of teams in the AP top ten as the B1G does. (One.) For the record, the American Athletic Conference didn't even exist a year ago and has a logo that looks like something you'd see on the side of a bottle of knock-off soda at Wal*Mart.

The B1G is so bad that it's actually stealing a team from the American Athletic Conference, and it isn't even the ranked one.

We make fun of the B1G a lot. (By "we" I mean everyone who watches college football.) It's probably worth remembering why. Way back in February 2007, B1G Commissioner Jim Delaney, ostensibly still hungover from THE Ohio State's humiliating loss to Florida in the BCS National Championship Game, published this letter. If you don't have time to read it, here's his whiny thesis statement: "I wish we had six teams among the top 10 recruiting classes every year, but winning our way requires some discipline and restraint with the recruitment process." BURRRRRRNNNNNN!

Then again, now seems like a good time to remember that the B1G's only top-10 team is coached by the same dude whose team incited that passive aggressive missive. Urbz got the job, of course, because his predecessor lied to the NCAA about his players receiving improper benefits.

Stay classy, B1G. I'll stop talking trash when you stop making it so easy.