Sports Then and Now

Zultan buries his dreams of a Big 10 Championship for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

With as much dignity as he could muster, Zultan gathered up the sad remains of his shattered major award.

Later that night, alone in the backyard, the Great One buried it next to the garage.

Now I could never be sure, but I thought that I heard the sound of “Taps” being played, gently.*

The shattered prize being a Big Ten Championship for Zultan’s Iowa Hawkeyes, of course…

It was quite a Saturday for the Big Ten. Iowa and Illinois fell as Wisconsin stomped the life out of Indiana, crushing bones, sinew and dignity in the process.

Hard to haul yourself off the field and onto the next game after that whopping of 83-20. The Badgers deserve the big Axe for that one…

Northwestern’s 21-17 win over Iowa was just as devastating for the Hawkeyes and their fans, watching another promising season sink out of sight like the sun on the horizon after a long day. The Wildcats continue to have Iowa’s number year after year…

Illinois could not locate the game they left on the field in Ann Arbor as Minnesota came back to win in the closing seconds…

What about Minnesota!  The Gophers struck their own blow for the dignity of their team, their school and most especially for their seniors. As hard as it had to be on Illinois to lose that one, you must be happy for the Gophers to finally win a game in the Big Ten.

Zultan’s guest prognosticator in Week 11, Ryan Sparrow went 7-3 for the week, sadly missing on Iowa, Illinois and Arizona.  Those seven souls who managed to predict these upsets are listed at the end of the article with accompanying accolades.

Click here to outguess this week’s last guest seer of the season, Craig Bancroft, who issues the following predictions…

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Last year Iowa stunned Michigan State with a last second victory.

Heading into Week 9 there are four fairly equal teams topping the Big Ten Conference: Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Iowa.

Wisconsin has already passed its biggest tests, getting by Ohio State and Iowa, while losing to Michigan State.

The Badgers only conceivable pitfall could come at Michigan if they forget to play to their full potential.

Michigan State has defeated Wisconsin and faces Iowa this weekend in their last big test. If they win against the Hawkeyes, the rest of their season seems secure.

With a win on Saturday, it is likely Michigan State would capture the Big Ten Conference title outright–– especially since the Spartans do not play Ohio State this season.

Iowa must win this Saturday to remain in the hunt for the Big Ten title.  They have already lost to Wisconsin and cannot afford a loss against Michigan State or later to Ohio State on November 20 .

Both these big-stake games for Iowa will be played at home in Kinnick Stadium.

Ohio State lost to Wisconsin and now must win out including against Iowa on the road on November 20. Formerly ranked No. 1 in the BCS, Ohio State suffered the fate of all teams who have so far been ranked No. 1.

1. Michigan State (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten):

Michigan State heads into Iowa City ranked No. 1 in the Big 10.

Michigan State has ridden the wave so far to stay ahead of the rest of the teams in Big Ten Conference.

The Spartans began their campaign by daring to beat Notre Dame causing their coach to have a heart-attack.

Next as underdogs they beat back Wisconsin in Week 5, and followed that up by hanging on to beat Michigan in Week 6.

They have survived week by week to retain their undefeated status––they need one more big win to retain the inside track to the Big Ten title.

The Spartans will play Iowa on the road in Iowa City this Saturday for all the marbles.

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Zultan's predictions for Week 5

The Northern Illinois Huskies and the Toledo Rockets derailed Zultan’s perfect 14-0 Week 4.

These MAC teams accomplished what the SEC, PAC 10 and Big East conferences could not––confound the All-Seeing One by bringing out previously hidden talent to overrun the supposedly more talent-laden Big Ten teams––Purdue and Minnesota.

But now, as conference play gets underway, the prognostication game grows deadly serious.  There are no more gimmes on the horizon, for all appearances to the contrary. The lop-sided scoring by the top-ranked Big Ten teams over cup-cake opponents is over. This begins the run for conference titles and other guarantees of glory in the post season.

Zultan has never dipped below 500 in his two-year stint forecasting games; but this could be the week.  Don’t miss your opportunity to outguess the Seer of Seers.  Click here to make your own picks for Week 5.  But be warned, Zultan has polished up his crystal ball, tweaking his football radar as he readies himself for that all important first step in Week 5.

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Unfortunately this week, Zultan, the Great Prognosticator, has locked himself inside his room and he refuses to come out after the Iowa Hawkeyes lost to Arizona last Saturday night in Tucson.

He can still be heard moaning and mumbling into the wee hours of the morning. His crystal ball was finally located in the freezer wrapped clumsily in a black and gold shroud.

Zultan shoved a scribbled list under his door. No doubt this is the week you should challenge the Big Z because his powers have been desiccated by western desert winds. Click here to gain the advantage by out-guessing the mighty Zultan’s as he makes his picks in Week 4.

The Big Ten plays its latest slate of non-conference games in the house by going up against supposed home-baked cupcakes this week.  But there might be a couple of genuine upsets in the making.

Central Michigan Chippewas at Northwestern Wildcats

MAC Conference member Central Michigan, 2-1, suffered their only loss to the Temple Owls.  Northwestern who has managed to escape Vanderbilt, Illinois State and Rice to remain undefeated should manage to notch another win against the Central Michigan Chippewas.  Northwestern bakes another cuppie and wins this one at home.

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