How can a good Big Ten team be a 16.5 point underdog?
I was checking out this week’s Pick the Underdog Contest on the Big Ten Fans message board and found a pick that caught my eye. It said: Purdue (+16.5) @ Hawaii. Now I am not sure how many of you know how to read this, but that means that Purdue is a 16.5 point underdog @ Hawaii tonight. Purdue is 8-4 and went 5-3 in the Big Ten this season. Their only losses on the season have come @ then #12 Notre Dame, @ then #19 Iowa, vs. then #21 Wisconsin and vs. Penn State. Not too shabby if you ask me.
Now I am sure the Hawaii and WAC fans think I am disrespecting them with this post, but in no way is that my intention. I would not be surprised if anyone on the WAC sports message boards ripped me apart. However, you will find few writers with as much love for the non-BCS Conferences as I. However, we are talking about an 8-4 team from the Big Ten playing @ a 9-2 WAC school. Sure, Hawaii has a high-octane offense and has had some fantastic QBs over the past few years, but 16.5 points just seems unreasonable to me. In fact, if I were in Vegas right now you better believe I would lay down some $$$ on Purdue keping the game close or winning.