Category: Wisconsin

Michigan vs Wisconsin Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview

Michigan Wolverines vs Wisconsin Badgers prediction and college basketball game preview.

Michigan Wolverines vs Wisconsin Badgers prediction and college basketball game preview.

Michigan vs Wisconsin Broadcast

Date: Sunday, February 14
Game Time: 12:00. ET
Venue: Kohl Center, Madison, WI
Network: CBS

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Michigan (13-1) vs Wisconsin (15-6) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college basketball, go to BetMGM

Why Michigan Will Win

Fresh legs won’t be a problem.

The Wolverines have been off for over three weeks, but can the offense stay as hot as it was before the layoff?

They had one clunker of a shooting game against Minnesota and were magnificent against everyone else, including Wisconsin in a 77-54 win back in mid-January. They were great from the outside – they hit 40% or more from three in three of their last four games – before the break.

Again, they were great against the Badgers hitting a season-high 56% from three.

Wisconsin has struggled with its consistency, the defense hasn’t been strong enough – forget it when it allows 45% or more from the field – and the Wolverines hit 50% from the field, but …

Why Wisconsin Will Win

How sharp will Michigan be?

Wisconsin might not be desperate, but it’s not going to be all that far off after losing three of its last five games. However, this seems to be one of those teams that’s able to overcome clunkers with something great.

It managed to go win-loss-win-loss-win-loss and, if you care about patterns and adjustments, it’s due for a win, especially being at home for just the second time since January 23rd.

For all of the issues, Wisconsin still has the best defense in the Big Ten, it doesn’t normally enough a whole lot of mistakes, and when it’s hitting from the outside, it wins. However …

What’s Going To Happen

The team that’s No. 1 in the nation in turnovers has turned it over a lot lately – for the Badgers.

It doesn’t seem like it’s a ton, but double-digit turnovers are cause for alarm, and they’ve given it up ten or more times in each of the last four games after doing that just four times in the previous 17.

One of those games was against Michigan.

It might be the first game back for the Wolverines, and this isn’t the team you want to tune-up against, but the scoring punch will be there in the second half to get back on track.

Michigan vs Wisconsin Prediction, Line

Michigan 70, Wisconsin 66
Bet on college basketball with BetMGM
Michigan -1, o/u: 132.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 3.5

5: Monster Mash as a Valentine’s Day song
1: Purchasing orange drink for the long ride home

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Wisconsin vs Nebraska Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview

Wisconsin Badgers vs Nebraska Cornhuskers prediction and college basketball game preview.

Wisconsin Badgers vs Nebraska Cornhuskers prediction and college basketball game preview.

Wisconsin vs Nebraska Broadcast

Date: Wednesday, February 10
Game Time: 9:30 ET
Venue: Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NE
Network: ESPN2

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Wisconsin (14-6) vs Nebraska (4-10) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college basketball, go to BetMGM

Why Wisconsin Will Win

(Forgive this horrific opening line, but it actually fits …)

Wisconsin is consistent in its inconsistency.

(Told you. Very, very, very sorry for that.)

The Badgers aren’t able to come up with the same energy and the same production two games in a row, going win-loss-win-loss-win-loss since mid-January. And why? The offense has been okay in all the losses, but it’s the defensive side that’s not able to come up with the stops.

It couldn’t handle Penn State from the field, and then in the rematch a few games later it more than doubled up the takeaways and won easily.

Illinois nailed everything from the field and won in a walk a few days ago, but Maryland hit a wall in an easy Badger win.

You can’t get in the door against Wisconsin without hitting at least 40% from the field, and the Huskers have only done that twice in the last seven games.

Why Nebraska Will Win

Nebraska might be on a seven-game losing streak and have yet to take home a Big Ten victory, but it’s been great at stopping teams from hitting the three.

Wisconsin’s offense is the Wisconsin offense – it’s not going to walk on the floor and put 85 up on the board – but in this consistently inconsistent run, it’s been winning when hit makes at least 37% of its threes in the last six games, and loses when it makes fewer.

No one has made more than 38% of their threes against Nebraska in any of the last eight games and allowed more just once all year.

What’s Going To Happen

Nebraska might not score.

The Wisconsin defense will clamp down from the word go, it’ll grind the game down to a stop, and Nebraska will have a hard time getting to 65 points, much less 70.

Wisconsin won’t win by 12 like it did in the first meeting, but it’ll keep the recent pattern going with a win.

Wisconsin vs Nebraska Prediction, Line

Wisconsin 67, Nebraska 58
Bet on college basketball with BetMGM
Wisconsin -12, o/u: 137
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 2

5: Wayne’s World ad with Cardi B
1: Wayne’s World ad with Cardi B if you’re under 40

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Big Ten Football Schedule 2021: Winners, Losers, 5 Things You Need To Know

Big Ten football schedule 2021 – what are the five things you need to know? What are the five things that matter?

Big Ten football schedule 2021 – what are the five things you need to know? What are the five things that matter?

Big Ten Football Schedule 2021: 5 Things You Need To Know

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Big Ten Schedules, Analysis, Best/Worst Scenarios
East Indiana | Maryland | Michigan
Michigan St | Ohio St | Penn St | Rutgers
West Illinois | Iowa | Minnesota | Nebraska
Northwestern | Purdue | Wisconsin

Here are five things about the 2021 Big Ten football schedule that matter including who misses the big teams from the other division, the non-conference analysis, the one big difference in this year’s slate, the winners and losers, and starting out with …

5.  Who gets the rested teams?

The Big Ten does a terrific job of not letting any one team’s schedule get loaded up with games against teams that get a break. If possible, everyone would love to have an extra week to rest and prepare for Ohio State, Wisconsin, or Penn State, but that doesn’t happen.

Ask Alabama over in the SEC what it’s been like over the years to seemingly get everyone with fresh legs.

Every team gets at least one week off, and every team has at least one total layup against an FCS team or against a lightweight FBSer. What teams then get hit with the relaxed opponents?

Again, the Big Ten does a good job of this. It’s relatively fair.

Big Ten East

Indiana
The open date comes before: Michigan State, Oct. 16
The FCS scrimmage: Idaho, Sept. 11 before Cincinnati

Maryland
The open date comes before: at Minnesota, Oct. 23
The FCS scrimmage: Howard, Sept. 11 before at Illinois

Michigan
The open date comes before: Northwestern, Oct. 23
The FCS scrimmage: (none, so easiest game …)  Northern Illinois, Sept. 18 before Rutgers

Michigan State
The open date comes before: Michigan, Oct. 30
The FCS scrimmage:  Youngstown State, Sept. 11 before at Miami

Ohio State
The open date comes before: at Indiana, Oct. 23
The FCS scrimmage: (none, so easiest game …)  Akron, Sept. 25 before at Rutgers

 Penn State
The open date comes before: Illinois, Oct. 23
The FCS scrimmage: Villanova, Sept. 25 before Indiana

Rutgers
The open date comes before: at Illinois, Oct. 30
The FCS scrimmage: Delaware, Sept. 18 before at Michigan

Big Ten West

Illinois
The open date comes before: at Penn State, Oct. 23; at Iowa, Nov. 20
The FCS scrimmage: (none, so easiest game …)  Charlotte before Wisconsin

Iowa
The open date comes before: at Wisconsin, Oct. 30
The FCS scrimmage: (none, so easiest game …) Kent State before at Colorado State

Minnesota
The open date comes before: Nebraska, Oct. 16
The FCS scrimmage: (none, so easiest game …) Bowling Green before at Purdue

Nebraska
The open date comes before: Buffalo, Sept. 11; Purdue, Oct. 23
The FCS scrimmage: SE Louisiana, Nov. 13 before at Wisconsin

Northwestern
The open date comes before: Rutgers, Oct. 16
The FCS scrimmage: Indiana State, Sept. 11 before at Duke

Purdue
The open date comes before: at Iowa, Oct. 16
The FCS scrimmage: (none, so easiest game …) at UConn, Sept. 11 before at Notre Dame

Wisconsin
The open date comes before: Notre Dame (in Chicago), Sept. 25
The FCS scrimmage: (none, so easiest game …) Eastern Michigan, Sept. 11 before Notre Dame two weeks later

– The games against the teams from the other division

NEXT: Who misses the big boys from the other division?

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Wisconsin vs Illinois Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview

Wisconsin Badgers vs Illinois Fighting Illini prediction and college basketball game preview.

Wisconsin Badgers vs Illinois Fighting Illini prediction and college basketball game preview.

Wisconsin vs Illinois Broadcast

Date: Saturday, February 6
Game Time: 2:30 ET
Venue: State Farm Center, Champaign, IL
Network: FOX

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Wisconsin (14-5) vs Illinois (12-5) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college basketball, go to BetMGM

Why Wisconsin Will Win

Can the Badgers put together two decent shooting games in a row, at least from the outside?

They don’t have to be lights out from the field to win games – they know hot to clamp down when they have to – but threes matter. They were dead-cold on the road against Penn State and were never in it, and then in a rematch a few days later hit half of their threes and won easily.

They have yet to lose this year when hitting 40% from three, and only lost once when hitting 33% or better – Illinois is one of the worst teams in the Big Ten at defending from three. The Illini D has allowed 40% or more from there in four of the last five games and five of the last seven.

Why Illinois Will Win

Illinois continues to be outstanding on the boards. They skewed the stats with a ton of big boarding games over the first half of the season, but they really are just that good at going to grab misses.

This isn’t a bad rebounding Badger team, but there aren’t a slew of offensive boards – which is what happens when you hit your shots – and for all of the great things the defense does, it doesn’t take the ball away. Illinois moves the ball around too well and should be able to avoid a slew of big mistakes for easy UW points.

What’s Going To Happen

Illinois will be fine at home.

Wisconsin has alternated win-loss-win-loss-win over the last five games, and again, it’s all about whether or not it’s hitting from the outside. Illinois is shooting too well, too good on the boards, and it doesn’t turn the ball over enough to give away a close fight.

Wisconsin vs Illinois Prediction, Line

Illinois 75, Wisconsin 69
Bet on college basketball with BetMGM
Illinois -4.5, o/u: 136.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 3.5

5: Watching Super Bowl on the coach (with power nap)
1: Watching Super Bowl with other people

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Wisconsin Football Schedule 2021: Analysis, Best and Worst Case Scenarios

Breaking down and analyzing the 2021 Wisconsin Badgers football schedule with the best and worst case scenarios.

Breaking down and analyzing the 2021 Wisconsin Badgers football schedule with the best and worst case scenarios.

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Wisconsin Football Schedule 2021

Full schedule analysis with best and worst scenarios below

– 2021 Big Ten Football Schedule

Sept. 4 Penn State

Sept. 11 Eastern Michigan

Sept. 18 OPEN DATE

Sept. 25 Notre Dame (in Chicago)

Oct. 2 Michigan

Oct. 9 at Illinois

Oct. 16 Army

Oct. 23 at Purdue

Oct. 30 Iowa

Nov. 6 at Rutgers

Nov. 13 Northwestern

Nov. 20 Nebraska

Nov. 27 at Minnesota

Dec. 4 Big Ten Championship (in Indianapolis)

Games vs. The East: Michigan, Penn State, at Rutgers

Missed Teams From The East: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State

Wisconsin Badgers Football Schedule Analysis: It’s not going to be a boring first half of the season.

On the negative side, the Badgers have to play Michigan and Penn State from the East. On the positive side, both games are at home. Those two along with the date with Notre Dame in Chicago come in the first games, and if that wasn’t annoying enough, playing Army in the middle of two road games stinks.

Iowa, Northwestern and Nebraska are all in Camp Randall in the second half of the year, but the regular season finale is at Minnesota.

Wisconsin Badgers Football Schedule Best Case Scenario: The Badgers take care of home. They beat Penn State, Michigan, Iowa, Northwestern and Nebraska in Madison, and they hit the knuckleball against Army. Start there, throw in a great win over Notre Dame, and they can afford one off day against Minnesota or in one of those nasty home dates and still be in the College Football Playoff hunt.

Wisconsin Badgers Football Schedule Worst Case Scenario: Realistically this won’t be a losing season, but there are enough gaffes early to finish with just six to seven wins.

The wheels come off right away. The Badgers lose to both Penn State and Michigan, and start 1-3 with a loss to the Irish. Things get even rougher after not handling the Army option running game one week, and the Purdue passing attack the following week.

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Big Ten Football Schedule 2021 Composite, Top Games To Watch Each Week

Big Ten football schedule 2021 composite. Week-by-week ranking of all of the games.

Big Ten football schedule 2021 composite. Week-by-week ranking of all of the games.

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Big Ten Football Schedule Composite 2021

Each week’s games ranking from most interesting to least.

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 0

Saturday, August 28
Illinois vs Nebraska (in Dublin, Ireland)

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 1

Thursday, Sept. 2
Minnesota at Ohio State

Saturday, Sept. 4
Penn State at Wisconsin
Indiana at Iowa
Michigan State at Northwestern
West Virginia at Maryland
Oregon State at Purdue
Temple at Rutgers
Western Michigan at Michigan
UTSA at Illinois

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 2

Saturday, Sept. 11
Oregon at Ohio State
Washington at Michigan
Iowa at Iowa State
Illinois at Virginia
Rutgers at Syracuse
Buffalo at Nebraska
Miami University at Minnesota
Ball State at Penn State
Eastern Michigan at Wisconsin
UConn at Purdue
Youngstown State at Michigan State
Idaho at Indiana
Indiana State at Northwestern
Howard at Maryland

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 3

Saturday, Sept. 18
Auburn at Penn State
Nebraska at Oklahoma
Purdue at Notre Dame
Michigan State at Miami
Minnesota at Colorado
Cincinnati at Indiana
Maryland at Illinois
Tulsa at Ohio State
Kent State at Iowa
Northern Illinois at Michigan
Delaware at Rutgers

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 4

Saturday, Sept. 25
Wisconsin vs Notre Dame (in Chicago)
Nebraska at Michigan State
Illinois at Purdue
Rutgers at Michigan
Colorado State at Iowa
Ohio at Northwestern
Indiana at WKU
Kent State at Maryland
Bowling Green at Minnesota
Akron at Ohio State
Villanova at Penn State

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 5

Saturday, Oct. 2
Michigan at Wisconsin
Indiana at Penn State
Northwestern at Nebraska
Iowa at Maryland
Minnesota at Purdue
Ohio State at Rutgers
WKU at Michigan State
Charlotte at Illinois

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 6

Saturday, Oct. 9
Penn State at Iowa
Michigan at Nebraska
Wisconsin at Illinois
Maryland at Ohio State
Michigan State at Rutgers

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 7

Saturday, Oct. 16
Nebraska at Minnesota
Army at Wisconsin
Michigan State at Indiana
Purdue at Iowa
Rutgers at Northwestern

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 8

Saturday, Oct. 23
Ohio State at Indiana
Northwestern at Michigan
Wisconsin at Purdue
Maryland at Minnesota
Illinois at Penn State

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 9

Saturday, Oct. 30
Penn State at Ohio State
Iowa at Wisconsin
Michigan at Michigan State
Minnesota at Northwestern
Purdue at Nebraska
Indiana at Maryland
Rutgers at Illinois

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 10

Saturday, Nov. 6
Ohio State at Nebraska
Iowa at Northwestern
Penn State at Maryland
Michigan State at Purdue
Illinois at Minnesota
Wisconsin at Rutgers

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 11

Saturday, Nov. 13
Michigan at Penn State
Northwestern at Wisconsin
Minnesota at Iowa
Purdue at Ohio State
Maryland at Michigan State
Rutgers at Indiana
SE Louisiana at Nebraska

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 12

Saturday, Nov. 20
Nebraska at Wisconsin
Michigan State at Ohio State
Michigan at Maryland
Minnesota at Indiana
Purdue at Northwestern
Illinois at Iowa
Rutgers at Penn State

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 13

Friday, Nov. 26
Iowa at Nebraska

Saturday, Nov. 27
Ohio State at Michigan
Wisconsin at Minnesota
Northwestern at Illinois
Indiana at Purdue
Maryland at Rutgers

Big Ten Football Championship Game

Saturday, Dec. 4
Big Ten Football Championship Game (in Indianapolis)

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Big Ten College Football Recruiting: Team Rankings, Top Players, Biggest Strengths, What’s Missing

How did all of the Big Ten teams do in the 2021 recruiting season? The Big Ten recruiting rankings, stars, top players, biggest strengths.

How did all of the Big Ten teams do this recruiting season? Here are the recruiting rankings for the conference, along with the stars for each team, top players, and biggest strengths.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews

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2021 Big Ten Recruiting Rankings, Breakdown

No, really. How good were the Big Ten classes this 2021 recruiting season?

Big Ten East

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

It might not be the nation’s best recruiting class, but in a horseshoes-and-hand-grenades sort of way, it’s in the discussion with the Alabamas, Georgias and Oregons of the world – that’s all that matters. As always, the Buckeyes are getting a slew of guys making a stop-over in Columbus on their way to the NFL.

If Emeka Egbuka isn’t the nation’s best receiver prospect, he’s close. If Jack Sawyer isn’t the best defensive end, if Donovan Jackson isn’t the best offensive guard, and if Kyle McCord isn’t the best quarterback – and on and on – they’re all close.

2. Michigan Wolverines

Dog Jim Harbaugh and his era all you want, but recruiting hasn’t been an issue. Yeah, on the field and in the recruiting game, Michigan isn’t Ohio State, but that’s not quite a fair comparison even though beating that program is what matters. The Wolverines got their stars for the backfield in QB JJ McCarthy and RB Donovan Edwards, the O line gets were excellent, and it’s a strong overall class full of depth, versatility and talent.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions

Flip a coin or the third spot between Penn State and Maryland. The Terps got more quantity to go along with a few top-shelf parts, but Penn State got a few more big-time prospects. There isn’t a Micah Parsons or Devyn Ford type of elite guys, but there are a few who are close enough to be All-Big Ten difference-makers.

2021 Big Ten Recruiting
Big Ten West Rankings | Every Team’s Star
Class Strengths | What’s Missing
2021 All-Big Ten Recruiting Team

4. Maryland Terrapins

There were a few pickups for the offensive side, but this class is about defense, defense and defense. Head coach Mike Locksley was known for being a top-shelf recruiter when Maryland hired him, and he’s starting to change the talent level with a strong class last year and a fantastic one this season. He and his staff went hard after the star linebackers – getting Terrence Lewis and Branden Jennings out of Florida was massive.

5. Michigan State Spartans

Ehhhh, okay. It’s a recruiting class – no more, no less. Michigan State always went with a recruit-to-a-type thing under Mark Dantonio, and it all worked out just fine. Can Mel Tucker start to get the bigger prospects as he goes forward? The problem isn’t getting the guys to compete with Ohio State and Michigan – it’s getting the guys to compete with what Maryland is bringing in.

6. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

It’s not a stretch to call this the program’s best recruiting class in at least ten years, maybe more. It helps that it’s a big class full of commitments, but Greg Schiano is getting some real, live talents, too. He didn’t exactly put a fence around New Jersey, but he landed nine in-state players – getting LB Khayri Banton was big – but it’s not about getting a lot of local guys, it’s about getting the right ones.

7. Indiana Hoosiers

Even with the recent success, Indiana is never going to battle with Ohio State  and Michigan for the star recruits. However, there isn’t any one area that’s all that special – except for, potentially, receiver – and there aren’t a whole lot of stars. If Donaven McCulley really is the next great quarterback, then the class works, but there’s not a lot for the lines to build around.

– Big Ten West Rankings
– Every Team’s Star Recruit
– Recruiting Class Strengths
– What’s Missing From Each Recruiting Class
– 2021 All-Big Ten Recruiting Team

NEXT: Big Ten West Recruiting Rankings

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6

Wisconsin vs Penn State Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview

Wisconsin Badgers vs Penn State Nittany Lions prediction and college basketball game preview.

Wisconsin Badgers vs Penn State Nittany Lions prediction and college basketball game preview.

Wisconsin vs Penn State Broadcast

Date: Tuesday, February, 2
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: Kohl Center, Madison, WI
Network: FS1

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Wisconsin (13-5) vs Penn State (6-7) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college basketball, go to BetMGM

Why Penn State Will Win

We just did this, and it wasn’t pretty.

Penn State got hot, Wisconsin couldn’t shoot, and it was an 81-71 Nittany Lion win that wasn’t even that close.

This is a plucky team that doesn’t turn the ball over and forces a ton of mistakes – which screws up a Wisconsin team that lives off of turnovers and not making mistakes. The Badgers didn’t give the ball up much – just 12 times – but Penn State only gave it up six times in an air-tight performance.

The D is terrific at bothering teams from three and it’s great on the offensive boards – again, out-Wisconsining, Wisconsin, but …

Why Wisconsin Will Win

Penn State’s game doesn’t travel.

For whatever reason – mostly because they played a slew of killers – the Nittany Lions can’t win on the road going 0-5 in Big Ten play. Wisconsin might not always by a rock at home, but it’s usually able right the wrong.

This is a flaky-weird team that isn’t able to impose its will as often as it should, but it figures stuff out. It was whacked by Maryland earlier in the year, and then went on the road last week and shut it all down in a win in the rematch.

The Badgers aren’t going to get whacked in the turnover battle twice in a row by the same team, and …

What’s Going To Happen

Yeah, it was a rough shooting day for the Badgers, but Penn State’s defense – while fantastic at guarding the three – is miserable overall allowing teams to hit over 47% from the field.

Again, we just did this, and it wasn’t pretty.

It’s not going to be pretty this time around, either.

Wisconsin vs Penn State Prediction, Line

Wisconsin 73, Penn State 65
Bet on college basketball with BetMGM
Wisconsin -7, o/u: 138.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 3

5: Trading for a franchise NFL quarterback
1: Worrying about giving up draft picks to get that franchise NFL quarterback

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Recruiting 2021: 5 Teams Crushing It This Recruiting Season

Who’s having a big recruiting season? Here are five teams and head coaches doing a fantastic job in 2021 after a mediocre 2020.

Who’s having a big recruiting season? Here are five teams and head coaches doing a fantastic job in 2021 after a mediocre 2020.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

You know who has the top 2021 recruiting classes without even looking.

If you guessed Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, and a whole slew of SEC schools, you’re right. But there are always schools who surprise in the process and come up with big, important classes that can shape a program and future conference races.

Sometimes the class looks good because of bulk signings, sometimes it’s talent, and sometimes it’s a good blend of both.

Here are five programs bringing in somewhat surprising classes to be among the best – even if they aren’t pushing Alabama – of the 2021 recruiting season.

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5. Pitt Panthers

The ACC is Clemson’s show and everyone else is a guest – especially with Florida State having a rough time getting this recruiting thing going again – but North Carolina has been excellent with Mack Brown back and Miami is putting together a fantastic 2021 haul.

Suddenly, Pitt is right there knocking on the door with a potential top 5 – or better – ACC class.

Pitt usually comes up with decent classes, but it almost never gets the top tier talents who have their choice of any program. However, when you have one of the most devastating pass rushes in college football over the last few years, top defensive linemen will notice you.

– 2021 Pitt Schedule Analysis, Best & Worst Scenarios

It helps to pump up that Pitt is Aaron Donald’s school, and it doesn’t hurt a class when his nephew – Elliot Donald – signs on. He’s not alone with a few other fantastic prospects coming in for the D line to go along with talent for the offensive front.

Depth and bulk play a factor here. Pitt needed to load up on recruits, but there’s quality to go along with the quantity.

And, yeah, it got another Donald at defensive tackle.

NEXT: Missouri Tigers

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Recruiting 2021: 5 Teams Crushing It This Recruiting Season

Who’s having a big recruiting season? Here are five teams and head coaches doing a fantastic job in 2021 after a mediocre 2020.

Who’s having a big recruiting season? Here are five teams and head coaches doing a fantastic job in 2021 after a mediocre 2020.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

You know who has the top 2021 recruiting classes without even looking.

If you guessed Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, and a whole slew of SEC schools, you’re right. But there are always schools who surprise in the process and come up with big, important classes that can shape a program and future conference races.

Sometimes the class looks good because of bulk signings, sometimes it’s talent, and sometimes it’s a good blend of both.

Here are five programs bringing in somewhat surprising classes to be among the best – even if they aren’t pushing Alabama – of the 2021 recruiting season.

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5. Pitt Panthers

The ACC is Clemson’s show and everyone else is a guest – especially with Florida State having a rough time getting this recruiting thing going again – but North Carolina has been excellent with Mack Brown back and Miami is putting together a fantastic 2021 haul.

Suddenly, Pitt is right there knocking on the door with a potential top 5 – or better – ACC class.

Pitt usually comes up with decent classes, but it almost never gets the top tier talents who have their choice of any program. However, when you have one of the most devastating pass rushes in college football over the last few years, top defensive linemen will notice you.

– 2021 Pitt Schedule Analysis, Best & Worst Scenarios

It helps to pump up that Pitt is Aaron Donald’s school, and it doesn’t hurt a class when his nephew – Elliot Donald – signs on. He’s not alone with a few other fantastic prospects coming in for the D line to go along with talent for the offensive front.

Depth and bulk play a factor here. Pitt needed to load up on recruits, but there’s quality to go along with the quantity.

And, yeah, it got another Donald at defensive tackle.

NEXT: Missouri Tigers

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5