Dutcher’s son Brian is the lead assistant on the San Diego State team that is ranked No. 7 in the country. “They’re the best team on the West Coast,” Dutcher said. “They’ve got the talent to go deep in the (NCAA) tournament.”
Derek Rackley predicted on the Big Ten Network this week that Wisconsin is the surest pick of the conference teams to win its bowl game. The former Gopher long snapper said: “I think outside of Oregon and Auburn, they are the most impressive college football team in the country going into the bowl season. …”
The Rose Bowl is seen as a near “toss-up game” with the No. 4 ranked Badgers playing No. 3 ranked and undefeated TCU. The Big Ten is 2-0 in bowls so far with Iowa defeating Missouri and Illinois beating Baylor.
Ohio State, playing against Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl, is the only Big Ten team favored to win its bowl game. The most likely conference bowl loser is Northwestern, playing without injured quarterback Dan Persa in the TicketCity Bowl against Texas Tech. A Michigan State win against Alabama in the Capital One Bowl will be a surprise and so, too, will a Michigan victory over Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl. Penn State might have a long day against Florida in the Outback Bowl, a farewell game for Gators coach Urban Myer.
The Big Ten has split 12 bowl games against the SEC in the previous five seasons. The SEC is considered college football’s best conference.
Brett Favre, earning $16 million this season, was fined $50,000 for lack of cooperation with the NFL in the Jenn Sterger investigation. That’s comparable to a $150 fine for a person earning $50,000 annually.
Detroit’s coaches and players have to believe they can win Sunday’s game at Ford Field against the Vikings, although Minnesota won 24-10 earlier this year and is 19-2 in the last 21 games between the two teams. The Lions, whose coaching staff includes former Vikings offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, can tie the Vikings for last place in the NFC North with a win on Sunday. The Lions (5-10), who have won three consecutive last games, have been divisional last place finishers three of the past four years. The Vikings (6-9) have never finished in last place in the NFC North but were last in the NFC Central in 1990.
Adrian Peterson, now completing his fourth NFL season, needs one more career rushing touchdown to become the franchise’s all-time leader. He’s tied with Bill Brown and Chuck Foreman at 52.
Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams, 38, told Sports Headliners he’s interested in returning to the team if the franchise wants him back.
Although the Vikings are having a losing season and the game was moved from Sunday night to Tuesday evening, the Vikings-Eagles game earlier this week on KARE 11 dominated the local TV viewing audience compared with programming on other Minneapolis-St. Paul stations. The local audience share for the game was at least five times and often 10 times or more the size of the audience watching other stations.
News came yesterday that Twins Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He’s being treated at the Mayo Clinic. Killebrew, on behalf of himself and wife Nita, issued a statement that included this: “I thank everyone for their outpouring of prayers, compassion and concern. Nita and I ask for privacy during this difficult journey.”
Wild assistant equipment manager Rick Bronwell worked his 1,000th professional hockey game on Wednesday night against the Sharks.
The Wild will have four home games next month, the franchise’s fewest home games ever in January.