My fellow “Matt” over at The Futon Report has picked a fight with the Detroit Free Press’s characterization of last night’s Motor City Bowl. Namely, that the close game was bad for the Big 10:

I can’t see how this win is bad for the Big Ten. A team that went 3-5 in the Big Ten — a four-way tie for seventh — played the Mid-American’s champion, who went 6-1 in their own conference. History dictates this is a “fair fight” in a bowl game, and I can’t argue with that label. After a few years removed from bringing a Big Ten school to the Motor City Bowl, the David v. Goliath battle was back in Detroit, and the Big Ten won. And the Big Ten won. This hurt the Mid-American Conference’s credibility.

No argument here, Suss. Here’s the rest.