Earlier this week fans betting on college football tuned in to watch America’s second version of ‘The Decision’ when the realignment of the Big Ten conference was announced. Unlike Lebron James one hour, NCAA football betting fans are happy to have lost an hour as they now understand what the Big Ten will look like at least on paper. Here are a few observations we had from Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney’s television special.

• How Nine Months Makes a Difference – Last December, reports began to surface that the Big Ten was looking to expand in order to get a national television deal. The plan was to expand over the next 18 months into a super conference.

Nine months later, the Big 10 has added a formidable powerhouse in Nebraska, a rather attractive championship game and divided into two divisions that have maintained the competitive spirit we have come to love in the Big 10.

• Trading Places – The realignment of the Big 10 meant that annual rivalries would now only return if the two teams faced off in the Big 10 Championship Game, while new rivalries would be created.

For instance, moving Michigan and Wisconsin into a division with Ohio State, Penn State, and Nebraska appears to be more of a glamour move than a logistics move. Illinois and Indiana head to the other division, which will bring an end to one of the best rivalries in college football. That’s ride Badger fans, no longer will you be able to watch Wisconsin duke it out with their arch rival from Iowa.

• Attendance Playing a Role in Realignment – With the moves of Michigan and Wisconsin over to its new division featuring Ohio State, Penn State and Nebraska, it is clear Delaney and the Big 10 committee was looking at attendance records.

Although they have struggled mightily since Rich Rodriguez arrived in Anne Arbor, it is clear that the Wolverines, the conference’s biggest money maker will turn around in a year or two. In doing so it benefits the whole conference as fans will be selling out the seats at the Big House to see the Wolverines win the newly created Big 10 Championship.