BIG TEN Football preview

14 days away from the start of college football, its time to break down the Big Ten Conference and see how it shakes out. This can really be a crazy year as the Big Ten has a few teams that can do well, but the majority will be slugging it out on Saturdays. So here is my prediction of how the standings will look at the end of the season.

1. Ohio State 11-1 overall (8-0) in conference.
I have them losing one non-conference game which is the USC Trojans. Some believe USC will lose at the Horseshoe in Columbus, but USC handled OSU with ease a year ago, so i'm not buying it. I truly believe OSU will go undefeated in Big Ten play, if they do lose, it would be when they go to Penn State, or play Illinois as Illinois has an explosive offense.

2. Penn State 10-2 (6-2)
They have a very easy non-conference schedule that will have them go 4-0. I have their only loses in conference play to Ohio State and Michigan State. PSU has lost most of their offensive weapons, but I'm pretty sure they will find some new ones, and they have a very good QB. I see them beating Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Northwestern, and Indiana.

3. Michigan State 9-3 (6-2)
Technically MSU would tie for 2nd with PSU. MSU has a favorable schedule, and they can be a really good team, but Michigan State has the history of disappointing. They like to lose games they should win, and win the ones they have no business winning. I feel the new coaching staff there that took over 2 years ago ended that culture. I have them losing to Notre Dame in non-conference. In the Big Ten I have them beating Wisconsin, Michigan, Northwestern, Minnesota, Purdue, and knocking off Penn State late in the year at home. Loses to Iowa and Illinois.

4. Iowa Hawkeyes 9-3 (5-3)
I think the Hawks can go 4-0 in non-conference, but its possible they could go 2-2, and that would be rough. Iowa struggles to win at Iowa State, but i think this year they will take care of business. The other tough game in non-conference is Arizona traveling to Kinnick in week 3, good thing its in Kinnick and not the desert. I have the Hawks beating Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Northwestern, and Minnesota. the 3 loses will be to Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State. All 3 of those are tough environments to play at. Its not impossible for Iowa to win at PSU as they actually do well there, and at Wisconsin. If the Hawks beat Wisconsin, I would bet they lose the next week at Michigan State instead of winning, they could lose both, but I'm going split.

5. Illinois 9-3 (5-3)
Brutal schedule for the Illini. I do have them 4-0 in non-conference, but they could lose to Missouri in week one in St. Louis. This team is loaded with offensive talent, the problem is the defense isn't loaded, but if they play a little above average, this team could be good. Illinois may have the best offense numbers wise in college football. I have them beating Michigan State, Indiana, Purdue, Michigan, Northwestern. Loses to Penn State, Ohio State, and Minnesota. I think Minnesota will upset them for some reason.

6. Wisconsin 8-4 (4-4)
They go 4-0 on non-conference play, nobody really knows much about the Badgers coming in, they were very disappointing a year ago. I have them beating Iowa, Purdue, Indiana, Northwestern. Loses to Minnesota, Michigan State, Ohio State, and I think Michigan gets them. Iowa and Northwestern might be able to beat Wisconsin, but the Badgers could also beat Michigan or Michigan State too, so they will be the average team that is most likely to finish 4-4 in conference play no matter how its sliced.

7. Michigan 6-6 (3-5)
Much better than last year, but not enough to become the power of the conference just yet. This may be the last year we can get away with them being down, its very odd. Michigan has the highest winning percentage of any college football program in the Nation, and this isn't what they are use too. They lose to Notre Dame, but win the other non-conference games to be 3-1. In Big Ten play, they win over Indiana, Purdue, Wisconsin. They lose to Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State, Illinois, and Ohio State. Appears it will be little Blue this year, and not Big Blue.

8. Minnesota 6-6 (3-5)
They go 3-1 in non-conference play. California comes to the Twin Cities in September, and CAL is going to make Minnesota look like a MAC (Mid-American Conference) team. Minnesota opens up there brand new outdoor stadium, but its not going to matter. They beat Northwestern, Wisconsin in the rivalry for Paul Bunyan's axe, and Purdue. Loses to Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Illinois, and Iowa. They will play PSU,OSU,MSU, and Illinois 4 weeks in a row, then play South Dakota St., then to Iowa. tough stretch, they go 1-5 there and deja vu from last year.

9. Northwestern 6-6 (2-6)
They start off great 4-0 in non-conference play. Northwestern can stay with most teams because of there offense, they will have a new QB, and defense should be pretty good. They may have a better year than what i have predicted, but they lost some good offensive players. They beat Purdue and Indiana. They lose to Minnesota, Michigan State, Penn State, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin. Hey Fitzgerald, GET OFF THE FIELD. Hawk fans know what I am talking about. Fitzgerald is a young coach who played linebacker for the cats in mid 90's and he likes to be standing on the field yelling at refs when things don't go his way. Most coaches stay near sidelines, he will be 20 yards or more on the playing field.

10. Purdue 3-9 (1-7)
New coach, long year. They have 2 tough games in non-conference, they will lose to Notre Dame and Oregon. There only win in Big Ten play will come against there rival Indiana. they will lose to Northwestern, Minnesota, Ohio State, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Michigan State. They could potentially beat Northwestern, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, but its not likely.

11. Indiana 3-9 (0-8)
Indiana had a really good QB that was a scrambler, but he got booted off the team, and everybody else is going to wish they played elsewhere, because its going to be awhile before basketball season starts in Bloomington. They should be 3-1 in non-conference, only lose at Virginia. I have them losing to Michigan, Ohio State, Illinois, Northwestern, Iowa, Wisconsin, Penn State, and Purdue.

I really wouldn't be shocked at the end of the year if Northwestern ends up in 6th, 7th, or 8th. Purdue could potentially be a little higher too, but not much higher. Its going to be an exciting season, I really think teams 3-10 will be be beating on each other trying to climb the mountain, the problem is I think Ohio State is just that much better than everybody else that they will be just sitting up there watching the others battle it out for second, third, etc.