College Football starts tonight at 6:30 CT, which means I only have a few hours to make a relevant preview and prediction of the Big Ten football season. I think the Big Ten enters 2010 with a stronger reputation then it usually has during the preseason. Prior to the 2009-10 college football bowl season, the Big Ten's bowl struggles (especially in BCS games) led prognosticators to downgrade the conference during the following season. However with Iowa and Ohio State winning the Orange and Rose Bowls, I think the Big Ten has gained back a lot of the respect it has lost. Many believe Ohio State, which starts the season ranked 2nd, can ultimately win the BCS National Championship. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor, the Rose Bowl MVP, and the fact that Ohio State has won the past 5 Big Ten titles are perhaps the two biggest reasons why Ohio State is touted so highly. However, Iowa and Wisconsin are also worthy enough to be considered as a preseason favorite.
If Ohio State wins the conference, it will have earned it. The Buckeyes have to travel to both Iowa and Wisconsin. Ivan Maisel of ESPN believes Iowa will win the Big Ten because it hosts Ohio State and Wisconsin. The Big Ten should be a very competitive season and there are a lot of interesting stories. Besides the aforementioned schools, Penn State and the ageless Joe Paterno will be starting its first true freshman at quarterback, Michigan trys to improve amidst ongoing NCAA investigations, Michigan State trying to improve its standing in the conference, etc.
Before I go into my predictions, I'll list the "must-see" games worth keeping an eye on:
*Sept. 11- Miami (FL) at Ohio State
*Sept. 18- Iowa at Arizona
*Sept. 18- Notre Dame at Michigan State
*Oct. 2- Penn State at Iowa
*Oct. 9- Michigan State at Michigan
*Oct. 16- Ohio State at Wisconsin
*Oct. 23-Wisconsin at Iowa
*Nov. 13- Iowa at Northwestern--in my dreams, Northwestern is 9-0 at this point
*Nov. 20- Ohio State at Iowa
*Nov. 27- Indiana at Purdue
Predictions
1. Ohio State (12-0 overall ,8-0 in the Big Ten)
2. Wisconsin (11-1, 7-1)
3. Iowa (11-1, 7-1)
4. Michigan State (9-3, 6-2)
5. Northwestern (9-3, 5-3)
6. Penn State (8-4, 4-4)
7. Purdue (7-5, 4-4)
8. Michigan (6-6, 3-5)
9. Indiana (5-7, 3-5)
10. Minnesota (4-8, 2-6)
11. Illinois (3-9, 1-7)
Coach of the Year: Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
Offensive Player of the Year: John Clay, Wisconsin
Defensive Player of the Year: Adrian Clayborne, Iowa
Week 1 Picks
> Towson @ IND - INDIANA
> Marshall @ OSU - OSU
> W Mich @ MSU - MSU
> E Ill @ Iowa - Iowa
> Ill @ Mizz - Mizzou
> UConn @ Mich - UCONN
> Pur @ Notre Dame - PURDUE
> Wis @ UNLV- WIS
> NU @ Vandy - NU
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