Breaking Down The Big Ten Conference

Almost all of the Big Ten teams (with the exception of Purdue) will begin their respective seasons on Aug. 30. Like most college football fans, I have enjoyed looking through the various preview magazines, listening to podcasts, and catching glimpses of ESPN's College Football Live.

Among the websites (and magazines) I have truly enjoyed reviewing this summer is collegefootballnews.com. In its preview, Ohio State was chosen as the No. 1 team in the country, predicted to go 12-0.

While I truly hope that the above prediction comes true, I want to pass along how I believe Ohio State will do, as well as the other teams in the Big Ten. (One of the nice things about this blog is everyone will be able to look back to this post and see how well or how poorly I predicted this season.)

1. Ohio State: 11-1 (8-0 in conference play), with a loss at USC on September 13 keeping OSU from the BCS Championship Game. The motivation for Ohio State's vaunted senior class will be to become the first-ever Big Ten Champion three years consecutively. Ohio State winds up in the Rose Bowl. (Again, I hope I am wrong re: USC).

2. Wisconsin: 10-2, with losses at Fresno State on Sept. 13 and at home to Ohio State on Oct. 4 (7-1 in conference play). Camp Randall will be rocking on Oct. 4, but Ohio State pulls out a close one, and that is enough to deny Wisconsin the Big Ten title. Nov. 1 at Michigan State should be a good one. A name to watch out for this year: redshirt freshman running back John Clay.

3. Penn State: 10-2, with losses at Wisconsin on Oct. 11 and at Ohio State on Oct. 25 (6-2 in conference play). With quarterback Darryl Clark running a spread offense similar to what Penn State ran in 2005, I look for the Nittany Lions to be tough offensively. The non-conference schedule sets Penn State up nicely for a good season. This is the year Penn State finally defeats Michigan.

T4. Michigan State: 8-4, with losses at California, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and at Penn State (5-3 in conference play). Michigan State is a team on the rise under the leadership of Coach Mark Dantonio. If Michigan State can defeat California in the opener, I look for Michigan State to be undefeated when Ohio State comes into town on Oct. 18.

T4. Illinois: 8-4, with losses at Missouri, at Penn State, at Wisconsin, and Ohio State (5-3 in conference play). Illinois' young talent will make them competitive in the Big Ten. The loss of running back Rashard Mendenhall to the NFL will put more of a burden on quarterback Juice Williams offensively, but I look for Williams to be able to carry the load. The defense should be solid. Defensive end Martez Wilson will evoke memories of Simeon Rice.

T4 Purdue: 

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