College Football 2011: Which Big Ten Teams Will Battle for the Conference Title?

The Big Ten Conference is up for grabs this season, but these five teams have a legitimate shot to sit at the top of the conference ranks come season's end. 

Ohio State has dominated the conference the past six years, but with the departure of Jim Tressel and Terrelle Pryor, the Buckeyes are for once not going to be the early Big Ten favorite—so who will be?

2011 will be the first year the Big Ten will play a conference championship game where the winner of the "Leaders" division will face off against the winner of the "Legends" division in what should be the most entertaining Big Ten race in years.

If adding divisions and a conference championship game weren't enough to get fans excited, the addition of one of college football's most successful programs, Nebraska, should do the trick.

Note: All records are based off conference play only. 

5. Illinois

2010 Record: 4-4

2011 Prediction: 6-2

Illinois edges out Michigan and Penn State here, and I think the Fighting Illini can make a nice splash in the Big Ten next year, led by quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase. 

Scheelhaase threw for more than 1,800 yards last year and ran for another 860. He will have star wideout A.J. Jenkins to throw the ball to, along with backs Jason Ford, Troy Pollard and the flashy sophomore Bud Golden. 

On defense, Illinois should not be anything too impressive, but corners Tavon Wilson and Trulon Henry could be difference-makers in the secondary. 

Regardless of how the Illinois defense does, the offense should score a bunch of points each game to keep them alive.

Illinois has the most favorable schedule in the Big Ten, with their only real road test coming against Penn State. The Illini will get Wisconsin and Ohio State at home, and with Michigan State not on the schedule, Illinois should finish, at worst, 6-2 in conference play.

4. Nebraska

2010 Record: 6-3 (Big 12) 

2011 Prediction: 6-2

As the newest addition to the Big Ten, the Nebraska Cornhuskers immediately made the Big Ten a stronger, more competitive overall conference.

The Cornhuskers have themselves a star quarterback in Taylor Martinez, who threw for more than 1,600 yards while rushing for 965 yards and accounting for 22 touchdowns overall—and he was only a freshman.

Martinez will become a household name nationally next year and should be one of the more exciting players in the country to watch play.

Nebraska will be without star running back Roy Helu Jr. who now plays for the Washington Redskins, but junior running back Rex Burkhead looks to be a very good replacement. Burkhead ran for more than 950 yards as a sophomore, while averaging 5.5 yards per carry.

Nebraska opens up Big Ten play traveling to Wisconsin in what will be a much-anticipated conference game, though I give the nod to the Badgers. The Cornhuskers will then get Ohio State at home, where they will get a win against the young Buckeyes.

I think Michigan State edges the Cornhuskers out Oct. 29 in what will be a close loss for Nebraska, though they will win out after that.

3. Wisconsin

2010 Record: 7-1

2011 Record Prediction: 6-2

The Badgers had a great year in 2010, though the Rose Bowl loss to TCU put a damper on an otherwise stellar season. 

Wisconsin will field the best running back duo in the conference (if not the nation) with James White and Montee Ball. 

The two combined for more than 2,000 yards in 2010 despite having John Clay in the backfield. With Clay moved on to the NFL, White and Ball are going to carry the load for the Badgers—which they are more than capable of doing. 

The Badgers get Nebraska and Penn State at home, but face Michigan State and Ohio State on the road in consecutive weeks. Both of those game will be hard-fought, smash-mouth games, but I think Michigan State will come out on top again against the Badgers, while Ohio State will avenge their devastating loss from a year ago. 

2. Ohio State

2010 Record: 7-1

2011 Record: 6-2

*Winners of the "Leaders" Division

For all the talent Ohio State has lost in the offseason for whatever reasons, the Buckeyes will still be a Big Ten contender, whether people like it or not.

It appears head coach Luke Fickell will most likely throw the dual-threat freshman quarterback Braxton Miller under the gun from day one, and with a stable of talented running backs, the Buckeyes will still have an elite offense in 2011.

The defense loses a lot, but they are loaded with talent at every position, and I think the 2011 Silver Bullet defense will be better than last year's squad.

Ohio State has a favorable Big Ten schedule with home games against Michigan State, Wisconsin and Penn State. The toughest road test will undoubtedly be Oct. 8 against Nebraska, with the only other two road tests coming against Illinois and Michigan.

I have the Buckeyes falling in Lincoln, but pulling out close games against Michigan State and Wisconsin. If the Michigan State game was on the road I would go with the Spartans, but I think the home-field advantage will be key in that one.

1. Michigan State

2010 Record: 7-1

2011 Predicted Record: 7-1

*Winners of the "Legends" Division

Michigan State was a bit of a surprise in the Big Ten last year, and they should be just as good in 2011. 

The Spartans will be led by quarterback Kirk Cousins, who threw for more than 2,800 yards and 20 touchdowns during his junior year. Cousins should be set for a complete break-out senior season.

On the ground, the Spartans will have junior running back Edwin Baker, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards to go a long with 13 touchdowns during his sophomore season. The Spartans will also utilize explosive sophomore Le'Von Bell, who rushed for more than 600 yards during his freshman season and averaged an impressive six yards per carry. 

The Michigan State offense could very easily be the best in the Big Ten, though their defense looks to be average. The Spartans should be able to score enough points most weeks to win though.

The Spartans have one of the toughest Big Ten schedules with road games at Ohio State, Iowa and Nebraska.

If they can win two of those, Sparty will be happy. I think they knock off Iowa and Nebraska, led by their high-powered offense.