Big Ten Media Days 2012: Unofficial Media Poll Has Michigan, Wisconsin Favored

The Big Ten media no longer puts out its favorites to win the conference. It formerly only listed its top three, but a group of writers—two who cover each team—put together an unofficial poll.

In the poll, the predicted winner of the Leaders Division—Wisconsin—comes as no surprise. Five writers did pick Ohio State, even though OSU is ineligible to win the division, let alone the conference. The Lansing State Journal released the results.

The Legends Division will be more tightly contested, both in reality and according to those that put this poll together.

16 writers voted Michigan as the favorite to win the Legends, with seven picking Michigan State and one picking Nebraska.

As the linked article further points out, all of the seven that voted for MSU to go to the conference championship game also picked the Spartans to beat the Badgers. However, only 11 of the 16 that voted for UM voted for Big Blue to beat the Badgers.

Meanwhile, the preseason Offensive and Defensive MVP voting was equally disproportionate.

The unofficial Defensive MVP was clear-cut, with MSU's defensive end William Gholston coming in first with 11 votes. Purdue's Kawann Short was second with five votes. The only other players receiving multiple votes were Ohio State's Johnathan Hankins and John Simon.

Wisconsin's Montee Ball won the unofficial preseason Offensive MVP with 14 votes, but Michigan's Denard Robinson was right behind him with nine votes. It stands to reason that if 16 polltakers feel Michigan will win its division, more than nine writers must be aware that Denard Robinson will be much of the reason for winning that division.

Regardless, the only other player receiving any votes was OSU's quarterback Braxton Miller, with one vote.

The variety of teams forecast at the top of each of the aforementioned categories previews what should be an exciting year in the Big Ten.