Big Ten Football: Bold Predictions for Rest of 2014 Season
With only a couple of weeks left in the college football season, a lot is still up for grabs in the Big Ten conference.
Who will play Ohio State in the conference title game? Can Melvin Gordon actually win the Heisman Trophy? Is Brady Hoke’s job beyond saving?
These are just a couple of questions on the minds of Big Ten fans across the country.
But why wait for it all to play out? Join B/R as we make some bold predictions on how the B1G season will shape up.
Tevin Coleman Will Finish with over 2,000 Rushing Yards
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With Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon taking up most of the headlines these days, many have forgotten about the impressive season Tevin Coleman has been having with Indiana.
Through 10 games, the junior has rushed for 1,678 yards and 12 touchdowns on 214 carries. That includes topping the century mark in all but one game and rushing for over 200 yards three times—Coleman ran for 307 just last weekend against Rutgers.
With two games remaining, there’s no doubt that Vaughn Dunbar’s single-season rushing record (1,805) is within reach. But Coleman should be thinking bigger. More specifically 2,000 yards.
With a matchup against Ohio State, yards might be hard to come by. However, with a date against Purdue and its No. 90th-ranked run defense in the season finale, Coleman has a very good chance.
Four B1G Schools Will Be Searching for a New Coach by the Offseason
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In a year where running backs are thriving, the same can’t be said about some of the conference’s coaches.
The most obvious candidate to be let go is Michigan’s Brady Hoke. After going 11-2 in his inaugural season in Ann Arbor, his prospects have gone down from there, only going 20-16 over the last three seasons.
Things aren’t going any better for Purdue’s Darrell Hazell.
After going 1-11 in his first season in 2013, there was hope for better results in 2014. Although the Boilermakers have won three games, the team has registered just one Big Ten victory in six tries and has lost five of its last six games.
Indiana’s Kevin Wilson—13-33 in four seasons with the Hoosiers—and Illinois’ Tim Beckman (10-24 record) are also candidates on the hot seat.
Expect all four to begin sending out resumes again once this season comes to an end.
Michigan Will Miss a Bowl Game
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We’ve touched on Michigan head coach Brady Hoke’s inabilities to coach a successful program already. But to his credit, his team hasn’t really helped the cause.
Sure, the Wolverines have five wins. But only one of those came against an opponent with a winning record. Not to mention, the team has suffered statistically, ranking just No. 111th in the nation in points scored (20.7 PPG).
Although Michigan needs just one more game to become bowl eligible, it won’t be an easy road with dates against Maryland and at Ohio State ahead.
The game against the Buckeyes can most likely already be chalked up as a loss. That leaves this weekend’s contest with Maryland as the most important game of the season for the Wolverines.
"Everything adds up to a Michigan victory if Devin Gardner can limit his turnovers.
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Unfortunately, that won't be the case, as Gardner has been a turnover machine this season. Already this season, he's tossed 13 interceptions and has only avoided throwing a pick in two of 10 games.
It won’t be easy against a Terrapins team that has held its own in its first season in the Big Ten.
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Nebraska, Not Wisconsin, Will Win the West Division...
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As it stands, Wisconsin just needs to win one of its remaining two games to clinch the Big Ten West division.
Unfortunately, the Badgers will lose both games.
A road trip to take on Iowa will prove disastrous this weekend. With quarterback Jake Rudock and running back Mark Weisman playing better in recent weeks for the Hawkeyes, expect it to build up to create the perfect storm on Saturday.
It doesn’t get any better for Wisconsin, as it closes out the season against Minnesota.
Although the team has lost two of its last three games, the Golden Gophers did just play Ohio State to a one-score game. Not to mention, running back David Cobb has been picking up steam at just the right time.
Meanwhile, look for Nebraska to play angry following the loss to the Badgers and close out by winning both its games.
How’s that for bold?
...and Shock Ohio State in the B1G Title Game
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It’s hard to think that Bo Pelini and Nebraska were under fire back in Week 2 after barely holding on against FCS foe McNeese State.
However, since then, the Cornhuskers have looked like a legitimate Big Ten title contender. Having the No. 10-ranked rushing attack and averaging 38.8 points per game certainly helps. But the Nebraska defense—which has only allowed 23.6 points per game—has been underrated too.
Unlike previous years, Ohio State’s run defense hasn’t been as solid. In fact, the team recently allowed running backs to top 135 rushing yards in back-to-back weeks.
That has to have running back Ameer Abdullah—1,319 yards and 17 touchdowns on 204 carries—licking his lips.
Look for a powerful run game to cause the Buckeyes to unravel. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Abdullah top 200 yards in the game.
Michigan State Will Beat out Ohio State for a New Year's Six Bowl
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With Ohio State’s loss, that would leave an interesting debate on whether it or Michigan State deserves an at-large bid to a New Year's Six Bowl game.
Although the Buckeyes recently topped the Spartans, the team’s loss to a currently 5-5 Virginia Tech squad struggling in the weak ACC could ultimately do them in. Conversely, Michigan State’s other loss comes against an Oregon squad that is currently ranked No. 2 in the country.
Not to mention, behind their Rose Bowl success from a year ago, the Spartans would be a far more desirable team to be selected for a bowl.
The decision might leave Ohio State fans crying foul, but it is a decision that makes a lot of sense.
Melvin Gordon Breaks NCAA Rushing Record on Way to Winning the Heisman Trophy
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It’s been quite some time since we’ve witnessed a running back as dominant as Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon.
Through 10 games, the junior has led the nation in rushing with 1,909 yards and 23 touchdowns on 223 carries. That includes topping the century mark in all but one game, while setting the NCAA single-game record for rushing yards with 408 against Nebraska in just three quarters.
The performance sprung Gordon up to No. 2 in ESPN’s Heisman Watch, trailing front-runner Marcus Mariota by just two points.
Furthermore, the NCAA’s single-season rushing record of 2,567 set by Kevin Smith in 2007 is within reach. Gordon still has two regular season matchups, a potential conference title game and a bowl matchup to reach that total.
Seeing as he has rushed for 190.9 yards per game, that is a very reasonable goal for Gordon. One that should also secure him college football’s most-coveted hardware.
All stats, recruiting information and rankings used in this article are courtesy of CFBStats.com and 247Sports.
For complete coverage and everything college football, you can reach Sebastian on Twitter and via email at Sebastian.LenaBR@gmail.com.
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