2010 College Football Predictions: Big Ten

FROM: http://machorhino.com/?p=15997

The Big Ten has been the big story of 2010 in college football. First they had Iowa and Ohio State both win BCS bowls to cap a successful postseason, and then they plucked Nebraska away from the Big 12, causing a major shift in college sports.

Now that it’s time to get back to football, the Big Ten is poised for a big season. They’ve got some very good teams and players in the conference this year that position them as the second best conference heading into the 2010 season.

Here’s how we see the final standings for the Big Ten in 2010.

1. Ohio State (8-0)

The Buckeyes are riding high after an impressive win in the Rose Bowl. They return a lot of talented players, including multitalented quarterback Terrelle Pryor. They’ve got a solid offensive line and probably the best set of playmakers around Pryor they’ve had in years. Ohio State won’t just be a defensive-oriented team this year. The offense will make big plays.

2. Iowa (7-1)

The Hawkeyes have a lot of talent on this year’s team, led by Adrian Clayborn on defense. He’s a top-10 pick come April in the NFL Draft. They return their quarterback but have holes to fill on the offensive line. Luckily the O-line is a strong suit for coach Kirk Ferentz, so he should have them ready. They host most of their tough conference games, which should put them back in the hunt for a BCS game come December.

3. Wisconsin (6-2)

The Badgers will rely on superstar running back John Clay to carry the load again this year. They host the Buckeyes in what will be a gigantic game in Madison. I don’t think they have enough though to beat the Buckeyes or Hawkeyes, but they should end the year with double-digit victories.

4. Penn State (6-2)

There haven’t been ringing endorsements this offseason about the quarterback play at Penn State, as they have to replace Daryll Clark. At least they have Evan Royster, who they’ll depend on to carry the offense most of the season. If they can’t get solid quarterback play, the Nittany Lions could slip to the bottom half of the conference.

5. Northwestern (5-3)

The Wildcats have some big shoes to fill this year, as Corey Wootton and Mike Kafka are gone. They were the biggest playmakers on defensive and offense respectively. The defense should be anchored by a great linebacking crew, but the offense needs to find guys to step up. Don’t count Pat Fitzgerald’s team out this year, though; they’ll be tough each week.

6. Michigan (4-4)

It’s time for coach Rich Rodriguez to win at Michigan. I think he’s got to end the season with eight wins to survive. Even if it takes a bowl to get to eight wins, that needs to be his benchmark. I think the Wolverines will be much improved, as Rich Rod has added playmakers to both sides of the ball. His system is in place, and he needs to show results if he wants to stick around.

7. Michigan State (3-5)

Greg Jones is a phenomenal linebacker who will anchor the Spartans defense this season. They will need to find a running back that can give the offense some balance and help out quarterback Kirk Cousins. The Spartans have an easy start, so if they can build momentum, they might be able to get to eight or nine wins, but I don’t think so.

8. Purdue (3-5)

Robert Marve has been highly publicized, but how far can he carry the Boilermakers? I think they’ll be competitive, and Marve can keep them in games, but there isn’t enough elite talent at Purdue to play with the upper echelon of the Big Ten.

9. Indiana (1-7)

Strong quarterback play should give Indiana a shot at getting a bowl game, but they’ll fall a little short. A brutal league schedule doesn’t make it easy on the Hoosiers. The defense has a lot to rebuild, and even though a 3-0 start is likely, it won’t be a good ending to the season.

10. Illinois (1-7)

Ron Zook has to make a bowl this year to keep his job. He’s got to replace Juice Williams at quarterback and is changing the offensive and defensive schemes. The schedule gives them a shot at five or six wins, but with all the changes, it doesn’t seem likely.

11. Minnesota (0-8)

Tim Brewster’s team has a tough schedule this year that doesn’t leave a lot of room for hope of making it back to a bowl game. He’ll start next year on the hot seat. If you’ve got season tickets for the Gophers, you’ll get to see some good football. They host Ohio State, Iowa, Penn State, and Northwestern.

Champion: The Ohio State Buckeyes

Player of the Year: Terrelle Pryor (QB, Ohio State)

Coach of the Year: Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)

Top Five Games

1. Miami at Ohio State (September 11)

Both of these teams enter the year as preseason favorites to win their conferences and have national title aspirations. It’s never good for your conference’s top dog to lose a non-conference game. Ohio State must win this game if the Big Ten wants to be considered the best conference.

2. Ohio State at Iowa (November 20)

This should be for the championship of the Big Ten, and both could be undefeated. This game could feature two top-five teams, with the winner not just claiming the crown in the Big Ten but also a spot in the BCS Championship. This game could set up to have huge national implications.

3. Ohio State at Wisconsin (October 16)

The Buckeyes will roll into Wisconsin not having faced a formidable foe in nearly a month. Madison is always a tough spot to play and should be no different this year, as they hope to win this game and vault to the top of the Big Ten.

4. Wisconsin at Iowa (October 23)

This should be a great matchup in Iowa City. Wisconsin will be coming in off the Ohio State game, so this could become their de facto Big Ten championship game or a spot for second place and a spot in the BCS. The Hawkeyes should be able to slow the running game of the Badgers just enough to edge out the victory.

5. Penn State at Alabama (September 11)

If the Nittany Lions can hang with the Crimson Tide, it’ll say a lot for the Big Ten. If a suspected middle of the pack Big Ten team can play with the defending national champs and projected SEC champions again this year, it’ll strengthen their case as one of the best conferences, if not the best conference in college football this year.