Big Ten Football: The 1 League Game Each Team Is Most Likely to Lose
Spring is in the air and for those who love college football, it means spring football practice. As the practices heat up, the speculation about team's success for the upcoming year starts to heat up.
There have been conversations about the rankings for the upcoming season but now it is time to look at what game will trip each team up. The Big Ten is just too competitive for someone to run the table. As we saw last year, everyone had a hurdle they could not clear.
In looking at the games that will trip each team up, some of the picks are obvious, but others were selected because of the location and history tied to the matchup. In each case, it is a game that will be a stumbling block for each team, in some cases preventing their dreams of Indianapolis, and the conference title from coming true.
Let the list and the discussion begin.
Illinois
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Wisconsin at Illinois: 11/19
This game could be between teams competing for a quality bowl bid. Despite this potential, it is a game that will not go the Illini faithful's way.
While the Illini lead the series with the Badgers (36-34-7), Wisconsin has owned the series recently, winning five of the last six meetings. The Illini have struggled against the bulldozer that is the Wisconsin line and have shown to allow them success on the ground.
This game will be the eighth and final home game for the Illini this season. It would be thought that this would serve the Illini well, but it the orange and blue have not beat a team that finished in the top half of the conference at Memorial Stadium since a 27-24 win over Iowa in 2008.
While Wisconsin is reloading after the loss of several key players (OL Gabe Carimi, OL John Moffitt, RB John Clay, TE Lance Kendricks and QB Scott Tolzien), this late season matchup will give the Badgers more than ample opportunity to beat hitting on all cylinders. With all the signs pointing to Wisconsin, it seems that the Badgers return to Madison celebrating a solid win.
Indiana
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Penn State at Indiana: 10/1
Kevin Wilson takes over an Indiana Hoosier team that completed their third straight losing season and 15th in the past 16 years. With a few breaks, the Hoosiers can start the year 4-0 going into their Big Ten opener against Penn State.
Unfortunately for Indiana, this game is where the feelings of success will come to an end. IU has never defeated the Nittany Lions and this will not happen this season. The Hoosiers have too many players to replace (i.e., Three-year starter at QB Ben Chappell) and will be making be still taking shape under Wilson's leadership.
In future years, the Hoosiers could finally win against Joe Pa, but not in 2011.
Iowa
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Iowa at Nebraska: 11/25
Thanksgiving weekend football is a treat for the college football fan. This year is special in the Big Ten as Nebraska will be hosting Iowa to wrap up their first season in the league. Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes, this game will be a loss for the Iowa faithful.
The fact that the Cornhuskers lead the series 26-12-3 really doesn't matter since they have only played three times in the last 20 years. The problem is that the Hawkeyes, who are projected for the middle of the conference, is just going to be outmatched by their opponents to the west.
The Hawkeyes have significant work to replace significant contributors on both sides of the ball. However, it is really key on defense as the defensive line lost three of four starters and both safeties are gone and if this unit has not stepped up, the running machine that is Nebraska will run roughshod over them.
Iowa is going to be a respectable team this year as they are projected for third in the Legends division, but Nebraska is going to show the Hawkeyes what it will take to contend for the league title.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Michigan
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Ohio State at Michigan: 11/26
Brady Hoke is new to being the head coach at Michigan, but this will not be his first game against the Buckeyes. Hoke served in a series of coaching positions for the Wolverines between 1995-2002, so he has seen first-hand the battles in the most impressive rivalry in football.
While Michigan was 5-3 during the time he was in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines have struggled lately in this series, losing nine of the last 10 games. The Wolverine defense needs to improve to start to turn the trend around as they gave up 35 points or more in six of the final seven games.
Michigan will be more successful this season as they return most of the offense from the squad that started 5-0. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, Ohio State, who could struggle early in conference play due to suspension, will be going on all cylinders by the time they travel to Michigan Stadium.
This year could be the last year of struggles for the Wolverines, but the more experienced Buckeyes will take care of business in 2011.
Michigan State
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Michigan State at Nebraska: 10/29
Michigan State is coming off an 11-2 (7-1 Big Ten) campaign, but will face some challenges as they will be replacing three of their line and two of the best linebackers in MSU history. Another roadblock to success this season will be their trip to Nebraska.
While Michigan State has had success recently, road trips have been unkind to the Spartans. MSU has not defeated a team who has finished in the top half of the conference on the road since 2003.
The lack of road success does not sound like a recipe for success against a Nebraska squad that has only lost five home games in the Bo Pellini era. Hitting the road after two tough home games (Michigan and Wisconsin) is an additional challenge for the Spartans and will keep them winless all-time against the Cornhuskers.
Minnesota
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Minnesota at Michigan: 10/1
The Golden Gophers will be going through a lot of growing pains this season as they are installing new systems on both sides of the ball and they are working on installing the mindset and expectations needed for success. With all of that being in play, many challenges lie ahead for Jerry Kill's squad.
Minnesota will learn that they are not ready for the conference play right out of the gate as they will travel to Michigan Stadium to take on the Wolverines. Michigan has too many athletes on offense for Minnesota and even with the challenges that the Wolverines have defensively will be enough to handle the developing Minnesota offense.
The Little Brown Jug will continue to stay in Ann Arbor, as it has for all but one year in the past 25 seasons. While future success is on the horizon for the Golden Gopher, the conference schedule will start with a thud this season.
Nebraska
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Nebraska at Wisconsin: 10/1
Nebraska hits the ground running in the Big Ten as they travel to Wisconsin to start conference play. There is not much that separates these squads, but this is going to be the biggest challenge to the Cornhuskers this season.
In a battle of two run-first squads, the location is key. As this season has Nebraska hitting the road to start conference play, they will learn what many of the Big Ten elite have leaned over the time, it is hard to win in Madison. In fact, the Badgers have only lost three games at Camp Randall since Bret Bielema took over in Madison.
While the Cornhuskers will have plenty of success in their inaugural Big Ten campaign, this trip to Wisconsin will be one of the moments of disappointment this year.
Northwestern
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Penn State at Northwestern: 10/22
Northwestern struggled down the stretch as they lost four of their last five games. Additionally, their defense was burnt as they gave up 163 points the last three weeks of the season. These are factors that do not bode well as they face a Penn State squad that has been successful against the Wildcats.
Since joining the Big Ten, the Nittany Lions have won 11 of the 14 meetings with Northwestern. This includes four straight wins where Penn State has scored at least 33 points. Unless there are significant changes defensively, it will be another notch in Joe Paterno's belt.
Ohio State
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Michigan State at Ohio State: 10/1
All signs should be pointing up for Ohio State. They are coming off a 12-1 season and managed to defeat a team from the SEC in a bowl game. However, the off-the-field issues have been adding up and will take their toll on the Buckeyes.
While it is very likely that Ohio State will go undefeated in non-conference play, the lack of having several key players and their coach will catch up to them. The first time this will happen will be in their Big Ten opener against Michigan State.
Despite the fact that the Spartans have their own issues, having to replace several key players, they will be up to the challenge and leave Columbus celebrating a 1-0 conference start. The Buckeyes will start to hear the whispers as the fans can accept problems as long as there is winning.
Penn State
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Penn State at Ohio State: 11/19
The challenges for the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten season are back-loaded as Penn State closes with Nebraska and then road games at Ohio State and Wisconsin. In looking at these games, the fact that they get Nebraska at home is a major plus and the Nittany Lions have had some success recently against Wisconsin. In contrast, PSU has gone 1-7 at Ohio State since they have joined the Big Ten.
In addition to history going against Penn State, they have had struggles recently as they have lost the last two matchups against the Buckeyes. OSU might struggle early in conference play they should be moving on all cylinders as they move to the end of the conference schedule.
Joe Paterno has had success against most of the Big Ten, but this will be another time he leaves Columbus with a loss on his résumé.
Purdue
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Purdue at Michigan: 10/29
Last season was a challenge for the Boilermakers as they suffered several key injuries early in the season. This season the Boilermakers look to start off well in the non-conference schedule, The non-conference schedule is potentially favorable as the Boilermakers open with Middle Tennessee State, Rice and Southeast Missouri State.
Unfortunately, success in the conference will be fleeting as the conference foes are better than the triad that the Boilermakers start off with. One game that definitely not go Purdue's way is their trip to Michigan. With the exception of their success during the Rich Rodriguez era, Purdue has gone 12-41 against the Wolverines.
Last year showed that even with the challenges of the season, Michigan had enough to beat the Boilermakers. By the time these two meet, the Wolverines should be more at ease with Hoke's system which will spell trouble and a loss for Purdue.
Wisconsin
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Wisconsin at Ohio State: 10/29
The Badgers should be in contention in the Big Ten despite the fact that they are going to be replacing significant players on both sides of the ball. The schedulers were not kind to the Badgers as they open with the conference with three of their first four games against conference contenders (Nebraska, MSU, and OSU).
While any of those could be potential stumbling blocks for Wisconsin, their showdown against Ohio State is where they are most likely to stumble. Wisconsin has struggled over the course of time against Ohio State (53-18-5). Additionally, the Badgers have not won in Columbus since 2001. Finally, they have not won back-to-back games against the Buckeyes since 1984-85.
While the Buckeyes will lose key players for the first five games, they would have had a chance to gel going into this conference showdown. The Buckeyes will have a chip on their shoulder against those who have doubted them as well as wanting to avenge last season's defeat. The Ohio State faithful will get their revenge and send Bucky and the Badgers back to Madison with a hard fought loss.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
