NCAA Football 2011: 10 Bold Big Ten Predictions For Next Season
There are story-lines aplenty in the Big Ten for 2011.
- Indiana, Minnesota and Michigan are moving on with new head coaches.
- Longtime Big 12 mainstay Nebraska will be playing their first season in the Big Ten next season.
- Denard Robinson is back under center for Michigan (that's all that needs to be said).
- Ohio State's trio of talented skill players are sitting out the first five games of 2011 with a suspension.
I'm going to tell you what to watch for in the Big Ten next season and deliver ten "BOLD" predictions amongst all the news that is coming out of the conference.
As always let me know if you have any thoughts or opinions regardless if they are positive or negative.
10. Minnesota Will Be Improved Under First Year Head Coach Jerry Kill
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Minnesota didn’t show a lot fight last season under the embattled Tim Brewster, and consequently the Gophers limped to a 3-9 record.
The dismal 2010 campaign led to Brewster’s dismissal and former Northern Illinois head coach Jerry Kill was brought in to breathe new life into the program.
Unfortunately for Kill, departed senior quarterback Adam Weber and his 10,917 passing yards are gone, but there is still reason to be optimistic in Minneapolis.
Leading wide receiver DeJon McKnight and leading rusher DeLeon Eskridge along with explosive athlete MarQueis Gray (who might ultimately replace Weber at quarterback) all return.
The key for Kill and his assistants will be coaching up a Golden Gopher defense that gave up 33-points per game last season.
Obviously, Minnesota won’t be challenging Ohio State for a Big Ten crown, but with new leadership and some returning skill players, it’s not unreasonable to think that the Gophers could pull out a few more wins in 2011 than the three victories they compiled in 2010.
9. Denard Robinson Will Be Up for an Encore Performance in 2011
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Denard Robinson accumulated over 4,000 total yards for Michigan in 2010 and was constantly one move away from breaking off a big play.
Denard will have similar success and statistics in 2011. Robinson will benefit from the return of wide receivers Roy Roundtree and Darryl Stonum as well as running back Vincent Smith.
The key for Robinson will be staying healthy throughout the course of the entire season and not leaving himself susceptible to a barrage of big hits.
Head Coach Brady Hoke ran a spread system at Ball State and Hoke won’t put a lot of restrictions on Denard during the coach's first season in Ann Arbor. Look for Robinson to once again operate out of the spread and put up big numbers for the Wolverines.
8. Iowa Will Take a Step Backwards in 2011
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The Hawkeyes have enjoyed success over the past couple of seasons and have been mainstays in the top half of the Big 10 standings. Kirk Ferentz will have his work cut out for him next season though if he hopes to keep Iowa riding high.
Senior quarterback Ricky Stanzi is gone and junior James Vandenberg appears to be the most likely candidate to take his place. Vandenberg will likely rely heavily on the one-two rushing punch of Adam Robinson and Marcus Coker early on. The departure of wide receiver Derrell-Johnson Koulianos will also set Iowa’s passing attack back. The return of Marvin McNutt does ease the sting of losing Koulianos though.
Defensively, the Hawkeyes will have to replace defensive end Adrian Clayborn and senior defensive back Brett Greenwood. Kirk Ferentz and company no doubt have players waiting in the wings, but those will be two big sets of shoes to fill.
Iowa will not join Indiana or Minnesota at the bottom of the Big Ten standings and a bowl berth is definitely expected, but there are questions to be answered regarding the 2011 Hawkeyes.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Nebraska Will Have Trouble in Their First Season in the Big Ten
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Seriously the conference schedule that Nebraska was handed for their first Big Ten season is just cruel.
The Huskers get the benefit of playing Ohio State and Michigan Sate at home and have road games against Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin and Penn State.
Here are the three Big Ten teams that Nebraska doesn’t play in 2011: Indiana, Illinois and Purdue.
This brutal schedule along with the departure of Roy Helu Jr. and wide receiver Niles Paul equals growing pains for the Huskers in their debut season in the Big Ten.
6. James White and Montee Ball Will Pick Up the Production Left Behind John Clay
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Wisconsin running back John Clay announced that he is forgoing his senior season and entering the NFL Draft. This would be a monstrous blow to the Badgers if not for the fact that sophomore running back James White and junior Montee Ball are more than capable backups.
White rushed for 1,052 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns as a freshman and figures to increase his production as a sophomore in Madison. White didn’t come out of high school as a highly touted recruit, but he is certainly proving all the recruiting services wrong with his play thus far.
Ball meanwhile gained 996 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns last season and also appears to be an integral part of the Badger rushing attack in 2011. At 5'11" 236 lbs., Ball has more size than the 5'10" 196 lbs. White and together the two backs make a lethal combination.
5. Freshman Braxton Miller Will Play in Terrell Pryor’s Absence
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Braxton Miller’s signing with the Buckeyes was a recruiting coup for Jim Tressel and Ohio State. Miller is a dual threat quarterback out of Wayne, Ohio who many Buckeye fans think will be the heir apparent to Terrell Pryor in 2012.
Miller will have to battle senior Joe Bauserman for the early starting spot, but it wouldn’t be unfathomable to think that the freshman might get the nod over the veteran Bauserman. Bauserman has thrown 47 passes throughout his Buckeye career as a backup to Pryor.
Obviously Terrell Pryor will take his job back once he returns from suspension, but during his absence Jim Tressel may just hand over the reins to the Bucks offense over to the explosive freshman.
4. Robert Marve Will Start at Quarterback for Purdue
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Robert broke Tim Tebow’s passing records at Plantation High School and was a Parade All American before signing with Miami [Fl].
Marve’s time with the Hurricanes ultimately turned out to be a tumultuous roller coaster that included two suspensions before he transferred from the school.
In speaking to the Associated Press, Marve said of his decision to leave, "I had to get out," Marve told the AP from his family's home in Tampa. "I just decided that I can't play for coach Shannon."
Robert transferred to Purdue and played during the early portion of the 2010 season before having a torn ACL cut short the rest of his campaign.
The question now becomes whether Marve can live up to his potential in 2011 and establish himself as Purdue’s starting quarterback. He will battle Rob Henry who replaced him last season and if fully recovered, Marve should take his starting job back.
3. Indiana Will Once Again Be the Big Ten Cellar Dweller
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The Hoosiers only won one conference game last season and unfortunately prospects don’t look good for a major improvement in 2011.
Quarterback Ben Chappell is gone after throwing for 3,295 yards last season as is leading rusher Trea Burgess. Leading wide receivers Demario Belcher and Tandon Doss do return for the Hoosiers, but new quarterback Edward Wright-Baker will have to be broken in for IU.
Indiana will also have to show improvement on the defensive side of the ball in 2011 where they gave up 34-points per game in 2010.
New Head Coach Kevin Wilson may eventually turn around this Indiana football program, but it likely won’t happen in 2011.
2. 2011 Will Be Ron Zook’s Last Season at Illinois
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Despite the great season by dynamic running back Mikel Leshourem the Fighting Illini only went 7-6 last season.
Now Leshoure’s 1,697 rushing yards are gone and all of the pressure shifts to sophomore quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase. Scheelhaase threw 17 touchdowns as a freshman and will be counted onto to continue putting the ball in the end zone for the Illini.
Coach Zook will rely on improvement from a defense that gave up 23.5-points per game last season. The offense took care of a lot of the heavy lifting last year and that may remain the case in 2011. Except this team will have to do it without Leshoure.
Zook has come under fire from Illini fans and that Rose Bowl appearance during the early portion of his career now seems like ancient history. If Illinois falters too badly this season, then Illini fans may by waving goodbye to Coach Zook.
1. Ohio State Will Win the Big Ten Conference in 2011
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No earth shattering news here, but the Buckeyes look to once again be the class of the conference.
Ohio State may deal with some early struggles throughout the first five games of the season as Tressel waits for Herron, Posey and Pryor to return. The group will be back for Ohio State’s conference games and the trio’s offensive firepower along with OSU’s collection of talent on defense will be too much for most teams to handle.
The trip to Michigan could get tricky along with a game at Big Ten newcomer Nebraska, but besides that the road is pretty smooth.
The Buckeyes may slip up once during conference play, but ultimately they will emerge with the best conference record. The only question will be how serious a national title contender Ohio State will be in 2011.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
