College Football 2011: The 20 Games That Will Decide the Big Ten Championship
Our beloved college football will be back sooner than most people think. Programs are currently preparing for dominance or preparing how to weather the storm of a potential poor season. It’s our job to look even further ahead into the future and determine how the college football season could actually play out.
As we analyze each and every team today, including the kid on the block Nebraska, we are going to take a week by week look at the Big 10 schedule and see which games will help determine the Big 10 Championship.
Week 5: Ohio State vs. Michigan State, October 1
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As it stands right now, this is the best time for Michigan State to duel Ohio State, especially on the road. Mark Dantonio will march his Spartans into Buckeyes territory to battle an undermanned Jim Tressel squad.
For now, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running back Dan Herron, wide receiver DeVier Posey, offensive tackle Mike Adams and defensive end Solomon Thomas are all suspended for the first five games of the season. These suspensions could be reduced, but right now, the Spartans have their best opportunity to top the Buckeyes without starters Pryor, Herron, Posey and Adams.
This spells doom for Ohio State as the Spartans have a very strong team despite the loss of linebacker Greg Jones to the NFL.
This could very well be one of the most important Big 10 games all year.
Prediction: Michigan State, 24-10
Week 5: Wisconsin vs. Nebraska, October 1
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Wisconsin dominated the Big 10 last year. They finished with a 7-1 conference, tied with Ohio State and Michigan State for the top spot.
Yet Wisconsin will be pushed to the background for this game.
This game is all about Nebraska.
This will be Nebraska's first year in the Big 10. Rest assured that this powerhouse will look to make a big impact by knocking off Wisconsin in their first Big 10 game of the season.
Wisconsin is battle tested, though, and won't go down easy. This will certainly be a land mark game for the Big 10 as Nebraska looks to send shock waves throughout the nation. Taylor Martinez will look to continue his 2010 success in a monster game with the Badgers.
Unfortunately, the Badgers have the two-headed rushing monster of James White and Montee Ball to control the game.
Prediction: Wisconsin, 20-17
Week 6: Ohio State vs. Nebraska, October 8
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Nebraska @ Ohio State
Both teams would be coming off devastating losses.
Unfortunately for Nebraska, they're going to be in for a rude awakening.
Ohio State would be getting its star starters back on the field and they will be highly motivated to make up for lost time. Terrelle Pryor is going to be on a rampage to prove he is one of the best quarterbacks in college football.
Jim Tressel's Buckeyes are going to properly introduce the Cornhuskers to the Big 10 with a beating.
Prediction: Ohio State, 31-10
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Week 6: Penn State vs. Iowa, October 8
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Penn State has been on the downturn over the past couple of years. Joe Paterno seems more like a figure of football than an actual coach at this point.
I like what Iowa has been doing but it remains to be seen just how the team will perform without Ricky Stanzi, who threw for 25 touchdowns in 2010, on the field anymore. Penn State's defense could be solid but they took quite a few beatings last year. Even worse for Penn State, they have issues on offense, mainly at the quarterback position.
Iowa running back Marcus Coker is going to explode in this meeting and prove to the nation he is for real.
Prediction: Iowa, 20-10
Week 7: Michigan State vs. Michigan, October 15
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Ah, one of my favorite rivalries in all of college sports. I love it when these two teams mix it up, especially now that the Spartans have a great team and the emergence of potential Heisman winner Denard Robinson.
Michigan State was a surprise team last year but everyone will be ready for them this season. This won't matter much in this game, unfortunately. As much as I love watching Robinson play, Mark Dantonio will have a game plan to keep the Spartans on top just like they did in last year's 34-17 win.
This would be a huge game for first year Michigan head coach Brady Hoke, but he'll still need more time to figure things out.
The Spartans will be ready to tame these Wolverines, much to my dismay.
Prediction: Michigan State, 31-14
Week 7: Illinois vs. Ohio State, October 15
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Illinois appeared to be heading to the right track and their .500 Big 10 record surprised me.
I predict a tougher season for the Fighting Illini, though, with superstar running back Mikel LeShoure playing on Sundays in the NFL instead of on Saturdays in college. LeShoure was one of the best all-around running backs in the nation. Illinois is going to sorely miss him and the 20 total touchdowns he scored in 2010.
Although I see this as a bigger game of the weekend for the Big 10, I don't think it will be close with Ohio State full healthy.
Prediction: Ohio State, 38-10
Week 8: Michigan State vs. Wisconsin, October 22
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Now things are starting to pick up! This is going to be one of the most physical games of the Big 10 season, in my opinion.
The Badgers and Spartans were both tied atop the Big 10 Conference at the end of the season with 7-1 conference records and were both 11-2 for the entire season.
This is going to be one of the most intense games of the year as both teams look to stay with Ohio State for the season. This two teams are of similar makeup as they both had quality quarterback play and fantastic running back play. Wisconsin even boasted a three-headed rushing monster with James White, John Clay and Montee Ball.
Yet in 2011, Tolzien and Clay will be gone. Clay isn't as big an issue with White and Ball still on board, but losing an efficient quarterback like Tolzien is going to hurt a lot.
By now the Badgers will have adjusted to life without two of their better players, but Michigan State will have the chemistry down pat by this time of the season and will be rolling already.
Prediction: Michigan State, 24-17
Week 8: Minnesota vs. Nebraska, October 22
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I know what you're thinking, "a Minnesota game?" Well, this is more for Nebraska than anything else. Taylor Martinez and Nebraska will put down an all-time epic beating on Minnesota to really prove they belong in the Big 10.
Minnesota was beat down by nearly every Big 10 team. Nebraska will finally feel at ease following a meeting with Minnesota considering they just had a bye following two brutal games with Ohio State and Wisconsin. Unfortunately, a new Big 10 powerhouse in Michigan State awaits the following week.
Prediction: Nebraska, 41-6
Week 9: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, October 29
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I like the makeup of Wisconsin with Montee Ball, James White and Nick Toon, but they are taking on Ohio State at the wrong time.
The Buckeyes have a home stand against the Badgers following a bye. This spells disaster for Wisconsin since the Buckeyes will have extra time to prepare for the Badgers' offensive threats. Wisconsin is also already coming off a huge game against Michigan State, which will take a lot out of the Badgers.
It's just the wrong time to go against a perennial Big 10 powerhouse like Ohio State, who will be fully prepped by Jim Tressel.
Prediction: Ohio State, 30-13
Week 9: Michigan State vs. Nebraska, October 29
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As far as I see it, the Spartans will be coming in with a full head of steam to this meeting. The Cornhuskers are doing a fine job adjusting to life in the Big 10, but these Spartans have been a tough out all season.
They have the continuity on both sides of the ball and excellent leadership from Mark Dantonio. The Spartans will be able to contain Taylor Martinez just like they were able to contain the two-headed rushing monster of Wisconsin.
At this point of the seasons, the Spartans are the clear-cut favorites to take the Conference after excelling in 2010.
Prediction: Michigan State, 31-13
Week 9: Penn State vs. Illinois, October 29
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Penn State finally gets one of its biggest wins as Illinois still has trouble adjusting to life without Mikel LeShoure.
The Nittany Lions may not have top notch firepower anymore, but they'll get up for this home game. The Fighting Illini embarrassed these Lions in Penn State last year. You better believe neither team forgot. That game was dominated and controlled by, you guessed it, LeShoure. Now that he's gone, the Nittany Lions will be able to match up better and edge out a victory.
Prediction: Penn State, 13-10
Week 10: Michigan vs. Iowa, November 5
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This game will be different for the Wolverines than last year's home loss to the Hawkeyes. Last year, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos had a career day en route to a 38-28 win at Michigan.
A 10-point game last year after Denard Robinson was forced out of the game with a shoulder injury. He'll be playing a full game this time around and lead Brady Hoke to a big Big 10 victory over an improving Iowa program.
Ricky Stanzi won't be around for Johnson-Koulianos to go off again. Brady Hoke will game plan to stop him, leaving it up to Denard Robinson to control the game via the ground and air.
Prediction: Michigan, 34-27
Week 10: Wisconsin vs. Purdue, November 5
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This is a big game for Wisconsin, though not as much in the overall sense of the Big 10. Still, it will help keep Wisconsin towards the top of the standings.
The rushing attack for the Badgers will control this game and lead to dominance in Wisconsin. Purdue isn't ready yet to compete with Wisconsin and it will show on the field. As the Badgers set up a stretch run, this is an easy one.
Prediction: Wisconsin, 34-10
Week 11: Iowa vs. Michigan State, November 12
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Iowa is the type of team who could actually match up very well with Michigan State as they both look to play great defense and run the ball. That's winning football right there, folks. That's what I like to see. Michigan State, though, will have more experience at the quarterback position and a better defense all around, despite the loss of Greg Jones to the NFL.
Iowa won't be able to compete come crunch time in a close game as Michigan State looks ahead to two easy games against Indiana and Northwestern to finish the season.
Prediction: Michigan State, 21-13
Week 11: Illinois vs. Michigan, November 12
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This is another game for Brady Hoke to bring Michigan back to relevance in the Big 10, and they succeed with flying colors. Denard Robinson goes off (doesn't he seem to always?) against Illinois for one of those video-game like performances that makes it difficult to pick your jaw up off the floor.
Michigan won this meeting 67-65 last season. Although this one will be on the road, I predict a lot of points scored once again by Michigan, but not nearly as much from the Fighting Illini Mike LeShoure, who will be in the NFL this time around, had 120 yards and three touchdowns last time. That's a lot of production for quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase and his teammates to make up. Robinson didn't even run well against Illinois last year, watch him this time.
Prediction: Michigan, 45-34
Week 12: Ohio State vs. Penn State, November 19
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It's usually a big game, at least for me, when Ohio State and Penn State meet. It's about the tradition here for me, but not so much the actual game itself. Penn State just can't hang with the big dogs anymore, especially a perennial monster like Ohio State.
The Buckeyes won this match up last year by 24 points. I expect it to be even bigger this time around since Terrelle Pryor and Dan Herron will still be looking to make up lost time from their suspensions. They still have two quality opponents left on the schedule, but don't fall for looking ahead to the end of the season just yet. At home, the Buckeyes demolish the Nittany Lions.
Prediction: Ohio State, 34-3
Week 12: Michigan vs. Nebraska, November 19
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If it wasn't for the tradition of Ohio State and Penn State, I'd put this atop of the list. I think this could actually be one of the most exciting games of the Big 10 season. No, not match up wise, but on the field.
Taylor Martinez and Denard Robinson will put on a spectacle in this high scoring affair. It's going to be a lot of fun to watch these two put up stats play after play trying to out-perform the other.
I can't wait.
Prediction: Nebraska, 34-31
Week 13: Ohio State vs. Michigan, November 26
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Always one of my most anticipated match ups of the year. These are two of the most storied programs in college football history and will always be a showcase game when they step on the field with one another.
Like last year, the Wolverines and Buckeyes will boast two quarterbacks eying Heisman trophies in Denard Robinson and Terrelle Pryor, respectively. One of them could seal a Heisman award with a fantastic performance. I think we'll see such a performance from both star players.
Unlike last year's 30-point victory by Ohio State, I predict Brady Hoke will close out his first year with Michigan in respectable fashion and have his Wolverines compete all game.
Prediction: Ohio State, 30-24
Week 13: Wisconsin vs. Penn State, November 26
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Wisconsin manages to stay on track to finish the season and boast another successful year. Penn State is still reeling from the effects of two consecutive losses to Nebraska and Ohio State. The Nittany Lions finish another disappointing season with a blow out loss to the Badgers.
Once again, it's the running backs James White and Montee Ball who steal the show. They power the Badgers' way to the Bowl season as one of the more balanced teams offensively and defensively.
Once again, we're all left wondering the fate of Joe Paterno.
Prediction: Wisconsin, 27-10
Week 13: Iowa vs. Nebraska, November 26
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Without Ricky Stanzi, Iowa is just an above average middle of the pack team giving others a run for their money but not enough to put themselves towards the top of the Big 10.
Nebraska, however, makes a successful transition to the Big 10 and finishes it with a convincing win over the Hawkeyes. Nebraska fans are assured that their move to the Big 10 was a solid decision and that they have the pieces to compete and soon enough dominate the conference.
Prediction: Nebraska, 28-17
Big 10 Championship Game: Ohio State vs. Michigan State, December 3
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Mark Dantonio ushers in a new era in the Big 10 as the Michigan State Spartans knock off the Ohio State Buckeyes in the most physical, intense and brutal Big Ten game of the season.
As Terrelle Pryor eyes a potential Heisman victory, the Spartans put a stop to any heroics and seal a close, but epic victory. Quarterback Kirk Cousins puts the Spartans on his shoulders and leads Michigan State to the promise land and an undefeated season.
Prediction: Michigan State, 21-20
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
