While Nebraska is universally considered the favorite of the Legends division, I think there’s a lot more parity there than people expect. Thus, two of the teams today (Michigan and Northwestern) are from the middle of a deep Legends division. The other—Illinois—should only be expected to do the unexpected in any season.
Illinois
Ron Zook saved his job last season by hiring two great coordinators to coach an experienced Illini team. It’s a good thing his seat isn’t hot anymore, because he loses two high-round draft picks off of last year’s team (RB Leshoure in 2nd, DT Liuget in 1st). Hosting Arizona State in week 3 would be a great way to start but Illinois is notoriously awful in their marquee OOC games. With explosive QB Scheelhaase at the helm, I’m calling for a “win one, lose one” type of season for them heading into their home finale against Wisconsin. Wit bowl hopes on the ropes, I think they’ll peak against the Badgers and finish out with an icy win in Minnesota. Some Texas team will get revenge in the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas (such a catchy name!) for Illinois’ drubbing of Baylor last year. 2011 Results: 7-6 overall, 4-4 Big Ten (3-2 in Leaders).
Michigan
After a giddy off-season for Wolverine fans (how do you spell O-LIE-O?), the season will start off with similar glee. I think Notre Dame is the better team in week 2, but being at home and at night and with three years of pent up anger, Michigan will win a thriller over the Irish. Don’t look now, but they have three more winnable home games after that, a great schedule for new coach Brady Hoke. Michigan will be 6-0 and ranked around #10 when they travel to “little brother” in East Lansing. Sparty is too solid on the lines though, and I think they win one more before Hoke regains the upper hand in the instate rivalry. After a homecoming win, Michigan will begin to unravel a bit. The depth and size just isn’t there to finish out a top 25 season yet. Home losses vs. Nebraska and Ohio State will sting, but watching Robinson run roughshod over an SEC team on New Year’s Day will give the Maize-and-Blue a whole lotta optimism heading into 2012. 2011 Results: 9-4 overall, 4-4 Big Ten (2-3 in Legends).
Northwestern
Pat Fitzgerald loves Northwestern. And it seems the feeling is mutual as they did everything but marry their president’s daughter off to him to keep him around Evanston. But for all of the love around the Wildcats, it’s hard to imagine them breaking through to a BCS bowl anytime soon. They return a great core on offense but don’t have a star WR or RB to take games over. After they upset Illinois’s homecoming gaiety on October 1, I think they’ll drop five straight heartbreakers (three on the road and one of the home games in overtime [Penn State]). But Fitzgerald isn’t a quitter and his teams have character. I think they win their final three at home (the finale over Michigan State, no less) and sneak back into a bowl, where they’ll lose a wild finish in the Insight Bowl by less than a touchdown (as they have the last three years). 2011 Results: 6-7 overall, 4-4 Big Ten (2-3 in Legends).
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