Does anyone want the Big Ten?

I asked this exact same question last year, and gave the division to the Buckeyes. I was right. It’s tough to assess teams before games are even played, so now that the preseason is over, I feel more comfortable giving you my predictions on how the division will play out this year.

1. Penn State: I know they have been playing cupcakes so far, but even then, they are making sure to take care of business, something that can’t be said for other teams in the conference. Additionally, for the first time since Kerry Collins, the Nittany Lions appear to have a quarterback capable of completing a forward pass. They should be tough to beat.

2. Wisconsin: As usual, the Badgers aren’t terribly impressive, even when they win. They rely on a strong ground game, but I wonder, if a team that can put up a lot of points, like Penn State and Illinois does so early, the Badgers are sunk. Fortunately, there are few dynamic offenses in the Big 10 this year.

3. Ohio State: Ohio State has been playing down to their opponents so far this season, allowing Ohio and Troy to hang around a lot longer than they should. Should Terrelle Pryor develop into a legitimate quarterback, maybe they will make some strides, but I think right now that this team isn’t of the caliber that they have been in recent seasons.

4. Michigan State: The Spartans are battle tested and have a talented running back in Javon Ringer. It’s a lot easier to rely on a strong ground game, as they have less frequent off days. Also working to their advantage is a very soft schedule, especially at the start of the year, which will only serve to provide some momentum for when the tough part of the schedule kicks in.

5. Iowa: Every time I watch the Hawkeyes, I’m impressed by how athletic they are. We keep hearing that Kirk Ferentz is an excellent coach, so lets see what he can do with the Hawkeyes in a week conference this year.

6. Illinois: I think the effect of Rashard Mendenhall’s departure is greater than anyone anticipated. Now, with Mendenhall fumbling his way through Pittsburgh, Juice Williams is left to head the Illini attack, and I don’t think he’s capable of getting this team to be better than middle of the pack.

7. Minnesota: The Gophers are actually improving as the season goes on. Their defense, while not great, is bolstered by the addition of some JuCo transfers. The real story will be their offense, as Adam Weber has really matured over the offseason and might be one of the top quarterbacks in the conference. They only need 2 more wins to get to a bowl game, but they could win 4 more games before the season is through.

8. Purdue: The Boilers looked terrible in their two wins and only played for one half against Oregon. They have no defense, but their offense seems well enough. This will lead to some very high scoring games, but I don’t think the Boilermakers have the stomach to eke any of these games out.

9. Michigan: I can’t get over just how bad the Wolverines are. Appalachian State last year was a champion, so there is some silver lining in losing to them, and Oregon was a ranked opponent. This year, losses to Utah and Notre Dame demonstrate just how bad the Wolverines are. A team that can’t score points can’t win games.

10. Northwestern: All is not lost for the Wildcats, even if they finish near the bottom of the conference. They just need two more victories to become bowl eligible, and I think it could certainly happen (Purdue, at Indiana).

11. Indiana: I don’t care how good Kellen Lewis is. Antawn Randle El was good too, and the Hoosiers didn’t do anything then either. As they proved against Ball State, the Hoosiers are mostly devoid of talent.