2010 Preview: Big 10

This year marks the end of an era in the Big 10, the eleven team league is about to have twelve, while the Big 12 will only have ten, which is one fewer than the Big 10 has had for a decade. Got that? The addition of one team will completely change the format of the league, giving it a conference championship game and a more balanced system for determining which teams will play each other in league play on an annual basis. The Big 10 looks to be loaded this year, with at least three teams expected to break the top 10 at some point in the season, and Ohio State is a consensus number two that most expect to play for a national championship. Wisconsin and Iowa are not to be forgotten though, both look very capable of making a Rose Bowl run of their own. Penn. State can also never be ruled out, although this appears to be a bit of a rebuilding season for them, and no one really knows how good/bad Michigan could be. There is an abundance of talent here, I personally have been a very harsh critic of the Big 10 over the last few years, but this season I will admit it is worth every bit of hype it gets. This may be the best league in college football. So without further ado, here is my league prediction.....

1. Wisconsin Badgers - Rose Bowl - national title contender
This will undoubtedly be a very controversial selection. Ohio State is thought to be the monster in the conference and I am sure I will be in the strong minority picking any one else to win the league. I want to start by saying that I believe that the Buckeyes are the best and deepest team in D-1A football, but I do not trust Tyrelle Pryor to not blow a single game, and if I had to pick one game he would blow it is at Wisconsin. QB Scott Tolzien is a version of Pryor that does not make mistakes, RB John Clay is Heisman contender, and the Badgers boast perhaps the best offensive line in the nation. The defense is similarly tough, and as mentioned, the Buckeyes have to go to Madison. I see one loss somewhere in the season, and a tie with Ohio State atop the conference, but I think the Badgers get the tie-breaker.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes - Sugar Bowl, BCS-at-Large - National Title Contender
The Buckeyes may be the best team in the country, they do have the best linebacking corps in the country, and there is no real weak point on this team. My problem is the schedule, Miami comes to the horseshoe early on, then Penn. State, Iowa, and Michigan make up the final three games of the season. They also must go on the road to face Wsconsin and Iowa. Pryor will be better this season, but I don't think he will be good enough to win all those games, the Buckeyes will drop one somewhere, but if it is early in the season, don't be surprised if they weasel their way back into national title discussions by years end.

3. Iowa Hawkeyes - BCS Contender
The Hawkeyes are good enough to play in a BCS bowl again this year, but I think the "only two from a conference" rule will keep them out as I just can't see them topping Wisconsin or Iowa. In a trend of "best-in-the-nation" in this conference, Iowa is thought to have the best defenseive line in the country this season. The biggest wildcard here is the offensive line, which has to replace two all-americans, and three starters overall. QB Rick Stanzi is essentially a crappy version of Scott Tolzien, he is good, but inconsistent, but makes a lot more mistakes. Stanzi can be great at times but if that line has him on the run too often, he will lose games making stupid plays.

4. Penn. State - Definitely going to a bowl
The Nittany Lions are doing something I have regularly called them out for a lot over the last few years: actually play an out of conference game against someone better than a MAC team. They really went the opposite of their usual MO, they will head to Alabama early in September. If they win there, the sky is the limit on their season. In all likelihood though, they won't. There is nothing flashy or outstanding about this team, but with JoPa on the sidelines/in the booth, average is probably good for 9 wins even in a rebuilding season.

5. Purdue Boilermakers - Going to a bowl
I have already done a full preview of this team, you can read about their season there.

6. Northwestern Wildcats - Going to a bowl
See above.

7. Michigan State Spartans - going to a bowl
See above, again.

8. Michigan Wolverines - Toss-up
This team has enough talent to be a top 25 team, but they are not in my top 50 for one simple reason, they had enough talent to be top 25 last year too. The Wolverines are really difficult to predict, the QB situation is a mess, and the defense was dead last in the conference last year for a sqaud that narrowly missed finishing in last place in the Big 10 for the first time ever. They might make a bowl, they might not, the coaching will decide and I'm not smart enough to tell you if Rich Rodriguez himself is better this year than last.

9. Illinois Fighting Illini - Not going to a bowl
Ron Zook, kiss your job goodbye, another finish near the bottom means change is coming. And to think, just three years ago you led the most undeserving team ever to get a BCS at large bid. Good times, good times.

10. Minnesota Golden Gophers - definitely not going to a bowl
This team is bad, not that special kind of bad that is nationally reknowned like a Baylor or Duke, but the kind where they play closish and lose, which is worse because at least those teams get national attention for being terrible.

11. Indiana Hosiers - No Chance in Hell
Don't blame the coach, blame the program, or just don't say anything because you don't care. That's what most people will do.