Big Ten Preview

[cubuffsman78]

Big Ten
1. Ohio State – 12-0 (8-0)
The Buckeyes essentially have two big challenges this season and both of them are on the road. They face USC early and Wisconsin late. Winning both tests is not far fetched for this team.

2. Wisconsin – 10-2 (6-2)
Once again, overcoming Ohio State seems like a task too big for a talented Badgers’ squad. If only they could find some consistency from the QB position.

3. Purdue – 8-4 (6-2)
If Purdue were in the Big 12 or SEC, then they’d be a .500 team. As it stands, the Boilermakers ability to throw the ball will put them in the upper echelon of the Big Ten.

4. Iowa – 8-4 (5-3)
Again, another team that is middle of the road in better conferences. A week Big Ten places them higher.

5. Penn State – 9-3 (5-3)
There are playmakers on this offense, but they’re at the WR position. That’s bad news for a team without a legitimate QB or running game. No Sean Lee on defense hurts a lot, too.

6. Michigan – 8-4 (4-4)
This season is all about building for the next in Ann Arbor. Give Rodriguez a year to implement his system and the Wolverines will be more of a threat. They’re two years away from contending for the Big Ten title again, though.

7. Michigan State – 6-6 (3-5)
Love the ability of Jovon Ringer, but what else does this team have to offer. They can get bowl eligible preying on the weaker schools in the conference.

8. Illinois – 5-7 (3-5)
Some think Illinois is one of the top 20 teams in the nation. Don’t count me on that list. Losing Rashard Mendenhall kills the offense. J Leman’s graduation thwarts the defense significantly. Great secondary, though.

9. Minnesota – 6-6 (2-6)
A weak non-conference schedule will make the Gophers bowl eligible. Don’t be surprised if they don’t get an invite, though.

10. Indiana – 4-8 (2-6)
Bit of a surprising squad last season, but I doubt they make a run this season. DE Greg Middleton Is one of the better players in the conference and worth watching.

11. Northwestern – 3-9 (1-7)
A team has to be really bad to be the whipping horse of this conference. Meet the Wildcats.

Overall assessment: I really wanted to give Wisconsin the edge over Ohio State this year, but couldn’t bring my self to do it. Ohio St. suffers from a lack of speed when facing SEC teams. I see Wisconsin having that same problem against the Buckeyes.

Wisconsin is going to be a highly one-dimensional offense with RB P.J. Hill being the focus. That’s never good when facing a defense the caliber of Ohio St.’s.

I think the Buckeyes can edge out a talented USC team early in the season. I just think USC will still be trying to find its identity as a team and particularly as an offense. Meanwhile, Ohio St. returns all of its key figures on offense and defense. USC’s defense will keep the game close, but a well-balanced offense can eventually wear down even the best defenses.

Obviously, I think the Big Ten is very weak again this season and probably weaker than it was last year. I am putting the Buckeyes in their third straight BCS National Championship game. I see another possible blowout too, though.

[cubuffsman78]

All-Big Ten 1st Team

Offense

QB Curtis Painter Purdue
Considered one of the nation's best. Could be top QB in draft.

RB Chris Wells Ohio St.
Quietly topped 1,600 yards rushing last season. Heisman contender this year.

RB P.J. Hill Wisconsin
Classic Wisconsin back with big, bruising running style. Needs to stay healthy.

WR Brian Robiskie Ohio St.
Fundamentally, one of the best.

WR Brian Hartline Ohio St.
Gets overlooked, but his presence makes Ohio St. elite offensively.

WR Derrick Williams Penn St.
No player in the conference has more big play ability. Can Penn St. get him the ball, though?

TE Travis Beckum Wisconsin
Best weapon outside of Hill the Badgers have.

OL Alex Boone Ohio St.
Stalwart at OT.

OL Kraig Urbik Wisconsin
Many of Hill's runs go behind Urbik.

OL A.Q. Shipley Penn St.
One of the nation's best centers.

OL Connor Smith Ohio St.
Part of best OL in conference. Of course, Ohio St. has the best players at most positions in the Big Ten.

OL Kyle Calloway Iowa
Best feature of Iowa's offense is the OL.

K Austin Starr Indiana

Defense
DE Maurice Evans Penn St.
A terror off the edge.

DT Terrance Taylor Michigan
Another classic big body in the center of the Wolverines' DL.

DT Dexter Larimore Ohio St.
A penetrating, gap shooter.

DE Greg Middleton Indiana
Best player on the Hoosiers' squad.

LB Jonathan Casillas Wisconsin
Safety playing out of position. Is all over the field.

LB James Laurinaitis Ohio St.
Doesn't get much better than this.

LB Elijah Hodge Wisconsin
Leader of an underrated defense.

LB Marcus Freeman Ohio St.
Overlooked because of who he plays next to, but he's a playmaker.

CB Malcolm Jenkins Ohio St.
His and Laurinaitis' return for their senior seasons make the Buckeyes a hard defense to overcome.

S Anderson Russell Ohio St.
Team's third leading tackler.

S Shane Carter Wisconsin
Another underrated player on the Badgers' underrated defensive unit.

CB Vontae Davis Illinois
One of the nation's best.

P Jeremy Boone Penn St.

[cubuffsman78]

All-Big Ten 2nd Team

Offense

QB Todd Boeckman Ohio St.
Not the focus of the offense, but compliments Wells well.

RB Tyrell Sutton Northwestern
Only Wildcat on the team.

RB Jovon Ringer Michigan St.
Focus of the MSU attack. Has legitimate game-breaking ability.

WR Greg Orton Purdue
Typical, reliable Boilermakers' WR.

WR Arrellious Benn Illinois
Big play ability, but QB Juice needs to get the ball out to him more.

WR Eric Decker Minnesota
Only Gopher on the team. Last year's leading receiver.

TE Garrett Graham Wisconsin
That's right. Both All-Conference TEs are Badgers. Most of Wisconsin's offense is done with two TE sets.

OL Gabe Carimi Wisconsin
The Badgers have a reputation of creating good OL.

OL Dan Doering Iowa
Best part of team gets Hawkeyes only two players on the squad.

OL Jim Cordle Ohio St.

OL Andy Kemp Wisconsin

OL Steve Schilling Michigan

K Brett Swenson Michigan St.

Defense
DE Will Davis Illinois
9.5 sacks. 12.5 TFL.

DT Alex Magee Purdue
There's never much defense out of Purdue -- other than good DEs. Their best defender this year plays on the interior of the DL.

DT Will Johnson Michigan
Maybe belongs on first team? Lots of excitement about his play in the spring and was voted top DL by team last season.

DE Matt Shaughnessy Wisconsin
Major force on DL if he can return from broken fibula suffered this spring.

LB Greg Jones Michigan St.
Led team in tackles as freshman. Might be moving inside.

LB Obi Ezeh Michigan
Team's only returning starting linebacker.

LB Brit Miller Illinois
Takes over full time for J. Leman.

LB Martez Wilson Illinois
Some scouts call him best overall athlete in Big 10.

CB A.J. Wallace Penn St.
Moved into starting lineup late in season.

S Anthony Scirroto Penn St.
Led team in INTs last two seasons. Needs to clean up off-the-field problems.

S Otis Wiley Michigan St.
Led team with four INTs. Leader of inexperienced secondary.

CB Morgan Trent Michigan
Once considered secondary's weak spot, now team leader.

P Zoltan Mesko Michigan