OS NCAA 10 Preview: Big Ten

[RaychelSnr]

Try to quell your arousal Big Ten fans, our time is at hand. Big Ten football is just around the corner, which means for a few short months fans of the mid-continental eleven can enjoy interleague competition with the sweet bonus of an automatic BCS bid. But once January comes around, we might as well retreat with our tails between our collective legs and start looking forward to signing day.

I am a lifetime Big Ten fan. I grew up in Big Ten country, attended a Big Ten school for both undergrad and grad school, and currently reside comfortably within the heartland of the conference. But I am also a realist, and I realize that we are a Triple-A league to the SEC, Big 12 and to some degree, the Pac-10. We are third-rate, and I’m not afraid to admit it. Still, we always have that hope for a turnaround, and perhaps last season’s barn-burner in Tempe was a sign of sunnier days ahead. But who knows….

What follows is a short version of my take on the 2009 Big Ten season, with some NCAA Football 10 tidbits and my predictions sprinkled in as well -- not that I have ever made a dime picking winners (as my vehement pick of Alabama in last year’s Sugar Bowl on this site will dictate).

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[phsx2010]

Iowa 8th in the B10?! Sorry, goin to have to disagree with you on that one. There are reasons they are in many Top 25 polls.

[FredoXV]

I agree with you in that there are reasons they are in the pre-season top 25, the strongest of which is their defense. I do think, however, many are under-valuing the loss of Greene to the overall offense. We'll see though, my opinion is no more valid than yours!

[Terrell28]

In the Big 10 every year it's only two teams to factor in usually it was Ohio St.and Michigan but since they wanted that traitor from WVU(Rodrigez) they deserve what they get so now it's Penn State's turn to play 2nd fittle to the Sweater Vest and Ohio State so with really only one powerful team who gets their A**** handed to them in BCS games that conference is down too.

[Kriech23]

Re: OS NCAA 10 Preview: Big Ten

Iowa behind Northwestern is almost laughable. Iowa should be 4th or 5th. I'm looking for Stanzi to have a big year. Buckeyes and Nittany Lions again for the Big Ten Title. That'll be one of the biggest games of the year.

[FredoXV]

I am l also ooking forward to the big game in State College on November 7th. Last year's contest in Columbus was easily the game of the year in the conference, it will likely be the only "great" game of the year on the national scale.

[ChicagoSparty]

Would slide Wisconsin and Iowa up, and Northwestern and Illinois down. Yes, they both lost their running backs and some playmakers on defense, but both teams are consistently excellent in the trenches. And John Clay (as you note) and Jewel Hampton are great running backs, IMO. Meanwhile, Illinois is the most interesting team to me---great skill on offense but zero defense.

[FredoXV]

ChicagoSparty -

Interestingly enough, the Illini defense was all the hype in camp a year ago, and the unit completely crapped the bed once the season started. I'm very interested to see how Martez Wilson develops at linebacker, as the staff has not yet been able to develop his freakish raw talent. If he can emerge, it would be a huge boost to the D.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing how Hampton emerges in Greene's wake. You are correct, Iowa is traditionally gritty up front, and they could very well make me look foolish for putting them on the low end of the standings. If you see my projected records though, i have them going 4-4(7-5), right in the hunt, so a higher finish wouldn't surprise me.

[ChiSox05]

Re: OS NCAA 10 Preview: Big Ten

Maybe a little low for Iowa but I have never bought the hype for them this year. I am not saying they are going to be trash cause I think they will have a solid team but I just don't see them having a great year. The Big 10 is pretty hard to rank this year as most teams have plenty of questions marks, IMO it is a lot easier to break down into tears.

You have Ohio State and Penn State who are both going to be very very good teams and I cant see either of them finishing out of the top three unless their team plane crashes.

Then you have teams like Illinois, Michigan State, Northwestern, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. They all have talent but they also have plenty of question marks and they could really finish in any order. Illinois has plenty of talent especially on the offense but as last year prove, that doesn't equal wins. Michigan State will have to replace RB Javon Ringer who was their offense last year. Northwestern lost plenty of skill players but Mike Kaftka is still there. Iowa loses Greene but has guys like Hampton who could step in and Stanzi has played alright but the jury is still out on him. Wisconsin has plenty of talent and so Does Michigan but it will be interesting to see how their seasons come together, especially Michicagn with the Frosh QB. minnesota also has plenty of talent in Erin Decker and Adam Webber.

Then you have Indian and Purdue who just don't have to the players to succeed in the conference.

just my quick thoughts and $.02

[CreatineKasey]

I've gone to every home Gopher game for the last 4 years and I honestly think their defense IMPROVED last year. They really did fall off during conference play, but early on they looked like a different team. They lack athleticism in the front 7... but have had solid recruiting classes. Decker will be a force all season. I expect him to pull in a dozen TDs. I grew up with the guy in a small town and played all sports with him. We knew he was special when we were young. They are also getting their starting RB back. Remember, last year they had freshmen running the ball all season and 2 freshmen on the OL.

I'd move Michigan up. They still have large amounts of talent there, and with a QB that fits their system they could start becoming a force again. Northwestern and Illinois will both fail to reach your rankings also in my opinion. Both teams just haven't been up to snuff on defense traditionally. Ohio State with Terelle Prior is much different than Ohio State without him. They are much more explosive on offense at the QB position, definitely more than when Troy Smith started. Prior is a Vince Young type athlete who should take over games. I like how Iowa stays true to Big 10 football with defense and the running game. Hope they keep that tradition.

Anyway, I loved the review and am very excited for big 10 football to get started again very soon!

[Jistic]

Re: OS NCAA 10 Preview: Big Ten

Iowa behind Northwestern is almost laughable.

Was it laughable when NU beat Iowa in Iowa city and finished ahead of them in the Big 10 last year?

[Kriech23]

Re: OS NCAA 10 Preview: Big Ten

Was it laughable when NU beat Iowa in Iowa city and finished ahead of them in the Big 10 last year?

Not really, laughable. But, I thought it was when Iowa beat #3 Penn St. Anyways, this is a preview for this upcoming year. I'm sorry your living in the past. Hopefully you can get past that.

[Jistic]

Re: OS NCAA 10 Preview: Big Ten

Not really, laughable. But, I thought it was when Iowa beat #3 Penn St. Anyways, this is a preview for this upcoming year. I'm sorry your living in the past. Hopefully you can get past that.

One year ago is "Living in the past"?

Cool. Then I look forward to Florida to not being bowl eligible this year now that the new age of college football is upon us.

I'm going with an SMU/Army MNC.

[Kriech23]

Re: OS NCAA 10 Preview: Big Ten

One year ago is "Living in the past"?

Cool. Then I look forward to Florida to not being bowl eligible this year now that the new age of college football is upon us.

I'm going with an SMU/Army MNC.

Last year is irrelevant to this upcoming year. Players leaving and new recruits, I guess mean nothing to you.

[BlueDev1L]

NU will finish 4th, calling it right now. Kafka just needs to learn to pass instead of running as much, and the Defense is solid. If Stephen Simmons is a solid runner, NU will finish top 25.