Big 10 Preview

Leaders

1.  Wisconsin Badgers (10-2, 6-2)
It's funny that Wisconsin has won the Big 10 Title the past two seasons and return a team that has a chance to win the league again, yet nobody is talking about them.  All we hear is Ohio State and Michigan.  Even if the Badgers have an easy road to the Big 10 Championship Game (Ohio State and Penn State are ineligible).  But Wisconsin is no slouch.  Without Russell Wilson, look for Wisconsin to focus the offense on RBs Monte Ball and James White.  This should look like your Wisconsin teams of old.

1.  Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2, 6-2)
Even though the Buckeyes aren't eligible to play in the conference championship, they are thought to be one of the best teams in the conference.  Defensively they'll be stout.  They have proven players through all three units and plenty of depth.  But the issues they have will be with the offense.  They return QB Braxton Miller who should thrive in Urban Meyer's spread offense, but they lack many playmakers on the outside that will help.  If they get some help, the schedule is very winnable.  If not, they'll likely still finish with 9 wins.

3.  Illinois Fighting Illini (8-4, 4-4)
Ron Zook might not have be able to get many wins, but he could sure bring in talent.  So the cupboard is definitely not bare for new HC Tim Beckum.  Don't forget that Florida won a National Title with Zook's players.  Now I don't see that happening for Illinois, but they do have a ton of talent.  Especially on offense where QB Nate Scheelhaase is one of the best in the league.  He should fit in perfectly in Beckum's spread offense that was always one of the best while at Toledo.  This should definitely be a good year for the Illini and maybe they can sneak their way into the championship game.  But that's a stretch.

4.  Purdue Boilermakers (5-7, 2-6)
For some people, Purdue is a sleeper team in the Leaders division.  Really?  Yeah they return 15 starters, but it's not like this team was that great to begin with.  They also benefit from not playing Nebraska and Michigan State out of the Legends Division.  I see this team battling to get to a bowl game, not the Big 10 Championship.  They do have some talent.  Kwann Short is one of the best DTs in the league and Antavian Edison is a good receiver.  But there really isn't a whole heck of a lot more.  Then you also have Danny Hope as the coach, who nobody has much faith in.

5.  Penn State Nittany Lions (4-8, 1-7)
Penn State was poised to have a good season, but once the NCAA sanctions were handed down it was clear that wouldn't be true.  11 players left the program including their two best offensive players.  RB Silas Redd transferred USC and WR Justin Brown to Oklahoma.  The defense didn't lose much and still should be solid, but it's going to be very hard to score points without their two real weapons.  But I have a feeling most Penn State fans just want to get this season over with.

6.  Indiana Hoosiers (2-10, 0-8)
HC Kevin Wilson's first season at Indiana couldnt' have gone any worse.  Well I guess they could have gone win less.  There isn't much hope in sight.  Unlike other bottom feeders in the conference the Hoosiers don't really have any true difference makers on the roster.  Luckily for Hoosier fans their basketball team is going to be real good.

Legends

1.  Michigan Wolverines (11-2, 7-1)
After a huge season last year the Wolverines are every body's darling.  Predicted to win the Big 10 and be a dark horse contender for the National Title.  The biggest reason for their success last year was QB Dennard Robinson staying healthy and the defense improving by leaps and bounds.  The offense should be able to pick up where they left off, but they have some holes on D.  Mainly in their run defense.  If they can shore that up they have a chance to have a really good year.

2.  Michigan State Spartans (10-2, 6-2)
Another team that is lost in all the Michigan/Ohio State love fest is Michigan State.  Even though Michigan State has beaten the Wolverines the past four years.  The Spartans strong suit is their defense which is the best in the Big 10 and rivals most top SEC teams.  They have talent at all three levels.  On offense their running game is top notch.  However they are breaking in a brand new QB in Andrew Maxwell.  He is the key to their season.  If he can be more than a game manager, then the Spartans have as good of a shot to win the conference as anybody.

2.  Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-3, 5-3)
In the past couple of years the Huskers have gone into the season with a strong defense and question marks about their offense.  This year it's opposite.  Their offense is the sure thing.  QB Taylor Martinez is in his 3rd year as a starter and they have impact players in WR Kenny Bell and RB Rex Burkhead.  Their defense on the other hand has some good starters back, but are lacking that star they've had lately.  If the Huskers can win two out of three from Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Michigan they have a shot to make the Big 10 Title Game.  But that is asking a lot. 

4.  Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5, 4-4)
If you have any RB experience and some college eligibility left, you could be the Hawkeyes starting RB.  Seriously, their RB situation is that bad.  And this is surprising since the Hawkeyes are such a run oriented team.  With that said they did bring in Greg Davis (former Texas OC) in to run their offense.  Davis ran a lot of spread while at Texas and that could help since they don't have much depth (or talent at RB).  Defensively they'll always be stout, but have a lot to replace along the defensive line.  Iowa will be tough to play this year, but it won't translate into too many wins.

4.  Northwestern Wildcats (7-5, 4-4)
It's quite remarkable the success Northwestern has had in football despite the academic requirements the school has.  Northwestern fields a very solid team every year and this year should be no different.  QB Kain Colter moves from a slash role into the full time starting QB spot and WR Kyle Prater (USC transfer) was ruled eligible to play this season will be Northwestern's main offense.  Prater gives the Wildcats a legit #1 receiver and might be the best receiver the program has every seen.  This will be big because they only return 10 of 22 starters on the team and need any experience they can get.

6.  Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-8, 2-6)
The season fell apart last year in the 2nd game when new HC Jerry Kill collapsed on the sideline with a seizure.  That situation really affected the team and took a toll on them for the next several weeks and costing them at least 2 wins.  This year Kill seems to have his healthy in check and the Gophers are looking to get the program on the right track.  Luckily for them they have some talent on the roster that will make opponents nervous.  Mainly QB MarQueis Gray.  The 6'4 245lb QB is a dual threat and a good one at that.  They'll focus the offense around him and look for play makers to develop around him.  This season will be a tough one again, but there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel.

All Big 10 Team

QB:  Dennard Robinson, Michigan
RB:  Rex Burkhead, Nebraska
RB:  Monte Ball, Wisconsin
WR:  Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin
WR:  Kyle Prater, Northwestern
TE:  Kyler Reed, Nebraska
OT:  Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin
OG:  Spencer Long, Nebraska
C:  Travis Frederick, Wisconsin
OG:  Andrew Norwell, Ohio State
OT:  Taylor Lewan, Michigan

DE:  William Gholston, Michigan State
DT:  Kawann Short, Purdue
DT:  Akeem Spence, Illinois
DE:  John Simon, Ohio State
LB:  Gerald Hodges, Penn State
LB:  Chris Borland, Wisconsin
LB:  Jonathan Brown, Illinois
CB:  Johnny Adams, Michigan State
S:  Jordan Kovacs, Michigan
S:  Isaiah Lewis, Michigan State
CB:  Micah Hyde, Iowa

K:  Brett Maher, Nebraska
P:  Brett Maher, Nebraska
RS:  Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska

Offensive Player of the Year:  Dennard Robinson QB Michigan
Defensive Player of the Year:  William Gholston DE Michigan State

Freshman of the Year:  Noah Spence DE Ohio State