It's mid June and that can only mean one thing: pre-season ranking time. Magazines are hitting the news stands and diligent bloggers everywhere are analyzing and debating the predictions -- the Great Steele likes Georgia only slightly better than Penn State, you say?
The media will assemble in Chicago next month to vote on the conference favorites and likely award winners, but we have you covered for now. The fine Northwestern blog Lake the Posts has compiled the prognostications of fellow conference bloggers and released the first ever Big Ten Bloggers preseason rankings.
According to guys that write in their mothers' basements, the Big Ten should shake out like this (11W ballot rankings in parens):
| 1 (1) |  |
No shocker here. LTP notes that Wolverine blog Maize & Blue Nation turned in the only ballot that didn't have the Buckeyes at the top. Cute. |
| 2 (4) |  |
Conference bloggers (and Steele) both like the Nittany Lions a little bit more than we do. They have a lot of talent coming back and the Morelli curse is lifted, but Joe Pa (and staff) get a no-confidence vote out of us. |
| 3 (2) |  |
We're so conflicted. On one hand, Wisky should be tough in '08, but on the other hand we're convinced that Bielema will destroy everything that Barry built. |
| 4 (3) |  |
Buckeye fans probably have good reason to be a little more bullish on the Illini than the conference at large. |
| 5 (6) |  |
As much as we're Dantonio believers, it's hard to escape that "Little Brother" bit. |
| 6 (5) |  |
The rest of the conference bloggers seem to agree with us that year one of the Rodriguez era may be a little bumpy. |
| 7 (9) |  |
Our colleagues think a little higher of Iowa than we do, which is basically that Ferentz has lost the program. |
| 8 (7) |  |
Painter is back for his 9th season, but that's about it in terms of returning talent. |
| 9 (8) |  |
Bachér and Sutton are poised for big seasons. We're not sure they'll go 8-4 as LTP insists, but they'll be dangerous. |
| 10 (10) |  |
With the loss of Hardy, the Hoosiers' season hinges on whether or not Keller returns from suspension. |
| 11 (11) |  |
Mmm.. Tight ends. But seriously, those loaded (by Gopher standards at least) classes will pay off some year. Just not this year. |
So, not too much divergence from our peers. How does your top 10 11 look?
Iowa is starting to recover from the devastating flooding of last week, but help is still needed in the area. I'm embarrassed to admit that I had underestimated the scope of the issue until reading about it at BHGP. The Iowa City video that they link to is jaw-dropping: residence halls and power plants underwater.
Since it's fashionable these days to think of Buckeye fans as knuckle-dragging baby-eaters, I can't think of a better way to help dispel that notion than to take up Hawkeye State's request and make a donation to the American Red Cross that serves the region.
Comments
The way the poll is worded reminds me of how Larry Bird approached the 3pt contest in 1987. Do you think Tressel goes to the Big Ten Media Day and asks "all right, who's coming in second place this season?"
I still think Purdue and possibly Northwestern finish ahead of Michigan.
I think m*ch*g*n will win close games on the defensive side of the ball, and finish out 7-5, or even 8-4. We all know one certain win is p*nn st*te, who couldn't beat m*ch*g*n if the life of their program depended upon it.
JoePa's guys are overrated, indeed. I still look for something good out of MSU - our trip up there will be tough, presuming Hoyer shows some improvement. I don't know if Sparty is the Big T(elev)en's second-best team, but I think they're better than fifth.
Iowa's toast, and 11W is correct - Ferentz has lost the program.
1) OSU
2) Wisconsin
3) Illinois
4) Michigan
5) PSU
6) MSU
7) Purdue
8) Northwestern
9) Iowa
10) Indiana
11) Minnesota
As you can tell, I think PSU is REALLY headed downhill this year, and I'm gonna give Michigan a little higher ranking because of a weak early schedule that will give their defense will keep close while their QB's learn the new system.
No way do my Wolverines finish in the upper half this year.
I'm looking forward to seeing who the coaches and media pick as their pre-season offensive (Beanie?) and defensive (Laurinaitis?) players of the year.
Wil, I am surprised you are giving Michigan that much credit, perhaps you have been hanging with your brother lately. Their early schedule does help, but the stretch of ND, Whisky and Illinois will provide a true mark. How about Utah coming in the first week and possibly blowing them up? I think Utah blew the doors off UCLA last year, so that is not a given victory.
Five teams in most top 25s, Michigan in none, and the Big Ten is down?
Every team is better this year except for Michigan (which is a total unknown right now), Indiana, and possibly Iowa and Illinois (slightly) sans Mendenhall.
It will be a dogfight to be in the upper half of the league. This is shaping up to be, potentially, the best Big Ten season of the 2000s.
The OOC key games for each team are lacking overall, but there are some compelling match-ups. Here are each teams toughest OOC games.
Illinois - @Missouri / Missouri is better, but Illinois can win this game.
Indiana - Central Michigan
Iowa - @Pitt / Pitt is getting a little hype. This would be a nice early win if Iowa can wake up (They also play Iowa State in the annual match-up).
Michigan - Utah / Utah may come in favored. (ND is their 2nd toughest)
Michigan State - @Cal / This would be a nice Big Ten victory if they can pull it off. (MSU also plays ND)
Minnesota - Florida Atlantic....pitiful.
Northwestern - Syracuse? Duke? St. Emma's School for the Blind?
Ohio State - USC (no comments needed)
Penn State - Oregon State / It would be a shame if PSU lost this one.
Purdue - Oregon / See MSU comments.
Wisconsin - @Fresno State / I hear a lot of people already calling this upset. Tough game that starts at 10:30 EST. Wisky can prove a lot with a win here.
Unless the rest of the Big Ten blows it and loses the majority of these games the national perception will hinge on the USC game. Four opportunities against the Pac-10 is compelling. Anybody losing to ND will hurt.
Predicting the Big Ten:
1). The Ohio State University
2). Wisconsin
T3). MSU
T3). PSU
4). Illinois
5). Northwestern
6). Michigan
7). Purdue
8). Minnesota
9). Iowa
10). Indiana
Other than tOSU, the Big Ten has turned into the C-USA. We really need some of these teams to step up and soon.
Corey, I see UM going 8-4 with their losses being to Wisconsin, MSU and Illinois at home and tOSU on the road.
ND is gonna be a joke again, UCLA was a joke last year so I still think Michigan's D will get them victories against ND and Utah.
Utah could pull out a victory......but that means nothing to michigan's Big 10 standing.