Many preseason publications have Ohio State as the runaway winner in the Big 10. No doubt the Buckeyes are loaded on an offense that should be lethal featuring Heisman candidate Troy Smitm and an explosive group of backs and receivers. Many analysts are overlooking that the OSU defense lost 9 starters. No team is capable of just replacing 9 starters on defense without growing pains. I think its a little early to anoint Ohio State kings of the Big 10.

Penn State, Michigan, Iowa, and even Michigan State have enough talent on offense to compete with the Buckeyes. Out of that Group, Penn State is the team that strikes me as having the talent ( especially on defense) to curtail OSU's offense in a match up. If PSU replaces their all everything quarterback from last year Michael Robinson, the Lions have the opportunity to play for a BCS bowl game ( auto or at large).

Interestingly Enough, Notre Dame's aspiration for a national championship might end at the hands of a Big 10 team this fall. The Irish play Michigan State, Michigan, and travel to Happy Valley this year.

IMO, the Big 10 is probably the best conference top to bottom heading into the college football season. Even the SEC would have a difficult time matching up with the explosive offenses of the Big 10 this year.

With the QB'ing leaderhip of Iowa's Drew Tate ( 2800 yards), Michigan State's Drew Stanton ( 3400 yards), Michigan's Chad Henne ( 2600 yards), Wisconsin's Stucco ( 2500 yards), Minnesota's Cuppito ( 2600 yards), and OSU's Troy Smith ( 2900 all purpose yards) the Big 10 easily has the most dynamic Quarterbacks of any conference.

This could be one of the most exciting Big 10 football seasons in recent years.

I'll be one of those picking d'OSU to win the conference -- their schedule is pretty good (getting PSU and MI at home) -- toughest game is an early one against the pig farmers in Iowa City -- the only team that has a good chance to challenge them for the crown (with Drew Tate the best QB the Big Ten)

MSU will have a great year, but can they win in AA and Happy Valley? Stanton is a terrific QB, and they have stud WRs.

Meechigan brings back Henne and Hart -- don't know if that's enuf for them to do it -- I can easily see 3 losses on the road (plus one to ND)

As for my Badgers, having to replace Calhoun and the top two WRs is tough. Defense should be great (as witnessed in their Cap One Bowl performance) - nearly everyone is back.

Bucky,

Your Badgers have a knack for producing 1200-1600 yard rushing sensations in their first year being featured as the primary back. I'm ( as I am sure you are) anxious to see how Wisconsin's new coach does replacing Alvarez. If the Badgers find a Running Back ( as they always seem to do) and WR's, they could be the surprise team of the Big 10 with a dolid defense already intact.

Illini! There, I said it, although I'll have to wait until conference play begins to see if I feel better. Looks like the Spartans will be my adoptees this year.

Somebody hurry up and start that Division III thread up again! :cool:

Ohio State could be hanging another national title banner after this season but NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND. I can't wait for college football to start.

Lee Corso.....is that you???
wink

I'm sorry, you must have stumbled into the football thread by accident. The basketball thread is in another forum...

The mystery team for me is PSU. Did they lose too much offensive talent? D should be strong, led by Posluszny.

Well they're gonna rely on a redshirt frosh named PJ Hill. Last time they started a frosh at RB was back in 2001 with Anthony Davis -- but finished with a 5-7 record. He did set an frosh NCAA record for 10 games with 100+ yards though. Some reports I read compare his size and style to Ron Dayne, which is promising.

Badger fans are excited about Bielema as coach. I got to meet him back in May here in DC at an alum gathering -- where we all gave him a hard time about his Iowa Hawkeye tattoo ( should have brough my palm sander!). I respect that he's even more no nonsense than Alvarez -- already kicked a couple guys off that team for disciplinary problems.

By the way...the PSU/ND game is in South Bend, not State College this year. 2007 they will play in Happy Valley.

Anyone's thoughts on Penn State? I don't know if they can win the division. Hopefully, Anthony Morelli will be able to live up to his expectations. The linebacking corps still looks strong. Their schedule looks tough, but not impossible. Road battles include two trips to Indiana, Columbus, and Minneapolis. I think they can take Michigan at home, and I don't see the Illini posing much of a challenge. Prediction...9-3, second place in the conference behind Ohio State.

In other news, Michael Robinson signs with the 49ers. I hope they have a spot for him....

It's media day in the Big Ten -- they announced their picks: OSU to win, Michigan second, Iowa third.

Variation on the same theme from at least the last two years.

2005: Michigan, OSU, Iowa.

2004: Michigan, OSU, Iowa.

... and so forth. But at the league is well past the bad old days of the Big Two and Little Eight.

But they're, of course, never completely correct -- some other team usually vaults up there -- last year, Penn State tied for first -- while Michigan suffered a wonderfully mediocre season to finished tied for third with Iowa, Wisc. and NU.

And in 2004, OSU finished way back in 5th, beat out by the Badgers at 3rd and NU at 4th.

Gee...I love those seasons...LOL! Anything can happen between now and December. I am just excited about the new imroved BCS with it's 5th "REAL" championship game on January 8th in Arizona. Not.

God, I just hope we don't give up 63 points on Homecoming again. That was horrible.
frown

The scheduling gods gave Illinois the gift of Indiana on Homecoming -- so they'd better not give up 63 points!

I was present for two Illinois wins last year (oops, make that ALL of Illinois' wins last year), maybe I should attend the Homecoming game. Come to think of it, I've NEVER been to an Illinois game that they've lost. Hmm...

You are hereby banned from all Illini-Penn State games... including basketball.

We're less than a month away from kickoff! Time to make my picks:

1. Iowa
2. An Ohio State University
tie for 3. Penn State
3. Purdue
3. Michigan

tie for 6. Michigan State
6. Wisconsin

8. Indiana
tie 9. Minnesota
9. Illinois
9. Northwestern

DCB, however negative it is for my Illini, I have to agree with your pigskin prognosis. Stick with football and steer clear of politics! wink

*cough*

Ohio State tied Penn State. PSU were the Champs. All I have to say is 17-10 haha.

I think this should be a really competitive season. I am worried about the early trip to South Bend. But I'm not impressed with ND's defense. I think the speed of PSU's WR's will keep us in the game. We travel to the shoe. That also worries me. But I believe this year will be the year we finally top Michigan. Night game in Beaver Stadium...doesn't get much better.

Our whole season depends on 1) If Anthony Morelli steps it up and replaces M-Rob. 2) If Poz can pull this defense together and make it into the Defense we've had the past 2 years. There are a lot of holes to fill.

I'm more worried about #2 rather than #1. I think Morelli will step up - my bet is he really gets going around mid-season. The D has way too many holes to fill, but you always know JoePa has something cooking. I can't wait!

Hi,

Saying hello from the Pac-10 - I'd love to go to a Penn St/Ohio St game or an Ohio St/Michigan game - provided there's a gay bar closeby when the game is over...

If you want to attend a PSU-Ohio Stame game, I'd suggest this years in Columbus. There have to be more gay bars there than State College's one. Oh wait, Twoi if you count Players on Sunday nights.

I grew up on the Illinois side of the Iowa/Illinois border (Rock Island, IL) but have been a Hawkeye fan since the early 80's... GO HAWKEYES!!

P.S. I've spent pretty much my entire life in Big 10 country (St. Louis is technically Big 12 country but I'm just across the river...) :cool:

PSU is highly underrated this year...I can't believe how so many of the sportswriters think that because we don't have Michael Robinson, we will be like 4th or 5th in the conference. That was a team effort last year...we still have great linebackers led by Posluszny who is awesome, we still have Derrick Williams, Tony Hunt, and Justin King.


And hey, State College is good for partying....the gay bar isn't *that* bad wink

PSU could very well be underrated. Their D is as good as any in the country. They have some good to very good skill position players ( especially at WR).

However, on the flip side, the Lions could be overrated. In the last 6 years PSU has not resembled the program it use to be in the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's. IN other words its not your mom and dad's PSU anymore.


Because of Michael Robinson's play making and athleticism, PSU's offense finally took off after years of mediocrity ( putting it mildly). His ability to run and scramble for big yardage, pass on the run, and without question his best attribute of becoming the rock of the PSU offense. An offense that was starved for a playmaker like him to step up and lead.

The cold reality for PSU fans is Robinson is gone. With that, its normal that some are questioning if PSU can sustain the momentum of last season.


The development of drop back passer ( the anti thesis of Robinson) Anthony Morelli is of high importance if PSU wants to be a BCS caliber team or a regular bowl team.

Many people still have a wait and see approach on PSU before proclaim they are back. Everyone knows the D is as good as any in the country. Whether a drop back passer like Morelli can work at PSU under the guidance of Galen Hall and JoePa is the million dollar Question.
wink

Is it too early for unofficial week one predictions?

Northwestern at Miami(OH) - Miami 28 Northwestern 27
Minnesota at Kent State - Minnesota 26 Kent State 12
Idaho at Michigan State - Michigan State 42 Idaho 14
Vanderbilt at Michigan - Michigan 38 Vandy 20
Montana at Iowa - Iowa 34 Montana 7
Indiana State at Purdue - Purdue 49 Indiana State 7
Northern Illinois at Ohio State - Ohio State 35 UNI 24
Akron at Penn State - Penn State 38 Akron 10
Western Michigan at Indiana - Indiana 14 Western Michigan 10
Wisconsin at Bowling Green - Wisconsin 27 BGU 17
Eastern Illinois at Illinois - Illinois 34 Eastern Illinois 3

For years, that's all PSU had... a dropback passer. Well, when we weren't handing off the ball to our running back or fullback. Up the middle, up the middle, incomplete, punt! was our mantra. But we won. All that scrambling last year... gave the old timers a heart attack! Too much action on offense. :cool:

Woo Hoo! We're being picked to win a game! Maybe I should attend just to assure victory.

I remember that year that Illinois played LSU in the sugar bowl....

That was a long time ago :

Despite the Illini having won the conference, I kinda felt sorry for them then -- to me the goal of any Big Ten team is to represent the league in the Rose Bowl, the "Granddaddy of Them All." So here's their first time on top since 1983, and that game's taken over by the BCS. And the Illini end up with a second hand rose.

I remember that too, DCB, as well as the time that OSU was picked over Meechigan to go to the Rose Bowl. '77 or '78 I think it was - and similar bad feelings in Ann Arbor at the time. I used to have a button that had a screw on it being drilled into a "Block M," with a caption that read, "Thanks, NCAA!" IMHO, only Pac Ten and Big Ten teams belong in the Rose Bowl, except for occasional regular season inter-divisional play like when Fresno State plays UCLA.

I do my best to forget that game. Yeesh.

Some cause for concern in Wisconsin where QB Stocco is out for a few weeks from "minor" knee surgery. He is the best returning part of the scoring with last season's starting RB, FB, WRs, and TEs have all moving onto the pros.

Overheard in the Halls of Justice - aka my office - at work today: "How can anyone rank Ohio State number one when they've lost as many starting players as they have?"

I think I've just made a new friend!

Predictions for opening weekend:

Minnesota @ Kent State
Goofs are supposed to turn to a pasing oriented game, having lost their 1000 yd rusher. Will roll to a 28 point win.

Northwestern @ Miami
Should be the closest of all the matchups. NU will pull it out by 3 -- taking advantage of a couple turnovers

Montana @ Iowa
Montana may be a D-1AA power, but ... Hogeyes 50 - 0

Vanderbilt @ Michigan
Always nice to see the Big Ten trounce an SEC team, kinda like in the Capital One Bowl earlier this year. Wolverettes 35 - Commodores 13

Idaho @ Michigan State
State 45 - Idaho 6

Indiana State @ Purdue
Yet another DI-AA school: PU 42 - I-State 9

Akron @ Penn State
Good chance for PSU's new offense to take shape: PSU 42 - Akron 10

Northern Illinois @ An Ohio State University
N. Illinois will give d'OSU a good fight in the first half, then fold: Buckeyes 35 - UNI 14

Wisconsin @ Bowling Green (in Cleveland)
Both starting QBs may be out for the game -- UW's offense will struggle for a while, but the D will do it for them: Bucky 21 - BGSU 9

Western Michigan @ Indiana
IU 27 - WMU 10

Hey Bucky, where's the Illinois - Eastern Illinois analysis?


I have senior QB Brasic making it through the first half, hopefully getting pulled with Illinois up 28 and giving the freshman a chance behind center.

Illinois 35 - Eastern 21

Doh! It was like I was counting back in the old days when the Big Ten had, well, ten teams and ten games!

I'd agree that Brasic will have a field day; Illini D is still suspect but should be able to hold EIU to under 10. So Illinois 35 - EIU 9.

Heh, guess I find them a lot more suspect than you do.

Dennis Erickson has former WAC lightweight Idaho playing very, very well. This team was terrible a year ago but hanging very tough today in East Lansing. It's Michigan State 24, Idaho 17 with 9 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter.

Report from Happy Valley: Penn State 17-Akron 0 in the 2nd quarter. Heralded QB Anthony Morelli is 7-11 for 112 yards and 2 TD's. The Nittany Lions defense has only allowed 78 yards. I think this is going to be an easy one. GO LIONS!!!

It would be much worse for Akron if they weren't playing in that damn tropical storm. Even so, there should have been 2 more scores on the board. Some sloppy play, but that's what first games are for. We'll see how they adjust in the 2nd half. They can't let Akron sneak back in, the margin isn't that large.

I am surprised how much Joe is letting them throw the ball in the rain, that is definitely not his style. Which means he really thinks we have the QB and the receivers. The speed Morelli has on the ball at times...

Nicest surprise so far: Purdue's manhandling of ISU! If the Boilers keep playing like that all season, ... Let's hope the Illini follow Purdue's tracks.

OK, now back to the tube and Cal. at Tenn!

Biggest surprise was Purdue's manhandling of Indiana State? You're kidding, right?

Indiana State is not only a Division I-AA team, but one of the very worst teams in all of I-AA. They went winless (0-11) a year ago, lost several games by more than 40 points and even gave up 70 points against Illinois State. They are horrendous. The fact Indiana State was able to score 35 points on Purdue today and pound out nearly 400 yards of total offense is nothing for the Boilermakers to be proud of.

[ September 02, 2006, 02:52 PM: Message edited by: TheOtherFSU ]

What FSU said^

Here's some things about today (by the way I am watching my game right now, but I was one of many who weren't able to get student season tickets )

Michigan vs. Vanderbilt

Not impressed with Michigan, impressed with Vanderbilt. Considering everything, including the fact that Michigan should have been able to run them over...this game was pretty sad for them. Vandy held on for a long time...too long for a much heralded "Elite team" opponent. After this, and considering this is first game jitters....Vandy should do well in the SEC this year...Michigan may be looking at an 8-4 season.


Michigan State vs. Idaho

Michigan State looks to continue its mediocreness. Nothing much else to see here.

Purdue vs. Indiana State

Bahahaha at Purdue. They obviously have zero defense. This was just a laughing stock....yeah Purdue won, but against what...an almost high school football team? Give me a break. Expect Purdue to maybe get 2 more wins this season if this continues.

Iowa vs. Montana

Good job Iowa...keep it up. They should easily do well this year. Expect the Iowa vs. Michigan game to determine who is 3 or 4 in the conference.

Horrible 3rd Quarter, exactly what I was afraid of. They should have put this team away. Offense is sputtering and stupid turnovers

Penn State,

I'm not worried at all. Akron is no doubt the best team in the MAC...arguably the best mid-major conference (after the championship last year). Now considering that, our current lead, and the weather...well, let's just say if it wasn't raining like it is, we'd be ahead by a lot more. This type of play is typical of our team during rain. It's also our first game and Morelli's introduction to the PSU community. Last year our weakness was turnovers..no doubt, along with a plague of penalties at times.

So yeah, I'm definitely not worried about this year. We will have a great year (and honestly, after this showing, I think our team is better this year vs. last year's...we'll see )

I'm feeling good about the defense. Very talented. More talented than last year's, but the lack of experience may hurt us in a big game.

Weather did cause this from being a runaway. Even if we still made some of the stupid plays, there were a couple of dropped (wet) balls, and several instances of players slipping on the wet turf that prevented a huge run.

Offense looked, on the one hand, better than I would expect for a PSU opener. Usually the offense looks pretty bad the first game. Concerned with the inability to establish a running game. Part of that may have been the weather (though I didn't see Hunt slipping, just the receivers). I think part of it was the o-line and part was the unusual defense Akron employs.

We'll know a lot more after next week. I think we take one of two from Notre Dame/Ohio State road games... and my money would be on Notre Dame right now.

I think we will beat ND as well..

However, the OSU game is starting to look more and more interesting now...

OSU 35 NIU 12
PSU 34 AKR 16

Interesting, isn't it? I think the OSU/PSU game is going to be a lot closer than some think, hell I think we can pull it out as long as our team realizes they will severely be gunning for us after last year.

LOL!

Hey my Big-Ten brothers & sisters, your conference looks strong this year. Congrats...Now beat the hell out of Notre Dame because come Thanksgiving weekend in November we want them bruised & disheveled.