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Big Ten Football Race

Well with all the rhetoric going on about B1G, I thought I would give my predictions on the upcoming race and who will finish where.

First some idle thoughts in general:

Wisconsin got screwed by the schedule makers. The Badgers open the B1G slate at Michigan State and at Michigan. Then, after a bye week, they host Ohio State then travel to Iowa. They could be looking 0-4 to start the league schedule.

Some of the front runners in the race, particularly Iowa and Michigan, should be embarrassed  by their non-league schedules. Others like Ohio State (@ Oklahoma), Michigan State (@ Notre Dame), Wisconsin (LSU) and Nebraska (Oregon) should be commended for their ambition.

Of the front runners or league favorites, Nebraska appears to have the easiest schedule as they only play Ohio State, Iowa and Wisconsin, but manage to avoid playing Michigan and Michigan State.

Pretty tough to get a read on teams like Maryland and Illinois. Both schools have new coaches in D.J. Durkin (Maryland) and Lovie Smith (Illinois). Both appear to be upgrades, but Durkin has never been a head coach except for a one game bowl stint as an interim HC at Florida and Smith is most likely another phone call away from the NFL.

Predictions: The B1G race will be a battle hat everyone predicted when the different divisions were formed. Tough non-league losses by Ohio State to Oklahoma and Michigan State to Notre Dame play a huge role in deterring the National Playoff.

East Division        League     Overall
1. Ohio State              7-2          9-3
1. Michigan                7-2         10-2
1. Michigan State       7-2          9-3
4. Penn State              5-4          7-5
5. Indiana                    4-5         7-5
6. Maryland                2-7         5-7
6. Rutgers                   2-7          4-8

West Division           League    Overall
1. Iowa                          7-2         10-2
2. Wisconsin                 6-3           8-4
3. Minnesota                 5-4           8-4
4. Nebraska                   4-5           6-6
4. Northwestern            4-5           6-6
6. Illinois                       2-7          4-8
7. Purdue                      1-8           3-9

Notable Games:
9/24 Wisconsin 21 Michigan State 17
10/1 Michigan 24 Wisconsin 10
10/8 Minnesota 24 Iowa 21
10/15 Wisconsin 31 Ohio State 27
10/22 Iowa 17 Wisconsin 10
10/29 Michigan State 14 Michigan 13
11/5 Ohio State 34 Nebraska 20
11/12 Michigan 21 Iowa 20
11/19 Ohio State 28 Michigan State 24
11/26 Ohio State 24 Michigan 20

*Ohio State wins East based on tie breaker

B1G Championship Game
(8) Iowa 24  (10)Ohio State 21

B1G Offensive Player of the Year
QB C.J Beathard Iowa

B1G Defensive Player of the Year
S Jabrill Peppers Michigan

B1G Coach of the Year
Kurt Ferentz Iowa

National Playoff
(3) Alabama (12-1) 35   (2) Notre Dame (12-0) 31
(1) Oklahoma (12-0) 38  (4) Stanford (12-1) 28

National Championship
(1) Oklahoma 41  (3) Alabama 38

Chris Schultz

View Comments

  • Let's have a rational conversation. I picked UM 10-2 and State 9-3. I have stated why on State including why I picked them over the Wolverines by 1. Let's here your argument for why UM should be better and State would be worse. State has 5 double digit win seasons in the last 6 and I picked them to not do that this season. Please show your rational thought process please.

  • They especially dominated the last 10 seconds. There is a children's classic book called "10 Seconds to Play." Ha ha ha ... still funny to think 6 linemen will block 11 rushing.

  • One more question. Did you cry when Michigan lost that game that was dominated statistically by State?

    • This statement proves my point. You are emotional and biased. Accusing me of crying. Why can't you just have a rational conversation without the silly remarks?

  • I picked State to win by 1 at home against Michigan and you can't take that serious? You probably thought that double digit Michigan favorite spread was a lock last year too. State has 31 players back who started at one point in their career. They have the best D tackle in the league, the best LB corp in the league, return virtually everyone in the defensive backfield including two starters who missed 10 games or more. Did you know that State started two true freshmen at safety last year against Michigan? Did you know that neither of those two are slated as number 1's? Dantonio has won 61 games in the last 6 seasons.

    Do yourself a favor, watch the B1G preview that came out today on the B1G Network. They did both State and Michigan today. Watch what they say and see if I am being a homer.

    That may also give some insight into your own team. They will be very good, but do you actually know why? Do this too. Ask yourself who the best defensive lineman, LB, DB, and safety are in the league. Write them down then ask yourself who is biased. I named all four players before they were chosen by Glen Mason.

    Don't call me out when you are most likely a Michigan homer.

  • ....and what bothers me is what I clearly stated. Nobody can take you serious when it comes to Mich v MSU because you are extremely biased. I don't think Mich will win the big ten. That should probably go to OSU.

  • I think you are doing everything possible to hang on to the fading glory of your 7 year run. It was a nice lil run. Glad you enjoyed it.

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