Okay, let's talk about predictions for the Big 10 2008 football season

Team by Team. Here goes.

Illinois- 6-6 (3-5)
8/30 @ Missouri L
9/06 Eastern Illinois W
9/13 Louisiana-Lafayette W
9/27 @ Penn State L
10/04 @ Michigan L
10/11 Minnesota W
10/18 Indiana L
10/25 @ Wisconsin L
11/01 Iowa W
11/08 @ Western Michigan W
11/15 Ohio State L
11/22 @ Northwestern W

I don't think much of Illinois. I think Zook's recruiting is overrated. I will be doing something in the future about Illinois recruiting from 2005-2007 and how many of those 4 star wunderkinds are still on the team and/or contributing. You would be surprised.

Indiana- 9-3 (6-2)
8/30 Western Kentucky W
9/06 Murray State W
9/20 Ball State W
9/27 Michigan State W
10/04 @ Minnesota W
10/11 Iowa W
10/18 @ Illinois W
10/25 Northwestern W
11/01 Central Michigan L
11/08 Wisconsin L
11/15 @ Penn State L
11/22 @ Purdue W

Call me a homer. Don't care. We've beaten the almighty Zooker 2 out of the last 3 years. We'll make 3 of 4. Central scares me a bit, however. Mind you, this projection is based on Kellen Lewis staying healthy.

Iowa- 5-7 (2-6)
8/30 Maine W
9/06 Florida International W
9/13 Iowa State W
9/20 @ Pittsburgh L
9/27 Northwestern W
10/04 @ Michigan State L
10/11 @ Indiana L
10/18 Wisconsin L
11/01 @ Illinois L
11/08 Penn State L
11/15 Purdue L
11/22 @ Minnesota W

I love Kirk Ferentz and Norm Parker, but the offense sucks. I realize they had a new quarterback last year, but there's no excuse for that offensive line to not block better. Where is Dan Doering????


Michigan- 7-5 (5-3)
8/30 Utah L
9/06 Miami (OH) W
9/13 @ Notre Dame L
9/27 Wisconsin W
10/04 Illinois W
10/11 Toledo W
10/18 @ Penn State L
10/25 Michigan State L
11/01 @ Purdue W
11/08 @ Minnesota W
11/15 Northwestern W
11/22 @ Ohio State L

Michigan State- 7-5 (5-3)
8/30 @ California L
9/06 Eastern Michigan W
9/13 Florida Atlantic W
9/20 Notre Dame L
9/27 @ Indiana L
10/04 Iowa W
10/11 @ Northwestern W
10/18 Ohio State L
10/25 @ Michigan W
11/01 Wisconsin W
11/08 Purdue W
11/22 @ Penn State L

7-5 isn't bad. I could see them winning 9. 2010 MSU wins the Big 10. I'm not impressed by MSU's line play on either side of the ball. That will no doubt change in the next two years. Kudos thus far to Dantonio. Wonderful coach. The shameful JLS tenure will eventually be bled out of Sparty's body.

Minnesota- 2-9 (0-8)
8/30 Northern Illinois W
9/06 @ Bowling Green L
9/13 Montana State W
9/20 Florida Atlantic L
9/27 @ Ohio State L
10/04 Indiana L
10/11 @ Illinois L
10/25 @ Purdue L
11/01 Northwestern L
11/08 Michigan L
11/15 @ Wisconsin L
11/22 Iowa L

I don't buy the Brewster hype machine. Yeah, he's energetic as crap. So was Ed Orgeron at Mississippi. Filling a roster with JUCO's is a stop gap solution. Minnesota's defense will continue to flounder.

Northwestern- 5-7 (1-7)
8/30 Syracuse W
9/06 @ Duke W
9/13 Southern Illinois W
9/20 Ohio W
9/27 @ Iowa L
10/11 Michigan State L
10/18 Purdue L
10/25 @ Indiana L
11/01 @ Minnesota W
11/08 Ohio State L
11/15 @ Michigan L
11/22 Illinois L

Northwestern does nothing for me. You'd think after beating Indiana the last umpteen in a row they would. I just don't like them. And I hate their jerseys. The helmet sucks too.

Ohio State- 12-0 (8-0)
8/30 Youngstown State W
9/06 Ohio W
9/13 @ USC W
9/20 Troy W
9/27 Minnesota W
10/04 @ Wisconsin W
10/11 Purdue W
10/18 @ Michigan State W
10/25 Penn State W
11/08 @ Northwestern W
11/15 @ Illinois W
11/22 Michigan W

3rd time is the charm. OSU wins the National Championship.

Penn State- 10-2 (6-2)
8/30 Coastal Carolina W
9/06 Oregon State W
9/13 @ Syracuse W
9/20 Temple W
9/27 Illinois W
10/04 @ Purdue W
10/11 @ Wisconsin L
10/18 Michigan W
10/25 @ Ohio State L
11/08 @ Iowa W
11/15 Indiana W
11/22 Michigan State W

Hmm. Could be really good or not so good (but still respectable. The QB situation there is awful. Clark or Savage? Ugh.

Purdue- 5-7 (3-5)
9/06 Northern Colorado W
9/13 Oregon L
9/20 Central Michigan W
9/27 @ Notre Dame L
10/04 Penn State L
10/11 @ Ohio State L
10/18 @ Northwestern W
10/25 Minnesota W
11/01 Michigan L
11/08 @ Michigan State L
11/15 @ Iowa W
11/22 Indiana L

I actually enjoy watching Purdue play. I have no hard feelings for them. Tiller was and is a great, great coach. I think the Hope experiment is a disaster waiting to happen.

Wisconsin- 9-3 (6-2)
8/30 Akron W
9/06 Marshall W
9/13 @ Fresno State W
9/27 @ Michigan L
10/04 Ohio State L
10/11 Penn State W
10/18 @ Iowa W
10/25 Illinois W
11/01 @ Michigan State L
11/08 @ Indiana W
11/15 Minnesota W
11/22 Cal Poly W

If they get quarterback play they will be fine. If not, 7 wins would be a gift.

That's it then. Apart from the typical factors of key injuries, academic casualties, I think this is it.

I know the typical Illinois fan loves the IU predictions--and that's great--they should crow a bit. I mean after all, there is nothing more holy than a reformed whore. You know the saying right? The born again Christian who for 12 years partied like a rock star, and upon hitting rock bottom and backed into a corner called out to God? That born again Christian now becomes the biggest pain in the ass for the rest of humanity. That's like an Illinois fan. They spent an infinite amount of time wallowing in the basement of the Big 10, then poof, they get to 9-4. Good for them. I enjoyed watching them last year. Now, however, the Illinois fans place themselves on the alter of the football gods and anoint themselves as the saviors of the Big 10, looking down upon the sheep of the mid to bottom Big 10 with scorn. So laugh Illinois fans. Take your shots, enjoy the limelight. Methinks it will be a brief stay for you. As Dennis Miller once said, nobody finds God on prom night.

I will say this, however, Mike Locksely is a genius. An unbelievable recruiter. A true head coach in waiting.