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East Division
1. Michigan (11-1, 8-1)
The Wolverines are excellent on both lines. I also love that they have the best trio of receivers in the league and a shutdown corner in Jourdan Lewis, plus a big-play defender to roam all over the place in Jabrill Peppers, who should be a perfect fit in new DC Don Brown’s system. There are some QB concerns between Wilton Speight and John O’Korn, but the structure around those guys is very strong. Strong enough where I think this group can navigate a brutal Big Ten road schedule that includes games at Iowa, at MSU and at OSU, where they haven’t won since 2000. But I think Jim Harbaugh will get it done this fall.
2. Ohio State (9-3, 7-2)
I can’t recall a team with as few starters back (six) as the Buckeyes have and that team not missing a beat at all. I expect J.T. Barrett to play well and the defense will be fast and should play well under new DC Greg Schiano, but I think with all of the inexperience on both sides of the ball, consistency will be a concern.
3T. Michigan State (8-4, 6-3)
The defense should be nasty again, led by Malik McDowell and some terrific linebackers, but I think they may take a little step back because they lost three starters on the O-line and two of them -- the two Jacks, Conklin and Allen -- were superb. Plus, they need to find a new QB with Connor Cook off to the NFL. Keep an eye on Donnie Corley, a freshman WR who adds to what should be an underrated group of skill guys.
3T. Penn State (8-4, 6-3)
The Nittany Lions have some terrific skill talent led by a gifted group of receivers and RB Saquon Barkley. The QB is a big question mark, as is the O-line. The linebackers should be the strength of a pretty good D, but this group will be very young with 49 guys on the roster who are either true freshmen or redshirt freshmen.
5. Maryland (6-6, 3-6)
There’s some speed and athleticism in places on this roster, especially in the secondary. QB play is a major concern, but they have a good chance to get some traction with a possible 4-0 start and have a decent chance to open 5-1.
6. Indiana (5-7, 2-7)
Kevin Wilson has a good O-line and should produce another strong offense, although there is some uncertainty at QB. I like the hire of new DC Tom Allen. He’s very well-regarded in coaching circles. They’ll be better on D, but they’re in a rough division. IF they can beat Maryland at home Oct. 29, I think they’ll have a bowl team, but I ended up going with the Terps after flip-flopping a few times.
7. Rutgers (4-8, 2-7)
Chris Ash has a tough rebuilding job on his hands in a rugged conference. He does have some speed on offense and a playmaker in Janarion Grant, and Darius Hamilton leads a good D-line, but it’ll be tough to get momentum this fall. Four of RU’s first six opponents are among the AP’s preseason top 17 (at Washington; Iowa; at OSU; and Michigan). They also travel to No. 12 MSU later in the year.
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West Division
1. Iowa (10-2, 7-2)
Once again, expect people to knock the Hawkeyes' schedule as their wins pile up. Their toughest road game is probably at Penn State, and they host a good Michigan squad. Desmond King leads a good secondary, and C.J. Beathard is an underrated QB who has earned a lot of respect from rival Big Ten coaches for his presence.
2T. Nebraska (8-4, 5-4)
This is a pretty talented group. Keep an eye on future defensive stars Dedrick Young, a linebacker, and Lamar Jackson at CB. Tommy Armstrong has really good WRs but must cut down on the mistakes; he threw 16 INTs last year. Worse still, Nebraska was the most penalized team in the Big Ten. Those mistakes are pivotal when you're a team that had six of its seven losses by eight points or less last year.
2T. Northwestern (8-4, 5-4)
Pat Fitzgerald has a stud linebacker in Anthony Walker and one of the Big Ten's best RBs in Justin Jackson, but the downside is NU has to visit three of the four best teams in the conference with trips to Iowa City, East Lansing and Columbus -- and all of them are in October.
4T. Minnesota (7-5, 4-5)
The good news: The schedule breaks very well for the Gophers with them getting Maryland, Penn State and Rutgers from the East -- teams that were 6-18 in conference play last year. Aside from a trip to Penn State, they don’t have another road trip till mid-October.
4T. Wisconsin (6-6, 4-5)
I feel like they have superior talent to Minnesota outside of the QB position, but their schedule is the opposite. They open with LSU and have trips to Ann Arbor, Iowa City and East Lansing, plus a visit from OSU and Nebraska all before Halloween. Ouch.
6T. Illinois (4-8, 2-7)
Lovie Smith inherits a talented QB in Wes Lunt who now is playing in his fifth system in five college seasons. The Illini have some talent, but they need to find a way to run the ball a lot better and the schedule isn’t easy with home dates against Purdue and Minnesota and a trip to Rutgers as the best chances for wins in conference play. After that, the Big Ten slate looks pretty imposing.
6T. Purdue (4-8, 2-7)
I think Purdue will be improved this fall, but probably not enough to save Darrell Hazell’s job. David Blough is a gifted QB and there are 16 starters back, but I just don’t think they’ll be good enough on defense, especially containing the run, to get to .500.
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Big Ten Title Game: Michigan over Iowa
It's never easy to beat a good team twice in the same season, especially when neither game is at your place, but I'll go with the Wolverines to win the conference. Their physical downhill running game coupled with a big, athletic group of receivers will make them a handful for people. Plus, the arrival of Dr. Blitz, Don Brown, should make a fierce defense downright nasty.
East Division
1. Michigan (11-1, 8-1)
The Wolverines are excellent on both lines. I also love that they have the best trio of receivers in the league and a shutdown corner in Jourdan Lewis, plus a big-play defender to roam all over the place in Jabrill Peppers, who should be a perfect fit in new DC Don Brown’s system. There are some QB concerns between Wilton Speight and John O’Korn, but the structure around those guys is very strong. Strong enough where I think this group can navigate a brutal Big Ten road schedule that includes games at Iowa, at MSU and at OSU, where they haven’t won since 2000. But I think Jim Harbaugh will get it done this fall.
2. Ohio State (9-3, 7-2)
I can’t recall a team with as few starters back (six) as the Buckeyes have and that team not missing a beat at all. I expect J.T. Barrett to play well and the defense will be fast and should play well under new DC Greg Schiano, but I think with all of the inexperience on both sides of the ball, consistency will be a concern.
3T. Michigan State (8-4, 6-3)
The defense should be nasty again, led by Malik McDowell and some terrific linebackers, but I think they may take a little step back because they lost three starters on the O-line and two of them -- the two Jacks, Conklin and Allen -- were superb. Plus, they need to find a new QB with Connor Cook off to the NFL. Keep an eye on Donnie Corley, a freshman WR who adds to what should be an underrated group of skill guys.
3T. Penn State (8-4, 6-3)
The Nittany Lions have some terrific skill talent led by a gifted group of receivers and RB Saquon Barkley. The QB is a big question mark, as is the O-line. The linebackers should be the strength of a pretty good D, but this group will be very young with 49 guys on the roster who are either true freshmen or redshirt freshmen.
5. Maryland (6-6, 3-6)
There’s some speed and athleticism in places on this roster, especially in the secondary. QB play is a major concern, but they have a good chance to get some traction with a possible 4-0 start and have a decent chance to open 5-1.
6. Indiana (5-7, 2-7)
Kevin Wilson has a good O-line and should produce another strong offense, although there is some uncertainty at QB. I like the hire of new DC Tom Allen. He’s very well-regarded in coaching circles. They’ll be better on D, but they’re in a rough division. IF they can beat Maryland at home Oct. 29, I think they’ll have a bowl team, but I ended up going with the Terps after flip-flopping a few times.
7. Rutgers (4-8, 2-7)
Chris Ash has a tough rebuilding job on his hands in a rugged conference. He does have some speed on offense and a playmaker in Janarion Grant, and Darius Hamilton leads a good D-line, but it’ll be tough to get momentum this fall. Four of RU’s first six opponents are among the AP’s preseason top 17 (at Washington; Iowa; at OSU; and Michigan). They also travel to No. 12 MSU later in the year.
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West Division
1. Iowa (10-2, 7-2)
Once again, expect people to knock the Hawkeyes' schedule as their wins pile up. Their toughest road game is probably at Penn State, and they host a good Michigan squad. Desmond King leads a good secondary, and C.J. Beathard is an underrated QB who has earned a lot of respect from rival Big Ten coaches for his presence.
2T. Nebraska (8-4, 5-4)
This is a pretty talented group. Keep an eye on future defensive stars Dedrick Young, a linebacker, and Lamar Jackson at CB. Tommy Armstrong has really good WRs but must cut down on the mistakes; he threw 16 INTs last year. Worse still, Nebraska was the most penalized team in the Big Ten. Those mistakes are pivotal when you're a team that had six of its seven losses by eight points or less last year.
2T. Northwestern (8-4, 5-4)
Pat Fitzgerald has a stud linebacker in Anthony Walker and one of the Big Ten's best RBs in Justin Jackson, but the downside is NU has to visit three of the four best teams in the conference with trips to Iowa City, East Lansing and Columbus -- and all of them are in October.
4T. Minnesota (7-5, 4-5)
The good news: The schedule breaks very well for the Gophers with them getting Maryland, Penn State and Rutgers from the East -- teams that were 6-18 in conference play last year. Aside from a trip to Penn State, they don’t have another road trip till mid-October.
4T. Wisconsin (6-6, 4-5)
I feel like they have superior talent to Minnesota outside of the QB position, but their schedule is the opposite. They open with LSU and have trips to Ann Arbor, Iowa City and East Lansing, plus a visit from OSU and Nebraska all before Halloween. Ouch.
6T. Illinois (4-8, 2-7)
Lovie Smith inherits a talented QB in Wes Lunt who now is playing in his fifth system in five college seasons. The Illini have some talent, but they need to find a way to run the ball a lot better and the schedule isn’t easy with home dates against Purdue and Minnesota and a trip to Rutgers as the best chances for wins in conference play. After that, the Big Ten slate looks pretty imposing.
6T. Purdue (4-8, 2-7)
I think Purdue will be improved this fall, but probably not enough to save Darrell Hazell’s job. David Blough is a gifted QB and there are 16 starters back, but I just don’t think they’ll be good enough on defense, especially containing the run, to get to .500.
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Big Ten Title Game: Michigan over Iowa
It's never easy to beat a good team twice in the same season, especially when neither game is at your place, but I'll go with the Wolverines to win the conference. Their physical downhill running game coupled with a big, athletic group of receivers will make them a handful for people. Plus, the arrival of Dr. Blitz, Don Brown, should make a fierce defense downright nasty.
