Athlon & Lindys 2012 preview mags have Michigan going to B1G title game

OK vs FL ST...  that's a bold prediction.  

Good, I already have my tickets!

I think Steele had Michigan, Nebraska and Michigan State tied for the Big Ten divisional lead but he has MSU and Nebraska doing better in their non conference games. That is why he has MSU going to a BCS game.

I wouldn't worry too much about the Seminoles playing in the championship game. Florida State has overtaken Notre Dame in the annual "most consistently overrated" sweepstakes IMO.

2011: Preseason ranking #6 - Final ranking #25

2010: Preseason ranking #17 - Final ranking #23

2009: Preseason ranking #18 - Final ranking unranked

2008:Preseason ranking #25 - Final ranking unranked

2007: Preseason ranking #23 - Final ranking unranked

2006: Preseason ranking #9 - Final ranking unranked

2005: Preseason ranking #8 - Final ranking #23

2004: Preseason ranking #4 - Final ranking #16

Seemingly every year the so-called "experts" have looked at FSU and vastly overprojected the team's actual performance.  I see no reason why this year will be any different.

I could be completely wrong, but I believe Phil Steele had predicted Michigan to be very good (better than the actual final records by at least a few wins) in the second and third RR years... Maybe since he was burnt on those predictions, he's going the other way now.

Michigan has a chance to do what they did last year and maybe even more considering the talent they have returning and coming in. I think this could really be the year for Craig Roh. if RR wouldn't have moved him around so much he would be a beast right now. If we can get Campbell to play at the level he's capable of playing at and get Pipkins going, then Campbell, Pipkins and Roh could suprise a lot of people this year

It is possible for Michigan to be "better" than a team, but be behind them in the rankings or get passed over for a bowl game.  Michigan has a really tough schedule and could wind up with more losses than teams we beat in conference that we have to compete for in rankings and bowl games.  Ohio State has an easy out of conference schedule nothing like ours.  It is possible that a legitimate top 5 team could lose 2 or 3 games with our schedule...

Alabama in Dallas
@Notre Dame
@Nebraska
@ Ohio State
Michigan State
 

I picked up his magazine a week ago. He has picked FSU to win the ACC three years in a row now. I guess hes bound to get it right eventually

They pick Oklahoma every year, and did so last year. The big twelve blows and always will. I hope the big ten picks it up and starts tearing up teams. I feel for the first time in a long time that we have the coaches that can do it. Go big ten, except Ohio.

The girls at FSU are too hot for those guys to concentrate on football.  

Still the love affair with Florida State despite the fact that Saint Bobby Bowden is retired and FSU hasn't beaten a top ten team in 12 years.   They're not going to the national title game.

Nebraska must have the majority of guys returning but their lack of throwing game with Martinez is going to make it tough to win the division. 

Morgan and Kovacs are awesome in NCAA 13.

Why the hell is everyone always so high on Nebraska? Call me when they win something, or beat an elite team for that matter. Or if Taylor Martinez learns to throw better than an eighth grader.

I know the D will play as tough as last season but will Roh and Black's presumed improvement offset the loss of RVB and Martin? Of course Big Will - who has at times demonstrated the ability to make him a 5* recruit -  is going to be paramount to our D having the success of last season's, imho.  I do think we're better in the back end of our D, but damn, we forced a lot of turnovers last year and will that have to be duplicated as well or is it even logical to think we can come close to that number?  I do know the team will hustle and many of those to's were big lineman coming from behind and stripping rbs so maybe. Actually Roh and Black are much quicker and faster both than RVB and Martin, but also smaller so their performance has yet to be proven. 

On the offensive side of the ball I think we do fine, and it's my opinion that senior qbs will make fewer mistakes than in their previous campaigns and with a proven RB in Fitz - glimpses of Biakbutuka like skills????- it is entirely possible that DR gains as much rushing yardage on far fewer carries. Our line is fine, but depth wil be young. Except for Roundtree our receivers are small but have proven they can be effective because I have no doubt we continue to run what DR knows best.  We will miss Hemingway. He had a special ability to catch the ball at its' highest pt and his yac sometimes were of highlight variety. 

It would not surprise me to see Ohio do big things in its first year under Meyer. They did use a lot of spread concept last season and they have the necessary talent already on hand to make Urban's job much easier than Hoke's predecessor in AA, especially at the most important position. That kid, although some of his passes missed by twenty yards, is a DC's nightmare if he happens to show the amount of improvement DR did from year one to year two. 

I think we break State's streak by Mattison confusing the first year signal caller. WI was lucky to get fifth year signal callers back-to-back, but I don't think this kid will perform at the same level as Wilson, who had a tremendous season.  

NU, in their house, will not be ez for anyone. We all saw what we thought was going to be an Ohio blowout turn into a big win for the Huskers. We've got a lot more toss-up games imo than many believe;The BIG, from top to bottom, is as well balanced as it has been in many years, and yes, I am considering the two new hires that shouid actually improve those team's chances this season. 

And I totally agree with the OP who stated that the likelihood of a big bowl choosing MSU over UM when both are qualified to be there is about as likely as the Rangers not leading the AL in number of All-Star picks. 

I think we're in for one of the most entertaing and competive seasons we've seen in awhile. My only caveat would be that if DR improves his decision making to the point that he's actually in contention for the Heisman at the end of Nov, M will be in the title game. 

fsu makes the nc game.

I do like his Oklahoma pick. They don't have a particularly difficult schedule with Texas (still?) rebuilding, Oklahoma State starting a freshman QB and ND potentially starting "Turnover" Tommy Rees. No conference title game either. My only objection is I see Oklahoma as a worse Ohio in that they can't beat anyone in a BCS game. I don't count UConn.  

I'm getting so sick of all the OSU-Urban Meyer hype and so many people believing OSU will go undefeated. I understand the guy's a great coach, but he's installing a completely new system with mainly guys who came in to learn a pro-style system. The guys who are built for Meyer's system are freshman and an unproven QB. You can't expect an offense to go from pro-style, pound the rock to perfect, Oregon-like speed in one year. There's going to be attrition, and some guys will find out they just can't cut it come gameday. I can see OSU losing to Wisconsin, MSU, Michigan and Nebraska next year.

OSU is already referring to itself as next year's version of USC. USC has been playing in the same system for years, with a proven QB and competent WRs. Get your head out of your asses, fuckeyes.