Big Ten OOC Predictions?
How does each team finish out of conference this season? Anyone dropping or rising in rankings? Who has the easiest and second toughest slate (we're number one by far)? Most entertaining matchups? Biggest blowout? Closest to getting upset? Who actually gets upset?
Legends:
Iowa: Northern Illinois (Soldier Field), Iowa State, Northern Iowa (FCS), Central Michigan.
Michigan: Alabama (Cowboys Stadium), Air Force, UMass, @Notre Dame.
Michigan State: Boise State, @Central Michigan, Notre Dame, Eastern Michigan.
Minnesota: @UNLV, New Hampshire (FCS), Western Michigan, Syracuse.
Nebraska: Southern Mississippi, @UCLA, Arkansas State, Idaho State (FCS).
Northwestern: @Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Boston College, South Dakota (FCS).
Leaders:
Illinois: Western Michigan, @Arizona State, Charleston Southern (FCS), Louisiana Tech.
Indiana: Indiana State (FCS), @UMass, Ball State, @Navy.
Ohio: Miami (OH), Central Florida, Cal, UAB.
Penn State: Ohio University, @Virgina, Navy, Temple.
Purdue: Eastern Kentucky (FCS), @Notre Dame, Eastern Michigan, Marshall.
Wisconsin: Northern Iowa (FCS), Oregon State, Utah State, UTEP.
I know this is a bit difficult to read, so I bolded BCS opponents, plus independents Notre Dame and Navy. My picks for my question above:
- Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin all go undefeated. Michigan, Northwestern, Illinois and Purdue have one loss, everyone else is facepalm material for the conference.
- I think Michigan and Ohio hold mostly steady, MSU rises a few spots as does Wisconsin, Iowa and Northwestern are in the 23-receiving votes category.
- Northwestern has the second most difficult OOC schedule. Wisconsin is the easiest, with IU not far behind.
- Michigan/Alabama has to be the most entertaining, with MSU/Boise State in the discussion and all of Northwestern's first three games should be close.
- Wisconsin will put up 70 on Northwen Iowa or UTEP, guaranteed.
- Temple nearly upsets Penn State, but loses in the end.
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Minnesota, though improved, will drop a game they have no business losing.
August 27th, 2012 at 9:50 AM ^
But I'm so excited for the Minnesota vs Iowa matchup, that I'm finding it very difficult to sleep most nights.
August 27th, 2012 at 10:19 AM ^
Minny was running a cool game towards the end of last season. They're improving.
August 27th, 2012 at 9:50 AM ^
August 27th, 2012 at 9:59 AM ^
So MSU is playing two or three cupcakes and one where they're favored, but against a better team than Northwestern plays.
I agree Notre Dame would probably kill anyone on Northwestern's schedule, but I think NU's four opponents should be better than EMU/CMU and Boise, even with Notre Dame thrown in the mix.
August 27th, 2012 at 10:23 AM ^
They went through similar turnover when Kellen Moore got there, and his record was okay (50-3). With the amount of high draft picks they're producing, and the fact they've beaten Oregon twice, VT once, and Georgia once (by more than State did last year), I'd say MSU is going to have their hands full.
August 27th, 2012 at 12:34 PM ^
August 27th, 2012 at 4:08 PM ^
Boise State thrives in these kinds of moments, though. Chris Petersen knows how to get the absolute most out of his guys in every game. He's right up there with Nick Saban for being one of the best coaches in the country.
I don't think Boise is going to win, but in my opinion, the game will be a lot closer than most people think. They are not remotely intimidated by big primetime games and hostile crowds. Southwick sat behind Moore, but he undoubtedly was mentored by him, too. Dantonio will have his hands full.
31-28 MSU. I'm hoping its the other way around.
August 27th, 2012 at 10:19 AM ^
U of M: 2-2; Ohio: 4-0; MSU: 3-1 (loss to ND); Wisky: 4-0; PSU: 4-0; Iowa: 3-1 (loss to ISU, naturally); Nebraska: 3-1 (loss at UCLA); NW: 3-1 (loss to ?)
I think Michigan will lose to Alabama and ND but then make a strong run at the Big Ten title game.
August 27th, 2012 at 10:33 AM ^
in Notre Dame to take down two top fifteen opponents in consecutive weeks. Have they done that in recent memory?
If they can pull off wins against Michigan and MSU, they're almost definitely hunting for a BCS bowl, even if they get blown out by USC and Oklahoma.
August 27th, 2012 at 10:42 AM ^
I still think Kelly is a really good coach, and they still have a ton of talent. Truth is, though, that I pick them to break out every year in the hope of applying some sort of jinx.
August 27th, 2012 at 11:19 AM ^
think of a game where one team is more "due" to beat another than ND is to beat Michigan this year. Three years in a row of really improbable, "you have to be kidding me" type games that all went Michigan's way.
August 27th, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^
I think Kelly is a good coach as well, but I don't think Golson or Rees will be able to beat 2 good opponents in back-to-back weeks, one of which will be a road game against a team is probably pissed that the Irish blew them out and the other a team that just seems to have their number
August 27th, 2012 at 10:51 AM ^
Wisconsin, as always, starts out with a creampiuff schedule. Bielma will probably go for 70 points a game. As much as I love Michigan football, it is hard to justiry the Delaware States. While the wins are important, beating up a third rate team just doesn't cut it.
August 27th, 2012 at 11:00 AM ^
Legends:
1) Michigan (2-2, losses to Alabama and maybe to ND - see notes on upsets)
2) Northwestern (3-1, loss to Syracuse, although being NW, it could be anyone)
3) Michigan State (4-0)
4) Nebraska (4-0)
5) Minnesota (2-2, losses are anyone's guess, probably teams they could otherwise beat)
6) Iowa (4-0)
Leaders:
1) Ohio (4-0)
2) Penn State (3-1, loss to Virginia, if anyone)
3) Wisconsin (4-0)
4) Purdue (3-1, loss to ND)
5) Illinois (3-1, loss to Arizona State)
6) Indiana (1-3, they can beat Indiana State)
Most entertaining: Michigan-Alabama, far and away, is the most entertaining game in the Big Ten OOC schedule, followed by Michigan State and Boise State. I dare say that Nebraska-UCLA and Penn State-Virginia could be intriguing as well.
Blowouts: Of all of these, Wisconsin-Northern Iowa seems like it has "bloodletting" written on it. I don't see how Northern Iowa stops Wisconsin from force feeding their defense with surgical drives.
Close games / upsets: It was already mentioned, but I agree that Northwestern's first three games are probably nailbiters for the most part. Temple nearly gets Penn State's number every year, it seems, and Michigan State-Notre Dame gives off a feeling of "closer than last year". Iowa-Iowa State could be interesting this year too if the Hawkeyes have no rushing game. For a straight upset, I'll go with Temple potentially upsetting Penn State and Michigan potentially upsetting Notre Dame.
August 27th, 2012 at 1:06 PM ^
August 27th, 2012 at 11:03 AM ^
Yes, Indiana is Indiana, but I can't imagine they'd have more than 1 loss coming in to conference play. While only one of those teams actually is the FCS, UMass is still basically an fcs team and most years, Ball State might as well be too. I think they'll be able to handle those 3 teams and of course get manhandled by Navy.
As for NW, I really like Kain Colter and fully expect them to come out of non-conference play unscathed. They'll get their whoopings in B1G play though.
Lastly, Illinois. ASU is not a good team (nor are they ever really...), and Sun Devil stadium is really the least opposing BCS conference team stadium I've ever been too (albeit a very beautiful one). Take a mediocre program with a uninterested fanbase and low morale and then add a overrated, job jumping coach and I think that easily equals out to Illini win.
August 27th, 2012 at 11:18 AM ^
I think Penn St. will lose their opener to OU.
August 27th, 2012 at 11:24 AM ^
Wow. So many awful OOC matchups in the Big Ten (and for the majority of teams across the country.) Other than our games with Bama and ND, this could be the most boring September college football has seen in a long time.
I won't predict for Michigan but Iowa, OSU, Nebraska and Wisconsin won't break a sweat against competition like that.
MSU, I give them the edge against ND since it's home night game for them. So they could be 4-0 too.
I could see Penn State losing their opener against Ohio U. After the players leaving a team that struggled to score last year combined with Sandusky drama, they are going to have their hands full with a Bobcat team that won 10 games last year and returns their QB and the majority of their starters. I'm pretty sure they'll be favored to win the MAC. I think PSU goes 2-2, maybe even 1-3 if Navy turns out to be a decent team.
Indiana playing at UMass. For shame.
August 27th, 2012 at 11:47 AM ^
A night game in Spartan Stadium? I'd never thougt I'd say this, but I'm going to feel sorry for ND fans that night.
August 27th, 2012 at 12:11 PM ^
Hopefully we will be 4-0 but realistically we'll probably lose to AL by 10 or more and a ND loss which will be very close 1 to 3 points!
The good news, I see this team improving through the B1G season and may lose only 1 possibly 2 conference games. The key to winning our division will be our home game against MSU, a must win!
My prediction 9-3, B1G championship game, and on to the Rose-bowl! If we go 9-4, it will be one of the New Years Florida Bowl games.
August 27th, 2012 at 1:46 PM ^
Legends:
Iowa: 4-0
Michigan: 3-1, loss to Bama
Michigan State: 4-0
Minnesota: 4-0
Nebraska: 4-0
Northwestern: 4-0
Leaders:
Illinois: 3-1, Loss @ASU
Indiana: 3-1, Loss @Navy
Ohio State: 4-0
Penn State: 2-2, Loss @Navy and @Virginia
Purdue: 4-0 or 3-1, tossup with ND.
Wisconsin: 4-0.
August 27th, 2012 at 2:03 PM ^
I think Michigan will go 3-1 in the first 4 games... a CLOSE game with Alabama. Two weeks later they will beat ND for the 4th time in a row but not in the final seconds this time (10 pt margin). The domers won a thriller against Purdue the week prior.
The probability of State beating ND is predicated upon Michigan beating ND. Since the domers will be devastated once again, they will be weary heading into State. MSU will likely go 4-0 in the first 4 and their heads will get even larger... ready to pop.
Wisconsin will lose all 4 games by a combined 241 points because Karma decided it was just time. :0)
Nebraska will win all 4 games... UCLA on the road is not what it used to be.
Ohio will win all 4 games and have people talking about how great a coach Urban is and how they will win the national title 4 times within his first 6 years. Then they will lose to Purdue... again.
Penn State will lose 1 game and will come close to losing 3 more.
Northwestern will surprise people by losing to Syracuse because... it's Syracuse.
Indiana will win 2 of their games but nobody will notice/care.
Minnesota will win out and have people talking about their participation in the Big Ten title game. Then they start the Big Ten schedule...
Purdue will lose at Notre Dame CLOSE because they catch the domers looking ahead. Pee U wins the rest.
Illinois will lose to Arizona State. They will also lose to 5 more teams during the season.
August 27th, 2012 at 2:12 PM ^
ND plays MSU week 3, then Michigan week 4.
August 27th, 2012 at 3:41 PM ^
Is nobody picking Michigan to beat 'Bama?
Sure it may not be the smartest or surest bet, but, anybody?
I'll call it, 24-21 Michigan and Saban combusts on the field after shaking Hoke's hand.
Edit:
My OOC wishlist
- Michigan beats 'Bama (duh)
- Notre Dame and MSU somehow both lose when playing each other
- Ohio loses to Miami (OH) to drop their first game to an in-state school since 1922
I don't think that's too much to ask for, is it?
August 27th, 2012 at 8:50 PM ^
What's so good with ND? We're more talented than them.
August 27th, 2012 at 9:29 PM ^
I think we beat them and State beats them. Purdue would be a nice upset, but if ND is playing halfway to their potential they should win, jetlag or no jetlag.