Has the B1G ever been more up for grabs?
Traditional powers UM, OSU, PSU are down or in transition, divisional split and conference championship game, Nebraska as new kid on the block wild card......WOW!
As a native Nebraskan who's been watching the B1G 25 years in Chicago, NEVER seen the B1G this wide open/unpredictable.
Everyone can make a case to win the championship except IU, Illini, Minnie, & Purdue.
Who would ever predicted Wisconsin & Nebraska as the B1G media favorites? As the Sicilian said, "Inconceivable".
GBR.......& Hail Victors.....may the best team win
August 16th, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^
Wisco and Nebraska as the B1G favs
August 16th, 2011 at 10:15 PM ^
Despite the coaching change, suspensions, and fallout from Tatgate, I still think Ohio is the team to beat in the Leaders. They have Wisconsin at home. Put it this way, that win is worth double any non-divisional win (a win over Wisconsin means Ohio has to lose at least two conference games for Wisconsin to win the division). Assuming Ohio beats Wisconsin, and outside of Nebraska and Michigan, do you see any potential conference losses for Ohio?
If Ohio beats Wisconsin and Nebraska OR Michigan, they will likely win the division.
I think the Legends division is a little more open though, and an argument can be made for any team, minus Minnesota (though they can play spoiler).
Iowa - (+) Michigan and Michigan St at home. (-) Nebraska, Penn St and Purdue on the road.
Michigan - (+) Nebraska and Ohio at home. (-) No real "locks" for wins on the road.
Michigan St - (+) Michigan and Wisconsin at home. (-) No real "locks" for wins on the road; tougher road schedule than Michigan.
Nebraska - (+) Michigan St, Ohio, and Iowa at home. (-) Target on their backs and Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan on the road.
Northwestern - Best QB in the division. NU avoids Wisconsin and Ohio and catches Penn State at home.
August 16th, 2011 at 10:43 PM ^
Dan Persa too, but with Martinez, Denard and Cousins in the same division, this is choose your poison.
August 16th, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
True. Let me rephrase that, I think Persa's team needs him more than any of the other QBs. Yes, I'll catch flack considering Denard and all, but Gardner COULD step in for Denard and do a decent-to-good job. I'm not sure Persa's back up could do the same. NU's success is tied to Persa's arm more than any other QB in the division.
August 16th, 2011 at 11:06 PM ^
weren't the same team when he went down last year.
I like Northwestern's chances to do some damage if Persa stays healthy. Got a lot of starters back. Almost every unit should be improved on both sides of the ball, plus solid coaching and a good kicking game.
That's a game on Michigan's schedule that I look at and think "toss up at best" (given it's the first road game and one week before MSU).
August 16th, 2011 at 11:24 PM ^
you are right on, Legends has most exciting QBs in B1G
August 16th, 2011 at 10:10 PM ^
True story. Everyone seems to favor Nebraska, but I can't really see them walking into a brand new conference with opponents they have zero familiarity with and winning the division. Michigan still has too much ground to cover on defense to reasonably expect they win the division, but their schedule is probably one of the more favorable in the B1G. MSU, Iowa are easily in the mix, but have their own weaknesses to overcome.
I think the leaders division is a little easier to predict. It's either PSU or Nebraska. No way OSU wins it with a true freshman QB, a coach with 0 head coaching experience and all the off the field turmoil they've had to deal with.
August 16th, 2011 at 10:20 PM ^
Nebraska does have the toughest in conference schedule.
@ Wisconsin (cross over game)
Ohio State (cross over game)
@ Minnesota
Michigan State
Northwestern
@ Penn State (cross over game)
@ Michigan
Iowa
For Nebraska's first year in the BigTen, they avoid Indiana, Purdue, and Illinois - so they can get Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Penn State -- bad luck? better ratings with good match ups? sabotage so they don't win it their 1st year in?
August 16th, 2011 at 10:48 PM ^
parade the new show horse
August 17th, 2011 at 12:35 AM ^
Plus it will be harder for Nebraska to come in and win immediately. We can say "look, this was a great team that entered, but they still onlly got to eight wins!" That's the ideal scenario for us, but I think they'll surpass eight easily.
August 16th, 2011 at 11:12 PM ^
for Nebraska
August 16th, 2011 at 11:03 PM ^
"I can't really see them walking into a brand new conference with opponents they have zero familiarity with and winning the division"
I see this argument quite a bit, but it doesn't make very much sense to me. True, Nebraska will have no familiarity with big ten teams, but that works both ways. How does Nebraska not having a good gameplan against, say, Michigan, give us an advantage when we won't have a good gameplan against them?
August 16th, 2011 at 11:26 PM ^
Game to game it does not really favor either team. In terms of winning the division it helps tremendously though. Nebraska will have a new opponent every week where as the other team will only have that for one week of their schedule.
August 16th, 2011 at 11:58 PM ^
August 16th, 2011 at 10:11 PM ^
I'd say that Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Ohio State are the pretty clear favorites, with Michigan State and maybe Penn State as the darkhorses. Michigan, Northwestern, Illinois and Iowa could make some noise though, although they probably won't contend. I'd say it's pretty wide open and there will be upsets; it's just that Nebraska and Wisconsin will rise to the top IMO.
August 16th, 2011 at 10:15 PM ^
UM could win it all...your D will be much improved....as well as kicking game...offense is a given
Watch out, it's WIDE open
August 16th, 2011 at 11:22 PM ^
could say offense is a given. It will probably eventually be pretty good if our scary thin O-line stays healthy, but I think most Michigan fans, even the RR haters, would be feeling a little more secure about the O right now if Denard was in Year 3 of that system. But that of course would mean we'd be already completely depressed about the prospects of the D, rather than slightly hopeful the D could be middle of the road, which we'd all take in a heartbeat.
August 16th, 2011 at 10:11 PM ^
Please edit this post title to "I LIKE NEBRASKA AND THINK WE'LL WIN SO I MADE A POST" for the purposes of descriptive titles
August 16th, 2011 at 10:26 PM ^
That's what you read from this post?
Let me make this straight: NO ONE is a favorite, all the "top teams" are flawed, its wide open.
NEB= championship D - suspect O and/or whatever kicking/special teams - new kid
UM=championship O - suspect D but improved and/or whatever kicking/special teams.
All others, various flaws
August 16th, 2011 at 11:24 PM ^
Re-read your post. It says "lots of powerhouses have fallen, Nebraska is good, anyone could win except these six teams, I really like Nebraska."
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<br>Literally the only difference between this year and last is Tressel is gone and Nebraska joined. MSU supplanted Iowa as darkhorse and the Big Ten champ will be OSU, Wisconsin or Nebraska. You make it out like suddenly worldbeaters have emerged
August 16th, 2011 at 11:48 PM ^
the rest is flawed or questionable. That's it
And everyone of the better teams is equally flawed. plus the B1G has been restructured.
So to make this clear....no frontrunners.... no worldbeaters...hence the title of my original post.....sorry its hard to believe...no axe to grind....wouid love the Huskers....but can make equal case for many.......clear enough? Shheeeessshh
August 16th, 2011 at 10:12 PM ^
with 9-3 for Michigan, Wisconsin vs. Nebraska in B10CCG.
August 16th, 2011 at 10:14 PM ^
The B1G is the oldest conference out there, I would say there are many years that would give this year a run for it's money in being up for grabs.
Examples: 1990 there was a 4 way tie for 1st place between Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, and Illinois and if Ohio State wouldn't have tied Indiana than it would have been a 5 way tie for 1st place.
1999 a lot of teams had a chance to win the title. Proof of this was the Final AP poll after the bowls. Final Rankings: Wisconsin #4, Michigan #5, Michigan State #7, Penn State #11, Minnesota #18, Illinois #24, and Purdue #25. The odds are, this year won't be as competitive as that year or see as many teams finish as highly in the Final AP poll.
But yeah, it does seem to be up for grabs, but Nebraska seems to be the favorite with OSU in trouble and Wisconsin losing a few players.
August 16th, 2011 at 10:15 PM ^
I think Wisconsin or Iowa run away with the title this year.
August 16th, 2011 at 10:26 PM ^
Wisconsin is going 11-1 at the very least
the conference is pewp this season and the Legends is the worst division in major college football
August 16th, 2011 at 10:41 PM ^
I'll take the under. They play at Michigan State and at Ohio on back to back weeks. They will lose one of those two, if not both. They also play Nebraska (granted at home). Those are three potential losses right there.
Wisconsin v. Michigan St - Home team has won 6 in a row (3 a piece). One one of the recent four meetings has been decided by more than 3 points.
Wisconsin v. Ohio - Home team has won two straight. Wisconsin is 5-5 in the last ten meetings, but 1-3 in the past four. Wisconsin average margin of victory is 11.8 in the series. Ohio average margin of victory is 12.6 in the series.
August 16th, 2011 at 11:18 PM ^
they're only losing one of those games because they're better than either team
I wish we'd stop fellating Nebraska. Will win the Legends? Sure. But they're probably not even as good as they were last year and their offense blew chunks down the stretch when Martinez couldn't run. And he's the most prominent of their 5 returning starters on O. Wisconsin will beat them handily, twice.
August 17th, 2011 at 8:16 AM ^
August 16th, 2011 at 10:30 PM ^
With the coaches this team has and the ability they have, I would not count this team out of anything. I said it last year, and I will say it again this year. There is talent on the D, they just need to be coached, and need to learn fundementals. Sound tackeling and assignment football and the D will be much much better than most are expecting.
August 16th, 2011 at 10:35 PM ^
I don't remember a year where I was not at least like " one of these 2-3 teams are going to win it". This definitely is one of those years though....
August 16th, 2011 at 10:36 PM ^
I still predict Michigan goes 14-0.
August 17th, 2011 at 12:21 AM ^
The sun shines maize into the blue sky.
August 17th, 2011 at 1:12 AM ^
Could Nebraska have ever picked a better year to join? They are getting this year handed to them on the proverbial silver platter.
August 17th, 2011 at 1:57 AM ^
I wouldn't say they are having it handed to them. They really will have to earn it.
Opening up with Wisconsin on the road and Ohio at home is a hell of a welcoming gift. Playing at Penn St and Michigan is no gift either. Assuming they win the Legends, they will play the Leaders Divisional champ for a second time.
August 17th, 2011 at 3:51 AM ^
The B10 was up for grabs.