2009 Big Ten Preview

As a fan of history I loooovvveee the Big 10. Really, an SEC guy who likes Big 10 football. The history these programs have, the Michigan fight song and helmets, the dotting of the i at Ohio St, the trophy games, the noon kickoffs, it is great college football-but now I have to dog them. They have not won a BCS game since Ohio St bitchslapped Notre Dame and have been the whipping boys for Florida and LSU in title games and by USC in the last 2 Rose Bowls (Illinois had no business going to the Rose Bowl that year).


1. Ohio St Buckeyes-Terrelle Pryor is the lone QB this year, and should open the Buckeye offense as he is a run and pass threat at the QB position. This is a potential banner year for the Buckeyes, and a win over USC on Sept 12 in Columbus will be a prime time national game on ABC.
Player to watch: QB Terrelle Pryor

2. Penn St Nittany Lions-This was a tough choice, but I am going Penn St as a close 2nd. Why? I think they have the talent, but USC put on a show on how to dismantle this offense in the Rose Bowl, and the defense has only 4 starters back, with 5 on offense. The recruiting has helped, but they aren't in Pasadena this year.
Player to watch: LB Sean Lee

3. Iowa Hawkeyes-This is put up or shut up for Kirk Ferentz. A fluke play got them big pub in the 2005 Capital One Bowl over LSU, but a drilling of South Carolina in the Outback may put them back on the map. Iowa may have the most favorable home schedule but Ohio St and Penn St are on the road, and Penn St wants revenge for last year. I'm not ruling out a Rose Bowl as a possibility, but the road schedule worries me.
Player to watch: OT Bryan Bulaga

4. Illinois Fighting Illini-Ron Zook followed up a Rose Bowl in 2007 with a 5-7 record last year. The good news is no Penn St on the schedule, but Ohio St is and they have to go to Columbus. Juice Williams is back at QB, and next to Pryor is the best athlete at the position. Mike Shultz is the new OC, so look for a more balanced offensive attack (traditional Big 10) from the Illini, but with a touch of spread.
Player to watch: QB Juice Williams

5. Michigan St Spartans-Sparty got a little better last year, and this could be a big year in East Lansing if all falls into place. If Brian Hoyer hadn't graduated this may have been my Big 10 pick. The good news is that the Spartans return 15 starters (8 on defense) from the squad that made the Cap One Bowl last year. Even though this is a ball control offense, the QB is important, and that could hurt Sparty this year.
Player to watch: LB Greg Jones

6. Minnesota Golden Gophers-Tim Brewster has things going good here, but a tough top of the Big 10 means his best team at Minnesota is in the mid level here. I'm not ruling out a bowl bid, but they hype of a new stadium and having Penn St and Ohio St on the road in back to back weeks means that there will be no roses this year. But 17 starters return (9 on Offense) so the points will be plentiful.
Player to watch: QB Adam Weber

7. Wisconsin Badgers-Reality is setting in at Madison. Brett Bielema took over for Barry Alvarez who put this program on the map, and except for his 1st season has disappointed. The good news is that the Badgers could get off to a fast start, which if they do could carry them far into the Big 10, but the start of conference play will be brutal as they host Mich St and go on the road at Minnesota and Ohio St in their 1st 3 Conference games. On a plus side, the Badgers will be the last Big 10 team to play in the regular season as they travel to Hawaii for a Dec 5 game.
Player to watch: TE Garrett Graham

8. Northwestern Wildcats-I like Pat Fitgerald as a coach and a person, but this is another roller coaster year. 13 starters back (8 on defense) means growing pains for the Cats this year. QB Mike Kafka is back for his senior year, and his offensive line is intact. I expect a quick start but if they knock off Minnesota and Purdue and get off to a 5-0 start, this could be an interesting season as all they would need to do to be bowl eligible is beat Miami of Ohio, Mich St, Indiana, Penn St, Iowa Illinois and Wisc to be bowl eligible. 2 out of 6 aint bad.
Player to watch: DE Corey Wooton

9. Michigan Wolverines-Rich Rodriguez spent a year switching an I formation offense to his spread and he has a lot of work left to do. The recruits are coming in, and that is good for the future. But the present should be of concern. There is no official starter at QB but it looks like Tate Forcier a talented true freshman could see playing time this year. Since that is the only spot where a starter has to be replaced you see the problems. Greg Robinson takes over at DC and should turn around an awful defense.
Player to watch: RB Brandon Miner

10. Purdue Boilermakers-I love colleges named after booze. Why isn't this an SEC school (I mean besides it being in the North, wouldn't Mississippi St sound better as the Mint Juleps than the Bulldogs?)? Anyway a new HC is in town Danny Hope, who was an OL coach under Joe Tiller. 12 starters are back, (7 on D) so look for them to shoulder the load once again. Sadly though, it looks like 4-8 once again.
Player to watch: DT Mike Neal

11. Indiana Hoosiers-Funny that you get picked 11th in the Big 10. Isn't that strange? Anyway the Hoosiers were my sentimental faves after the death of Terry Hoeppner in 2007, and made it to a bowl game that year. HC Bill Lynch has a tough job ahead of him, as Ohio St and Penn St are on the schedule.
Player to watch: LB Will Patterson