The Big Ten Football Conference is expected to be the best conference in college football for this upcoming season due to the number of ranked teams and top to bottom quality of teams throughout the conference. There will be a plethora of conference games that will have immense national, conference, and divisional implications throughout the season that every college football fan can get excited for.
Here are my predictions as to who will finish where in the Big Ten East and West when it's all said and done:
Eastern Division:
1. Ohio State
2. Penn State
3. Michigan
4. Michigan State
5. Indiana
6. Maryland
7. Rutgers
With the possible absence of Ohio State Head Coach, Urban Meyer, the Buckeyes may have a tough time with Big Ten opponents this season but I still don't see any other team matching their talent. The offensive and defensive schemes at OSU are clear and have been in place since 2012. The Buckeyes win the east again.
The biggest X-factor in the eastern division is Michigan QB, Shea Patterson. The transfer QB from Ole Miss is 6'2" 205, can be very elusive with his feet, and also has the ability to make every throw on the field. Michigan is loaded with talent this season on both sides of the ball so watch for Michigan as a sleeper in the east.
Western Division:
1. Wisconsin
2. Nebraska
3. Northwestern
4. Iowa
5. Purdue
6. Minnesota
7. Illinois
Yes, I am a Nebraska homer, but I'm also a realist and look at every team objectively. Nebraska will finish second in the west which is not a common feeling amongst sports writers mainly due to the 4-8 season in 2017 while also transitioning to a new system/coaching staff. Do not sleep on the Huskers. This is a starving team with real desire to bring the program back to a national power and not to mention loaded with talent and key returning starters.
The biggest X-factors in the west are Iowa and Northwestern. These teams rarely recruit well and typically are never mentioned as pre-season contenders in the Big Ten, let alone the western division. These programs have alwasy carried themselves with a chip on their shoulder in this respect but now THEY have the expectations to capture the west or be runner-up to Wisconsin as opposed to Nebraska. Playing with expectations is different and whichever one of these teams can live up to the hype will definitely be in the top 3 mix.
Wisconsin vs. Ohio State for the Big Ten Championship..... again.
Cover Image by Cleveland.com
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