According to the poll, Maryland is picked finish fifth in the Big Ten East division.
Advertisement
The Michigan State’s road game in Columbus on November 21 was already a big one to circle on the Spartans’ schedule, but the polling further highlights the point.
Expect bruised egos and body parts after this six-game stretch: Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan State. I think they will run the table this year, defending as national champion. However, a revote was conducted after Braxton Miller suffered a season-ending injury last summer and Michigan State was picked to win the conference.
Based on a combination of realistic expectations for a given tenant and a given nonconference adversary, here are the Big Ten’s, well, 10 biggest interleague matchups for 2015-16.
I was surprised when my totals showed Northwestern at 5-3 in the Big Ten.
A loss, though, could be a sign of a disappointing second year in Big Ten country. Jim Harbaugh will help the Wolverines advance their program, but he won’t take it back to double-digit wins in his first campaign.
The unoffiical official way to kick off the College Football season happens for Big Ten Conference fans and such with the beginning of Big Ten Media Days today. The Big Ten has plenty of reason to be proud this season, but the big question should be how the Big Ten can follow up the success of a season ago. No, it is not “the entire Ohio State roster”. The conference’s newest additions, Rutgers and Maryland, are entering year two and looking to prove last season’s bowl trips were no fluke.
In 2014, the vote spit out Michigan State. Coach Kyle Flood needs to find a quarterback to replace the erratic Gary Nova, but if he does, the offense could actually be pretty darn good; there is a ton of talent at tailback and Leonte Carroo is possibly the best wideout in the conference. He arrived as a 5-star recruit. If not there will be many others to take his place. The Hawkeyes, who have lost at least five games every year since 2010, need his swagger.
Elliott received 31 first-place votes from the 39 people who voted for Offensive Player of the Year.
Cook, who maybe could’ve left Michigan State after last season, will be the next Spartan quarterback to be selected in the NFL Draft this spring. Huskers defensive tackle Maliek Collins and wide receiver De’Mornay Pierson-El were joined on the list by Badgers safety Michael Caputo and running back Corey Clement.
Personally, I hope OSU defensive end Joey Bosa becomes the first pure defensive player to win the Heisman so we can watch him step to the podium in front of all the stuffed shirts, past winners and millions watching on TV and simply shrug.
Advertisement
Answer: It’s just a guess, but 15-0 and another national championship.
