Big Ten Preview

By John P. Wise
One Great Season

NEW YORK -- Until just a few years ago, Michigan and Ohio State were always the preseason picks in the Big Ten. The only question was the order in which they would finish, and that was often decided on the third or fourth Saturday in November.

And while the Buckeyes have remained among the national elite, it's Penn State's return to prominence in recent years that has offered the most resistance for OSU. Michigan, meanwhile, is still rebuilding under second-year coach Rich Rodriguez. The Wolverines won't be a factor this year but should rejoin the conversation in 2010.

The Nittany Lions have won 40 games the last four seasons, and I expect them to win the Big Ten outright this year, and finish the regular season with a 12-0 record by virtue of an incredibly friendly schedule.

Quarterback Daryll Clark and running back Evan Royster form one of the nation's more dangerous duos, and will lead a PSU team that plays only four times away from home. The Lions miss Wisconsin and get Ohio State and Iowa at home. If they're nervous in Happy Valley about losing seven defensive starters, Penn State opens with Akron, Syracuse and Temple to get things sorted out while the weather's still warm.

Ohio State, however, will not spend September getting full on cupcakes. Something about a team from Southern California on Sept. 12? It's funny that the Buckeyes often get blasted for scheduling weak sisters before conference play. All coach Jim Tressel has done is sought out home-and-home series with Texas and USC the last few years, and on future ledgers he's arranged dates with Miami, California, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

But those games will be then, and this is now. Second-year quarterback Terrelle Pryor is now under a high-powered microscope in Columbus. He'll make good progress from last season, but it won't be enough to overcome the losses of Beanie Wells and Brian Robiskie on offense. Too, OSU's defense will have to replace a lot of talent, and while the Buckeyes get nine games to prepare for Penn State, the Lions will be too much in Happy Valley come November.

Iowa, Michigan State and Illinois could throw a wrench into the order of things in yet another unimpressive season in the Big Ten.

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

Penn State
Ohio State
Iowa
Illinois
Michigan State
Michigan
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Northwestern
Purdue
Indiana

BEST GAME ON THE SCHEDULE: Ohio State at Penn State, Nov. 7

Comments

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TP picked to win offensive player of the year, preseason:
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072709aaa.html