2013 BIGTEN CONFERENCE PREVIEW
By Brett Ciancia
August 1st, 2013
August 1st, 2013
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Last year was an odd year in the BigTen to say the least. Ohio State went a perfect 12-0 but was blocked from postseason games due to a 1-year sanction. With Penn State stuck in a 4-year sanction, the Leaders Division torch was passed to 3rd place (7-5) Wisconsin. Nebraska pulled off 4 second-half double-digit deficits to win the Legends and finish 10-2. In a rematch of the Week 5 Husker win, Wisconsin dismantled NU, scoring 70 and earning its 3rd straight trip to Pasadena. While no one could have predicted all that madness, I did in fact call for Wisconsin to top Nebraska in the Title, and I had the most accurate Legends Division Predictions in the entire nation.
This year, all of the hype is centered on Ohio State, where Urban Meyer has a National Champion caliber squad determined to stay perfect. While the Leaders has the top team, the power shifts to the Legends side, as the Top 4 are all Top 25 caliber. Thanks to an explosive offense and easy schedule, I am calling for Nebraska to win the Legends, and return to Indianapolis to play Ohio State in the BigTen Championship. I don't see Ohio State losing a regular season game, and should be in the BCS Title race all season. Click on the Division Names for our team-by-team previews: |
LEADERS
1. OHIO STATE
2012 Record: 12-0
Defensive Returning Starters: 4 Offensive Returning Starters: 9 Head Coach: Urban Meyer 2. WISCONSIN
2012 Record: 8-6
Defensive Returning Starters: 6 Offensive Returning Starters: 8 Head Coach: Gary Andersen* 3. PENN STATE *
2012 Record: 8-4
Defensive Returning Starters: 6 Offensive Returning Starters: 8 Head Coach: Bill O'Brien 4. INDIANA
2012 Record: 4-8
Defensive Returning Starters: 9 Offensive Returning Starters: 10 Head Coach: Kevin Wilson 5. PURDUE
2012 Record: 6-7
Defensive Returning Starters: 8 Offensive Returning Starters: 5 Head Coach: Darrell Hazell 6. ILLINOIS
2012 Record: 2-10
Defensive Returning Starters: 4 Offensive Returning Starters: 8 Head Coach: Tim Beckman |
LEGENDS
1. NEBRASKA
2012 Record: 10-4
Defensive Returning Starters: 4 Offensive Returning Starters: 8 Head Coach: Bo Pelini 2. MICHIGAN
2012 Record: 8-5
Defensive Returning Starters: 6 Offensive Returning Starters: 6 Head Coach: Brady Hoke 3. MICHIGAN STATE
2012 Record: 7-6
Defensive Returning Starters: 7 Offensive Returning Starters: 8 Head Coach: Mark Dantonio 4. NORTHWESTERN
2012 Record:10-3
Defensive Returning Starters: 7 Offensive Returning Starters: 8 Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald 5. IOWA
2012 Record: 4-8
Defensive Returning Starters: 7 Offensive Returning Starters: 6 Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz 6. MINNESOTA
2012 Record: 6-7
Defensive Returning Starters: 6 Offensive Returning Starters: 10 Head Coach: Jerry Kill |