2008 Big Ten Football Preview and Prediction

2008 Big Ten Preview Part 1

Posted: July, 2008

The Big Ten has sent a representative to the championship game plenty of times in recent years but the end result has never been a good one. They have been under scrutiny for a cupcake schedule and getting a shot at the big game, but this year they boast one of the deepest conference’s in the country. The teams are looking to prove they belong in the championship game and finally win one again.

Ohio St. Buckeyes: Ohio St. has made it to the BCS championship game twice in the last two years only to leave badly beaten. They became the poster children for the team that should not be in the big game. They have set to prove the critics wrong and scheduled tough games like at USC this year. With twenty returning starters they will be the cream of the crop and go to the BCS again. Projected Finish: First in the Big Ten; 11-1

Wisconsin Badgers: This team is ready for a breakout season where they get the respect they should have gotten a long time ago. The running game is stacked with four quality backs as long as they solve the QB battle between veteran Dustin Sherer and the odds on favorite Allan Evridge. The defense is injury prone and already has issues but they will be ready to challenge Ohio St. for the top spot in the Big Ten. Projected Finish: Second in the Big Ten; 10-2

Penn St. Nittany Lions: Joe Pa is back and with him will come the scrutiny of an old man trying to still coach in the college ranks. That noise will fade when this team starts winning. They are full of experience and more importantly boast a killer defense. The D-line is strong and the linebackers will play with any offense in the league. The big difference maker with this team will be the play of the quarterback. Projected Finish: Third in the Big Ten; 10-2

Purdue Boilermakers: If Purdue were in a different conference they would fight for the title. The offense will be exactly like it has been over the years, a high octane machine that puts up a ton of points led by QB Curtis Painter. The defense will be decent and much improved but not in the ranks with the Penn St and Ohio St’s of the world. Look for a decent season but not the crown in the Big Ten. Projected Finish: Fourth in the Big Ten; 8-4

Illinois Fighting Illini: Ron Zook will have his team ready to play and with a big returning starter roster they could finish high in the Big Ten. The problem will be the schedule. Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Penn St will be all road games that they could lose not to mention a game against Ohio St. This team has a ton of talent but they are not ready for this. Projected Finish: Fifth in the Big Ten; 7-5

Michigan Wolverines: The Rich Rodriquez era starts now in Michigan. He has said all the right things but it may take some time for this team to understand the spread offense that he wants to run. It won’t be easy for Michigan to produce a great season with just three returning starters on offense but I will give them their due at a decent season and a bowl game if they can all get on the same page. The game at Notre Dame is a big early test. Projected Finish: Sixth in the Big Ten; 7-5

Big Ten preview continued here with part two.

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2008 College Previews

• 2008 ACC Atlantic Division Preview - The ACC has quickly become one of the powerhouse conferences in the south east just trailing the best conference in the SEC. The Atlantic division of the ACC always puts forth some of the best teams in college football and it will only get better this year with the likes of Wake Forest, Clemson, and others. The hardest part is getting through the season in conference with the talent the ACC has. Locked and loaded this will prove to be another great year in ACC football.

• 2008 SEC East Preview - The SEC East is the class of the SEC and boasted some of the best teams in the country. This year all of the usual suspects are back and ready to make a run for the BCS Championship. The team that takes control of the conference and wins the SEC will have a good chance of being on the way to the BCS championship game.

• 2008 Big Twelve South Preview - The Big 12 has always lived in the shadow of the SEC when it came to being the best conference in college football. They are ready to prove the world wrong this year. The powerhouses have re-loaded and have their eye on the BCS championship with some of the tough teams in the country in Texas and Oklahoma. Don’t sleep on the rest of the conference either as the Big 12 will prove this is the year they should be considered one of the elite conferences in the country.