Online Now 3260

The Blue Board

We aren't just committed to college football; we're early enrolling in it.

On this Board 2221
Record: 7394 (2/14/2012)

Online now 3478
Record: 18710 (2/25/2012)

Boards ▾

The Blue Board

We aren't just committed to college football; we're early enrolling in it.

247Rumors

College football scuttlebutt and scoop- powered by Football Rumor Mill

The Green Board

Where the madness isn't just in March.

Big Ten Board (Beta)

Reply

Big Ten Leaders Division Spring Wrap: Wisconsin Team To Beat?

  • http://247sports.com/Article/Big-Ten-Leaders-Spring-Wrap-Up-72523

    Now that spring football is over, we look at how the six teams in the Big Ten Leaders Division stack up. With Ohio State ineligible, does that make Wisconsin the team to beat?

    Stay tuned for the Legends Division look in the next several days.

    SteveHelwagen ●

  • Steve, if OSU was eligible, do you think they would be the team to beat?

    Nevermind, I went to my flow chart and it said that your answer would always be "YES".

    getmyjive11

  • SteveHelwagen said...

    http://247sports.com/Article/Big-Ten-Leaders-Spring-Wrap-Up-72523

    Now that spring football is over, we look at how the six teams in the Big Ten Leaders Division stack up. With Ohio State ineligible, does that make Wisconsin the team to beat?

    Stay tuned for the Legends Division look in the next several days.

    I think Purdue could surprise, but WI has to be the team to beat right now. Getting O'Brien at QB, even if he's just serviceable, is the difference between 7 and 10 Ws for WI this year.

    I also think the WI D is underrated and they could have the best DT rotation in the league.

    Michigan State does not and will not run the 3-4 defense.

    SpartanRocky ●

  • getmyjive11 said...

    Steve, if OSU was eligible, do you think they would be the team to beat?

    Nevermind, I went to my flow chart and it said that your answer would always be "YES".

    FWIW, even if they were eligible, I don't think tOSU should be considered the team to beat. It'd be a toss-up between them and WI, with Purdue/PSU right behind. People get all wide-eyed at the raw talent coming in at tOSU, but that talent still has to learn a new system.

    Florida had as much, if not slightly more, talent in 2005 as tOSU does right now. UF finished 9-3 (5-3) that year. I think tOSU could be in line for a similar performance, but with divisional play, I don't know if a 5-3 record in-conf. makes them the "team to beat". They do have to play MSU, Nebraska and Michigan from the Legends, and the MSU game is the 1st Big 10 game (i.e., least amount of time in the system) and it's on the road. tOSU also has to travel to Madison; when was the last time they won there? The season sets up for between 2-4 Big 10 losses; enough to make tOSU competitive within the division but not enough to make them the prohibitive favorites.

    Next year, all bets are off. Usually teams have a nice bump their 2nd year in a new coaches system (as much as MSU and tOSU fans don't like to say it, that means Hoke and Co. should have a pretty darn solid team in '12).

    Michigan State does not and will not run the 3-4 defense.

    SpartanRocky ●

  • SpartanRocky said...

    FWIW, even if they were eligible, I don't think tOSU should be considered the team to beat. It'd be a toss-up between them and WI, with Purdue/PSU right behind. People get all wide-eyed at the raw talent coming in at tOSU, but that talent still has to learn a new system.

    Florida had as much, if not slightly more, talent in 2005 as tOSU does right now. UF finished 9-3 (5-3) that year. I think tOSU could be in line for a similar performance, but with divisional play, I don't know if a 5-3 record in-conf. makes them the "team to beat". They do have to play MSU, Nebraska and Michigan from the Legends, and the MSU game is the 1st Big 10 game (i.e., least amount of time in the system) and it's on the road. tOSU also has to travel to Madison; when was the last time they won there? The season sets up for between 2-4 Big 10 losses; enough to make tOSU competitive within the division but not enough to make them the prohibitive favorites.

    Next year, all bets are off. Usually teams have a nice bump their 2nd year in a new coaches system (as much as MSU and tOSU fans don't like to say it, that means Hoke and Co. should have a pretty darn solid team in '12).

    I think OSU is going to be disappointed again this year. JMO.

    2013 they should be pretty good.

    getmyjive11

  • getmyjive11 said...

    I think OSU is going to be disappointed again this year. JMO.

    2013 they should be pretty good.

    What do you think Ohio State's record will be, and who do you think the losses are to?

    signature image

    #FreeDevidee

    elite44

  • elite44 said...

    What do you think Ohio State's record will be, and who do you think the losses are to?

    I think they will be 8-4 with loses to Wisky, Michigan, MSU and (pick one) PSU/Nebraska.

    Best case, I could see 9-3. Worst I think is 6-6 (losing to both PSU and Nebraska, and one WTF game (like Purdue last year)).

    getmyjive11

  • getmyjive11 said...

    I think they will be 8-4 with loses to Wisky, Michigan, MSU and (pick one) PSU/Nebraska.

    Best case, I could see 9-3. Worst I think is 6-6 (losing to both PSU and Nebraska, and one WTF game (like Purdue last year)).

    I always fear the "WTF" game, I'm more worried about our road games than homes games. I could see anywhere from 10-2 (L's to MSU & PSU) to 8-4 (L's to MSU,PSU, Wisky, & WTF). With that I'll go 9-3 ( MSU, PSU, & Wisky). If they win one of the big road games I think it will be against Wisconsin, I'm not sold on them being that good for three years in a row.

    signature image

    #FreeDevidee

    elite44

  • elite44 said...

    I always fear the "WTF" game, I'm more worried about our road games than homes games. I could see anywhere from 10-2 (L's to MSU & PSU) to 8-4 (L's to MSU,PSU, Wisky, & WTF). With that I'll go 9-3 ( MSU, PSU, & Wisky). If they win one of the big road games I think it will be against Wisconsin, I'm not sold on them being that good for three years in a row.

    If your game against Purdue was in West Lafayette, I'd put that in as a trap game.

    I think tOSU will be a better team by the end of the year than at the beginning. Biases aside, I think that's what makes @MSU arguably the toughest game on tOSU's Big 10 schedule.

    Michigan State does not and will not run the 3-4 defense.

    SpartanRocky ●

  • SpartanRocky said...

    Usually teams have a nice bump their 2nd year in a new coaches system (as much as MSU and tOSU fans don't like to say it, that means Hoke and Co. should have a pretty darn solid team in '12).

    panic

    MrWoodson ●

Football Recruiting
Basketball Recruiting
Features
Resources
Connect

247Sports In partnership with CBS Sports