Big Ten Board (Beta)

OSU may have a couple of stellar defensive linemen in Noah Spence and Adolphus Washington as well as a WR in Michael Thomas. Thomas had a prep school year at Fork Union to aid his development.

Michigan was hoping for big things out of DL Ondre Pipkins, but he suffered a neck injury in camp.

At Michigan, Kyle Kalis could push for an OL spot as a freshman.

MSU has a nice freshman WR in Aaron Burbridge.

Northwestern got a nice athlete from Ohio in OLB Ifeadi Odenigbo. Not sure if he will be a difference maker this year, though.

In a league like this, it is just so hard for a true freshman to make a big impact. If it happens, it is usually at a skill position like WR or DB where a guy can come in physically ready to compete. On the line, it's usually men (upperclassmen) against boys (freshmen).

Good point, Zach. It's a complex question. Yes, Purdue is better now than it's been at any point under Hope. It's not as good as when Tiller/Brees stunned K-State in the Alamo and took the Boilers to the Rose Bowl, though.

They are getting better and with Kawaan Short and the QBs they have, they are going to play 6-6 or 7-5 football. Can they steal one on the road at Iowa or Illinois? Can they beat Michigan or Wisconsin at home? Those are their swing games.

Yes, they are in contention largely because Ohio State and Penn State are ineligible. But we'll see whether they are built to capitalize on it. Wisconsin should not be as good as it was last year, so they have a glimmer of hope.

We saw your sleeper picks for the Big Ten, how about your predictions. With OSU and PSU ineligible for the CCG, I assume that UW gets the vote here, but how about the Legends Division? Who's the conference champion when the dust has settled?

I have Michigan 9-3 and 6-2 in Big Ten, they get MSU and Iowa at home and will rep the Legends in the title game because they should/could win those 2 games as the tiebreaker.

I agree with everything you say here. This is why they are only ranked in the 9-10 range instead of in the 4-5 range. They are coming off a BCS bowl win, such as it was, over Virginia Tech. We can debate that they did not deserve that game because of the 2-TD loss to MSU or how Tech outgained and maybe outplayed them, but Michigan found a way to win that game. They also found ways to beat ND and hold off Ohio State. It was a great first year for Brady Hoke.

Some thing he may be like Earle Bruce was at Ohio State -- get his best year out of the way in his first year. I'm not sure about that because Hoke, unlike RichRod is part of the fabric there at Michigan. He is a Michigan guy through and through after coaching for Moeller and Carr.

Their defense made a quantum leap last year and a lot of that was because of the older guys up front. Can they maintain that standard without those guys? We will know more about that after they play Alabama.

Game by game ...

I think they give Alabama some fits but probably lose by 7-13 points. Key is whether they can get Denard lose. If Tide bottles him up and he can't make plays and keep pass plays alive with his feet, forget it.

They beat Air Force and UMass and I have them even winning the night game at ND. Should be a great battle. I just think Michigan is the better team.

They get a week off and then should win at Illinois and at home against Purdue. The biggie is 10/13 against MSU, who has beaten them 4 straight years. (Heck the MSU commercial on BTN even mentions that ... pretty bold move to mention that you've beaten your rival 4 straight in a 30-second infomercial.)

Then they are at Nebraska. I think that will be a toughie, especially at night. (I was very impressed with atmosphere there last year). UM did a number on Neb at home last year, though.

Michigan should then roll through at Minnesota and home with NW and Iowa before season-ended at Ohio State. I think if Meyer has any kind of a team, we see another great shootout between Denard and Miller with OSU pulling out the win. (Hey, it's their NC game this year.)

I then have Michigan beating Wisconsin like 42-37 in the Big Ten title game to go on to the Rose Bowl (likely against the USC-Oregon loser).

Michigan could end up 9-4, 2 games less than last year, but have the conference title Hoke said was missing from last year. How ironic is that?

If Smith or Brown can catch some long ones, then maybe its one of them. Otherwise, I think the volume of catches means it will be Stoneburner. I think he will get about 6 for 70 yards each week. Others could have 3 or 4 catches for 100 with a long one, though.

A tackle has to have wingspan to lock on to a rushing end or blitzing LB or safety. He also has to have nimble feet to be able to run or at least shuffle laterally wiith that rusher and turn him outside or away from the passer.

The guards can be shorter and have less wingspan because they are doing hand to hand combat in confined space on most plays. They also have to be able to power against 320pound DTs. But they also need to be able to move because they pull and also help lead on sweeps to the outside.

I answered this, I will say Hyde. He is much improved. Smith and Brown also have a shot if one of them catches fire. My guess is it will be by committee, though.

I wish I could say. We didn't get to watch any scrimmages and some guys were banged up (like Grant and Perry). Klein coming back will help the depth.

I think it's Sabino and Shazier outside and Grant in the middle. Then Klein and Crowell backing up in the middle. Some young guys like Perry, Roberts, Boom Perkins, Jamal Marcus and Camren Williams will also get a shot.

The walk-on Burger is the only one to my knowledge to lose his stripe in that group.

I have been around. Been covering OSU at home for 25 years and home and away since 1994. I have missed three OSU games home and away in the last 17 years and that was when my wife was pregnant in 2001 and I could not leave the state.

OK, when OSU goes to Indiana or Purdue, we stay in Indy. Downtown Indy has more great bars and restaurants per capita in a 5-block square than any place I've ever seen. We always go to St. Elmo's for steak in Indy.

Wisconsin has a great bar scene on State Street between campus and the statehouse.

Minneapolis is just a great town. Lot of clubs and live music downtown near the Target Center (where T-wolves play).

There isn't much happening in Champaign. There are a few bars downtown there, but nothing to write home about.

Iowa City has a great bar scene downtown and some nice restaurants as well. We hit a great steak place there (Joseph's right downtown). There is also a goood sports bar there north of the university called Tailgators.

Michigan, Ann Arbor is kind of quiet, usual campus bars, etc. We go to downtown Detroit for gambling (3 casinos) and restaurants there. Ditto for Michigan State, although the bars in East Lansing put AA to shame, IMO.

Nebraska, we liked Misty's Steak about 2 blocks south of the stadium. Lincoln was a nice surprise for us.

Northwestern, Chicago is one of the great cities on the continent. Joe's Steak and Seafood downtown is good as is Gino's East pizza and about 100 other places.

Penn State, there is some activity on the main road bordering campus. We eat at Beulah's BBQ there before the games. Never done much nightlife there. It's a long car trip for us coming from OH so we usually come in day of and drive out afterwards.

I hope that helps. I need to write a book: Hot Spots of the Big Ten

Anybody with any Big Ten road suggestions, please feel free to share them here.

One note on staying in Indy for Indiana and Purdue. The traffic getting into both places can be bad. So getting to a noon game at either one can be tough. I know a back way into Purdue. I have not figured out a good back way into IU, though.

I still don't see a "new" QB at Mich. State beating OSU's D this year. I think we win a squeaker. It will be interesting.

You know that is a good question. I think the Big Ten ADs, in listening to their fans who attend the games, do not want night games in the month of November.

I see it already. There have been some big-time OSU-Michigan games where the ticket market was softer than you might think because some fans simply don't want to sit outside in 30 degree weather for a 4-game.

You put it at night and it's potentially 20 degree weather.

Some of the coldest football games I have attended have been the Ohio high school playoffs the first weekend of December in Canton. It's usually about 30-35 degrees and sometimes blowing snow sideways. That's great for TV, but not so great for fans in the stands.

They did play the game at 3:30 one time in 2006 and it did amazing ratings as a one-versus-two game. But the tradition has been to play it at noon or 1 p.m. I don't mind that at all.

If it were ever moved into October, then yeah maybe play it at 8 p.m. But where it's at is probably OK with the rank and file fan for both schools.

Guys this has been a great return voyage! Thanks for all the questions and comments. I hope to do this each Thurs or Friday. I will make an announcement on each board by Wed on the day and time. Thanks again!!