Projected Big Ten Standings

I believe that this will be the best year that the Big Ten has seen since 2003, as there are three legitimate national championship contenders in the league to complement an array of teams with high potential and enough tradition to believe that 2010 can be a special season.

Here are my projections for the 2010 Big Ten season:

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (12-0, 8-0)
2. Iowa Hawkeyes (10-2, 6-2)
3. Wisconsin Badgers (10-2, 6-2)
4. Penn State Nittany Lions (9-3, 6-2)
5. Michigan State Spartans (9-3, 5-3)
6. Northwestern Wildcats (8-4, 4-4)
7. Purdue Boilermakers (6-6, 3-5)
8. Michigan Wolverines (5-7, 3-5)
9. Illinois Fighting Illini (5-7, 3-5)
10. Indiana Hoosiers (4-8, 1-7)
11. Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-9, 0-8)

Yes, I'm aware that me picking OSU to go undefeated comes across as a product of Buckeye bias, but just wait and see. Eleven wins or more is the vibe that I am getting from this team.

Iowa and Wisconsin are fairly equal to me, and in many respects I give the edge to Wisconsin as being the better overall team. Unfortunately for Wisconsin, they have to travel to Iowa City a week after playing OSU. That is why Iowa gets the nod for me.

Penn State should lose to Alabama and then have some time to find their true identity as a team. Joe Pa will get things under control in time to send his team packing for a New Year's bowl game.

Michigan State tends to be a lot of people's "sleeper" team, and always seems to let the masses down. I generally have mediocre expectations for them, but this season I really like this team. Greg Jones may be the best linebacker in the nation, and he will lead a stingy defense and the offense will be much improved from 2009.

Northwestern, in all honesty, should've won the Outback Bowl. If they did, then they would be getting a lot more hype for 2010. I know that they will never be able to match up athletically with the best teams in the conference, but 8 wins and another shot at a good team in a New Year's Day bowl game should be just what the doctor ordered for a team that hasn't won a bowl game since 1948.

Purdue is a hard team for me to figure out. I like what Coach Hope is doing in West Lafayette, but I think they may be another year away from seriously challenging for the upper echelon of the conference. QB Robert Marve, a Miami transfer, will be a household name in Big Ten country by seasons end and should lead Purdue to a bowl appearance and keep the fans buzzing for the next season.

Illinois and Michigan are the same team to me: vast offensive potential, little to no defense. All hatred for the maize and blue aside, Illinois has a better chance of putting together a good defense and making it to a bowl game. The Wolverines don't even know who their quarterback is going to be (not a good sign... trust me) and have sustained heavy losses on the defensive side of the ball. Illinois has a shot at the postseason, but I am calling for both teams to stay home for the holidays and FINALLY can both of their head coaches.

Indiana has a lot of promise but they will probably fall short of getting to a bowl game. Minnesota....well, Minnesota is not good. I hate counting out the Gophers, but they are my pick to be in the cellar by the end of the season -- bye, bye Coach Brewster.

Hopefully my expectations for OSU are matched by season's end.

ONE WEEK UNTIL KICKOFF!!!!