1- Ohio State:
The Buckeyes are loaded again and are the consensus No.1 headed into the season. The quarterback log jam has been solved with J.T. Barrett moving to H-back, stud workhorse RB Ezekial Elliot returning and a defense that features the returning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in Joey Bosa. Ohio State will be double-digit favorites in all their road games with their biggest tests coming against Minnesota and Michigan State at Columbus. Urban Meyer figures to improve to 32-0 in Big Ten regular season games but must keep the Buckeyes hungry in their opener vs. a very tough Virginia Tech outfit.
2- Michigan State:
The Spartans are a top five squad for sure and will be the No.1 seed in January if they can beat Oregon in their home revenge spot in Week Two and then take care of business in its showdown with the Buckeyes. Connor Cook is the real deal calling the shots behind center and he’ll be working behind arguably the best offensive line in the conference. The defensive front seven is as good as any, possibly in the country.
3- Michigan:
Wolverine fans are excited about the Jim Harbaugh era with good cause but may be disappointed by the results right out of the gate. With 15 starters returning, the cupboard isn’t exactly bare but this team did finish 5-7 last year and was not really competitive against the best in conference. Michigan will feature a solid defense but the offense is a huge question mark including quarterback. Harbaugh wasn’t an overnight
miracle worker at Stanford and he’ll need a couple of years in Ann Arbor to get his people and schemes in place.
miracle worker at Stanford and he’ll need a couple of years in Ann Arbor to get his people and schemes in place.
4- Indiana:
This is a do or die year for Kevin Wilson who enters his fifth season as coach of the Hoosiers. the offense loses 2000 yard rusher Tevin Coleman but should be explosive all the same with an experienced quarterback and a talent stable of veteran receivers. The question for the Hoosiers has always been can they stop someone. If they can and catch some breaks along the way, this could be a team that wins 7-8 games. Anything less than a Bowl would be disappointing.
5- Penn State:
The Nits are done with their sanctions and should be on the right track with ex-Vandy head coach James Franklin who was an excellent hire and might just stay around for 20 years. Penn State has a real gunslinger in Christian Hackenberg who are a rifle for an arm but hasn’t always been the best decision maker. Penn State is improved all around and have a dream schedule featuring just four true road games but our thought is that this team is a year away.
6- Rutgers:
The Scarlet Knights will be in rebuilding mode with just 10 returning starters. Kyle Flood’s bunch will be able to throw the ball around some but figure to give up a lot of points. This is a team that will probably not win a road game and their non-conference tilts against Washington State and Kansas are not gimmes. The season finale vs. Maryland will likely determine which team ends up in the Big Ten East cellar.
7- Maryland:
The Terps were huge overachievers last year under Randy Edsall and it showed in their Bowl game where they were boat raced by Stanford 45-21. With just 10 returning starters, Maryland figures to return to earth. Caleb Rowe was the backup QB last year and has little to work with this year. The defense has no returning starters in the front seven. This could be a 2-3 win team with one of the victories coming in the opener vs. Richmond.