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RaychelSnr · 08-13-2009, 05:11 PM

Try to quell your arousal Big Ten fans, our time is at hand. Big Ten football is just around the corner, which means for a few short months fans of the mid-continental eleven can enjoy interleague competition with the sweet bonus of an automatic BCS bid. But once January comes around, we might as well retreat with our tails between our collective legs and start looking forward to signing day.

I am a lifetime Big Ten fan. I grew up in Big Ten country, attended a Big Ten school for both undergrad and grad school, and currently reside comfortably within the heartland of the conference. But I am also a realist, and I realize that we are a Triple-A league to the SEC, Big 12 and to some degree, the Pac-10. We are third-rate, and I’m not afraid to admit it. Still, we always have that hope for a turnaround, and perhaps last season’s barn-burner in Tempe was a sign of sunnier days ahead. But who knows….

What follows is a short version of my take on the 2009 Big Ten season, with some NCAA Football 10 tidbits and my predictions sprinkled in as well -- not that I have ever made a dime picking winners (as my vehement pick of Alabama in last year’s Sugar Bowl on this site will dictate).

Read More - OS NCAA 10 Preview: Big 10

phsx2010 · 08-13-2009, 06:45 PM

Iowa 8th in the B10?! Sorry, goin to have to disagree with you on that one. There are reasons they are in many Top 25 polls.

FredoXV · 08-13-2009, 07:01 PM

I agree with you in that there are reasons they are in the pre-season top 25, the strongest of which is their defense. I do think, however, many are under-valuing the loss of Greene to the overall offense. We'll see though, my opinion is no more valid than yours!

Terrell28 · 08-13-2009, 07:23 PM

In the Big 10 every year it's only two teams to factor in usually it was Ohio St.and Michigan but since they wanted that traitor from WVU(Rodrigez) they deserve what they get so now it's Penn State's turn to play 2nd fittle to the Sweater Vest and Ohio State so with really only one powerful team who gets their A**** handed to them in BCS games that conference is down too.

Kriech23 · 08-13-2009, 07:53 PM

Iowa behind Northwestern is almost laughable. Iowa should be 4th or 5th. I'm looking for Stanzi to have a big year. Buckeyes and Nittany Lions again for the Big Ten Title. That'll be one of the biggest games of the year.

FredoXV · 08-13-2009, 08:07 PM

I am l also ooking forward to the big game in State College on November 7th. Last year's contest in Columbus was easily the game of the year in the conference, it will likely be the only "great" game of the year on the national scale.

ChicagoSparty · 08-13-2009, 08:20 PM

Would slide Wisconsin and Iowa up, and Northwestern and Illinois down. Yes, they both lost their running backs and some playmakers on defense, but both teams are consistently excellent in the trenches. And John Clay (as you note) and Jewel Hampton are great running backs, IMO. Meanwhile, Illinois is the most interesting team to me---great skill on offense but zero defense.

FredoXV · 08-13-2009, 08:33 PM

ChicagoSparty -

Interestingly enough, the Illini defense was all the hype in camp a year ago, and the unit completely crapped the bed once the season started. I'm very interested to see how Martez Wilson develops at linebacker, as the staff has not yet been able to develop his freakish raw talent. If he can emerge, it would be a huge boost to the D.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing how Hampton emerges in Greene's wake. You are correct, Iowa is traditionally gritty up front, and they could very well make me look foolish for putting them on the low end of the standings. If you see my projected records though, i have them going 4-4(7-5), right in the hunt, so a higher finish wouldn't surprise me.

08-13-2009, 05:11 PM	#1
RaychelSnr Executive Editor OVR: 57 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 4,846 Blog Entries: 490	OS NCAA 10 Preview: Big Ten Try to quell your arousal Big Ten fans, our time is at hand. Big Ten football is just around the corner, which means for a few short months fans of the mid-continental eleven can enjoy interleague competition with the sweet bonus of an automatic BCS bid. But once January comes around, we might as well retreat with our tails between our collective legs and start looking forward to signing day. I am a lifetime Big Ten fan. I grew up in Big Ten country, attended a Big Ten school for both undergrad and grad school, and currently reside comfortably within the heartland of the conference. But I am also a realist, and I realize that we are a Triple-A league to the SEC, Big 12 and to some degree, the Pac-10. We are third-rate, and I’m not afraid to admit it. Still, we always have that hope for a turnaround, and perhaps last season’s barn-burner in Tempe was a sign of sunnier days ahead. But who knows…. What follows is a short version of my take on the 2009 Big Ten season, with some NCAA Football 10 tidbits and my predictions sprinkled in as well -- not that I have ever made a dime picking winners (as my vehement pick of Alabama in last year’s Sugar Bowl on this site will dictate). Read More - OS NCAA 10 Preview: Big 10 Platform: PS3 / Wii / Xbox 360

08-13-2009, 07:53 PM	#5
Kriech23 MVP OVR: 17 Join Date: Feb 2009 Blog Entries: 1	Re: OS NCAA 10 Preview: Big Ten Iowa behind Northwestern is almost laughable. Iowa should be 4th or 5th. I'm looking for Stanzi to have a big year. Buckeyes and Nittany Lions again for the Big Ten Title. That'll be one of the biggest games of the year.

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08-13-2009, 06:45 PM	#2
phsx2010 Rookie OVR: 1 Join Date: Jun 2008	Iowa 8th in the B10?! Sorry, goin to have to disagree with you on that one. There are reasons they are in many Top 25 polls.

08-13-2009, 07:01 PM	#3
FredoXV Rookie OVR: 7 Join Date: Apr 2008	I agree with you in that there are reasons they are in the pre-season top 25, the strongest of which is their defense. I do think, however, many are under-valuing the loss of Greene to the overall offense. We'll see though, my opinion is no more valid than yours!

08-13-2009, 07:23 PM	#4
Terrell28 Banned OVR: 15 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Jersey All Day Blog Entries: 3	In the Big 10 every year it's only two teams to factor in usually it was Ohio St.and Michigan but since they wanted that traitor from WVU(Rodrigez) they deserve what they get so now it's Penn State's turn to play 2nd fittle to the Sweater Vest and Ohio State so with really only one powerful team who gets their A**** handed to them in BCS games that conference is down too.

08-13-2009, 08:07 PM	#6
FredoXV Rookie OVR: 7 Join Date: Apr 2008	I am l also ooking forward to the big game in State College on November 7th. Last year's contest in Columbus was easily the game of the year in the conference, it will likely be the only "great" game of the year on the national scale.

08-13-2009, 08:20 PM	#7
ChicagoSparty MVP OVR: 13 Join Date: Jun 2003	Would slide Wisconsin and Iowa up, and Northwestern and Illinois down. Yes, they both lost their running backs and some playmakers on defense, but both teams are consistently excellent in the trenches. And John Clay (as you note) and Jewel Hampton are great running backs, IMO. Meanwhile, Illinois is the most interesting team to me---great skill on offense but zero defense.

08-13-2009, 08:33 PM	#8
FredoXV Rookie OVR: 7 Join Date: Apr 2008	ChicagoSparty - Interestingly enough, the Illini defense was all the hype in camp a year ago, and the unit completely crapped the bed once the season started. I'm very interested to see how Martez Wilson develops at linebacker, as the staff has not yet been able to develop his freakish raw talent. If he can emerge, it would be a huge boost to the D. I'm actually looking forward to seeing how Hampton emerges in Greene's wake. You are correct, Iowa is traditionally gritty up front, and they could very well make me look foolish for putting them on the low end of the standings. If you see my projected records though, i have them going 4-4(7-5), right in the hunt, so a higher finish wouldn't surprise me.

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