--LEADERS--
Illinois
Overview:
Tim Beckman comes over from Toledo to take over a team with a solid defense and a veteran, dual-threat QB. While never known as a great coach former coach Ron Zook did bring in enough talent to compete in a down Leaders Division.
Key Game: @ Wisconsin October 6th.
Illinois should win their non-conference games although Western Michigan is good for a MAC team and the long trip to Arizona makes the game against ASU a little tougher. Illinois could very well go 4-4 in conference with four home wins and four road loses. A win on the road against Wisconsin to put Illinois in control of the Leaders division with a 6-0 would be huge.
Heisman Threat: Junior Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase
Heisman Threat: Junior Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase
Scheelhaase has piled up over 5,400 yards and 41 TDs in two season as the Illinois QB. He should continue to improve and has some weapons around him, the question is whether or not Beckman will continue going with a 2-QB attack like he did at Toledo.
Predicted Finish: 8-4 (4-4)
The non-conference season should be pretty easy to manage with their defense and QB. But as mentioned the conference season is backward of the way they want it, arguably their tougher four opponents (Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan and Northwestern ) while their easiest four opponents are at home (Penn State, Indiana, Minnesota and Purdue). Fourteen returning starters give them a chance to pull of road upsets but 4-4 seems like the most likely the way they will finish.
Indiana
Overview:
The good news, the Hoosiers return 15 starters. The bad news, the Hoosiers return 15 starters. They went 1-11 and the only win came against a FCS school. They have a few playmakers on offense and some experienced defensive players that should allow them to keep a few games close, but no where near the talent needed to win.
Key Game: @ Purdue on November 24th.
The Hoosiers should win their first three non-conference games and have a decent chance to win @ Navy in late October, but other than that the Big Ten schedule won't be fun. But the young Hoosiers should improve as the year goes on and a regular season finale at rival Purdue and a chance to possibly ruin Purdue's chances at a title game appearance would be a great way to end a season that is unlikely to end in a bowl game.
Heisman Threat: Junior WR Kofi Hughes
He is the offense's best playmaker. He will be the main target in the passing game and will also get some carries in the running game. However, he has no shot at a Heisman.
He is the offense's best playmaker. He will be the main target in the passing game and will also get some carries in the running game. However, he has no shot at a Heisman.
Predicted Finish 4-8 (0-8)
The Hoosiers best bets to win conference games are all on the road (Northwestern, Penn State and Purdue) they don't have much of a chance to win the other five (Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Iowa at home and a trip to Illinois).
Ohio State
Overview:Urban Meyer takes over a team that returns a lot, but also had the worst season in recent history record-wise. While there won't be a bowl game for the Buckeyes there is still plenty of optimism and why not considering the 7 loses last season came by a combined 50 points. Much of those close loses came because the defense kept it that way while the offense struggled. A new coaching staff and more experience gives the offense hope of better things in 2012.
Key Game: Michigan on November 24th.
Ohio State doesn't have a bowl game, they don't have a chance to wash away the sickness another loss to Michigan would bring. The seniors will want to move to 3-1 versus their hated rivals while the rest of the team will be looking to end 2012 on a high note and set them up for a title run in 2013.
Heisman Threat: Sophomore QB Braxton Miller.
Miller isn't the best player on the team, that moniker belongs to DL John Simon or DT Jon Hankins, but he is talented and will be leaned on heavily to breath life into an offense that didn't have much last season. He is electric when scrambling and can make plays when the plan breaks down, his key will be executing plays the way they are designed.
Predicted Finish: 11-1 (7-1)
The schedule could be split into four sections for Ohio State four should-be-wins, two tough games, four should-be-wins then two tough games. The first four are non-conference games and should result in a rather easy 4-0 record. Then a visit to East Lansing followed by a visit from Nebraska. After that @ Indiana, Purdue, @ Penn State and Illinois should provide another four relatively easy W's since the Buckeyes get the tougher opponents in the Horseshoe. A bye week in mid-November gives Ohio State rest before a trip to Madison and a visit from hated Michigan. Ohio State has more talent than any of their opponents but Michigan State gets them before they jell and gives the Buckeyes their only loss.
Penn State
Overview:
What can you say? Penn State is in shambles. They have some talent in the front seven on defense, but a completely new secondary and an offense void of talent will result in several losses. How bad the NCAA punishments look could ride on this season, wins could keep the program together, but if the losses pill up this proud program could go away without a whimper.
Key Game: Ohio University on September 1st.
The eyes of the college football world will peak at Penn State as they take the field for the first time since the off-season fallout. A win will give the team confidence going forward, while a loss could send the Penn State program downhill faster than everyone expects. Ohio is no pushover either, this is one of the best non-BCS team in the country.
Heisman Threat: Senior LB Gerald Hodges
Hodges is the best defensive player still in Happy Valley. He had 106 tackles, 10 for loss and was 1st team All Big Ten last season. He has no shot at the Heisman but since the offense likely won't spend much time on the field he could rack up big-time numbers in tackles and play his way into an early draft choice.
Predicted Finish: 4-8 (2-6)
Worst case scenario becomes a reality in not-so Happy Valley. Ohio and Virginia send Penn State to an 0-2 start and it just keeps getting worse. They should still beat Temple, Navy and Indiana but none of those are surefire wins. Penn State's 9-win season last year felt fluky, their 4-win season in 2012 will likely become the norm.
What can you say? Penn State is in shambles. They have some talent in the front seven on defense, but a completely new secondary and an offense void of talent will result in several losses. How bad the NCAA punishments look could ride on this season, wins could keep the program together, but if the losses pill up this proud program could go away without a whimper.
Key Game: Ohio University on September 1st.
The eyes of the college football world will peak at Penn State as they take the field for the first time since the off-season fallout. A win will give the team confidence going forward, while a loss could send the Penn State program downhill faster than everyone expects. Ohio is no pushover either, this is one of the best non-BCS team in the country.
Heisman Threat: Senior LB Gerald Hodges
Hodges is the best defensive player still in Happy Valley. He had 106 tackles, 10 for loss and was 1st team All Big Ten last season. He has no shot at the Heisman but since the offense likely won't spend much time on the field he could rack up big-time numbers in tackles and play his way into an early draft choice.
Predicted Finish: 4-8 (2-6)
Worst case scenario becomes a reality in not-so Happy Valley. Ohio and Virginia send Penn State to an 0-2 start and it just keeps getting worse. They should still beat Temple, Navy and Indiana but none of those are surefire wins. Penn State's 9-win season last year felt fluky, their 4-win season in 2012 will likely become the norm.
Purdue
Overview:
The Boilermakers and head coach Danny Hope have been looking for their chance to breakthrough and be a real factor in November. With Ohio State and Penn State ineligible and Wisconsin not as dominate as the last two seasons this may be their chance. Purdue returns seven starters from a talented defense and eight starters from a decent offense as well as three QB's with experience.
Key Game: Wisconsin on October 13th.
The Boilermakers should be good enough to beat Notre Dame, even in South Bend. They open Big Ten play hosting Michigan, which would be a great chance to grab an upset. But it's the next week when Wisconsin comes to town that should be highlighted the brightest on Purdue's schedule. Wisconsin is the favorite in the Leaders Division and a win over the Badgers would thrust Purdue into the driver's seat.
Heisman Threat: Junior CB Ricardo Allen
Allen is the best player on the Boilermaker defense. Despite his size (5'9" 185lbs) he is a very strong tackler and is solid in pass coverage. He had three int's last season and in two seasons in West Lafayette he has taken three int's back for TDs. The pass rush should be good and allow Allen to make plenty of plays, highly unlikely he'll make enough to garner Heisman attention, but he may play his way up the draft boards.
Predicted Finish: 9-3 (5-3)
Purdue's only non-conference test is in South Bend, they will get through that and enter their showdown with Michigan undefeated. In the biggest upset of the early conference season the Purdue defense plays over their heads and knocks off highly favored Michigan. The magic will run out the next week against Wisconsin and then Ohio State will get revenge for last season's overtime loss. The Boilermakers will bounce back with wins @ Minnesota, Penn State and @ Iowa to build up steam for a possible division clinching game in Champagne. The defense will slow the Illinois offense, but the offense will be stuck in the mud against the Illini defense and the team with the better QB (Scheelhaase) will win late in the game. Purdue will bounce back on Senior day to beat rival Indiana.
The Boilermakers and head coach Danny Hope have been looking for their chance to breakthrough and be a real factor in November. With Ohio State and Penn State ineligible and Wisconsin not as dominate as the last two seasons this may be their chance. Purdue returns seven starters from a talented defense and eight starters from a decent offense as well as three QB's with experience.
Key Game: Wisconsin on October 13th.
The Boilermakers should be good enough to beat Notre Dame, even in South Bend. They open Big Ten play hosting Michigan, which would be a great chance to grab an upset. But it's the next week when Wisconsin comes to town that should be highlighted the brightest on Purdue's schedule. Wisconsin is the favorite in the Leaders Division and a win over the Badgers would thrust Purdue into the driver's seat.
Heisman Threat: Junior CB Ricardo Allen
Allen is the best player on the Boilermaker defense. Despite his size (5'9" 185lbs) he is a very strong tackler and is solid in pass coverage. He had three int's last season and in two seasons in West Lafayette he has taken three int's back for TDs. The pass rush should be good and allow Allen to make plenty of plays, highly unlikely he'll make enough to garner Heisman attention, but he may play his way up the draft boards.
Predicted Finish: 9-3 (5-3)
Purdue's only non-conference test is in South Bend, they will get through that and enter their showdown with Michigan undefeated. In the biggest upset of the early conference season the Purdue defense plays over their heads and knocks off highly favored Michigan. The magic will run out the next week against Wisconsin and then Ohio State will get revenge for last season's overtime loss. The Boilermakers will bounce back with wins @ Minnesota, Penn State and @ Iowa to build up steam for a possible division clinching game in Champagne. The defense will slow the Illinois offense, but the offense will be stuck in the mud against the Illini defense and the team with the better QB (Scheelhaase) will win late in the game. Purdue will bounce back on Senior day to beat rival Indiana.
Wisconsin
Overview:
The Badgers not only had losses on the field, they lost a lot of coaches as well. Most importantly Offensive Coordinator Paul Chryst. The new O.C. Matt Canada will have a lot less to work with in year one than Chryst had last season. They lose three starters on the O-line two of them All-Americans, the third was a slacker as he was only 1st Team All-Big Ten. They also lose stellar QB Russell Wilson and #1 WR Nick Toon. They return Monte Ball and James White to carry the load behind a retooled O-line however and will still be able to score plenty of points. The defense returns their two stars LBs Mike Taylor and Chris Borland but lose four of their top eight tacklers. The defense lived of off the offense's ability to run the clock and the minimal turnovers in 2011, this season they may be on the field more with more pressure. How they respond will determine the kind of season the Badgers have.
Key Game: Ohio State on November 17th.
The Badgers could be playing for a chance to keep themselves in the national title hunt or just a chance to hold on to a division they could run away with. Ohio State will be coming of off a bye and Wisconsin will be coming off a game against upset hungry Indiana. The Badgers will look to get revenge for last season's upset, Ohio State will be looking to finish strong and set themselves up for 2013.
Heisman Threat: Senior RB Monte Ball
He is the only Heisman finalist returning, that should be reason enough. Plus this season he won't have to split votes with a Heisman caliber QB like he did last year. But that could also be his downfall, without a legitimate passing game to take pressure of off him, Ball won't have as much running room.
Predicted Finish: 9-3 (5-3)
The Badgers seem to be allergic to good non-conference games, a trip to Corvallis, Ore may be tougher than usual but the Beavers are far from a good team. The schedule is manageable in conference as well. The Badgers get Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan State and Ohio State in Madison while they travel to Nebraska, Purdue, Indiana and Penn State. They should be able to handle Minnesota, Indiana and Penn State without too much trouble but the other five could be tough. I see them dropping one to a tough Nebraska team in their first real game then shockingly losing two games in Madison, one to Michigan State and the other to the Buckeyes.
The Badgers not only had losses on the field, they lost a lot of coaches as well. Most importantly Offensive Coordinator Paul Chryst. The new O.C. Matt Canada will have a lot less to work with in year one than Chryst had last season. They lose three starters on the O-line two of them All-Americans, the third was a slacker as he was only 1st Team All-Big Ten. They also lose stellar QB Russell Wilson and #1 WR Nick Toon. They return Monte Ball and James White to carry the load behind a retooled O-line however and will still be able to score plenty of points. The defense returns their two stars LBs Mike Taylor and Chris Borland but lose four of their top eight tacklers. The defense lived of off the offense's ability to run the clock and the minimal turnovers in 2011, this season they may be on the field more with more pressure. How they respond will determine the kind of season the Badgers have.
Key Game: Ohio State on November 17th.
The Badgers could be playing for a chance to keep themselves in the national title hunt or just a chance to hold on to a division they could run away with. Ohio State will be coming of off a bye and Wisconsin will be coming off a game against upset hungry Indiana. The Badgers will look to get revenge for last season's upset, Ohio State will be looking to finish strong and set themselves up for 2013.
Heisman Threat: Senior RB Monte Ball
He is the only Heisman finalist returning, that should be reason enough. Plus this season he won't have to split votes with a Heisman caliber QB like he did last year. But that could also be his downfall, without a legitimate passing game to take pressure of off him, Ball won't have as much running room.
Predicted Finish: 9-3 (5-3)
The Badgers seem to be allergic to good non-conference games, a trip to Corvallis, Ore may be tougher than usual but the Beavers are far from a good team. The schedule is manageable in conference as well. The Badgers get Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan State and Ohio State in Madison while they travel to Nebraska, Purdue, Indiana and Penn State. They should be able to handle Minnesota, Indiana and Penn State without too much trouble but the other five could be tough. I see them dropping one to a tough Nebraska team in their first real game then shockingly losing two games in Madison, one to Michigan State and the other to the Buckeyes.
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