2007 Big 10 College Football Preview Written by: Shane M. Dayton
It has to be hard being third. Imagine consistently having one of the best teams in the country, only you’re never seriously in the title talk because two traditional powerhouses are often top five teams. Well Badgers fans, get ready for the spotlight, because this is your year to seize the Big Ten title.
Wisconsin: Finished T-2nd Big Ten, projected 1st 2007
It’s all about the Michigan game. Whoever wins that game will go undefeated in the Big Ten and possibly play for the national title. While Michigan can boast a tri-fecta of explosive offensive stars, Wisconsin has tons of experience returning on what was already one of the most dominant teams in Badgers history. Here’s the math: seven returning starters on one of the best defenses in the country,
Costa Rica tourism and nine starters, including all but one offensive lineman, on a team that likes to pound their opponents to submission. A season after the most wins in season history, and also besting the best kicking duo in the Big Ten, guess what else? Michigan comes to Wisconsin to play this year, and experience is going to prove the key. Everyone will know what Wisconsin will want to do—but no one will be able to stop them. This team has a legitimate chance at the national title if their first year starting QB can protect the ball and provide any spark at all.
Michigan: Finished T-2nd Big Ten, projected 2nd 2007
Michigan has a potent offensive tri-fecta in QB Chad Henne, RB Mike Hart, and WR Mario Manningham, all of whom will be drafted into the NFL. Problem is, other than them only three starters return on offense, and a mere four starters return on defense. While there is little doubt this team will score, can they be dominant, and can they slow down good teams enough for it to matter? Can they beat Wisconsin. The answer is no: but they may finally get revenge over an Ohio State team that has dominated them in recent years, but has lost most of their offensive fire power. Still, Michigan should do enough to only lose one game and make a BCS at large bid.
Ohio State: Finished 1st Big Ten, projected 3rd 2007
Ohio State will be the third best team in the Big Ten, though that doesn’t mean they will finish third. This team made it to the national title game before being annihilated by a surprisingly strong Florida squad. They return only five starters on offense, and lose two receivers, a great running back, and one of their best quarterbacks in school history. The defense was good, but not Ohio State good, as was shown when they actually played strong offensive teams. The defense returns only five starters, and are solid, but without the dominant quality of past defenses. Make no mistake, this is a deep team, but I just can’t see them beating Wisconsin, and this year Michigan gets them. They will probably finish about 9-3 and get into a very good bowl.
Iowa: Finished T-8th Big Ten, projected 4th 2007
Is Iowa the fourth best team in the Big Ten? Not even close—and they are definitely on a down turn, becoming very mortal the last two years and finishing 6-7 last year, struggling against some really mediocre opponents like Iowa State and Syracuse. So why pick them this high? No Michigan, no Ohio State. In addition, they return eight starters on defense and have a cup cake non conference schedule. The potential downside? Their D-line is great rushing the passer, but they can’t stop even a moderate running team if their life depended on it, and they lost most their secondary. In addition, no one on offense other than Albert Young looks like anything special, and Syracuse and Iowa State should have beat them last year. This team just isn’t very good, but after the top, neither is the Big Ten. They have one more year before it all catches up to them—and had better hope Gene Chizik at Iowa State doesn’t pull an in state miracle his first year, but most likely, fans should praise the football gods for the schedule—because this is one of the worst Iowa teams in years.
Penn State: T-4th Big Ten, projected 5th 2007
This is a more talented team than Iowa, but they play Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Michigan, not to mention a dangerous potential upset game at Illinois and an early home game against Notre Dame. Most of a good offense returns, and it looks like QB Anthony Morelli might be ready to break out. The defense has only five starters, but is extremely well coached and his emphasis on speed has made Penn State tough to beat—especially when the offense clicks and makes their opponents play their game. This is a team with holes, but they are solid, talented, and good enough to beat the rest of the pack in the Big Ten. They lose to Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin, but beat everyone else in several close games.
Minnesota: T-6th Big Ten, projected 6th in 2007
The hiring of Tim Brewster as head coach was a gamble that his flair for collegiate recruiting and firm belief in discipline will pay dividends for a program that has treaded water for a long time. This will eventually pay off—just not this year. This team is trying to go to a spread offense with balance as key, but players recruited for the old system were to pound the ball, and this offense will find itself relying heavily on the running game once again. With nine various starters returning on defense they will be better. The offense, especially on the passing side has a long way to go, but with a solid base, and an unusual number of Big Ten teams completely unable to defend the run (hello Northwestern, Indiana, and Iowa), Minnesota will win 7-8 wins and hit a middle of the road bowl.
Purdue: T-4th Big Ten, projected 7th in 2007
If QB Curtis Painter has a breakthrough season, this will be one of the most fun offenses in the entire country to watch. Nine starters return on offense, including the best wide receivers in the Big Ten. Eight starters on defense also gives Purdue a strong base, but they must be tougher on offense running the ball and they must cut down on the turnovers to have any major say in the Big Ten race. This team, more than any other in the league, has the potential to be something really special.
Illinois: T-10th Big Ten, projected 8th in 2007
This should be the year the recruiting finally pays off. Don’t start booking tickets to a BCS bowl, but Illinois should make a bowl this year. We’ll know by the end of September whether this is true. Eight returning starters on offense, nine on defense, as well as returning special teams and another great recruiting class should be enough. Missouri will be a tough opening game, but a great chance to pull and upset, and with Western Illinois, Syracuse, and Ball State as the other non-conference games, and very winnable games against Northwestern, Indiana, and Iowa, this team should be able to scrap together six wins and a bowl. This team because of pure talent and a weaker mid pack of teams has a chance to pull some upsets.
Michigan State: T-10th Big Ten, projected 9th in 2007
Six starters on offense and six starters on defense doesn’t mean as much on a 4-8 team that still lost its best players. Michigan State has to play the big four of the Big Ten, as well as Notre Dame. This isn’t an overly tough non conference schedule—but it isn’t cup cake and there just isn’t enough here to scrap six wins. QB Brian Hoyer would have to play absolutely lights out to even sniff six wins.
Northwestern: T-8th Big Ten, projected 10th in 2007
Last season was hell. During what was already a transition year, a very beloved head coach died, and though they fought, this time was simply overmatched too often, and the there were times where the grief came through. This was an exhausted team, but they return seven starters including a very talented RB in Tyrell Sutton, eight defensive starters on a unit that will improve. The school kept Fitzgerald as coach, which will help smooth the transition, and a weak non conference schedule will help them rebuild. This team still needs some upsets to jump to six wins, but if they play hard they may leapfrog Michigan State and Illinois to do it.
Indiana: T-6th Big Ten, projected 11th (Last) in 2007
After the tragic news of head coach Terry Hoeppner’s death, I’d like to say this will be a Cinderella story, but Northwestern couldn’t do it last year, and with this terrible news preseason,
Costa Rica real estatewith Illinois’s and Northwestern’s improvement, it’s just too hard to see. Indiana was heading the right direction, but the distractions will be too much and there’s not enough talent to help QB Kellen Lewis lift them out.
The Big Ten has a lot of middle teams with holes that could rise or fall dramatically, and teams like Iowa, Illinois, Purdue, and Northwestern are going to make this a great season in the Big Ten.