After looking at the PAC-12 and their chances of making the Playoffs, we turn our attention to the Big Ten and how things might change this year.
Things like the new era of “The” Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State starts the season with a new head coach after Urban Meyer stepped down. They will also start with a new attitude after missing out on the playoffs for the second straight season. But can Michigan or Penn State stop them, let’s find out!
Big Ten East:
Michigan Wolverines:
2018 record: 10-3
Bowl Result: Lost to Florida (41-15) in the Peach Bowl
2019 Prediction: 10-2
Ohio State Buckeyes:
2018 record: 13-1
Bowl Result: Beat Washington (28-23) in the Rose Bowl
2019 Prediction: 11-1
3. Penn State Nittany Lions:
2018 record: 9-4
Bowl Result: Lost to Kentucky (27-24) in Citrus Bowl
2019 Prediction: 9-3
4. Michigan State Spartans:
2018 record: 7-6
Bowl Result: Lost to Oregon (7-6) in the Red Box Bowl
2019 Prediction: 9-3
5. Maryland Terrapins:
2018 record: 5-7
Bowl Result: N/A
2019 Prediction: 5-7
6. Indiana Hoosiers:
2018 record: 5-7
Bowl Result: N/A
2019 Prediction: 5-7
7. Rutgers Scarlet Knights:
2018 record: 1-11
Bowl Result: N/A
2019 Prediction: 2-10
New Buckeyes coach, Ryan Day, has some big shoes to fill in Ohio. Over the last two seasons, Ohio State has won two Big Ten championships and a bowl game in each season, but they have failed to make it into the playoffs and that’s where they really want to be. I don’t think this will be the year that they do it either.
I predicted that last year was the year for the Michigan Wolverines, but with Urban Meyer out if Ohio State I think Michigan can do it.
Penn State has a chance again this year too, but I think the Nittany Lions will loss to both the the Buckeyes and the Wolverines.
Buckeyes will loss to Michigan for their only loss of the season, but still finish second in the standings because of it.
With Michigan’s win over both Penn State and Ohio State they finally get to where they want to be. They will also loss against Notre Dame and Iowa, but still finish ahead of Ohio State because of the win against them.
Speaking of Iowa, let’s see how they do in the West.
Big Ten West:
Iowa Hawkeyes:
2018 record: 8-5
Bowl Result: Beat Miami (35-3) in the Pinstripe Bowl
2019 Prediction: 9-3
3. Northwestern Wildcats:
2018 record: 9-5
Bowl Result: Beat Utah (31-20) in the Holiday Bowl
2019 Prediction: 8-4
4. Nebraska Cornhuskers:
2018 record: 6-7
Bowl Result: Lost to Auburn (63-14) in the Music City Bowl
2019 Prediction: 6-6
6. Minnesota Golden Gophers:
2018 record: 7-6
Bowl Result: Beat Georgia Tech (34-10) in Quick Lane Bowl
2019 Prediction: 6-6
7. Illinois Fighting Illini:
2018 record: 4-8
Bowl Result: N/A
2019 Prediction: 4-8
Last year, we saw Northwestern surprise us and make it to the Big Ten Conference championship, I don’t think that’ll happen again. They will be every competitive, but their schedule is a bit rough on them. They face six teams ranked this year and I think they can get three wins from it, but it’ll be tough. I can’t image Northwestern doing it again!
Wisconsin struggled last year, but should look to rebound with a better season and get themselves bowl eligible, but a key loss to Iowa is what held them back from winning the West.
But now it’s back to Iowa and how well they will do this season. Iowa has an easier schedule early on in the season and that should allow them to get comfortable together before entering real conference play. Iowa has an in-state rivalry game with Iowa in week 3, and that could be one of the losses they get, but with Michigan and Penn State in back-to-back, I could see Iowa falling out shortly before coming up with big wins over both Northwestern and Wisconsin to keep them atop the Big Ten West.
Can one of these Big Ten teams make the playoffs again this season? Will it be Michigan’s time to make the playoffs are will they fail to do it again and put coach Jim Harbaugh’s job in jeopardy. Or will it be another year from Ohio State fighting their way in?
Before we get to that, we’ll take a look at the Big XII next!
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