Let’s not pull any punches or have any bones about it, I hate the Big 10.
It’s boring, slow, over-coached football. The only reason why this conference
has any relevance is because a bunch of rich, white, baby boomers went there in
the late 60s and early 70s and now continue to pump money into their alma
maters’ sports programs. So the Big 10 gets its own television station and way
too much respect in the BCS and college football in general. Maybe Rich
Rodriguez and the spread offence can fix the problem, but that will take time.
And now with that off my chest, let’s get on with it.
THE CONTENDER: Ohio State
This one is probably the most obvious contender to take a major conference
this year. The hype surrounding this team is probably justified. The Buckeyes
return their major “stars” (stars in parenthesis because no team that gets beat
that bad in two consecutive national championship games deserves to call their
players stars). Chris “Beenie” Wells was absolutely sick running the rock last
year and this year will determine if he goes into the draft next year but Chris,
come on, enough with the nicknames just go with Chris, there can only be one
Beenie:
The big surprise of this year’s team was the return of James Laurinaitis, who
many had pegged for this past NFL draft. Laurinaitis, it’s been well publicized,
is the son of WWE legend Animal of the Legion of Doom. I guess the rest of the
Big 10 will need to start looking into if the Bushwhackers ever reproduced:
Ohio State will get the benefit of the doubt this year, as many Big 10
schools seem to do come BCS computing time. It’s pretty unlikely that any
college team will go undefeated this year (prove me wrong Florida State, prove
me wrong) and if Ohio State keeps their losses at two games or under this season
there is a big chance this team will lose their third national championship in a
row. Their big trap game is, of course, Youngstown State. They could be this
year’s Appalachian State.
THE DARK HORSE: Illinois
While I would like to possess the stones to pick Penn State as a comeback
story this year (because well it’s not really a “feel good” story if this team
succeeds, sorry Pam and Jim Yackomovitch!). The PSU team seems to be made up of
the kids from Lord of The Flies, but all grown up and playing football. I would
also like to go with the sexy pick in the Big 10, the Wisconsin Badgers, but
Badgers!?!?!?
So I will take the team that swept me off my feet last year, The Fightin’
Illini. Sure they've lost Rashard Mendenhall to the NFL and their quarterback
was their second leading rusher last year but keep an eye on sophomore Troy
Pollard. Pollard has the potential do some damage this year, he can break
tackles and has great lateral speed. The kid played high school in Florida in
2006 so probably against better talent than he will see in the Big 10 this year.
If you don’t believe me have a load of this:
Defensively Illinois lost two great linebackers in Jeremy Leman (to the NFL)
and Antionio Steele (to real life I assume), the top-two tacklers last year.
However this a deep team at that position and the Illini defence shouldn’t lose
too much of a step. Now I’m not saying that the Illini can win the whole damn
thing this year BUT in a conference built on slower paced football a Ron
Zook-run team can provide excitement and numbers in the W column.
Next few days we’ll head down south and take a peek at the Big 12. Get your
cowboy hats ready folks.