2011 Big Ten Bowl Projections

JonDMiller

JonDMiller

Publisher/Founder
A Big Ten blog called Off Tackle Empire has put forth some bowl projections...yes, I said bowl projections, for 2011. I have read this blog for a while and linked their weekly bowl projections last fall.

I'll make some similar projections and predictions inside of the next six weeks as I always do in June...but for now, you can have a fun look at other projections....and that's what these things are, fun. It's entertaining to look at what other people think but at this point, it doesn't matter if Kirk Herbstreit were making the picks...its all conjecture.

You might have some opinions, too...share them below...we'll have all of you that want to have a chance to go on the record in June.

Click here to read these projections...they include all the BCS bowl and Big Ten bowls.

Big Ten Picks:

Rose: Wisconsin
Cap One: Nebraska
Outback: Ohio State (as long as they are not bowl banned)
Insight: Michigan
Gator: Penn State
Texas: Iowa vs Kansas State
Ticket City: MSU
Pinstripe: Northwestern

Now, if Ohio State would face a bowl ban, every team below them would move up one spot in the Big Ten pecking order. I believe these guys have it right that the Insight picks ahead of the Gator this year, similar to how the Alamo and Champs used to alternate 4/5 picks.
 
At the risk of setting myself up (I was in MAJOR meltdown mode from OSU thru end of last season) I just don't see that much of a drop-off this year, at least not record-wise.

Yes, the defense lost 3 NFL lineman and an NFL safety, but I look for the offense to (finally) carry the load. If Vandy and Coker put up numbers that many are projecting with a straight face, and the offense does actually average in the upper 20's to low 30's, this team will win games. I don't care how big the defensive losses and question marks are, this defense simply does not allow teams to put up those numbers more than a couple times / season.

Hawks will play in January 2012.
 
Higher than a kite on Wisconsin and Michigan. No way. No how.

Too low on MSU, PSU, and probably Illinois.

Is it me, or is the B1G really down this year? Everyone keeps saying no NC contenders, but it will have good depth. I don't see it. I see OSU and Nebby as good teams, but not really great teams. Maybe you could make the case for OSU if not for the violations. After that MSU and PSU will be decent. Wisky, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, and NU are all maybe good/maybe bad teams. Then there's the dredges, who I guess may be better than the dredges of other years. Maybe that's what people are talking about.
 
Nope, I take Iowa to take our div. I think we get lined up with the likes of TX or OK in the bowls. I predict we lay a hurting on them and it will be a snoozer of a bowl. Second in our div will be Nebby and will comand a decent bowl as well, against an sec team (maybe georgia or alabama) and they will win thier bowl as well.
 
He doesn't think Illinois can get to six wins with that schedule? I know Zook is still the coach but come on, 6-6 is definitely attainable for the Illini barring a total flop
 
Wisconsin to the Rose is nuts! They lose their starting QB, their best O-linemen and huge pieces of their defense(Watt, Valai). We are losing a lot but at least our QB has started a game before and have a fairly veteran O line. I just can't see how Wisky could manage that, they will be good but definitely not great.

Penn State, MSU, Nebraska, and possibly we will be better teams with better overall records. I think people are selling MSU short this year they return a lot of guys and in key places, especially on offense.
 
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