2011 Big Ten Power Rankings & Award Predictions

JonDMiller

JonDMiller

Publisher/Founder
Yesterday, I posted my rough and early thoughts/predictions on the Big Ten Legends and Leaders Divisions...click on those links to see each.

In this item, I will post what I view as my 'power ranking' for the league, akin to what I do each and every Sunday night during the football season. This is how I view the teams if we were talking neutral sites as of right now and does not factor in schedules...it's the Big Ten Conference 1 through 12 for the first time.

1. Ohio State: You gotta beat the man to be the man and nobody's beaten Ohio State for a trophy in six years. I think they win a 7th straight title in Indy come December
2. Nebraska: The Huskers make it to Indy for the first ever Big Ten Conference Championship game the way they did for the first Big 12 title game in 1996. Same result; a loss
3. Michigan State: It's not a great team, but probably one of the Top 30 teams in the nation. Their running game will be very good making play action lethal for Kirk Cousins
4. Penn State: I think their offense has a bounce back season because of more consistent play at the quarterback position. Their defense gets the benefit of the doubt.
5. Iowa: A lot of questions to answer on defense, but this offense is going to be overlooked by most pundits before the season starts. They will make noise.
6. Wisconsin: If I factored in schedules here, Wisconsin would be one notch higher. Quarterback is a HUGE unknown for them.
7. Northwestern: I have been way off on my Northwestern preseason picks for years, never believing. If Persa stays healthy all year, they finish higher than this slot.
8. Michigan: Because they are not coached by Rich Rod or Ron Zook
9. Illinois: Because they are
10. Purdue: I had a notion to put them higher on this list but they are too tough to figure right now
11. Indiana: New coach, new system, not a lot of talent
12. Minnesota: Ditto

What this year's Big Ten season may lack in the way of powerhouse teams, it won't lack for drama week to week. There are so many teams that are bunched together right now on paper that one late INT or fumble is going to decide a lot of football games in 2011. I really don't think there is a WORLD of difference between teams 3-9, as if each of those teams can answer a few questions in the affirmative, they can challenge for their division.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Bo Pelini. He doesn't have any history here and if they win the Legends Division, which I pick them to, he'll win this.
COACH MOST LIKELY TO BE FIRED: Jim Tressel. Hard to believe I am writing that but I think there is a decent chance he won't coach another game for The Ohio State University
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Northwestern Quarterback Dan Persa. Before his injury against Iowa, he was going to be right in the mix for this honor in 2010
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jared Crick, DL Nebraska. He'll help the Huskers give a big Blackshirts welcome to the Big Ten
GAMES OF THE YEAR: Nebraska at Wisconsin; first Big 10 game for Huskers--Ohio State at Nebraska; first game back for the Tattoo Five--Iowa at Nebraska; possible play in game for Indy
BONEHEADED COACHING MOVE OF THE YEAR: Ron Zook will do something to earn this ignominious nod.
FIRST FAN BASE MELTDOWN: September 17th after Ohio State loses at Miami of Ohio...or Buckeye fans before then if Tressel gets canned
 
I'll take Brady Hoke to win coach of the year. Al Borges also has said he will shotgun more than he has ever shotgunned, implying to me that Denard will run the ball and will be a contender of OPOY.
 
Jon I think you meant Miami (FL) not Miami (OH) and I dont think too many OSU fans would melt down over that. Without the suspended players, losing in Miami shouldn't surprise many OSU fans. Losing to Colorado or Toledo would create an epic meltdown but not Miami...
 
Miller is a closet Husker-phile. It's slowly revealing itself through these series of articles, and will be full tilt by fall.
 
homes said:
Miller is a closet Husker-phile. It's slowly revealing itself through these series of articles, and will be full tilt by fall.
Click to expand...

Not really, I understand picking Nebraska. Someone has to finish second right? The Big 10 looks to be spectacularly average next season, so it is difficult picking which one of those logs is going to float.
 
homes said:
Miller is a closet Husker-phile. It's slowly revealing itself through these series of articles, and will be full tilt by fall.
Click to expand...

LOL. Hardly. They just look like the most complete team with the fewest holes in the Legends Division right now, at least to me.

Dinardo, Griffith and Rittenberg also have Nebraska as the favorite to win the Legends. Huskers, one and all
 
Power rankings do not mean anything in terms of how teams will finish in their division,I presume. Nebraska will not win the Legends,with their schedule. OSU will win the Leaders.
Iowa will win the Legends,with the best schedule. Iowa will probably go 5-3 and win it over MSU due to tiebreak. Nebraska will lose to OSU,at PSU,at Wis,and at Mich.
MSU will lose to Neb,Iowa and at PSU. Mich will lose to MSU,OSU and Iowa.
Iowa will lose to PSU,Neb and maybe at Purdue.
Gonna be a dogfight...should be fun.
 
I think OSU, Nebraska have problems. OSU was the CLEAR favorite before the suspensions but now has a cloud over their head and will have chemistry problems with the number of players sitting out. OSU could start the league 0-2.

Nebraska has a tough schedule although maybe it got a little easier with OSU's suspensions(I think the Neb. game is their first one back). Until they prove they have a passing game, I can't pick them as the favorite. The only reason MSU is not being picked 1st in the Leaders is their abomination against Alabama, but remind me how Nebraska's bowl game went last year against mighty Washington? Secondly, who do you want to line up at QB? An experienced sr. who has proven he can pass or an erratic soph. that can really run fast with no passing touch? While yes, the defense should be good, its not enough to pick them to win.

I think Northwestern and Iowa can move up. Jon said if Persa stays healthy Northwestern moves up, and I think for prediction purposes we have to assume he will be. Northwestern and Iowa both benefit from the schedule this year.

I think the winner of the Legends divison comes from MSU, Northwestern or Iowa. That doesn't mea Nebraska finishes 4th, they may finish 2nd but I don't think they win the divison.

PSU-overrated in Jon's poll.

Wisconsin-I know QB is a question but if the at can be overcome I think they are underrated. I think Jon forgot a starter two years ago Clark Borland comes back at linebacker for them this year. I heard they are making a play for the QB leaving NC ST. that could play right away.

Leaders-OSU may overcome things but if the suspensions cause chemistry problems I think Wisconsin is a much better bet than PSU. I would even think about Illinois over PSU if they had not had a couple of guys go pro early, their schedule is weak also. I think at ths point OSU & Wisconsin are even bets because of the OSU problems.
 
MultipleDundieAwardWinner said:
Not really, I understand picking Nebraska. Someone has to finish second right? The Big 10 looks to be spectacularly average next season, so it is difficult picking which one of those logs is going to float.
Click to expand...

I usually disagree with almost everything you say, but for once you said something that is 100% correct. It seems like every conference is losing almost all of its top players except for the Pac10 with the exception of Locker, and he wasn't that good last year.
 
I think it will be interesting to see how Nebby's offense performs in the Big 10. Their D will be among the conferences best but I can see their O having a few more adjustments to make than their D coming to the Big 10.
 
Jon, I remember last year you posted a "prediction" article regarding the Hawkeyes Football schedule and which would be "prime time" games. Any similar article this year or did I just miss it? Eager to see since I'd trust your predictions before many others. Thanks!!
 
Jon. As win5003 posted, you and everyone else seem to be overlooking the return of a healthy Chris Borland to the Wiscy linebacking corps. Dude was a MAN 2 years ago and took the conference by total surprise. His presence/return alone vaults Wiscy's D (and team) way up the ladder, just as we Hawk fans would be salivating if Greenway were returning from an ACL surgery.

Same is true with Persa. Dude is healthy, and he will again elevate Cats.

I hate Bielema & the Badgers more than i hate anyone, but Fitz & the Cats have moved just a tick behind Bielema on my "hate'em because they'd don't wear their success well" rankings.

Geez, those guys are tools. Hate giving them props, too. Wish Borland & Persa were Hawks.
 
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