Week 2 Preview

Week 1 kind of dragged on a little bit. It was a lot like am Adam Sandler movie, actually. You were all excited for it to start but you kinda fell asleep halfway through. Granted there were some great moments. BYU knocking off Oklahoma, the Miami-FSU finish and the Bama-Va Tech game were all high points. But the week lacked substance.

We did learn a few things from week 1. We learned that Sam Bradford will not win a second Heisman trophy. We learned that Ohio St. is still not very good against out of conference opponents. We learned that Jacory Harris is a future stud despite his head coach's constant crying. And we also learned that there's room in Mark May's mouth for more than just SC's Cardinal and gold cock.

I look forward to week 2, despite the lack of obvious must see games.

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5 Games to Watch




1. USC @ Ohio St. - This is the obvious biggie of the week. It's unfortunate that Ohio St. will put up little resistance to the Trojans once again. I will be anxious to see how Matt Barkley reacts to an extremely hostile environment. However, outside of the home crowd, there's really not much else going in Ohio St.'s favor.

2. Houston @ Oklahoma St. - I would say only watch this game if you really love offense, bu the Cowboys didn't exactly flex their offensive muscle against UGA in week 1. Houston's Case Keenum and OSU's Zac Robinson are two of the best QB's in all of the land. I expect Dez Bryant to hit triple digits in receiving yardage.

3. Notre Dame @ Michigan - This might be the first time in years that this game won't be coma inducing. Both teams looked really good against inferior competition in week 1. The Irish seem to be the favorite as their QB position is slightly more stable than Michigan's. I wouldn't be surprised to see Denard Robinson break a few big plays against the Irish defense.

4. South Carolina @ Georgia - The USC-UGA game is always a good one to watch. This has been especially true since SOS has been roaming the Gamecock sideline. Stephen Orr just seems to have the Bulldogs' number. It may be hard to believe but South Carolina may actually have a better QB situation than Georgia does. The Dawgs just named Joe Cox the starter for Saturday today.

5. Purdue @ Oregon - A couple of things I'm looking for in this game: Will the Oregon fans turn on Chip Kelly if the Ducks fall behind early? Will Oregon really miss LeGarrette Blount as much as we think they will? Can Purdue's Ralph Bolden have another monstrous day?

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5 Players to Watch

For the fantasy geeks in all of us....




1. Tim Tebow Florida QB - Tebow will play more this week with Tennessee looming than he did against Charleston Southern. Troy gave up a bunch of yards to Bowling Green's Tyler Sheehan, and I think Mr. Tebow may be slightly better than him.

2. Roy Helu, Jr. Nebraska RB - Helu had a huge day rushing the ball against Florida Atlantic in week 1. This Saturday the Husker continue their run through the Sun Belt conference against the Red Wolves of Arkansas St. Look for Roy Jr. to have another big day.

3. Dez Bryant Oklahoma St. WR - I've already predicted what I think Bryant will do against Houston this week. The Cougars' secondary better be ready for a long night.

4. Max Hall BYU QB - He's playing Tulane. Just look at what G.J. Kinne did against Tulane in his first game as a starter ever. Hall has a bit more experience than 1 game.
5. Jahvid Best Califronia RB - Best and the Golden Bears will be taking on the Eastern Washington Eagles. If Best can shred Maryland's defense, I'm supremely confident he can do the same against EW's.

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Heisman Watch



Sam Bradford's injury has shaken things up quite a bit in the Heisman race. Here's how I got it.

1. Tim Tebow Florida QB
2. Colt McCoy Texas QB
3. Jahvid Best California RB
4. Dez Bryant Oklahoma St. WR
5. Joe McKnight USC RB

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Ultimate Fantasy League Week 2

No TV schedule this week as I will be in Gainesville all day otherwise entertained. So on to the UFL schedule.

Florida @ Tennessee
Georgia v. California
South Carolina v. North Carolina
Clemson v. Georgia Tech
Auburn @ Mississippi St.
Alabama @ Arizona St.
Ole Miss v. Duke
LSU v. Kentucky
Colorado @ Boise St.
Kansas v. Rutgers
Kansas St. v. Nebraska
Missouri @ Michigan St.
Arkansas @ TCU
Oklahoma v. Texas A&M
Texas @ Texas Tech
Oklahoma St. v. Connecticut
Washington @ UCLA
Washington St. v. Oregon
Oregon St. v. Stanford
USC v. Virginia Tech
Arizona v. San Diego St.
Ohio St. @ Iowa
Illinois @ Wisconsin
Northwestern v. Purdue
Minnesota v. Notre Dame
Michigan v. Louisville
Indiana v. Maryland
Iowa St. v. Virginia
Miami v. Wake Forest
North Carolina St. v. Boston College
Florida St. @ South Florida
East Carolina @ Tulsa
Syracuse v. Navy
Penn St. @ Army
West Virginia v. Central Florida
Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati
Vanderbilt v. Air Force
Colorado S. v. UNLV
Southern Miss @ Wyoming
Baylor @ Utah
Louisiana Tech @ Troy
BYU @ Houston

Weekly Picks

Last Week - 39-13

Overall - 360-85

I bounced back rather nicely last week. Finally a few of my upset picks payed off. Some other ones, not so much. I am now officially a believer in the Texas Longhorns. We'll see how long that lasts.

Baseball and beer pong provided a nice distraction from some of the shitty games this past week. Hopefully this week's slate will provide some better match-ups.

Here are my ever so powerful picks:

Ohio @ Temple
Auburn @ West Virginia
New Mexico @ Air Force
Boise St. @ San Jose St.
Texas Tech @ Kansas
Eastern Michigan @ Ball St.
Northwestern @ Indiana
Minnesota @ Purdue
Cincinnati @ Connecticut
Boston College @ North Carolina
Illinois @ Wisconsin
Wake Forest @ Miami (FL)
Central Michigan @ Toledo
Oklahoma @ Kansas St.
Kentucky @ Florida
Baylor @ Nebraska
Louisiana Tech @ Army
UNLV @ BYU
Duke @ Vanderbilt
Fresno St. @ Utah St.
Rice @ Tulane
Oklahoma St. @ Texas
Georgia @ LSU
South Florida @ Louisville
Rutgers @ Pittsburgh
Virginia @ Georgia Tech
Virginia Tech @ Florida St.
UCLA @ California
NC State @ Maryland
Michigan St. @ Michigan
Kent St. @ Miami (OH)
SMU @ Navy
Bowling Green @ Northern Illinois
New Mexico St. @ Idaho
Wyoming @ TCU
Colorado @ Missouri
Ole Miss @ Arkansas
Texas A&M @ Iowa St.
Troy @ North Texas
Middle Tennessee @ Mississippi St.
Florida Atlantic @ UL-Monroe
Alabama @ Tennessee
Penn St. @ Ohio St.
Southern Miss @ Memphis
Notre Dame @ Washington
Colorado St. @ San Diego St.
Oregon @ Arizona St.
USC @ Arizona
Nevada @ Hawaii
UCF @ Tulsa

Upset Picks:

Purdue over Minnesota - I like what the Gophers are doing this season. I just can't see the Boilermakers letting Joe Tiller go out with a losing season.

North Carolina over Boston College - I ranked BC in my top 25 for the first time this season. I follow that up by picking them to lose to the Tar Heels. The worst thing that could have happened to the Eagles was UNC losing to UVA last week.

Rutgers over Pittsburgh - Picking Rutgers last week payed off for me. I'm going for it again! I still have faith that Rutgers can pull it around and that Dave Wannstedt can still find a way to totally screw this season.

Ohio St. over Penn St. - Not sure how much of an upset this really is. I like for the Buckeyes to defend home turf and knock off Penn St. Also, with PSU's remaining schedule it would greatly benefit my Gators if they lost on Saturday.

Washington over Notre Dame - Wouldn't it be sweet if this was the only game Washington won all year? What a way to send coach Ty out!

The top 25 players: Big 10

OK all you Big Eleven fans. I'm listing the top 25 players from your beloved conference now.

Of course, all of these players would be bench warmers in the almighty SEC.

So here are the top players from the Midwestern Athletic League, aka the Big 10.

1. Chris Wells - Ohio St. RB - Beanie should be a Heisman Award finalist this season. Usually, being a RB at Ohio St. comes with a lot of pressure. The same is true for Wells this season. I don't remember a talent like his at the tailback position for the Buckeyes since Eddie George.

2. Arrelious Benn - Illinois WR - I've taken a lot of heat for rating Benn so high previously. Well, I'm doing it again. Benn is one of the more talented players in America, and if he plays up to his capabilities, he could be a dark horse Heisman candidate.

3. James Laurinaitis - Ohio St. LB - Laurinaitis is one of the better defensive players in the nation. He will be looking to start in his third straight national title game for the Buckeyes this season.

4. P.J. Hill - Wisconsin RB - Hill didn't really live up to his expectations last season. This year, the Badgers have a loaded backfield. I think that will motivate Hill and get him playing the way he should be.

5. Greg Middleton - Indiana DL - Not too many people know about Middleton's talents. It's not his fault he plays in Bloomington. The Hoosiers, and Middleton, will be looking to garner more recognition this season.

6. Malcolm Jenkins - Ohio St. DB - Jenkins is one of the better cover corners in the country. His play will determine how successful the Buckeyes defense will be. There was a giant sigh of relief in Columbus when Jenkins decided to return to school.

7. Juice Williams - Illinois QB - Juice is in charge of getting the ball to all-world talent Arrelious Benn. Williams to Benn could develop into the best pass/catch duo in the nation.

8. Vontae Davis - Illinois DB - If not for Jenkins at Ohio St., Davis would be the best NFL ready prospect in any defensive backfield.

9. Alex Boone - Ohio St. OL - Boone is expected to really emerge along OSU's offensive line this season. He gets to run block for Beanie as well as pass protect for QB Todd Boeckman.

10. Maurice Evans - Penn St. DL - If Penn St. wishes to have a successful season this year, they will need to rely on their defense.

11. Will Davis - Illinois DL - You know you are on a good team when you're not even the best player with your last name on your unit.

12. Kellen Lewis - Indiana QB - I may be rating Lewis a little too high on this list. Especially if his academic issues aren't worked out and he doesn't play for the Hoosiers this season.

13. Todd Boeckman - Ohio St. QB - Boeckman will have to repeat last season's successes if he wants to quarterback the Buckeyes back to the NC.

14. Mitch King - Iowa DL this season. I am really glad Kirk - King is one of the few things that look to be good for the HawkeyesFerentz wasn't hired by the Gators when they went looking for a HC.

15. Javon Ringer - Michigan St. RB - If Ringer and the Spartans can cut down on their turnovers, they should greatly improve as a team this season. Mark Dantonio will have Michigan St. fans expecting the best.

16. Jonathan Casillas - Wisconsin LB - Casillas is easily the best Big Eleven linebacker not on the Buckeyes' roster.

17. Terrance Taylor - Michigan DL - I can't believe it took this long to list a Wolverine player. RR is in for a challenge this season.

18. Curtis Painter - Purdue QB - The venerable QB will play out of his mind this season to send HC Joe Tiller out on a high note. Painter is just the latest in a long line of successful Purdue QB's.

19. Brian Robiskie - Ohio St. WR - There is nothing real flashy about Robiskie's game. He is a very solid possession receiver. QB T odd Boeckman will consistently look to Brian when a play has to be made.

20. Kraig Urbik - Wisconsin OL - Urbik will have to battle off injuries to play up to his capabilities. If he can, the Badgers running games is that much more dangerous.

21. Matt Shaughnessy - Wisconsin DL - Shaughnessy is in the same position as Urbik is. When healthy, Matt is one of the best defensive linemen in the country.

22. Derrick Williams - Penn St. WR - I am really hoping Williams finally has his break out season this year. If not, I will look like a total jackass. I've been touting Williams all off season.

23. Marcus Thigpen - Indiana RB - If QB Kellen Lewis doesn't start the season for the Hoosiers, Thigpen will be a major factor in the offense. Good thing for the Hoosiers that Thigpen is durable.

24. Marcus Freeman - Ohio St. LB - Freeman might be the fastest linebacker in the conference. I know that's kind of like my friend Cletus saying he has more teeth than any other Alabama fan.

25. Kory Sheets - Purdue RB - Sheets will have a say in how Tiller goes out as HC at Purdue. Boilermaker running backs are always overlooked and Sheets is no exception.

Countdown: 59 Days!

59 Days

The Purdue Boilermakers may not have the team to win the Big Eleven this season, but they have enough talent to send head coach Joe Tiller out with a bang. Curtis Painter is back for what seems like his 12th season at Purdue. Kory Sheets is also returning to the Boilermakers' backfield. The Purdue defense will once again be solid as usual. Purdue might be able to pull off some upsets this season, perhaps maybe in Columbus......

Spring Conference Breakdowns - Big Ten

Big Ten football has taken an image hit over recent years due to their champion Ohio St. Buckeyes getting demolished in back-to-back national championship games. While the Big Ten may be a little over-hyped at times, this year we may see a resurgence in the conference.

I will be breaking down every team from the Big Ten. I have them listed below in the order that I predict them to finish.




1. Ohio St. Buckeyes


2007 Recap - 11-2(7-1) Lost to LSU 38-24 in the BCS National Championship Game.

2008 Preview - The Buckeyes return almost their entire roster from a year ago. That means extremely high expectations in Columbus. Todd Boeckman returns at QB for Ohio St. If Boeckman can put up similar numbers to the ones he put up last year, the Buckeyes should have no trouble breezing through the Big Ten. Super recruit Terrelle Pryor also allows the Buckeyes to install a few gadget plays on offense. Boeckman will have reliable receivers in Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie to throw the ball to. Chris Wells is also back to stake the claim of being the best running back named Wells in Ohio St. history (and there's been plenty). Ohio St. also returns plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Linebackers James Laurinaitis, Marcus Freeman and Curtis Terry all return. Malcolm Jenkins and Donald Washington also return to patrol the defensive backfield.

Ohio St. warms up for the Big Ten season by traveling to Los Angeles to take on USC in a HUGE non-conference match-up. In Big Ten play, the Buckeyes travel to Wisconsin, Michigan St. and Illinois. They do host Michigan this year to close out the season.

Difference Maker- Chris Wells RB. The Buckeyes are almost unstoppable when they have a solid ground game. Wells gives them a game breaker in the backfield necessary to make it to a third straight title game.

Biggest Game - Sept. 13 @ USC. This game will go a long in way in silencing the critics(including me) that say Ohio St. can dominate the Big Ten but just aren't capable of defeating top tier SEC and PAC-10 teams.

Intangible- As much as I hate the sweater vest, Jim Tressel is one of the best coaches in college football. Tressel may have pulled off his best job last year with an unproven group. With an experienced team returning for Tressel, the ceiling is extremely high.



2. Illinois Fighting Illini


2007 Recap 9-4(6-2) Lost to USC 49-17 in the Rose Bowl

2008 Preview - The Illini return two of the more exciting players in the Big Ten with QB Juice Williams and WR Arrelious Benn. The two hooked up early and often last season and look to continue that trend this season as well. Benn will not be the only target for Williams to throw to as Kyle Hudson is also back in Champaigne. The Illini lost a lot with the departure of all-everything Rashard Mendenhall. Daniel Dufrene will step into the feature back position. Dufrene performed admirably in stints last year as he was providing much-deserved breathers for Mendenhall. On defense, Illinois returns 3 potential all-Big Ten performers in DL Will Davis and DB's Vontae Davis & Dere Hicks.

The Illini open the season with their annual rivalry game vs. Missouri in Kansas City. In Big Ten play, Illinois plays at Penn St., Michigan and Wisconsin, and hosts Ohio St.

Difference Maker- Juice Williams QB. Williams has a tremendous knack for making something out of nothing. A play is never truly broken when Williams is in the game.

Biggest Game- Nov. 15 vs. Ohio St. If the Illini can pull off the upset for the second year in a row, this could be the 2008 Big Ten champs.

Intangible- Arrelious Benn is much like Randy Moss in the sense that, if there is good coverage down field, the QB just has to loft the ball up and Benn will go get it. Having that ability is what makes this offense so dangerous, especially in the Big Ten.



3. Wisconsin Badgers


2007 Recap - 9-4(5-3) Lost to Tennessee 21-17 in the Outback Bowl.


2008 Preview- The bad news for the Badgers is that they must replace starting QB Tyler Donovan. The good news is that whenever a new QB takes over for Wisconsin, he seems to improve upon the previous year's starter. This task falls upon Kansas St. transfer Allan Evridge this year. Evridge is a more gifted athlete than Donovan, howver he will need to show that he is capable of showing maturity and leading this team. One thing that Evridge has going for him is the fact that Wisconsin has 3 running backs that could all be all-conference if they were a feature back on another team. P.J. Hill, Zach Brown and Lance Smith will all carry the ball effectively this season. All Big-Ten TE Travis Beckum returns to help out in the passing game, which would otherwise lack a go-to receiver. Defensively, the Badgers return Mike Newkirk and Matt Shaughnessy to the D-line as well as all Big-Ten linebacker Elijah Hodge.

The Badgers face a rather light non-conference schedule before they open up Big Ten play. With conference games at Michigan and Michigan St. and vs Ohio St., Penn St. and Illinois, they will need the early season break.

Difference Maker- P.J. Hill RB. Of all 3 of Wisconsin's backs, Hill may be the most valuable to his team. Hill plays a major role in both the rushing and passing game for the Badgers.

Biggest Game - Oct 4. vs. Ohio St. See Illinois.

Intangible - Other than at QB, Wisconsin may have the most experienced team in the Big Ten. Look for this to help out the Badgers in tough situation throughout the season.



4. Michigan St. Spartans


2007 Recap - 7-6(3-5) Lost to Boston College 24-21 in the Citrus Bowl

2008 Preview - Michigan St. returns a ton of offensive talent from last year's team. QB Brian Hoyer is back to lead the team in what is hopefully a program changing season. Javon Ringer returns at RB to pose a dangerous receiving threat coming out of the backfield. Hoyer will also Mark Dell and Deon Curry as dependable receiving targets. The Spartans were miserable on defense last season. Coach Mark Dantonio is hoping for better results this season. Look for the MSU secondary to lead the way with CB Kendrell Davis-Clark and SS Otis Wiley.

Michigan St. plays a somewhat difficult non-conference schedule with a game at California and a home date with Notre Dame. The Spartans Big Ten slate includes games at Michigan and Penn St. as well as home contests vs. Ohio St. and Wisconsin.

Difference Maker- Javon Ringer RB. As I have stated earlier, Ringer is just as important in the passing game as he is in the running game. He makes this offense go.

Biggest Game- Oct. 25 @ Michigan. With Michigan re-building and the Spartans hopefully on an up-swing. This year could lead to a few years of MSU supremacy over the Wolverines.

Intangible- Mark Dantonio has brought an intensity to this program that has been lacking in recent years. I look for this football team to feed off of their head coach and improve tremendously on the field.

5. Penn St. Nittany Lions

2007 Recap - 9-4(4-4) Defeated Texas A&M 24-17 in the Alamo Bowl.

2008 Preview- The Nittany Lions must replace QB Anthony Morelli from last year's squad. This could be seen as both a positive and a negative by Penn St. fans. Daryll Clark is the leading candidate to replace Morelli. Although Clark is more athletic, he may not have some of the intangibles that Morelli possessed. Clark will have plenty of help as Penn St. returns a trio of receivers that are as good as any other team's in the conference. Derrick Williams, Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler are all back in Happy Valley. Bruising back Evan Royster also returns to help provide a running game that was missing at times last season. Sean Lee hopes to continue the Linebacker U tradition alive after the departure of Dan Connor. Lee will get help in the secondary from CB Lydell Sargeant and S Anthony Scirrotto. DE Maurice Evans also returns to make the Nittany Lions one of the better defensive units in the Big Ten.

Penn St. host Oregon St. early before opening up conference play. In the Big Ten, Penn St. will play at Wisconsin and Ohio St. as well as Illinois, Michigan and Michigan St. at home.

Difference Maker- Derrick Williams. I say this every year, but THIS will be the year that Derrick Williams breaks lose and shows everyone his talent.

Biggest Game - Sept. 27 vs. Illinois. Penn St. needs to open up Big Ten play in a big way if they want to have a successful season.

Intangible- Penn St.'s receiving corps is extremely deep and experienced. Norwood, Williams and Butler should help ease the transition from Morelli to Clark this season.

6. Michigan Wolverines

2007 Recap - 9-4(6-2) Defeated Florida 41-35 in the Capital One Bowl

2008 Preview - 2008 is a total re-building year for the Wolverines. A new coach, new offense and almost entirely new defense means big changes are ahead for this Michigan program. Chad Henne and Ryan Mallett's departure have left a huge void at the QB position. Steven Threet and David Cone will be battling this Spring to see who becomes the starter. Although neither are exceptionally gifted at running the spread, they should be able to provide adequate play for Rich Rodriguez. Mike Hart's departure left a huge void in the running game as well as the team leadership role. While Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown should be adequate replacements for Hart, it remains to be seen if they can become team leaders. Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington, last year's top receivers, are gone. This makes way for Greg Mathews and Junior Hemingway to fill the void. Carson Butler does return at TE to help the new QB. The Wolverines were not very good defensively last year. They hope to better this year with the return of some key starters. S Brandon Harrison, CB Morgan Trent and DE's Tim North and Tim Jamison all return for Big Blue.

The new starters will have time to adjust as the Wolverines do not face a tough opponent until Big Ten play starts. In conference, Michigan plays at Penn St. and Ohio St., and they host Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan St.

Difference Maker- Greg Mathews WR. Michigan has a great tradition at the wideout position. I can't remember a year in which the Wolverines did not have a top-notch guy in the receiving corps. This year, Mathews will have to be the man to step in and live up to the role.

Biggest Game - Nov. 22 @ Ohio St. This series has been all OSU in recent memory. With a re-building year this year, a huge upset over the Buckeyes would mean a great deal for the Rich Rodriguez era in Ann Arbor.

Intangible- Rich Rodriguez will look to install his spread offense at Michigan. If recent history proves anything, it's that the spread offense works very, very well against Big Ten competition. If Rodriguez is able to have any kind of success with his offense this year, the Wolverines may stay in the Big Ten race until season's end.

7. Indiana Hoosiers

2007 Recap - 7-6(3-5) Lost to Oklahoma St. 49-33 in the Insight.Com Bowl

2008 Preview - The Hoosiers are looking to build upon last season in which they were the feel good story of the year. Indiana will have a lot of the pieces necessary to repeat their success. Kellen Lewis is back to handle the duties at QB. Marcus Thigpen returns at RB. Thigpen also plays a pivotal role in IU's passing game. Indiana does need to fill a void at the WR position. Bill Lynch is banking on Ray Fisher, Andrew Means and Brandon Walker-Roby to increase their production. The Hoosiers look to once again be solid on defense. They are anchored by S Austin Thomas.

Indiana plays a favorable non-conference schedule before entering conference play. Within the Big Ten, the Hoosiers will travel to Illinois and Penn St., and will play host to Michigan St. and Wisconsin.

Difference Maker- Kellen Lewis QB. Like Juice Williams of Illinois, Lewis has the ability to make something out of nothing. Lewis also has a strong arm that allows him to get the ball down field while on the run.

Biggest Game- Oct. 18 @Illinois. This could be a battle of the two up and coming teams of the Big Ten.

Intangible- Indiana has struggled for several years to get over the hump and make a bowl game. Now that they have accomplished that, the Hoosiers can set their sights much higher and play with a little more confidence.

8. Purdue Boilermakers

2007 Recap - 8-5(3-5) Defeated Central Michigan 51-48 in the Motor City Bowl.

2008 Preview - Purdue is returning a rather experienced team this season. Curtis Painter will once again be the Boilermakers' QB. Painter will have two reliable backs lining up behind him in Kory Sheets and Jaycen Taylor. Sheets will get most of the work, while Taylor will provide a nice change of pace. WR's Desmond Tardy and Greg Orton will look to add balance to the offense with a steady passing game. Purdue will be solid on defense once again as several key members of last year's squad returns. Up front, DT Alex Magee will help with run support, along with LB Anthony Heygood. In the secondary, S Brandon King and CB David Pender will help defend the passing game.

Unlike a lot of the teams in the Big Ten this season, Purdue will face a tough non-conference schedule. The Boilermakers will host Oregon and play at Notre Dame before beginning Big Ten play. Within the conference, Purdue will play at Ohio St. as well as Michigan St., and will host Penn St. and Michigan.

Difference Maker - Curtis Painter QB. It will Painter's job to make this offense work this season. When he is playing at his best, the Boilermakers are hard to beat.

Biggest Game - Oct. 11 @ Ohio St. Just like everyone else in the Big Ten, a win at Ohio St. could lead to very big things this season.

Intangible - Purdue just may have the hardest hitting defense in the Big Ten this year. If their defense comes out early and starts laying the wood, they can really wear on opponents and affect the outcome of the game.

9. Northwestern Wildcats

2007 Recap - 6-6(3-5)

2008 Recap - Northwestern is returning a ton of talent offensively from last year. QB C.J. Bacher is back to try to lead the Wildcats to a bowl game. Tyrell Sutton is back at RB. Sutton may be the most underrated RB in the Big Ten. He has the ability to break a game open if he receives enough blocking up front. The receiving corps is alos deep with returning wideouts. Ross Lane, Eric Peterman and Andrew Brewer are all back to provide the Wildcats with steady play at the position. Defensively, Northwestern is lead by a trio of hard-hitting players. S Brad Phillips and LB's Malcolm Arrington and Prince Kwateng can play both the run and pass extremely well.

Northwestern will have a chance to ease into Big Ten play with a rather easy non-conference scheduel. In the Big Ten, Northwestern plays at Michigan and hosts Michigan St., Ohio St. and Illinois.

Difference Maker - Tyrell Sutton RB. Sutton has game-breaking ablity, and he'll have to use it to help Northwestern reach a bowl game this season.

Biggest Game - Oct. 18 vs. Purdue. This will be Northwestern's homecoming game this season. A big win over a bowl team can help rejuvenate the Wildcats.

Intangible- This season the Wildcats do not face any real tough opponents on the road. Their toughest away opponent will be at Michigan. With the Wolverines expecting a down year, the Wildcats might be able to pull that one off. Northwestern needs to use this schedule to their advantage and make a bowl game.

10. Iowa Hawkeyes

2007 Recap - 6-6(4-4)

2008 Preview- The Hawkeyes offense seemed to be stagnant at times last season, especially down the stretch. Kirk Ferentz is hoping to reverse that trend this season. He will have to do it with the same QB from last season as Jake Christensen is back to lead the offense. Christensen will have WR's Trey Stross and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos to throw to. At RB, Jevon Pugh will be handling the rushing duties. While Iowa's offense was sputtering late down the stretchm their defense was performing admirably. The Hawkeyes do return several key players from last year's defense. S Brett Greenwood is back in the secondary as DT's Mitch King and Matt Kroul will help stop the run.

Iowa plays a tough non-conference game at Pittsburgh. In the big Ten, Iowa will play at Michigan St. and Illinois. They will host Wisconsin and Penn St. in conference as well.

Difference Maker - Mitch King DT. On a team with a struggling offense, the defense will have to carry the whole team, and defense starts up front.

Biggest Game - Sept. 13 vs. Iowa St. Last year the Hawkeyes were embarassed by their in-state rival. Iowa will need to win to prove that game was just a fluke.

Intangible - On a team in which the defensive front is propably the most important factor in the season's success, it's a good thing the Hawkeyes have an outstanding front four. These guys will need to play superb consitently if they want to improve upon last year's record.

11. Minnesota Golden Gophers

2007 Recap - 1-11(0-8)

2008 Preview - Needless to say, last year was a disappointment for Minnesota. The Golden Gophers were considered by most to be the worst team in the nation last year. Although Tim Brewster did a great job of recruiting this year, the Gophers may still be a year or two away from becoming mildly successful. Adam Weber returns at QB. Weber did show some promise in certain situations last year. His main target will be WR Eric Decker. Minnesota has been known for their running game in the past. This year, Duane Bennett will be in charge of putting together a successful season at the running back position.The only bright spot for Minnesota's defense heading into Spring is their linebacking corps, highlighted by Steve Moore and Steve Davis.

Thankfully, Minnesota does not face any top-tier teams outside of conference play. With the Big Ten, Minnesota plays at Ohio St., Illinois and Wisconsin. They also host Michigan.

Difference Maker - MarQuis Gray QB. Gray is one of the impact players that Brewster recruited this offseason to Minneapolis. Although Gray will not start the season at QB, look for him to add some much needed excitement to this program.

Biggest Game - Nov. 22 vs. Iowa. Minnesota did not win a Big Ten game last year. This might be their best opportunity to do so this year.

Intangible - Youth could be bad for some programs. That is not the case for these Gophers. Their youthful exuberance will help them stay in a few more games this year.