[NU Sports] Big ten rankings

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> The Orlando paper had a story on the 7 football
> magazine rankings and only  
> Ohio St is in the top ten.  Is this a down year for
> the Big  Ten? 

Dunno about down, but definitely unpredictable.

I think too many magazines got burned by having Iowa
and Michigan so high last year and then having them
fall -- though I could see both making top 10 returns
this year with Michigan's backfield and Iowa's combo
of Tate and Ferentz.

OSU's the only sure thing - but I don't think the
league crown will be a cakewalk for them. PSU won't
repeat last year, but they'll be solid (but with OSU
and ND on the road and Michigan as JoePa's kryptonite
lately, it'll be tough to get back to 10 wins).

The biggest question -- besides us now, unfortunately
-- is probably Wisconsin with the new coach. Minnesota
will probably be solid yet unspectacular as usual
(i.e. Nashville!), MSU will be wildly inconsistent as
usual (i.e. a win over the big 3 but two maddening
losses that could cost 'em a bowl) and Purdue will be
tough and could give early hopes to a big finish
before slipping late.

Illinois and Indiana should be markedly better in
their second years of Zook and Hoeppner as well.

I'll have to look at the schedules more, but on
initial glance, I could see everyone but Indiana
reaching 6 wins (yes, even Illinois, if they can win
at Rutgers early). It won't be a down year for the
league -- though as always some outsiders may mistake
our depth for mediocrity.

I would certainly put Michigan top 10 with OSU and
have Iowa on the verge of the top 10 with PSU in the
top 20. I'd probably have Purdue, Minny, MSU
(September MSU at least) and Wisky in the top 30 or
40.

But we'll know more after September - which is loaded
up even more than usual for the Big Ten. OSU visits
Austin and Iowa City (ouch!), Michigan and PSU travel
to South Bend and those darn Irish continue their Big
Ten wannabe schedule with a night game at MSU. And
September Sparty is usually a tough out for the Irish.

As for NU, amid all the turmoil, the Miami game really
becomes crucial for any bowl hopes. You know emotions
will be high on both sidelines in Oxford for a coach
who meant so much for both schools - hopefully we can
win that one for Walker.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!

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