2007 BigTen Football Predictions

Jeff Alexander specializes is handicapping Big Ten Conference football. He loves this powerhouse conference and he will give you an insiders look in this 2007 Big Ten football predictions article.

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The Big Ten starts with the Michigan Wolverines in 2007. With QB Chad Henne, RB Mike Hart, and wide receiver Mario Manningham all coming back, the Wolverines have the most talented offense in the league by far. Henne brings the experience of a veteran QB. Hart can grind out tough yards or get outside for big plays, and Manningham is one of the best deep threats in the nation. The defense will be young, but it is not lacking in talented blue chip athletes. Having such a powerful offensive unit will give this young defense a lot more confidence defending leads instead of being asked to deliver three and outs in critical spots much of the time. Wolverines’ fans will keep their fingers crossed until after the regular season finale with rival Ohio State, but we feel the Wolves will have the conference in the bag by then.

Wisconsin showed that it was for real last season and we like the Badgers to send Ohio State into unfamiliar third place territory in the Big Ten standings this year. The Badgers have consistently shown that they can win games with strong ground attacks and a solid defense. They play the ultimate clock control game and it has afforded them the most wins of any team in the conference over the last three seasons.

The Buckeyes lose a lot of offensive talent including Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith and seven other future NFL stars. We feel that that many losses in one year is going to be too big of a mountain to climb even for a team who is consistently at the top of the leader board in recruiting classes.

Any one of Iowa’s teams over the last few seasons would be in position to at least get a share of the Big Ten title in a year in which they don’t play Ohio State or Michigan, but this year’s team must develop a new signal caller under center. The Hawkeyes are one of the best teams in the country on their home field and they have shown that under coach Ferentz and his crew that they will compete. After a lackluster season in which hopes were high, the Hawkeyes have the pressure on to bounce back and I think a fourth place finish will qualify as that in a rebuilding year.

Penn State, Michigan State, Purdue, Illinois, and Northwestern will play limbo for the middle spots in the conference with the Nittany Lions most likely winning the battle for fifth place. Indiana falls into the cellar and the Golden Gophers will be right on the Hoosiers’ tails. The Illinois Fighting Illini should be able to rest easy as some good recruiting classes should finally get this team away from the bottom of the conference

That’s how we see the Big Ten shaping up this season. For more insight into other major conferences, you can check out Jeff’s 2007 college football predictions articles.

By Jeff Alexander – 7/30/2007

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June 16, 2008

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