Fox Sports: Stewart Mandel's 2016 Big Ten predictions

[Saunders]

Big Ten West No. 1: Iowa (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten)

The Hawkeyes, 12-2 last year, bring back a solid quarterback (C.J. Beathard) and the core of a tough defense against a favorable schedule

Last year: 12-2, 8-0, lost Rose Bowl to Stanford.

Big Ten West T-No. 2: Nebraska (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten)

The Huskers will be better on both sides of the ball in coach Mike Riley’s second season, but QB Tommy Armstrong remains an awkward fit.

Last year: 6-7, 3-5, beat UCLA in Foster Farms Bowl.

Big Ten West T-No. 2: Northwestern (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten)

The Wildcats will regress slightly from last year’s 10-win season but still boast standouts like RB Justin Jackson and LB Anthony Walker Jr.

Last year: 10-3, 6-2, lost to Tennessee in Outback Bowl.

Big Ten West No. 4: Wisconsin (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten)

The Badgers aren’t likely to win their usual 10 games due to a schedule that includes LSU, Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan.

Last year: 10-3, 6-2, beat USC in Holiday Bowl.

Big Ten West No. 5: Minnesota (7-5, 4-5 Big Ten)

QB Mitch Leidner is back for his umpteenth year, but the Gophers are still limited on offense and must win a lot of low-scoring games.

Last year: 6-7, 2-6, beat Central Michigan in Quick Lane Bowl.

Big Ten West No. 6: Purdue (4-8, 2-7 Big Ten)

Overmatched coach Darrell Hazell, who’s won two Big Ten games in his first three years, is likely down to his last year on the job.

Last year: 2-10, 1-7, no bowl game.

Big Ten West No. 7: Illinois (2-10, 1-8 Big Ten)

Illinois has some talent, led by QB Wes Lunt, but Lovie Smith’s awkward late hiring last spring could make for a rough start to his tenure.

Last year: 5-7, 2-6, no bowl game.

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/gallery/cfb-preseason-picks-predictions-big-ten-ohio-state-michigan-mandel-081616

So, he has us beating Oregon, but losing 4 other games? Don't see how that happens...

 

[Red Five]

So, he has us beating Oregon, but losing 4 other games? Don't see how that happens...

I saw that earlier and seemed odd to me. I guess we lose the tough roadies (NW, Wisc, OSU, Iowa)?

I wonder how much he ties these out (his conference records at least tie out)? Will he have Oregon losing 1 noncon game?

 

[NUinID]

I just have a hard time picking Iowa. They hardly ever put 2 really good season together in a row. They don't play well as the favorite. They have some talent, but absolutely everything went their way last year in the regular season. I guess it is possible to happen again, but I see 8-4 at the most.

 

[OH HSKR FAN]

They have a favorable schedule. Their QB, "Steady Eddy" does not make mistakes. They have arguably one of the better DBs in the country in King.

 

[It'sNotAFakeID]

Yeah, I don't think Iowa will be going 12-2 and 12-0 through the regular season this year. They'll be good, and a tough out each week, but for as much as Nebraska had the ball bounce against them (through bad luck or mistakes), Iowa had the ball bounce for them. It's really hard to keep that up. I see 9, 10 wins for Iowa this year, which may be enough to win the division, but I'm hoping Nebraska can exceed expectations this year.

 

[84HuskerLaw]

I like our chances IF:

1. We avoid the injury plague. Such players as Tommy, couple receivers, couple DBs or LBs and most importantly D linemen. We will need our full roster to win the Big Ten West for sure.

2. Weather does not play an ugly trick on us at some key point in a couple games where the wind switches at half time or snow sets in or rain, etc. We need 'fair' weather (equally impacting both teams at least).

3. God still loves the Huskers!

 

[mnhusker]

I just have a hard time picking Iowa. They hardly ever put 2 really good season together in a row. They don't play well as the favorite. They have some talent, but absolutely everything went their way last year in the regular season. I guess it is possible to happen again, but I see 8-4 at the most.

I feel that same way, I think they are a strong team but to chalk 'em up with another great season seems to me to be a bit of a stretch. If nothing else I see a case were Iowa and the Huskers come into the final game tied for 1st and Iowa gets the nod becasue of the home field.

 

[suh_fan93]

I think it's a toss up between Iowa, Nebraska and Northwestern but then again I think this season could just be sort of crazy and hard to truly predict.

 

[Redux]

I'm sorry but why do people actually think Northwestern is going to be good this year?

 

[Landlord]

I'm sorry but why do people actually think Northwestern is going to be good this year?

Northwestern has about a 50/50 chance of putting together a good year without rhyme or reason any given season. They went 10-4 with a lot of youth and lack of depth last year, right? I wouldn't put it past Fitz to be able to get to a similar result this season.

 

[Redux]

I'm sorry but why do people actually think Northwestern is going to be good this year?

Northwestern has about a 50/50 chance of putting together a good year without rhyme or reason any given season. They went 10-4 with a lot of youth and lack of depth last year, right? I wouldn't put it past Fitz to be able to get to a similar result this season.

I'll be shocked if they make a bowl game to be honest.

 

[suh_fan93]

I'm sorry but why do people actually think Northwestern is going to be good this year?

Northwestern has about a 50/50 chance of putting together a good year without rhyme or reason any given season. They went 10-4 with a lot of youth and lack of depth last year, right? I wouldn't put it past Fitz to be able to get to a similar result this season.

I'll be shocked if they make a bowl game to be honest.

Would you have picked Iowa to do as well as they did last year? Northwestern? Did you foresee Nebraska doing as badly as they did last year? Pretty sure no one predicted any of those teams performances last year including how Nebraska's season played out.

I think it's going to be anybody's race this year. All of these teams have some good players and key returning starters but at the same time they all have just as many question marks.

 

[hskrfan4life]

I'm sorry but why do people actually think Northwestern is going to be good this year?

Northwestern has about a 50/50 chance of putting together a good year without rhyme or reason any given season. They went 10-4 with a lot of youth and lack of depth last year, right? I wouldn't put it past Fitz to be able to get to a similar result this season.

I'll be shocked if they make a bowl game to be honest.

Would you have picked Iowa to do as well as they did last year? Northwestern? Did you foresee Nebraska doing as badly as they did last year? Pretty sure no one predicted any of those teams performances last year including how Nebraska's season played out.

I think it's going to be anybody's race this year. All of these teams have some good players and key returning starters but at the same time they all have just as many question marks.

I see us beating Northwestern because it's a "home" game and we play better against those type of "home" games.

 

[TonyStalloni]

Since we joined the BIG 10, NW has always played us down to the wire. They aren't a team that can be taken for granted. Their coach does a great job of making something more out of less.