Pre-Season Magazine Predictions

[Saunders]

 

ATHLON Sports:

The inaugural Big Ten title game featured the teams widely regarded as the league’s best. This season’s race could be less clear-cut. The Legends Division looks rock solid, while the Leaders is filled with more than a few question marks.Michigan and Michigan State both come off 11-win seasons that resulted in bowl victories (Sugar and Outback, respectively). Nebraska, with seven starters back on both sides of the ball, will be formidable as well.

 

Link

 

They also having us playing OU in the Fiesta Bowl.

 

[Saunders]

Phil Steele:

"Seven of my 9 sets of PR's call for a DD win season and the Huskers have a

great shot at getting to the B10 Title game"

Link to PDF of preview

He has us playing Florida in the Outback Bowl

EDIT: I'll update with a screen of his conference standings tonight. IIRC, he had us, UM, and MSU in a 3 way tie for the division, with Nebraska winning the tie breaker.

 

[huKSer]

Phil Steele:

College football season cancelled?

Edit: Working now

 

[Saunders]

Phil Steele:

College football season cancelled?

Copy issue from FF to chrome.

 

[Count 'Bility]

Why is Ohio St. expected to be 11-1 with absolutely NOTHING to play for and a first year coaching staff and sophomore qb in a new system? :facepalm:

Oh yeah, dont forget that asterisk :dunno

 

[Joe_5700]

Why is Ohio St. expected to be 11-1 with absolutely NOTHING to play for and a first year coaching staff and sophomore qb in a new system? :facepalm:

Oh yeah, dont forget that asterisk :dunno

Writers have done this with a big10 team each and every year that I have followed college football which is about 25 years. It doesn't matter if the big10 is down either. Same goes for Notre Dame. They often times get picked to do great things and do absolutely nothing. I am glad we are not a favorite in our division. Maybe we will play less defensively and with more of a purpose.

 

[kchusker_chris]

Ohio State will have a top 5-10 defense with a very competent QB. Think back to 09' and where we would have finished with a competent offense. I see no reason at this point not to believe Ohio State will be everything people think they are. No kid will play less than 100% just because he's not going to a bowl game. They are still competitors. See USC last year.

 

[Hunter94]

Ohio State will have a top 5-10 defense with a very competent QB. Think back to 09' and where we would have finished with a competent offense. I see no reason at this point not to believe Ohio State will be everything people think they are. No kid will play less than 100% just because he's not going to a bowl game. They are still competitors. See USC last year.

+1

 

[The Dude]

Michigan State might even finish lower than Iowa or Northwestern in the division. There's about 6 games they could realistically lose overall. (Boise, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska).

That Athlon prediction is the lowest I've seen them, and I still think it's too high. I'm not sold on them at all this year. I understand they have defensive talent, but their defense won't be so dominate that they'll carry the team through that schedule. I just don't see it.

 

[zeWilbur]

Ohio State will have a top 5-10 defense with a very competent QB. Think back to 09' and where we would have finished with a competent offense. I see no reason at this point not to believe Ohio State will be everything people think they are. No kid will play less than 100% just because he's not going to a bowl game. They are still competitors. See USC last year.

I think they have enough defensive continuity that they should be very solid on that side. What I wonder about is if a new system( without the athletes to run it how Urb wants it) with a QB who is still young is going to be consistent enough to keep their defense off of the field. I don't care how good they are, if your defense is sucking wind in the third quarter you're hosed.

 

[Hunter94]

Ohio State will have a top 5-10 defense with a very competent QB. Think back to 09' and where we would have finished with a competent offense. I see no reason at this point not to believe Ohio State will be everything people think they are. No kid will play less than 100% just because he's not going to a bowl game. They are still competitors. See USC last year.

I think they have enough defensive continuity that they should be very solid on that side. What I wonder about is if a new system( without the athletes to run it how Urb wants it) with a QB who is still young is going to be consistent enough to keep their defense off of the field. I don't care how good they are, if your defense is sucking wind in the third quarter you're hosed.

that's not true, we know good defenses can not only keep you in the game, but they can win it to......as far as Ohio State's qb is concerned, the guy is a stud and i would love to have him in our offense anyday........he will do nothing but get better this year under Meyer, sorry to say.

 

[RedDenver]

Ohio State will have a top 5-10 defense with a very competent QB. Think back to 09' and where we would have finished with a competent offense. I see no reason at this point not to believe Ohio State will be everything people think they are. No kid will play less than 100% just because he's not going to a bowl game. They are still competitors. See USC last year.

I think they have enough defensive continuity that they should be very solid on that side. What I wonder about is if a new system( without the athletes to run it how Urb wants it) with a QB who is still young is going to be consistent enough to keep their defense off of the field. I don't care how good they are, if your defense is sucking wind in the third quarter you're hosed.

that's not true, we know good defenses can not only keep you in the game, but they can win it to......as far as Ohio State's qb is concerned, the guy is a stud and i would love to have him in our offense anyday........he will do nothing but get better this year under Meyer, sorry to say.

Maybe, but tOSU's QB might start out pretty rough. Everyone just assumes he'll pick up a new offense no problem. What if he gets the checks wrong? What if he's only effective running and teams stack the box? And that's not even considering the other players on offense. I think Urban will have done a good job just getting them to 8-4. All the talent in the world doesn't mean anything if you don't execute. And execution begins with familiarity and repetition.

 

[zeWilbur]

Maybe, but tOSU's QB might start out pretty rough. Everyone just assumes he'll pick up a new offense no problem. What if he gets the checks wrong? What if he's only effective running and teams stack the box? And that's not even considering the other players on offense. I think Urban will have done a good job just getting them to 8-4. All the talent in the world doesn't mean anything if you don't execute. And execution begins with familiarity and repetition.

And a +1 to you sir.

 

[Chaddyboxer]

Maybe, but tOSU's QB might start out pretty rough. Everyone just assumes he'll pick up a new offense no problem. What if he gets the checks wrong? What if he's only effective running and teams stack the box? And that's not even considering the other players on offense. I think Urban will have done a good job just getting them to 8-4. All the talent in the world doesn't mean anything if you don't execute. And execution begins with familiarity and repetition.

And a +1 to you sir.

I agree....but I still think Urban puts up a solid team and they lose 2-3 games at the most. I wouldn't be surprised if they drop only 1 or 2 as well. The talent level Ohio St has may make up and/or compensate for the new offense and new systems that they will be putting in place in his first year back as head coach.

 

[bshirt]

Ohio State will have a top 5-10 defense with a very competent QB. Think back to 09' and where we would have finished with a competent offense. I see no reason at this point not to believe Ohio State will be everything people think they are. No kid will play less than 100% just because he's not going to a bowl game. They are still competitors. See USC last year.

I think they have enough defensive continuity that they should be very solid on that side. What I wonder about is if a new system( without the athletes to run it how Urb wants it) with a QB who is still young is going to be consistent enough to keep their defense off of the field. I don't care how good they are, if your defense is sucking wind in the third quarter you're hosed.

that's not true, we know good defenses can not only keep you in the game, but they can win it to......as far as Ohio State's qb is concerned, the guy is a stud and i would love to have him in our offense anyday........he will do nothing but get better this year under Meyer, sorry to say.

Maybe, but tOSU's QB might start out pretty rough. Everyone just assumes he'll pick up a new offense no problem. What if he gets the checks wrong? What if he's only effective running and teams stack the box? And that's not even considering the other players on offense. I think Urban will have done a good job just getting them to 8-4. All the talent in the world doesn't mean anything if you don't execute. And execution begins with familiarity and repetition.

Superb post.