B1G Uglies: Big Ten Bold Predictions, Part 2

The B1G Uglies: Bold Predictions for Every Team, Part 2-Leaders Division

We’ve already taken a look at some bold predictions for the Legends Division, and with media days just around the corner, we’re building for the anticipation of the big countdown to another drama-filled Big Ten and college football season. Now it’s time to go mining for some bold thoughts and predictions for every team in the Leaders Division:

Illinois Bold Predictions-

Phil Harrison:

There won’t be nearly as many boneheaded coaching decisions this year. Okay, so maybe that’s not so bold with one Mr. Ron Zook honing his golf game instead of wearing the headset on Saturdays. So let’s try this on for size instead: Josh Ferguson will be the breakout star this year in the Big Ten and rush for over 1,000 yards. Ferguson was literally hamstrung by injuries last year otherwise he might already be a household name in the Midwest. Now that he’s healthy, and now that Tim Beckman’s spread-attack is coming to Champaign to put the ultra-quick and shifty redshirt freshman from Naperville out in space, he’ll shake guys in a telephone booth and dial up big plays and highlights. It’ll be a tandem attack at Illinois with Donovonn Young also sharing carries, but it’ll be the 5’10”, 180 lb. Ferguson who takes the conference by storm.

Bart Doan:

Nate Scheelhaase will challenge for the B1G all first team honors. Scheelhaase actually improved across the board last year statistically, in spite of the Illini collapse when some idiot (see: me) picked them to win the Leaders in this same column. Only statistic he dropped off heavily in was touchdowns, going from 17 to 13. The team imploded. It wasn’t just him. And now there’s a new regime and he’s been reported multiple times as being at the leadership forefront thus far. He has a ton of talent, is good on his feet, and has the arm. I think Illinois gets 8-9 wins and this guy takes a major step into the national spotlight this year. This time, I’m way right on Illinois. Just watch.

Terry Johnson:

Bart will love this prediction. Phil will hate it.

The Illini will upset Ohio State at The Horseshoe, propelling the team into a second place finish in the Leaders Division. Tim Beckman’s Toledo team nearly beat this same Buckeye squad last season with MAC players. Now that he has the luxury of elite Big Ten talent (see: Nate Scheelhaase, Michael Buchanan, and Johnathan Brown) at his disposal, there’s absolutely no reason to believe that Beckman won’t guide his team to victory this year, especially with OSU looking ahead to its season ending showdowns with Wisconsin and Michigan.

Indiana Bold Predictions-

Phil Harrison:

Trying to find a positive bold prediction in the midst of so much going wrong in Bloomington is like trying to find Brett Bielema at a jumpsuit convention. Nonetheless, here it goes--Indiana will spring the upset at Northwestern in its first conference game of the year. Yeah, yeah, I know the game is in the shadow of the Chicago Skyline, but Northwestern is in a bit of a rebuild from a disappointing year, and Kevin Wilson’s squad will have just enough improvement and comfortability in year two to take the ‘Cats down. Look for the talents of Tre Roberson to trump the lack of athleticism on the Wildcat defense and take the Hoosiers to their first conference win since they tasted victory in the last game of 2012 in West Lafayette.

Bart Doan:

The Hurryin’ Hoosiers (the football version, with hurrying being a relative term here) will start out 3-0. That’s right, I said it. Included in that will be two...count em...two FBS wins. Of course, UMass is in year one. But Ball State beat them last year in Indy, and the Hoosiers will get revenge of sorts. At any rate, Tre Roberson probably wasn’t originally going to be the guy who makes or breaks Kevin Wilson’s tenure, but Kevin Wilson...famous for his outstanding work with drop back passers...will rely on the duel threat kid. The problem? IU will be done winning there. Their only home games are Michigan State, Ohio State, Iowa, and Wisconsin, all conference power teams. But three is better than one, so it’s improvement.

Terry Johnson:

Not so fast, Bart! While we both agree that Indiana will not win a conference game, that’s not exactly a stretch.

Forgive me, Hoosiers fans, but my bold prediction has IU losing to Ball State again this year. Indiana gave up four sacks against the Cardinals last year, and loses both starting tackles, meaning that Tre Roberson will spend most of the afternoon running for his life.

Even if the O-line can protect its QB, the defense still has issues at LB. Opening up with cupcakes like Indiana State and UMass will not prepare the new starters for a legitimate FBS opponent.

On a more positive note, expect the Hoosiers to go bowling in 2013.

Ohio State Bold Predictions-

Phil Harrison:

Ohio State will win the Leaders Division. Sure, the Buckeyes are not eligible to play in the Big Ten Championship game in Indy, but doesn’t stop the team from finishing atop the division in the standings and throwing a wrench in the hole thing. Miller will shine in Meyer’s offense, the defensive line will be dominant, and there’s still plenty of talent from a myriad of top ten recruiting classes on both sides of the ball to shine once everyone is on the same page. The schedule is daunting, but It could be argued that OSU has the most talent on the roster of any team in the Big Ten. And now that it has a coach that knows how to get the Lamborghini out in the open road and push the gas, things will click. It’ll all set up some even bigger things for 2013. But that’s for another day and another column.

Bart Doan:

Ohio State will lose 3 games...at maximum. Urban Meyer is good at these things, starting out in new jobs. When he took over at Bowling Green, he instituted one of the best turnarounds in NCAA history at the time for a new coach, taking a two win outfit to eight. At Utah, he won 10, becoming the most successful first time coach in school history. At Florida, he won nine, bereft of a QB fit for his style. At OSU, he has arguably his most physically talented QB short of Cam Newton to start with, a schedule that has only four road games, and a team with a chip on their shoulder due to no post season play possible. I call 10-2...with a loss to Michigan. After all, I think they’d rather be 2-10 and win The Game.

Terry Johnson:

QB Braxton Miller will earn first team All-Big Ten honors this season. Miller showed flashes of brilliance in his freshman season, sparking the Buckeyes to an upset of Wisconsin last season.

With Urban Meyer coaching him, his game will improve by leaps and bounds. Aside from the 2010 season, Meyer has always gotten solid play from the QB position, and this year will be no different. Meyer’s spread offense will take advantage of Miller’s skills as both a runner and passer, which will give him better overall numbers than any other QB in the conference.

Penn State Bold Predictions-

Phil Harrison:

Penn State actually won’t be that bad on the field. There is an avalanche of abominations to still get through off the field--and that is certainly way more important than a football season, but the team has some decent talent on the roster. Quarterback might still be a problem, but the skill positions aren’t horrible because of a well stocked backfield, and the defense should be solid yet again to keep the team in most games. It’s a veteran roster with fourteen returning starters, and people are forgetting that the Nittany Lions were pretty good in 2011. The program will still likely slip into a coma in the next few years--as it should, but it won’t be this year. It’ll be a bowl season and respectable results on the field. I wish I could say as much about life outside the stadium.

Bart Doan:

For the first time in my life covering college football, I actually don’t know how to approach a subject or team. As far as a “bold” prediction, I don’t think Penn State’s football team will make a bowl game. New regime, dark cloud hanging over program, tough schedule. I think the student body will show up in force to support this team and these student athletes, but mentally with a tough schedule and an entirely new scheme with players not fit for it offensively maybe, it’s a steep climb. I call PSU for 7-8 losses, staggering if you go back here and make this prediction one calendar year ago. Aside from Indiana, it’s tough to see where they find a win after Oct. 6.

Terry Johnson:

This is my boldest prediction – Penn State will qualify for a bowl game this season.

The Nittany Lions face a soft non-conference schedule this year, with only Virginia looming as a potential landmine. In conference play, they host winnable games against Northwestern and Indiana. If Penn State can upset Purdue or Iowa on the road, the team could have as many as eight wins come bowl selection time.

If it does qualify for a bowl, the university should donate a large portion of the bowl revenue to the many worthwhile charities that help prevent child abuse.

Purdue Bold Predictions-

Phil Harrison:

Though it would be about as bold as a wet noodle in most years, I seem to be in the minority on this, so I label it a Habanero pepper. Everyone seems to want to pick Purdue to challenge or win the Leaders Division. I don’t buy it--not even close. Both Ohio State and Wisconsin will take Purdue’s lunch money meaning that the Boilers will be lucky to finish third in the division. There might be a three-headed monster at QB, but I sniff trouble with figuring out who the guy is. Even if Danny Hope can settle on one guy to give the offense consistency, the weapons surrounding whatever guy lines up under center are not on par with the top dogs in the confernece.

On the other side of the ball, the defense--though possibly solid, isn’t going to be one of the tops in the league (unless it over-achieves more than I did when I courted my wife). But that doesn’t even touch the biggest hurdle to Purdue’s chances of making it to Indy. No, that honor goes to the schedule-makers. The gauntlet that the little engine that could has to traverse is brutal. The conference games on the road are against Ohio State, Iowa, and Illinois. And it doesn’t get much easier at home as Michigan, Penn State, and Wisconsin all come to West Lafayette. No, in retrospect I say the Black and Gold are lucky to make a bowl game this year.

Bart Doan:

I’ve been waiting for this column for awhile. Purdue will WIN the Leaders division and play for the B1G title. I add the caveat that part of that has to do with Ohio State being ineligible, but truthfully, the Boilers are arguably the most well rounded team in the league with no gaping holes anywhere. Back when I was a terrible writer (yes, I’ve been worse at this at one point), I was too hard on Danny Hope and I was wrong. That team last year overachieved considering injuries and they take the next step this season. The schedule is arduous, but they just need to come out 3-1 vs PSU, Illinois, Wisconsin, and OSU. I say they do. Learn the name Raheem Mostert.

Terry Johnson:

Projecting Purdue to win the Leaders Division is certainly a bold pick. While I don’t think the Boilers pull that off, there will be a reason to rejoice in West Lafayette this year.

Danny Hope will earn a signature win in the second game of the season, when the Boilermakers upset Notre Dame in South Bend. With Caleb TerBush, Robert Marve, and Rob Henry returning from injury, Danny Hope has three capable signal callers who can move the ball down the field. That’s a huge contrast from the Fighting Irish, who have struggled with consistency at the QB position ever since Kelly took the reins.

Add in the fact that Notre Dame has to make a long trip back from Ireland, and it all adds up to a recipe for a Boilermaker upset.

Wisconsin Bold Predictions-

Phil Harrison:

Montee Ball won’t put up anywhere near Heisman numbers this year. He seems to be everyone’s lock to be the Big Ten guy to be invited to New York for the Heisman, but things are different in Madison. The Badgers are replacing a couple starters on the offensive line, and are breaking in a new QB transfer in Danny O’Brien. It’s time to be frank. Wisconsin caught lightning in a bottle last year with Russell Wilson. Though sending the life-boat to the ACC to bring in a QB seems to be in the Bielema playbook now, it’s not going to work like the dream that it was last year. O’Brien may be talented, but he’s no Russell WIlson who could equalize defenses with his legs just as well as his arm. The result? Opposing defenses will key all over Money Ball and make things tough sledding for him all year. He’ll still get good numbers, but they won’t be eye-popping like everyone residing in the Milky Way Galaxy believes.

Bart Doan:

As probably evidenced by the above, Wisconsin, who seems to be everyone’s lock to win the Leaders with OSU on hiatus, will not win the division. They’ll finish third. That’s certainly more bold than every barbecue sauce having a “bold” edition that actually tastes no different from the regular. My opinion is that Russell Wilson is underrated in what he meant to that team, bailing that offense out with his legs. Makes you wonder why Wisky never goes the more dual-threat quarterback route considering the success. Could be worse though. NC State/Maryland could have instituted a no “transferring to the B1G rule.”

Terry Johnson:

The Badger offense will be better than it was a year ago.

That’s right, the same unit that lost Russell Wilson, Nick Toon, Peter Konz, and Kevin Zeitler to the NFL will post better numbers in 2012.

Let’s face it, Wisconsin has produced NFL-caliber offensive lineman every year since Bret Bielema took over. Even with two starters departing, the big uglies (see how I did that) will open truck-sized holes for Heisman Trophy candidate Montee Ball to run through. Teams won’t be able to load the box to stop the run, or they run the risk of Danny O’Brien beating them deep down the field.

Having all of these weapons on offense will land the Badgers in the Rose Bowl for the third straight year.

Follow Phil on Twitter @PhilHarrisonCFN, Bart @Bart_CFN, and Terry @TPJCollFootball