Short Big Ten preview

Just about Opening Day, and thought I'd get down some predictions for the upcoming season. Badger predictions tomorrow, conference predictions today.

Predicted order of finish:

1. Ohio State. Can't remember the last time the difference between the best team in a conference and everyone else was this large. Like they needed Terrelle Pryor! And I love that they're playing USC, that takes balls, just like it did for them to play Texas a couple years back. We're playing for second.

If we beat them — and we've got a shot — it will be interesting to see if it's a springboard to bigger things like 1999, or a bright spot in an otherwise blah year, like 2001 and 2003.

2. Illinois. Yeah, I know they lost Mendenhall and Leman, but for some reason the guy I can't shake is Vontae Davis, their standout cornerback, and the feeling I can't shake is how they dominated us for half in Madison two years ago when they were terrible. Juice is bound to figure out how to hit Benn consistently soon, and we don't match up well against that dude.

3. Wisconsin. Too many good players to fall much further, too many questions to win 'em all.

4. Penn State. They have 5-3 written all over them. Losing linebacker Sean Lee costs them any shot at the conference championship. Watch them win just enough games to go to a bowl and postpone Paterno retirement talk.

5. Michigan. Better kick them while they're down, which ought to be the case this year. They still have enough talented mercenaries from around the country to win more than they lose.

6. Michigan State. Dantonio has them on the right track. Sporting News said we'd beat Ohio State, but our national title hopes will end in East Lansing. I'd probably take that over beating Michigan State and losing to Ohio State.

7. Purdue. Curtis Painter might not end up being all-conference or even lead his team to a winning record, but I suspect PU will pull a significant upset this season.

8. Iowa. And to think I wanted the Packers to hire Kirk Ferentz instead of Mike McCarthy to get Ferentz out of the Big Ten. This is a program in free fall; interestingly it's happening as Ferentz's highly-touted recruiting classes comprise the core of the roster.

9. Indiana. Figure Kellen Lewis is good for two wins by himself. Too many other key losses to win a bowl berth.

10. Northwestern. Figure they'll score 50 on someone they shouldn't, but give up almost that many most games.

11. M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A. Toohey emailed us a story that MarQueis Gray, Timmy Brewster's big quarterback recruit, might be academically ineligible this season. Shocker! They've got some talent with Weber at QB and Decker at receiver, but unless all their JUCO guys make an immediate impact on defense, this team's going to give up a lot of points again.