Big Ten Preview

Projected Records & Standings

1. PENN STATE         11-1  (7-1)
2. OHIO STATE         10-2  (6-2)
3. ILLINOIS            8-4  (5-3)
4. MICHIGAN            9-3  (5-3)
5. MICHIGAN STATE      7-5  (4-4)
6. IOWA                7-5  (4-4)
7. NORTHWESTERN        8-4  (4-4)
8. MINNESOTA           5-7  (3-5)
9. WISCONSIN           6-6  (3-5)
10.PURDUE              4-8  (2-6)
11.INDIANA             3-9  (1-7)

Champion: PENN STATE
The schedule sets up nicely for Penn State with Ohio State visiting Happy Valley. Those two are enough ahead of the rest of the pack that the conference title will probably come down to that game. Give the Nittany Lions the advantage because of senior quarterback Daryll Clark and what should again be a very good defense. The return of Sean Lee at linebacker will only make Navorro Bowman better. And Jared Odrick and Ollie Ogbu make up one of the best defensive tackle duos in the land. Add to that a running back who is one of the most underappreciated players in the nation in Evan Royster running behind an athletic offensive line and there is a real possibility Penn State could run the table and sneak their way into the National Title game.

Could Surprise: MICHIGAN

With seemingly everybody rooting against Rich Rodriguez at this point, it’s time to bring up the fact that his teams usually take the biggest step forward in year two. The defense didn’t always play well, but with players like DE Brandon Graham and LB Obi Ezeh the Wolverine defense should be in fine form. If the offense shows even the slightest bit of improvement – and there’s really no where else to go but up – Big Blue should find themselves in the top half of the Big Ten standings where they belong.

Here’s an early upset pick: Michigan will beat Ohio State in Ann Arbor this November.

Question the Hype: BIG TEN CONFERENCE
This conference is in a state of flux. Penn State and Ohio State are clearly the front-runners, but neither has proven capable of beating good teams from other conferences in recent seasons. Somebody is going to have to pick up a big NON-conference win in order to reverse the perception that the Big Ten is lagging behind the other major conferences. Unfortunately, outside of Ohio State playing USC, most of these schools seem content to avoid playing big non-conference games. So don’t be surprised if the Big Ten gets their clocks cleaned come bowl season yet again.

Bo Jackson Trophy Candidates:
Top 3:
QB-Juice Williams, Illinois
QB-Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
RB-Evan Royster, Penn State

Ten to Watch:
WR-Arrelious Benn, Illinois
RB-Carlos Brown, Michigan
OT-Bryan Bulaga, Iowa
OT-Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
QB-Daryll Clark, Penn State
WR-Eric Decker, Minnesota
RB-Jewel Hampton, Iowa
RB-Dan Herron, Ohio State
RB-Jaycen Taylor, Purdue
C-Stefen Wisniewski, Penn State

Arrington Trophy Candidates:
Top 3:
DE-Brandon Graham, Michigan
DT-Jared Odrick, Penn State
LB-Martez Wilson, Illinois

Ten to Watch:
LB-Pat Angerer, Iowa
LB-Navorro Bowman, Penn State
CB-Chimdi Chekwa, Ohio State
SS-Kurt Coleman, Ohio State
LB-Obi Ezeh, Michigan
LB-Greg Jones, Michigan State
DE-Jammie Kirlew, Indiana
DT-Ollie Ogbu, Penn State
CB-Donovan Warren, Michigan
DE-Corey Wootton, Northwestern

Big Ten-All Conference

If you are looking for James Laurinaitis you will find him on the pro prospect list, but two sophomores really impressed me this year more then the accomplished Buckeye. Also despite the tough season Juice will be ready next year. Also what a great world we live in that we won't have to see Curtis Painter this next year!

QB Juice Williams, Illinois QB JR
RB Javon Ringer, Michigan St. RB SR
RB Shonn Greene, Iowa RB JR
WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois WR SO
WR Desmond Tardy, Purdue WR SR
WR Eric Decker, Minnesota WR JR
OL A.Q. Shipley, Penn St OL SR
OL Andy Kemp, Wisconsin OL SR
OL Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin OL SR
OL Alex Boone, Ohio St OL SR
OL Eric VandenHeuvel, Wisconsin OL SR

DL Aaron Maybin, Penn St. DL SO
DL Brandon Graham, Michigan DL JR
DL Jammie Kirlew, Indiana DL JR
DL Willie VanDeSteeg, Minnesota DL SR
LB Brit Miller, Illinois LB SR
LB Greg Jones, Michigan St. LB SO
LB Navorro Bowman, Penn St. LB SO
DB Otis Wiley, Michigan St. DB
DB Traye Simmons, Minnesota DB JR
DB Vontae Davis, Illinois DB JR
DB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio St. DB SR

K Kevin Kelly, Penn St. K SR
P Zoltan Mesko, Michigan P JR
KR Derrick Williams, Penn St. WR SR
PR David Gilreath, Wisconsin WR SO

Bowl Results

For the record, here's how the conferences fared in bowl games this season. Selections in red indicate the conference's signature win. Selections in blue indicate the conference's worst loss.

J.Pike's Bowl Picks Record: 17-17 (50%)
BCS Bowl Picks Record: 3-2 (60%)

1. PAC-10
Record: 5-0 (100%)
Results
Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona 31, BYU 21
Emerald Bowl: California 24, Miami 17
Holiday Bowl: Oregon 42, Oklahoma State 31
Sun Bowl: Oregon State 3, Pittsburgh 0
Rose Bowl: USC 38, Penn State 24

2. SEC
Record: 6-2 (75%)
Results
Music City Bowl: Vanderbilt 16, Boston College 14
Peach Bowl: LSU 38, Georgia Tech 3
Outback Bowl: Iowa 31, South Carolina 10
Citrus Bowl: Georgia 24, Michigan State 12
Cotton Bowl: Ole Miss 47, Texas Tech 34
Liberty Bowl: Kentucky 25, East Carolina 19
Sugar Bowl: Utah 31, Alabama 17
National Title Game: Florida 24, Oklahoma 14

3t. BIG EAST
Record: 4-2 (66.7%)
Results
St. Petersburg Bowl: South Florida 41, Memphis 14
Meineke Car Care Bowl: West Virginia 31, North Carolina 30
Pizza Bowl: Rutgers 29, N.C. State 23
Sun Bowl: Oregon State 3, Pittsburgh 0
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech 20, Cincinnati 7
International Bowl: Connecticut 38, Buffalo 20

3t. CONFERENCE USA
Record: 4-2 (66.7%)
Results
St. Petersburg Bowl: South Florida 41, Memphis 14
New Orleans Bowl: Southern Miss 30, Troy 27 (OT)
Texas Bowl: Rice 38, Western Michigan 14
Armed Forces Bowl: Houston 34, Air Force 28
Liberty Bowl: Kentucky 25, East Carolina 19
GMAC Bowl: Tulsa 45, Ball State 13

5. MOUNTAIN WEST
Record: 3-2 (60%)
Results
New Mexico Bowl: Colorado State 40, Fresno State 35
Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona 31, BYU 21
Poinsettia Bowl: TCU 17, Boise State 16
Armed Forces Bowl: Houston 34, Air Force 28
Sugar Bowl: Utah 31, Alabama 17

6. BIG XII
Record: 4-3 (57.1%)
Results
Alamo Bowl: Missouri 30, Northwestern 23 (OT)
Holiday Bowl: Oregon 42, Oklahoma State 31
Insight Bowl: Kansas 42, Minnesota 21
Gator Bowl: Nebraska 26, Clemson 21
Cotton Bowl: Ole Miss 47, Texas Tech 34
Fiesta Bowl: Texas 24, Ohio State 21
National Title Game: Florida 24, Oklahoma 14

7. ACC
Record: 4-6 (40%)
Results
Eagle Bank Bowl: Wake Forest 29, Navy 19
Meineke Car Care Bowl: West Virginia 31, North Carolina 30
Champs Sports Bowl: Florida State 42, Wisconsin 13
Emerald Bowl: California 24, Miami 17
Pizza Bowl: Rutgers 29, N.C. State 23
Humanitarian Bowl: Maryland 42, Nevada 35
Music City Bowl: Vanderbilt 16, Boston College 14
Peach Bowl: LSU 38, Georgia Tech 3
Gator Bowl: Nebraska 26, Clemson 21
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech 20, Cincinnati 7

8. WAC
Record: 1-4 (20%)
Results
New Mexico Bowl: Colorado State 40, Fresno State 35
Poinsettia Bowl: TCU 17, Boise State 16
Hawaii Bowl: Notre Dame 49, Hawaii 21
Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech 17, Northern Illinois 10
Humanitarian Bowl: Maryland 42, Nevada 35

9. BIG TEN
Record: 1-6 (14.3%)
Results
Champs Sports Bowl: Florida State 42, Wisconsin 13
Alamo Bowl: Missouri 30, Northwestern 23 (OT)
Insight Bowl: Kansas 42, Minnesota 21
Outback Bowl: Iowa 31, South Carolina 10
Citrus Bowl: Georgia 24, Michigan State 12
Rose Bowl: USC 38, Penn State 24
Fiesta Bowl: Texas 24, Ohio State 21

10. MAC
Record: 0-5 (0%)
Results
Motor City Bowl: Florida Atlantic 24, Central Michigan 21
Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech 17, Northern Illinois 10
Texas Bowl: Rice 38, Western Michigan 14
International Bowl: Connecticut 38, Buffalo 20
GMAC Bowl: Tulsa 45, Ball State 13

WEEK NINE - Spotlight Game of the Week

#3 Penn State

at
#4 Ohio State

(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)

When Penn State has the ball
Penn State holds a huge five letter advantage over Ohio State: S-P-E-E-D. The last four losses suffered by the Buckeyes have all been at the hands of opponents with the speed to take advantage of those slow footed linebackers, and the Nittany Lions definitely have their share of speedsters.

The thing I like about Penn State so much this year is their balance offensively. Not just the fact that they average 234.6 rushing yards and 253.1 passing yards per game, but the number of different styles they can beat you with.

First there’s Bo Jackson Trophy candidate Even Royster in the backfield. He’s a bruiser that wears down defenses as the game goes along, but he also has deceptive speed that has allowed him to run for enough big gains to pad his average all the way up to 7.7 yards per carry! Then when defenses get tired of taking the beating from Royster, freshman Stefphon “Warp Speed” Green comes into the ball game.

Penn State can also spread the field and beat you throwing the football. You won’t find a more veteran trio of receivers in the nation than Jordan Norwood, Deon Butler, and Derrick Williams. All three are seniors with great speed and the smarts to get open in clutch situations. The Ohio State secondary is pretty good, but these guys will be able to get open and make key third down grabs to keep the chains moving. And don’t forget that Williams is one of the most dangerous punt returners in the nation too.

But the most impressive part about this Nittany Lion offense so far this year has been quarterback Darryl Clark. Clark entered the season as an unknown quantity that barely beat out big armed Pat Devlin for the starting job. All he has done is play as well as any quarterback in the Big Ten. Clark is a better than average passer, which makes his scrambling skills even more effective. All in all, he rounds out the offense perfectly.

The Ohio State defense has taken some hits recently, and deservedly so. The blowouts they have suffered at the hands of USC, LSU, and Florida were partly due to the lack of speed on that side of the ball. Penn State has speed and they’ll be able to score when they need to Saturday night.

When Ohio State has the ball
Freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor has given the Ohio State offense some much needed playmaking ability. With his running ability now a permanent fixture in the offense, defenses aren’t able play vanilla and shut down the Buckeyes.

If there’s one aspect of Pryor’s game that has been a surprise, it’s his passing touch. He has made some very nice throws this year and it’s only a matter of time before he gains consistency and becomes a star.

Unfortunately he doesn’t get much help from the current crop of receivers. Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie are two non-factors in games like this because they refuse to help their quarterback out. Both of these guys would rather complain to the officials and keep their uniforms clean than actually go up and make a catch in traffic. Against a ballhawking Penn State secondary that includes Anthony Scirrotto, that sort of attitude will lead to interceptions.

That means the onus offensively will be on the Buckeyes running game. Chris Wells entered the season as a Heisman Trophy candidate but has since fallen out of the race after missing several key games early with a toe injury. Wells is almost back to full strength so you can be sure Jim Tressel will use him early and often Saturday night.

Pryor also has excellent athleticism and can make defenders miss in the open field. He’ll need that athleticism because Penn State features one of the best pass rush duos in the nation in ends Aaron Maybin (10 sacks) and Josh Gaines (3.5 sacks). The Penn State defensive line has been so good this year that blitzing is rarely necessary. That has freed up the linebackers to make plays elsewhere, which will come in handy against Ohio State as they will be freed up to track Wells and Pryor.

All in all, there don’t appear to be many advantages for Ohio State on this side of the ball. If Terrelle Pryor isn’t making plays with his feet, points may be few and far between against the Nittany Lion defense.

Final Verdict
In short, I think Penn State is just a much better team than Ohio State right now. That’s not a knock against the Buckeyes, it’s more of a statement about how good Penn State is right now. There also don’t happen to be many matchups in this game that favor Ohio State. Even though it’s in The Horseshoe, Penn State will cruise to an easy victory and stake a claim to not only the Big Ten title, but to a berth in the national championship game as well.

J.Pike’s Pick: Penn State 32, Ohio State 16

BP25- #11 Wisconsin Badgers

Well to conserve time will hit the highlights:

Offense: PJ Hill is a stud and Travis Beckum will make himself a first rounder by the end of the year. They return one of the best OL in the Big 10 and they will need with cast off Allan Everidge running the O. Watch out for Kyle Jefferson.

Defense: Could be the 2nd best in the Big 10. Matt Shaughnessy and Mike Newkirk anchor the line with AA potential and Jonathan Casillas and DeAndre Levy return as the Top two tacklers last year. The secondary is lead by Shane Carter who led the big 10 with 7 picks last year.

Schedule: Non conference is cake, (Fresno St is overrated) and the Big 10 road games are Michigan, Iowa, Michigan St and Indiana, so they get teh Buckeyes, Joe Pa and Juice all at home. The table is set for Bret Bielema so come and get it.

Big Ten Preview

Favorite: Ohio State

There’s no doubt about it. Ohio State has run roughshod over the rest of the Big Ten the past three seasons, and this year’s Buckeyes should be no exception. Virtually everybody of significance is back which means this might even be the best team Jim Tressell has put on the field to date.

Sleeper: Penn State

Despite all the off-season dismissals and injuries, there are still enough talented players left for Penn State to make a run at the Big Ten title. It’s a good thing Paterno had great depth on defense because that was the area hit hardest in the off-season. Even with the losses, the defense should still be very good. Pair that with an offense that boasts as many playmakers as anybody in the conference and it’s easy to see that the biggest threat to Ohio State’s supremacy lays in State College, PA.

On the Rise: Michigan State

Mark Dantonio is on the verge of shifting from being the most underrated head coach in the nation to being a very hot commodity when the big coaching jobs start opening up. Dantonio learned how to win in the Big Ten from Jim Tressell (watch Javon Ringer put up Beanie Wells-like numbers this year) and he has already laid an excellent foundation. Look for the Spartans to continue to improve and become a player in the Big Ten race as early as 2009.

Declining: Minnesota

How can a team that won only one game a year ago be getting worse? Well, consider where Minnesota was just a year and a half ago under Glen Mason and where they are right now under Tim Brewster – the program is in definite decline. Why the Gopher brass decided to fire Mason, the most successful coach at the school in recent memory, is beyond me. It led to a terrible product on the field and the only thing that has changed this season is the defensive coordinator - as if that was the problem. Gopher faithful better get comfortable in the cellar because that’s where they’ll be for a while. But look on the bright side – at least they won’t have to watch games in that awful dome much longer!

PROJECTED STANDINGS & RECORDS

1. Ohio State	11-1 (7-1 conference)
2. Penn State	10-2 (6-2)
3. Wisconsin	9-3 (5-3)
4. Illinois	8-4 (5-3)
5. Michigan State	8-4 (5-3)
6. Michigan	7-5 (4-4)
7. Iowa	6-6 (4-4)
8. Northwestern	6-6 (3-5)
9. Purdue	5-7 (3-5)
10. Indiana	5-7 (2-6)
11. Minnesota	2-10 (0-8)

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Offense: Javon Ringer (RB, Michigan State)
Defense: James Laurinaitis (LB, Ohio State)
Special Teams: David Gilreath (KR, Wisconsin)

NATIONAL AWARDS CANDIDATES
Vontae Davis (CB-Ill) – Arrington, Deion
Maurice Evans (DE-PSU) – Arrington
David Gilreath (KR-Wis) – Sproles/Sauerbrun
Stephfon Green (RB-PSU) – J.Pike’s Fave
Malcolm Jenkins (CB-OSU) – Arrington, Deion
James Laurinaitis (LB-OSU) – Arrington
Kellen Lewis (QB – Ind) – Frazier
Zoltan Mesko (P-Mich) – Sproles/Sauerbrun
Terrelle Pryor (QB-OSU) – Frazier
Javon Ringer (RB-MSU) - Bo Jackson
Anthony Scirrotto (DB-PSU) – Deion
Morgan Trent (DB-Mich) – Deion
Donvan Warren (CB – Mich) – Deion
Chris Wells (RB-OSU) – Bo Jackson
Juice Williams (QB-Ill) – Frazier
Martez Wilson (LB-Ill) - Arrington
Gold Wrenches:
Ohio State offensive line
Penn State defensive line
Ohio State defensive line
Wisconsin offensive line
Penn State offensive line
Michigan defensive line

JP25 - #3 OHIO STATE

Here we go again. After getting blown out by vastly superior SEC teams in the last two national championship games, Ohio State has the look of a team ready to make another title run. Nine starters return on both sides of the ball which means this might be the best Jim Tressell team yet. But will poll voters give the Buckeyes another shot at playing for the national title?

OFFENSE
Tressell likes his offenses to be able to grind clock with the ground game and take care of the ball. Those tasks will be made easier thanks to the return of four starters to an offensive line that was the best in the Big Ten. Left tackle Alex Boone is one of the best in the nation at his position and he’s entering his fourth year as a starter. The only loss is right tackle Kirk Barton - but his replacement, sophomore Bryant Browning, has the look of a future star.

The line will pave the way for another excellent running game. Chris “Beanie” Wells is back yet again to rumble through Big Ten defenses. After rushing for 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2007, many have pegged Wells as a Heisman Trophy candidate. Backing him up is capable senior Maurice Wells and sophomore speedster Brandon Saine. Saine might get more touches this year as the Buckeyes attempt to can better utilize his athleticism.

Speaking of athleticism, Tressell managed to score the top prize in the recruiting class of ’08 when he signed Terrelle Pryor. Pryor is a quarterback, but with incumbent Todd Boeckman in tow, Tressell will find different ways to get his hands on the ball. He’ll play one way or another.

Saine and Pryor should give Ohio State’s offense a little more punch than they had last season. A veteran receiving corps returns intact, but for some reason I don’t get the impression Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline scare many defensive coordinators. Robiskie in particular is solid (55 receptions for 935 yards, 11 tds), but neither will affect an opponent’s game plan the way Pryor and Saine might.

DEFENSE
Where to begin? In 2007 the Buckeye defense led the Big Ten in every statistical category. They also led the nation in fewest yards (233.0) and points (12.8) allowed per game. The return of nine starters and every backup means the 2008 defense will be just as dominant as they were last year. Probable first round pick James Laurinaitis turned down the NFL just to come back and play another year for this defense!

Joining Laurinaitis at linebacker is the underrated Marcus Freeman. Freeman has played in the shadow of Laurinaitis his whole career, but he has produced in a manner that should garner some all-conference recognition. His speed is a nice complement to Laurinaitis, and together they will minimize the loss of Larry Grant by continuing to hunt down Big Ten ball carriers.

The only other loss this defense suffers is defensive end Vernon Gholston. Gholston was a tenacious pass rusher who posted 14 sacks a year ago and leaves some sizeable shoes to fill. But this is Ohio State - Lawrence Wilson will step right in and keep the pass rush fierce. Wilson is a potential 10-sack guy who started the season opposite Gholston last year, but broke his leg in the first game and missed the rest of the season. In his stead, true freshman Cameron Heyward, a 6-foot-6, 287-pound bull, stepped up and proved to be a star in the making. These two surround a workmanlike defensive tackle rotation to form the best defensive line in the Big Ten.

Malcolm Jenkins provides star power in the secondary. He’s a big, shut-down corner who will be an All American and a first round NFL draft pick. Joining him are Kurt Coleman, Donald Washington, and Anderson Russell. This quartet allowed only 150.2 yards passing per game a year ago, but they didn’t force the amount of turnovers you might expect to see out of a top ranked defense. Considering the lack of potent passing attacks in the Big Ten and the fact that LSU sliced up this group in the national title game, it’s reasonable to think they aren’t as good as their stats.

KEEP AN EYE ON
How many touches Brandon Saine and Terrelle Pryor get in big games. These two wild cards could provide the kind of speed the Buckeyes have been lacking in their recent mismatches against top notch SEC competition.

RISING STAR
Defensive end Cameron Heyward. The son of former NFLer Craig “Ironhead” Heyward is even more imposing than his dad was. He started on the defensive line as a true freshman and will be a force for years to come.

BP25- #16 Illinois Fighting Illni

The Juice did it, I knew he did it all along, he could beat the Buckeyes in Columbus! All the evidence was there, such as leading the team to its second winning record in 7 years and looks to continue winning as long as he is there. The gloves fit also with the great Arrelious Benn showing off that #1 WR out of High School was not a fluke and he will make giant steps this year to position himself for a potential NFL paycheck. Covering up the evidence of a great rushing attack will be hard to do and very messy. Mendenhall was the glue on this team and his successors are well below his production levels, so the Juice will have to run like a white bronco to led this team on the ground to where they want to go.

The Defense Team held a strong case last year and helped do just enough to win ball games but with only 6 returning starters this is a area where Ron Zook recruiting(in his 4th year all his recruits) will be leaned upon due to a very flimsy alibi. J Leman will be missed but only on his lunch pail antics The front seven are strong and could be the best Zook has had, the only question mark is the secondary, Vontae Davis returns but that's it. The alibi has major flaws in it as they open with a Chase in Missouri, which leads to REVENGE @ Pennsylvania St, REVENGE @ Wisconsin and finally wraps up at REVENGE Ohio St and REVENGE Northwestern. So as you can see the Juice could do it, you just have to look at the whole picture.......I am talking about Illni Football Right?

Big Ten - RB Rankings

1. Chris Wells, Ohio State
2. Javon Ringer, Michigan State
3. Carlos Brown, Michigan
4. P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
5. Jaycen Taylor, Purdue

OTHERS TO WATCH
Stephfon Green, Penn State
Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern

JP25 - #11 PENN STATE

The longer the off-season goes on, the more uneasy I get about ranking Penn State this high. There have been an unusually high number of off-the-field incidents that led to six players getting suspended – two of which have recently been kicked off the team. On top of that, linebacker Sean Lee (138 tackles) will miss the season after injuring his knee in spring practice. If the season doesn’t start soon Joe Paterno might not have enough players to field a team.

OFFENSE
The Nittany Lions have a good chance to duplicate their solid offensive numbers from 2007 (30.3 points and 400.1 yards per game) because all five starters and two key backups return on the offensive line. Center A.Q. Shipley headlines the unit, while guard Stefen Wisniewski steps into the starting lineup after playing a key role off the bench as a true freshman last year. The line should allow plenty of time for the new quarterback to settle in. Whether the quarterback will be senior Daryll Clark or sophomore Pat Devlin is still to be decided though. Clark is the more mobile of the two; Devlin was a prep star and has the better arm. Clark seems to be the favorite, which reminds many of the last time Penn State played a quarterback with some mobility - Michael Robinson led the Lions to 11 wins in 2005.

A veteran trio of receivers returns to State College as well which should benefit the new quarterback greatly. Deon Butler, Derrick Williams, and Jordan Norwood aren’t big receivers, but they have been playing together for three years now and each brings a little something different to the table. Butler is the best overall receiver, while Williams brings great athleticism. Additionally, if Andrew Quarless can stay out of Paterno’s doghouse, he’s a fine tight end with the potential to become one of the best in the nation.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Penn State ’08 is the running back position. Even though 1,300 yard rusher Rodney Kinlaw exhausted his eligibility, there is still a potentially dangerous duo ready to make their presence felt. Evan Royster ran for 513 yards and 5 touchdowns as a freshman a year ago, but the anticipation to turn Stephfon Green loose on Saturdays is through the roof. Green wowed teammates and coaches alike during his redshirt year with the ability to hit “warp speed” in pads. That’s the kind of skill that can propel an offense to the next level, and Green might be the wild card that propels Penn State to the top of the Big Ten heap.

DEFENSE
This is where Penn State suffered the most in the off-season. What started out as nine returning starters and potentially one of the best defensive lines in the nation has now dwindled to seven returning starters and depth concerns everywhere. Replacing departed star Dan Connor at middle linebacker would have been manageable without the injury to Sean Lee and the suspension of Navorrow Bowman, but now more young players are being counted on to step up their games. Tyrell Sales and Jerome Hayes must step into leadership roles, and sophomore Chris Colasanti has to prove the hype around him during the recruiting process wasn’t just hype. Don’t be surprised if recruits Brandon Beachum and Michael Mauti get playing time as true freshmen either.

The defensive line was hit hard by the dismissal of starting tackle Chris Baker and backup tackle Phil Taylor. Both were expected to contribute heavily on what could have been the best defensive line in the Big Ten. This is Penn State though, so there are still talented defensive linemen to rely on. End Maurice Evans was one of the best pass rushers (12.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles) in the conference last year. Ollie Ogbu and Jared Odrick have the potential to be one of the best DT duos in the nation. So the starting lineup is still in excellent shape, but the depth won’t be as experienced as expected.

In the secondary, Anthony Scirrotto is ready to emerge as one of the Big Ten’s best safeties. He has a nose for the ball and finally appears to be out of trouble for good.

KEEP AN EYE ON
The linebackers. Linebacker play is always important at Penn State, so this crew must come together quickly in order to maintain their status as one of the top ten defenses in the nation.

RISING STAR
RB Stephfon Green

BP25- #21 Penn St Nittany Lions

#21 Penn St Nittany Lions
Beep....Beep...Beep...Beep, Joe Pa are you still there? Hell yeah he is and he is fired up! Kicking Players off the team and in 43rd year(33 he has coached, the rest he has just rolled up a program and asked everyone where he was) but this is college football and this is a Icon. Well Anthony Morelli is gone now to some arena team(I know he is on a NFL 80 man roster but who are they kidding.) the reins will be handed over to Darryl Clark, but Pat Devlin will be the starter by the time the 2nd half rolls around vs Oregon St in the 2nd game of the year. They return a one of the best WR groups in the Big 10 with Derrick Williams, Jordan Norwood, Deon Butler(all of which are under 6'0) and 5 returning OL starters. Defensively the loss of Sean Lee(who was medical redshirted) will hurt the heart of the defense but overall the return 8 starters and should continue to improve on last year's 9-4 record.

Schedule wise they get Illinois, Michigan and Michigan St all at home and revenge will be on the mind in all three. They do however have to visit Badgerland, after last years blowout 38-7 win and to Ohio St around halloween which should be frighting if Devlin is starting. Other then that they got dealt a good schedule which should make them contenders for the Big 10 silver medal.

JP25 - #17 WISCONSIN

Bret Bielema's second season as head coach didn't go quite as well as his first. The Badgers still won nine games while playing a more difficult schedule, but Bielema was unhappy with how the defense performed and decided to fire coordinator Mike Hankwitz. If that move leads to improvements on the defensive side of the ball Wisconsin might once again reach double-digits in the win column.

OFFENSE
The most talked about question mark on offense is at quarterback where the competition to replace the steady (read: average) Tyler Donovan is heating up. Luckily for the Badgers, quarterback isn't as important to the offense as it is at many other schools, so either Allan Evridge (who started a handful of games at Kansas State as a freshman) or Dustin Sherer won't have to do much more than protect the football and hand off to a talented stable of running backs.

P.J. Hill is back after rushing for 1,212 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2007. Hill is a big, bruising tailback that can wear down opposing defenses, but he's got a little bit more quickness than you might realize. Lance Smith is another talented back on the roster, but his status with the team is in question after more off-the-field issues over the summer. He was already suspended from traveling with the team to road games in '07 so there is a chance he might get a similar sentence again for '08. The depth doesn't end with Smith though. Zach Brown impressed as a true freshman last year (568 yards, 5 tds) and redshirt freshman John Clay was one of Wisconsin's top recruits a year ago. So even with the questions surrounding Smith's status, the Badgers should still be able to go three deep at running back without much worry.

The deep backfield will be running behind an experienced offensive line too. Four starters return as well as the sixth man from the 2007 rotation. They'll need to improve pass blocking as a unit though because they can't afford to let defenses harass the quarterback like they did when they gave up 33 sacks last season. On the flip side, whoever wins the quarterback job will have the best receiving tight end in the nation as a safety valve. Senior Travis Beckum (75 receptions for 982 yards, 6 tds) is as athletic as a wideout and has hands to match. He's complemented nicely in 2-TE sets by Garrett Graham (30 receptions for 328 yards, 4 tds).

There's inexperience at wide receiver though, where sophomore Kyle Jefferson is the only returnee with more than two receptions to his credit. As a true freshman last season Jefferson filled in nicely for the talented duo of Like Swan and Paul Hubbard as they each missed most of the second half of 2007. He has the potential to become the next in a growing line of surprisingly talented Wisconsin receivers. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the receiving corps fills out. Sophomore David Gilreath has impressive kick/punt return skills, but can he translate those into running routes and catching passes under duress? Will Marcus Randle El ever show the athleticism on the field that his older brother, Antwaan Randle El, showed as a star quarterback at Indiana?

DEFENSE
The Badgers return nine starters from last season so the pressure will be on new coordinator Dave Doeren to get more out of them. The only two losses from the starting line up (talented corner Jack Ikegwuonu and disruptive tackle Nick Hayden) might hurt a little bit, but an excellent linebacking corps returns intact. The trio of seniors, Jonathan Casillas, Deandre Levy, and Elijah Hodge, were the top three tacklers on the team in '07 and will continue to shoulder the load in '08. Casillas and Levy in particular are more athletic than your typical Wisconsin linebacker and should help lead the defense out of mediocrity.

They'll need help up front from the defensive line to make it happen though. Senior Matt Shaughnessy is a solid Big Ten defensive end, but he needs to take his game to the next level. Tackles Mike Newkirk and Jason Chapman also have talent, but must get improve against the run so the linebackers can roam a little freer in the passing game.

Recently Wisconsin has gotten good production out of its safeties and this year should be no exception. Free safety Shaun Carter picked off 7 passes last year and is back for only his junior season. Jay Valai and Aubrey Pleasant will team up opposite Carter at strong safety. Pleasant is particularly impressive in his ability to help out against the run, but they'll need to be better in pass coverage.

KEEP AN EYE ON
How much the defense improves. If they play better as a unit the win total will increase. If they continue to play average defense though, it will be another mediocre season in Madison.

RISING STAR
Left tackler Gabe Carimi. The sophomore was one of only two linemen to start all 13 games a year ago, and should anchor the O-Line for the next three seasons.

JP25 - #19 ILLINOIS

Ron Zook's team took a huge step forward last year. After totaling only 4 wins in his first two seasons, the Illini exploded for 9 wins in 2007 and secured their first BCS bowl berth of the Zook era. But now expectations are building in Champaigne. Zook's Florida teams never handled the pressure well, so how this Illinois team responds to being the team with the target on their backs will be crucial to the 2008 season.

OFFENSE
The offense was paced by a powerful running game in '07. A veteran offensive line paved the way for eventual NFL first round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall (1,681 yards, 17 td, 6.4 yards per carry). Mendenhall is an immensely talented back with great speed to go along with his imposing size, and the hole he leaves in the lineup will be very difficult to fill. Junior Daniel Dufrene will get the first shot. He's got some burst, but doesn't have the power Mendenhall had. True freshman Mikel LeShoure, who was enrolled for spring practice, has the size (6-feet, 240 lbs) to complement Dufrene, but will they be as effective as a group as Mendenhall was by himself? That remains to be seen. Up front three starters return from last year's line, but the two departed starters (Akim Millington & Martin O'Donnell) were two of the top players on the line.

With all the questions in the running game, it's up to quarterback Juice Williams to take the next step in his development and become a more efficient passer. Williams has more than enough arm strength to make any throw in the book, but he has struggled with making throws that don't require maximum velocity. He has shown signs of improvement though so this could be the year he breaks out to become the kind of star JaMarcus Russell became at LSU. Even if he doesn't develop in the passing game, his running ability (755 rushing yards, 7 tds) will keep the offense moving. And if by chance anything happens to Williams due to his importance in the running game, the Illini has the luxury of turning to one of the best backup quarterbacks in America, Eddie McGee. McGee was probably the more polished passer last year, and he has enough athleticism to contribute in the running game as well.

At wideout, super sophomore Arrelious Benn returns after exploding onto the scene in '07. As a true freshman, Benn immediately stepped into the role of go-to receiver (54 receptions), and his size (6-foot-2, 214 lbs) allowed him to contribute in the running game as well. Expect Benn to reach the end zone more than three times in '08 as he'll become an even bigger part of the offense. Another wild card to watch in the receiving corps is Jarred Fayson.

DEFENSE
This is the area of the team Ron Zook's recruiting efforts may show up the most in 2008. Despite losing five of the top seven tacklers from 2007, including team leader linebacker J Leman (132 tackles), there are still many predictions floating around that this will be one of the best defenses in the Big Ten. I'm not ready to jump on that bandwagon yet, but players like defensive end Will Davis (9.5 sacks), cornerback Vontae Davis (4 interceptions, 2 blocked kicks), and linebacker Martez Wilson (29 tackles, 2 sacks as a true freshman) are special talents that could play for just about anybody. All three are players you should go out of your way to check out because all are capable of making a highlight reel play on any given snap. I'm especially excited to see Martez Wilson turned loose in his new role as starting weakside linebacker.

The big question mark on defense is at safety, where the top three players have departed. Justin Harrison (80 tackles) and Kevin Mitchell (5 interceptions) will be missed. Sophomore Bo Flowers is a former minor league baseball player who has turned some heads and will get the first shot at the strong safety job. He'll have to fend off big hitting JC transfer Donsay Hardeman in the fall though. Nate Bussey saw limited as a true freshman last year, but he'll likely be the starting free safety. This is a young secondary (no seniors anywhere on the depth chart), but they'll have to gel quickly because Chase Daniel and the Missouri Tigers come calling August 30th.

Overall the defense might be more talented in 2008, and they might make more big plays, but they'll also likely suffer a few more breakdowns as they grow up together.

KEEP AN EYE ON
Juice Williams' development in the passing game. How much he improves his control on the short and intermediate passing routes will go a long way toward telling how good this offense is going to be.

RISING STAR
Linebacker Martez Wilson.

Big Ten - Best QBs

1. Kellen Lewis, Indiana

Yes, Indiana is home to the best quarterback in the Big Ten. Others may get more accolades for playing on better teams (Todd Boeckman), but Lewis does more for his team than anyone else. In leading the Hoosiers to their first bowl game in 14 years, Lewis led the team in both passing (3,043 yards) and rushing yards (736 yards), and accounted for 37 of the 46 offensive touchdowns Indiana scored in 2007. He served a suspension over the summer for violating team rules, but was reinstated a couple weeks ago. Just in time to pick up where he left off as one of the most dangerous single players in the conference.

2. Isiah "Juice" Williams, Illinois

Possessor of one of the strongest arms in the nation, Juice earns this ranking based mostly on his potential. Up to now he hasn't displayed the consistency desired from a quarterback, but he has flashed moments of brilliance that make you realize he has the potential to be one of the best in the nation. Seriously, he could throw a football through Javorskie Lane's gut - his arm is that strong. That arm paired with legs that carried him to 755 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns (not to mention an upset victory over Ohio State late last season) could make for a deadly combination ..... IF he can take the next step and develop some consistency in '08.

3. Todd Boeckman, Ohio State

Well, Boeckman has a lot more talent around him, but he's no schmoe. After hiding in Troy Smith's considerable shadow for the first three years of his career, Boeckman took over the offense in 2007 and steadily guided Ohio State to yet another national championship game. He doesn't have any flashy skills that will blow you off your couch, but he's solid and does everything Jim Tressel asks of him.

4. C.J. Bacher, Northwestern

An underrated signal caller on an often overlooked team. Bacher can play though, so don't be surprised if Northwestern nabs an upset victory or two this season.

5. Curtis Painter, Purdue

Yawn. So they like to pass a lot. Big deal.

OTHERS TO WATCH:

Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State

If you don't know by now, you better axe somebody. Or something like that. This kid was the top recruit in the country and chose Ohio State over a chance to play right away at Michigan. Only Jim Tressel knows how much he'll see the field in 2007, but expect to find out about his athleticism long before you know anything about his arm.

Eddie McGee, Illinois

If for any reason the Juice can't go (injury, etc.), the Illini are in good hands. McGee saw the field a little bit in 2007 and proved he has plenty of skills of his own. A multi-dimensional threat out of the quarterback position, he's not as talented as Juice is, but he seems more polished at times.

JP25 - Outsiders

Before I get too far into this, here are the three teams that just missed making my preseason top 25:

#26 BYU

Bronco Mendenhall has brought toughness to this program with consistently solid play on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Max Hall and running back Harvey Unga pace the offense behind the lead blocking of tackle Dallas Reynolds. The underrated defense - Mendenhall's specialty - loses a lot of key players, especially in the secondary. They'll continue to perform though thanks to solid recruiting and a front seven led by returnees Jan Jorgensen (DE) and David Nixon (MLB).

#27 Michigan State

Here's a prediction: Michigan State WILL be in next year's preseason top 25. Mark Dantonio is a fantastic coach and has this program on the rise. The loss of playmaker Jonal Saint-Dic on defense will be tempered by the addition of Cincinnati transfer Trevor Anderson. Also consider that Dantonio is a defensive specialist and many backups gained experience in 2007 due to a liberal substitution pattern. Offensively, you can bet on Javon Ringer getting in the end zone more than 6 times again. He's the bell cow on offense and Dantonio learned from Jim Tressell about how far a good, time-burning running game can take you. Ringer is one of the best backs in the land.

#28 Pittsburgh

To round out this trifecta of teams to watch outside the top 25, I'll inject yet another team paced by a fantastic running back and a defensive minded head coach. Dave Wannstedt enters his fourth year needing a winning season, and this looks like the team to do it. Sophomore LeSean McCoy dazzled as a freshman in 2007 with his vision and agility. He'll carry the load again, but there will be much better balance offensively in '08. Whoever wins the quarterback derby (Junior Bill Stull is the front-runner) will benefit from the return of wideout Derek Kinder, who led the team in receiving in 2006, but missed all of '07 with an injury. Defensively the Panthers have to replace departed sack-man Joe Clermond (10.5 sacks in '07), but that will be made all the easier due to the return of tackling maching Scott McKillop (151 tackles in '07) in the middle of the linebacking corps. They do lose defensive coordinator Paul Rhodes, who took the same job at Auburn, but replace him with the more than capable Phil Bennet. Don't forget that before he was the head coach at SMU he was Bill Snyder's defensive coordinator at Kansas State.