I’ve mentioned it before, I like predicting stuff. It’s fun. Hit on a couple of guesses, ignore those that you whiffed on, and you’re feeling like a million bucks.
We’re now in the dog days of summer, with nothing left but baseball to save us from absolute sports boredom. For me, that’s just not enough, and my brain is already on football mode (honestly, it never leaves it).
We’ve talked about how the Buckeyes will fare in 2018. Some have contemplated whether or not Michigan will finally make their championship run, now that their newest savior is on the roster. Will Penn State feel the loss of Saquon Barkley or hit the ground running in 2018?
The Hayes and Cannon group got together and made it easy for you. We’ve done our best to answer a lot of those questions by laying out the 2018 schedule and results… for every single team in the conference.
Opinions varied a bit, so here are each of our individual predictions, beginning today with the Big Ten East:
Adam’s Predictions
Summary
What we’re looking at in the Big Ten East, in my opinion, is essentially two groups within the division. On one side, the uber-competitive teams. Representing the other, is the “I wouldn’t worry about that little guy” group. Rutgers, Indiana and Maryland make up the latter. They are all capable of an upset (okay, maybe not Rutgers, but I don’t feel like adding a third tier), however, I don’t like any of them for more than two conference wins this coming year. Sorry, fellas.
The top tier includes four of the five best teams in the conference, all crammed into one ridiculous division. The best division in college football. I’ll fight you on that (verbally). As much as I want to pick it, and think OSU could come through unscathed, I’m going to give them a loss at the one place that always makes me nervous, and that’s Happy Valley at night. Stupid whiteouts. Though they get that win, I have PSU — thanks to inexperience at crucial positions — dropping both games against teams in Michigan.
I see Sparty dropping one to Harbaugh, losing to Urban, and also getting a surprising knockout blow from Jeff Brohm’s Boilermakers. I’m not on the Shea Patterson train, though I think he’ll be competent enough to get them through the majority of their schedule in the win column. With that said, I still see them losing to the best team in each division. OSU, after a close loss to Penn State, rebounds to win out, including a B1G Championship victory.
Brandon’s Predictions
Summary
As you can tell, I’m a firm believer in the fact that really good teams should win every game. I know the Big Ten is absolutely loaded this year but I really feel like Ohio State and Wisconsin are ahead of everyone else. Penn State, Michigan State, and possibly Michigan are running in that second tier, but any win they have against the Buckeyes and Badgers would be an upset.
I have the Buckeyes finishing undefeated. I am not denying the fact that going into Happy Valley and East Lansing will be difficult, I just can’t sit here with my scarlet and gray colored glasses on and say they are losing either of those games. The Buckeyes have better athletes and coaching than either of those teams. Michigan will be tough but it all relies on Shea Patterson. Everyone says he is good, but he hasn’t really shown that yet.
I think Michigan State has the inside track to finish second, but I do see them dropping an early season contest in Tempe against Arizona State. Manny Wilkins and N’Keal Harry (the best WR in college football) will give the Spartans all they can handle. Other than that, I don’t have any other out of conference games being lost by the East. The trio of Penn State, Michigan State, and Michigan all beat up on each other, causing them to wind up with 3 losses a piece.
Chip’s Predictions
Summary
After a huge run to start the year, I have MSU losing to Ohio State and Nebraska. Chalk up the latter to coming one week after what should be a grueling battle against OSU. Similarly, I see a physical loss to Wisconsin beating up Michigan, thus resulting in another Wolverine loss at MSU.
Everyone keeps talking about how Penn State is going to regroup after losing Saquon Barkley. I am more curious to see how Penn State does without Joe Moorhead calling the shots as the OC. Trace McSorley may have to carry them offensively, at least during the initial part of the season. Because of that, I have them losing to the other four big shots in the Big Ten.
Mike’s Predictions
Summary
In the East, the battle will be for 2nd-4th between MSU, Penn State, and UM.
I don’t buy Penn State as much as some are before fall camp, and I can see UM going anywhere from the 8-4 I predicted to 10-2, dependng on their QB play. There is a really good defense in Ann Arbor this season.
Lastly, I know it is a chalk/homer pick, but I have Ohio State winning the East and B1G. I don’t know that they will go undefeated, but I can’t see where the max 1 loss comes from. At Penn State will be tough as always, but as I said, I don’t buy PSU. MSU and UM will be tough, especially late season in East Lansing, but talent-wise, neither can stack up to Ohio State. I’m expecting a HUGE season from Weber and Dobbins.
My last bold prediction? Indiana will be the best 5-7 team in the country, and will scare every opponent they play this year.
IN the east division, getting through without a loss is almost impossible. It will probably come down to, as in other years, who else did you lose to, who owns the tie breaker. Ohio State has a history recent history of losing to either Penn State or Michigan State and not advancing to the final on a tie breaker.
I just can’t entertain an analysis that doesn’t address that scenario. The fallacy becomes more apparent with statements like “the best teams could win every game.” Well actually, if you take a teams odds of winning every game, and then combine them into a season, the best team shouldn’t win every game. That’s why its so hard to do.
The simple fact is Urban Meyer builds good weather teams. Fast teams that depend on good footing. Any bad weather game is trap game for them. That may work in the SEC, IN the big 10 sooner or later that comes back to bite you.
Let’s go back a few years. Big 10 looking at the list of big 10 champions.
Ohio Sate, Penn State, Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State.
Ohio State. 3 titles out of 10. Michigan State with 3, Penn State with 2.Wisconsin with 3.
The perceived dominance of Ohio State is blown way out of proportion in Columbus. With two outright titles and two shared titles in the East over the last 10 years, it’s still would seem more likely that they don’t win than that they do. I’m not sure what it is people think is so good about this team that makes it better than all those other great teams that couldn’t get it done.I’m not seeing it. maybe someone else can fill me in.
Personally, I think another “trying to pass in a rain and wind storm debacle and giving up on the run game is more likely. Until Urban liars that wind and rain means “run the ball” these losses will continue.
NH, first off, thank you for the comment!
A couple of counterpoints to what you mentioned:
You said that getting through the East without a loss is nearly impossible, but that’s what OSU has done in 4 out of Urban’s 6 seasons (2 Leaders, 2 East). Similarly, though I get your 10 years comparison, I think it’s more fair to only account for Urban years, since he’s the current coach and he accounts for the entire duration of the current East/West Division breakdown.
I agree with you that it’s easier said than done, though. This is why I accounted for a loss at Penn State, simply playing the odds that OSU will drop one at some point. That said, I also understand my peers’ decision to have OSU get through unblemished. If you look at each individual matchup to determine who should win, you can certainly mark OSU in the win column across the board.
If the Buckeyes lose to MSU in East Lansing it would be a double upset. 1. The Buckeyes are the better team……..period. 2. The Buckeyes haven’t lost to MSU in this century, and that’s just not going to change. If it was at Ohio Stadium I’d worry.
If the Buckeyes lose it will be an upset by Nebraska.
haven’t lost to MSU in East Lansing to MSU this century. ^^^