2008 Big Ten Preview

Projected Standings:

Ohio St       |  8-0  |  11-1
Penn St       |  7-1  |  11-1
Wisconsin     |  5-3  |  9-3
Michigan      |  5-3  |  7-5
Michigan St   |  5-3  |  9-3
Illinois      |  4-4  |  7-5
Iowa          |  3-5  |  6-6
Northwestern  |  3-5  |  7-5
Indiana       |  2-6  |  6-6
Purdue        |  1-7  |  3-9
Minnesota     |  1-7  |  4-8

Predictions:

- The conference title will be determined when Penn State travels to Ohio State on October 25. Ohio State will win and finish undefeated in conference play.

- An early season loss to USC will prevent Ohio State from playing in their third straight BCS National Championship game.

- Michigan State will finish with a better record than Michigan. In fact, Michigan will struggle just to make it to a bowl game.

- Illinois will fall hard without the services of RB Rashard Mendenhall. They will lean too hard on QB Juice Williams, and he won't be able to handle the load. Illinois will still make it to a bowl game, but look for them to get lit up by Missouri in the opener and by Ohio State in a revenge game.

- Minnesota will improve slightly in head coach Tim Brewster's second season, but that's not saying much considering they only won a single game last year.