Here’s five things to ponder related to the 2009 Big Ten football season, beginning of July.
1. If Healthy, Minnesota could be a darkhorse team in the conference. And they will win one game they “shouldn’t win.”
2. Illinois will be in every game they play this season with the offensive firepower they have. Although the schedule does them no favors. Between September26-October 10, they are at Ohio State and host Penn State and Michigan State (arguably the top three teams in the conference.) They might be out of the conference title race if they go 0-3 in that stretch.
3. Ohio State will beat USC the second game of the season. And if they get through that game it’s very possible we could see a battle of top three, at worst top five, teams when they travel to Penn State in November.
4. The most underrated offensive lineman in the Big Ten is Iowa left tackle Bryan Bulaga.
5. Speaking of the Hawkeyes…what might have been in 2008. They were 1-2 in games decided by three or fewer points. The lone win? 24-23 over then No. 3 Penn State at Kinnick. That’s the difference in 9-12 wins. A very slim margin. That’s the difference they can’t repeat if they want to break through this season.
E-mail reaches me at ethomas626@yahoo.com. Follow constant updates and thoughts on Twitter.
