2009-10 Big Ten Conference Preview

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

Conference Overview
With Ohio St (12 returning starters) and Penn St (9 returning starters) losing so much, look for Michigan State to benefit from a weak schedule that misses Ohio St and hosts Penn St, Iowa and Michigan to sneak up and win the Big Ten. UM should improve some, but with a true freshman at the helm, a rags to riches story is unlikely. Indiana might not be as bad as their record shows, while Wisconsin might not be as good as their record shows. When all is said and done, the Big Ten might have nine bowl-eligible teams.

Bowl Ties
BCS Bowl- Michigan State
BCS Bowl- Penn St
Capital One Bowl- Ohio St
Outback Bowl- Iowa
Champs Sports Bowl- Illinois
Alamo Bowl- Wisconsin
Insight Bowl- Northwestern
Motor City Bowl- Michigan

Next week, I will focus on the Big 12.

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