Da Rant: Big Ten Preview plus Email

[Aveosmth]

The Big Ten will most certainly be the perennial powerhouse that we have grown accustomed to. The upcoming college season will bring a bit of parity to a league often dominated by Michigan and Ohio State. Even the teams that will fall in the bottom half of the standings such as Penn State and...
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[BtownJay]

Hey Avery, good article! Being a Michigan fan you have to understand how this confuses the hell outta me though. I would love for you to tell me the four games they are going to lose. Also, how they can go 8-4 when they only are playing 11 games. Are you counting their eventual bowl victory?

Looking at this schedule...


9/3 Northern Illinois
9/10 Notre Dame
9/17 Eastern Michigan
9/24 at Wisconsin
10/1 at Michigan State
10/8 Minnesota
10/15 Penn State
10/22 at Iowa
10/29 at Northwestern
11/12 Indiana
11/19 Ohio State

Four Losses would be tough to do... and 3 losses in the Big 10? I'm picking them to go 10-1, but i can also see them dropping one of those "rivaly games" possibly... so 9-2 isn't out of the question.

You are dead on about their weakness is their secondary. They are a pretty unproven group (i believe they graduated 3 of the starters from last year). But their D-line is one of the best in college.

Their offense is going to be explosive. With Henne and Hart a year older and Breaston, Avant and Massaquoi (STUD TE) recieving the ball.. they will put up a ton of points this year.

Basically i'm saying i think they will be better than you predicted and i am praying that you are wrong. lol

[Aveosmth]

Btown, youre right!! It should be 8-3 or 9-3...that's what happens when you write articles at 1am!! I wasn't factoring in the bowl game.

I think Michigan loses against Iowa and they will go 2-2 against Ohio State, Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Minnesota....I don't know which two they will defeat or lose to.

I really like Woodley, Btown. I think he is going to be a force to be reckoned with...his pass rushing skills might be the difference.

The offense needs to generate points, and get out ahead early. That way Woodley & the rest of the D-line can rush at will and the Wolverines can use some nickle & dime to help out the secondary.

[BtownJay]

Whoever created the 2005 Big Ten schedule must be a Purdue fan!! The Boilemakers miss both Michigan and Ohio State, and their toughest road game is at Minnesota. The schedule is tailor made for success

You know, i guess this didn't register with me the first time because I don't remember it. But who the hell do you have to blow to avoid BOTH Michigan and Ohio State in the Big 10?? Someone better knock them off!