i believe the conference will do alright this year, even Minnesota (any more wins than one is an improvement). OSU will most likely win the Big 10 this year(although don't overlook the Wisconsin game in Madison or the Illini game in Illinois). Purdue and MSU will only get better. PSU, to me, seems as much a wild-card as Michigan right now. there has been many talk about "eroding value" and players leaving UM but it seems like everyday i hear about another Penn State player getting arrested or being kicked off the team. people have been ragging on the Big 10 for the last few seasons now. i don't get it. Michigan, Penn State, Purdue, MSU, Iowa, Northwestern, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota have won just as many National Championships as Alabama, Auburn, Miss State, Ole' Miss, Arkansas, Vandy, Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee this decade--0. but i think the hate is actually good for all Big 10 teams. nothing like the naysayers to get your football mojo back.
i've seen more hate than usual going into this season from non-UM fans. you've got nearly every WVU fan in existence breaking their necks to tell us that RR is not a nice man. you've got SEC fans telling us that the Cap One Bowl victory and players drafted to the NFL were meaningless. you even have Charlie Weis saying "to hell with Michigan" at the Blue and Gold game(although Weis should realize that Michigan is only part of the Irish's problem. his focus should be on the 3,999,999 other things that went wrong last year). that seems like the perfect "us against the world" motivational ploy. i keep hearing people predict 6-plus losses this season. i don't expect Um to come out opening day firing on all cylinders but six losses is a bit much for a team returning 8 starters on defense and boasts back-to-back-to-back-to-back top 20 recruiting classes. not to mention a so-called "soft conference" schedule(non-Big 10 fans' words, not mine).
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