1. Wisconsin: I think the Badgers will route the Spartans next weekend in Indy. Bielema just looks pissed off about losing two games on hail Mary's, which ultimately cost his team a chance to play for the national championship. I expect the Badgers to take out their anger and frustration on Michigan State and try to run up the score.
2. Michigan State: The Spartans were much better than I thought they would be this year, especially defensively. However, the Spartans will fail to claim their first outright conference championship in a long time.
3. Michigan: I thought the Wolverines D would improve, but not to the extent it did. Wow! The Wolverines now just need a little help next weekend to claim their first BCS bid in 5 years. The Wolverines are 16th in the BCS and need to climb to 14th to be eligible.
4. Nebraska: The Cornhuskers ran hot and cold this year. They looked like a national championship contender one week and like a lower echelon B1G team the next. I'm still not sure what to think about Nebraska long term, but they have a long way to go to get back to what they were in the 80's and 90's.
5. Penn State: The Nittany Lions had an up and down year, both on and off the field. I still think Penn State will hire an elite head coach, but I could be wrong.
6. Iowa: The Hawkeyes had a jekyll and hyde season. They beat Michigan and lost to Minnesota. Go figure. James Vandenberg was also wildly inconsistent this year and ended with a dud against Nebraska.
7. Northwestern: The Cats showed a pulse at the end of the year despite their limited roster. Don't count out Pat Fitzgerald at some of these openings this year in Westwood, Tempe, and State College.
8. Ohio State: And now we begin the Urban Meyer era. Braxton Miller is a perfect fit for his offense and they will be a factor if not a favorite in the Leaders Division in 2012.
9. Purdue: The Boilermakers won in Bloomington and saved Danny Hope's job. The rest of the B1G is thankful that such a mediocre coach will be in the B1G for at least another year.
10. Minnesota: MarQueis Grey will be a major factor for Minnesota next year. Grey broke the single season rushing record for a quarterback and will break his own record next year. A soft schedule should get the Gophers to bowl eligibility next year.
11. Illinois: The Illini are just not a very good team and whoever takes over next year will have a significant rebuilding job on his hands.
12. Indiana: I didn't understand the Kevin Wilson hire a year ago, and I still don't. This program needs a tough, physical, defensive minded head coach. Wilson will have to be a mad scientist to turn this program around and keep his job.
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