Lake The Posts, which is by all means not only the best (only?) Northwestern blog on the internet, but, in the spirit of Northwestern academia, one of the most well organized, well written, and well put together sports websites I’ve seen, recently held a Big Ten Bloggers Roundtable.  Though we here at NittanyWhiteOut were a little tardy to the party, and our answers are not reflected in the LTP survey, we feel it’s only fair, and in the spirit of transparency, to tell you, our loyal readers, what our answers would have been.

Big Ten Coach of the Year: Tim Brewster, Minnesota

Minnesota finished the 2007 season with just one win, and that came at the hands of the lowly Miami of Ohio.  They finished 0-8 in Big Ten play. Needless to say, Tim Brewster didn’t make much of an impression in his first season at the helm of the Golden Gophers.  But last year brought a return to respectability for Minnesota–a 7-6 season punctuated by a loss in the Insight Bowl to Kansas.  The 7 wins match Minnesota’s highest win total since 2003.  While that seems like a bitter pill to swallow, especially considering Minnesota’s 7-1 start and regular season-ending 55-0 loss to Iowa in their last Metrodome game ever, it’s still a step in the right direction.

Why Brewster makes sense as the Big Ten Coach of the Year lies with Minnesota’s potential to finish the year near the top of the Big Ten.  An 8 or 9 win season would almost certainly rank Minnesota near the top of the conference standings, and with the phenomenal QB/WR duo of Adam Weber and Eric Decker, Minnesota sure won’t be lacking for offense.  The defense won’t be great, but any improvement from last year would have to be considered a success, and Brewster will be the one getting credit.

Also considered: Ron Zook, Illinois and Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern

Big Ten’s Best Heisman Candidate: Juice Williams, Illinois

The Heisman Award is supposed to be awarded annualy to “the most outstanding player in collegiate football.”  Recently, though, the criteria seems to be “the best quarterback on a really good team.”  And while the Big Ten doesn’t boast the same stable of quarterbacks as, say, the SEC with Tim Tebow and Jevan Snead, or the Big XII with Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford, there are a few solid contenders.

Daryll Clark and Terrelle Pryor are the obvious choices: both high profile players on top-10 teams.  But Paterno’s classiness will prevent Clark from piling up the statistics in garbage time, and having Evan Royster  stealing some of the spotlight with what is sure to be another 1000+ yard season won’t help Clark’s chances either.  As for Pryor, I don’t see him putting up the kind of stats that would warrant Heisman consideration, especially with a shaky run game and wide receiver corps.  And that noodle arm of his.

All that pretty much leaves Juice Williams as the best candidate.  With a questionable stable of running backs behind him, Williams is sure to lead the team in rushing.  And with Arrelious Benn, perhaps the best wide receiver in the nation, catching his passes, he’ll be sure to have great passing statistics.  And if Illinois can pull off an upset or two, he’ll be thrust into the national spotlight.

Also considered: Evan Royster, Penn State and Daryll Clark, Penn State

Sleeper Team To Crack The Upper Tier: Illinois

Well, if you’ve read this far, you know that I’m extremely high on Juice Williams and Rejus Benn.  Frankly, I’m pretty much convinced that Illinois has the best offense in the country.  Sure, last year they had some bad stumbles (seriously, losing to Western Michigan in Detroit?) and missed a bowl game entirely, which is an even worse fate when juxtaposed with their 2007 Rose Bowl appearance.

But this team will knock off at least one of their high profile opponents.  As a Penn State fan, I fear our game in Champagn, which might be under the lights, more than our home games against Ohio State and Iowa.  With high-profile out of conference games against Cincinatti, Missouri, and Fresno State, too, Illinois has some chances to jump high into the top-25 rankings.

Given that they’re still weak on defense, a loss in a game they should win is a probability.  But they’ll win one of the games they shouldn’t.  This is a team that should go at least 5-3 in conference, but it wouldn’t at all surprise me to see them run the table.  Yes, I’m that high on Illinois.

Also considered: Minnesota, Northwestern

Most Likely to John L. Smith (Lose it): Rich Rodriguez, Michigan

RichRod has already had some Smith-ians moment in his short tenure at the University of Michigan (wouldn’t a 3-9 season do that to anybody?) but expectations were low in that first year.  Still, low expectations by Michigan standards sure as hell doesn’t make up for the abomination of a season Rodriguez put up, a season which prompted him to tell unruly fans to “get a life” and in which he excused himself for the struggles, saying “I’ve been here 10 months.  Ten.”  Mike Gundy-esque, isn’t it.

Another bad season and the wheels could totally come off for Rodriguez.  Another losing season could mean losing his job.  Another 9 loss season could mean losing his reputation.  Sure, he doesn’t have the pieces that Michigan typically boasts, but that’s no excuse for someone who replaced the perfectly acceptable Lloyd Carr, who’s only problem was not beating Ohio State.  Looks like Rich Rodriguez can’t beat anybody.  Let the pressure build for a while, and he’s due for an eruption.

Also considered: Bret Bielema, Wisconsin and John Lynch, Indiana

Shonn Greene Award (Player to come from nowhere to forefront): Jack Crawford, Penn State

I hope I’m not coming off as a homer, here, but it certainly seems that Crawford is going to be the next in line of great Nittany Lion defensive ends, from Aaron Maybin to Maurice Evans to Tamba Hali to Michael Haynes to Courtney Brown.  Sure, the British import is yet to start a game in his career, and is extremely raw as a true sophomore.  But when you consider the incredible depth inside for Penn State on the defensive line-Odrick, Ogbu, Koroma, et al. will be the strongest group of defensive tackles if not in the country than certainly in the conference-it’s clear that Crawford will be 1-on-1 with most offensive linemen.

Considering his freakish strength (Crawford is listed at 6’5, 262 and not a pound of that is fat), and the rave reviews he’s been garnering from coaches and observers alike, it’s not hard to imagine Crawford breaking out, just as Evans and Maybin did before him, as a sophomore.  Plus, just look at his face.  He looks like he’s about to kill somebody.

Also considered: Jewel Hampton, Iowa; Duane Bennett, Minnesota and Mike Kafka, Northwestern

Most Likely to Be Highest NFL Draft Pick: Arrelious Benn, Illinois

Of all the players in the Big Ten, Benn might just be the best at his position.  He’s one of the best receivers in the country, and is an absolutely dynamic playmaker, whether it’s catching balls, running sweeps beside Juice Williams, or returning kickoffs and punts.  He accrued 67 catches and over 1000 yards as a true sophomore, and those numbers should just keep going up as Benn matures as a player.

He’s also a physical freak, with the great size (6-3, 215) and blazing speed (he’ll run around a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash) that teams look for.  Put those two together and you’ve got an early first round pick, no doubt.  It’s also worth pointing out the relative weakness of the receivers who are draft eligible for the 2010 NFL draft: Dez Bryant and Damian Williams are the only names of note.

I think by now I’ve made it clear.  I am really high on Illinois this year.

Also considered: Navorro Bowman, Penn State and Bryan Bulaga, Iowa

Must See Game of the Year: Ohio State at Penn State

Like there was any question.  Seriously, this game will once again be the de facto Big Ten Championship Game, barring something completely unforseen, and though it won’t be played under the lights at Beaver Stadium, the November 7th matchup between these two teams will have State College brimming with enthusiasm all week.

Consider, too, that this has become the marquee rivalry in the Big Ten.  The two teams play every year and with the two sides relative dominance over their league-mandated rivals (Ohio State is 5-0 in their last 5 against Michigan, and Penn State has lost to Michigan State just once in that time frame) this game has been circled on the calendar months in advance by both Joe Paterno and Jim Tressel.  And by ESPN, too, whose College Gameday truck has been to Columbus or State College for each of the last four matchups.  The series, too, has been even, with the teams splitting the last 4.  Put it all together and you’ve got one hell of a ballgame coming up.  All it needs is a cool nickname.  I propose the Swing State Showdown.

Big Ten Predicted Order of Finish:
1. Penn State (7-1)
2. Ohio State (6-2)
3. Illinois (6-2)
4. Michigan State (5-3)
5. Minnesota (5-3)
6. Iowa (5-3)
7. Northwestern (4-4)
8. Wisconsin (3-5)
9. Michigan (2-6)
10. Purdue (1-7)
11. Indiana (0-8)

Releated Posts:

1. Kevin’s Week Six Big Ten picks
2. Big Ten Basketball Schedule Released: Penn State Screwed Over
3. Kevin’s Big Ten Picks – Week Four
4. Blindfolded Dart Throwing Week 4
5. Blindfolded Dart Throwing Week 3

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