The best: Michigan. The Wolverines have entered a season as anything but defending champion for the first time since 1988. That ought to provide enough motivation for Gary Moeller’s team to return to Pasadena. The offense is mighty and the defense strong despite the departure of tackles Ninef Aghakhan and Buster Stanley.
The rest: Penn State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Illinois and Michigan State ought to make noise. Have we left anyone out? The league is strong and deep, so much so that even improving Minnesota will be hard-pressed to crack the first division. Northwestern and Purdue, both winless in the conference a year ago, will struggle to avoid becoming the first team to finish 11th in the Big 10.
Key game: Penn State at Michigan, Oct. 15.
Fast fact: Only three Big 10 schools have winning bowl records: Penn State (18-10-2; 1-0 as a Big 10 member), Purdue (4-1) and Northwestern (1-0).
The picks: 1. Michigan; 2. Penn State; 3. Wisconsin; 4. Illinois; 5. Michigan State; 6. Ohio State; 7. Indiana; 8. Iowa; 9. Minnesota; 10. Purdue; 11. Northwestern.
