More NCAA previews

Big Ten/Conference USA Previews

Big Ten (http://www.bigten.org/)

The Big Ten takes on yet another new look this season a few years after adding Penn State as the eleventh team. Nebraska is now a full-fledged member of the conference and there will be a conference championship game this season.

Ohio State will not be as strong after an off season of disarray while Michigan State and Wisconsin look to be conference and BCS contenders. Here is a look around the league:

In the Legends Division, Michigan State looks to be the team to beat. The Spartans finished on a sour note, being trounced 49-7 by Alabama in the Florida Citrus Bowl. The only regular season loss came on the road at Iowa in a strong 11-2 overall campaign. This season the team visits a Notre Dame team at South Bend on September 17 that will be looking to avenge last year’s overtime loss in Lansing. Then in October the team faces a season defining four game stretch with games at Ohio State, home to in state rival Michigan, home to Wisconsin and at new comers Nebraska. The Spartans will also be travelling to Iowa for a danger game in November. Overall, Michigan State should be one of the teams in the inaugural Big Ten Championship game.

If the Spartans falter, Nebraska could easily step into the top spot. The Cornhuskers enter the fray after going 10-4 last season. This seasons schedule is totally new except for what is essentially a rubber match with Washington, a team that Nebraska destroyed in the regular season but was surprised by 19-7, in the Holiday Bowl. The Huskers will be tested on the road at Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan. They will however host tough opponents Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa at home. With no Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma on the regular season slate, Nebraska is looking for a better won-loss record and possible BCS spot.

Michigan and Iowa could pull a few surprises in the Legends Division and are strong candidates for bowl games.

In the Big Ten’s Leaders Division, Wisconsin welcomes the addition of former NC State quarterback Russel Wilson to an already strong team. The Badgers should parlay the advantage of seven home games into a berth in the Big Ten title match and a BCS berth. The Badgers travel to Michigan State in October seeking revenge for last season’s only conference loss. Another BCS Bowl game would give Wisconsin a chance to redeem themselves for last year’s late game deflected pass loss to TCU in the Rose Bowl. Other schedule highlights include a visit from Nebraska in October, a trip to Ohio State and a season ending visit from Penn State.

Other bowl possibilities from this division are Penn State and Illinois.

Look for a second game between Wisconsin and Michigan State for the conference title…at a push I will give the slight edge to the Badgers to take the crown.

Conference USA (http://conferenceusa.cstv.com/)

Last season, Conference USA sent five teams, Central Florida, Tulsa, Southern Miss, SMU and East Carolina went to bowl games. This season, the toll of early games against Top 25 teams and the infighting of conference play may cut into that number.

In the East Division, Central Florida does not face any team ranked in the preseason Top 25 but does play quality non-conference teams Boston College at home and Brigham Young on the road. The Knights are favourites again to play in the conference championship from this division.

East Carolina hosts South Carolina, VA Tech and North Carolina at home before jumping fully into the conference slate. The Pirates are always going to be dangerous and could compete for a conference crown if they do not get too banged up in the first few weeks.

Southern Miss should also go bowling again but are a long shot for the conference title.

In the West Division, Tulsa faces three teams ranked in the preseason Top 10, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Boise State in their first four games. From there, the high octane Golden Hurricanes should run through their division to a conference championship game birth.

SMU may sneak into a bowl berth again this season after last year’s success.

Look for Central Florida to meet Tulsa for the conference championship with Central Florida taking the crown.