It's gonna be a good season

This year's race for the Big Ten football title is already shaping up to be good one despite the fact none of teams have played a game yet. Six of the 11 teams have been ranked in the top 25 in preseason polls, with Michigan and Ohio State both cracking the top 10. Last season, Michigan State wasn't ranked in the preseason polls and then simply won seven of its first eight games, including wins over Minnesota and Iowa on the way to a top-15 ranking. So who will be this year's surprise team of the Big Ten? Will it be Penn State? Illinois? Could it even be IU?\nHere's how I think the Big Ten will shake out this season:\n1) Michigan -- The Wolverines may have lost their quarterback and tailback, but I really don't think it will matter. They have quite possibly the best group of wide receivers in the country, including Braylon Edwards, Jason Avant and Steve Breaston. As always, Michigan looks to have an impressive defense, so if the new quarterback can get the ball to his receivers, the Wolverines should be in the hunt for the national championship this season. However, they must travel to Columbus to face Ohio State, a game that could determine who goes to the Orange Bowl and who goes to the Rose Bowl.\n2) Ohio State -- The Buckeyes lost almost every offensive starter, including their quarterback, tailback and most of their offensive line. So why do I have them rated so high? Defense. While Ohio State lost three defensive lineman to the NFL draft, the overall talent of the OSU defense is so overwhelming that two touchdowns will most likely be all it needs to win a game.\n3) Iowa -- Looking at Iowa, it's hard to see why it is ranked so high. Same as the Buckeyes though, the Hawkeyes are all about defense. They have arguably the best linebackers in the country next to Virginia, so if they are able to score a few points here and there, they'll be in position to win a lot of games.\n4) Minnesota -- The Gophers must replace their quarterback, and they are using a rag-tag defense. But I have them at No. 4 because of their tailbacks. Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III are two of the best backs in the Big Ten, so the Gophers will grind them out as much as possible to try and finally reach a Bowl Championships Series game this year.\n5) Purdue -- While the Boilermakers lost most of their defensive starters, their offense looks to be one of the best in country, backed by their Heisman hopeful, Kyle Orton.\n6) Michigan State -- John L. Smith has done an amazing job entering just his second year as head coach, but the Spartans must find a good replacement for Jeff Smoker or they could lose more games than they did last season.\n7) Wisconsin -- The Badgers boast a Heisman-caliber tailback in Anthony Davis, and that's about it. They have some decent receivers, but winning four or more games in the Big Ten won't be possible for them this season.\n8) Northwestern -- Every year the Wildcats look like a terrible team, and then they go out and somehow win six games. Well, I still don't think they have much of a team, but they are one of the few teams in the Big Ten with a returning quarterback in Brett Basanez, so an eighth-place finish is feasible.\n9) Penn State -- The Nittany Lions are reaching a breaking point with Joe Paterno. While Penn State returns its quarterback Zach Mills, it won't find any more luck this season and should finish ninth.\n10) Indiana -- The Hoosiers have key returning starters on both sides of the ball but have one of the toughest schedules in the Big Ten with trips to Oregon, Purdue and Ohio State. IU has a chance to be better this season, but I don't think it will translate into more wins.\n11) Illinois -- What has Ron Turner done to this team? Big Ten Champions just three years ago, the Fighting Illini have gone into a tailspin. They do return Jon Beutjer at quarterback but have new faces at many positions. I just don't see them winning more than one or two games, if they're lucky.