My off-the record predictions for 2022. (We'll revisit this during or after training camp).
Big Ten West
1. Iowa
2. Wisconsin
3. Purdue
4. Minnesota
5. Illinois
6. Nebraska
7. Northwestern
Big Ten East
1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Michigan State
4. Penn State
5. Maryland
6. Rutgers
7. Indiana
Ohio State over Iowa in the Big Ten championship game
Player of the Year: CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Defensive player of the year: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
* Iowa's defense will be one of the best in the country. If they can score enough, I see them winning the West.
* Scott Frost will be out at Nebraska. I'm not sure why they kept him last year.
* Michigan's defense won't be the same after losing Asa Hutchinson, David Ojabo, Daxton Hill and a bunch of others. MSU could actually slide into that 2 spot. They play each other Oct 29.
* Wisconsin was 8th in the Big Ten in total offense last year and they lost 8 starters on defense. Everyone is picking them to win the division, but I'll take the Hawkeyes.
* WR Jayden Reed is going to have a spectacular year at Michigan State. Stud.
* Northwestern OL Peter Skoronski has a chance to win the Outland Trophy
* Nick Heberg from Wisconsin is the other great LB in the B1G. He and Campbell are Butkus Award candidates.
ILLINOIS
Wyoming (W)
@ Indiana (W)
Virginia (L)
Chattanooga (W)
@ Wisconsin (L)
Iowa (L)
Minnesota (W)
@ Nebraska (L)
Michigan State (L)
Purdue (W)
@ Michigan (L)
@Northwestern (W)
6-6 overall, 4-5 Big Ten
MVP offense: RB Chase Brown
MVP defense: LB CJ Hart
Freshman of the year: WR Shawn Miller
* Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Purdue are all tossup games. Win three of them and Illinois is bowl bound.
* Wyoming and Chattanooga will be uncomfortably close, but for different reasons. Wyoming because the new Illinois offense isn't yet clicking. Chattanooga because the Mocs have some NFL talent.
* We will probably see both DeVito and Sitkowski at quarterback. It will be a situation where Lunney goes with the hot hand.
* Illinois upsets Purdue in Champaign. The Boilers rushing defense wasn't very good last year. Big day for Chase Brown.
* Illinois can beat Virginia if they get pressure on QB Brennan Armstrong. He has three big-time targets to throw to in Dontayvion Wicks, Keytaon Thompson, and Billy Kemp. Illinois can't match up with those guys. But Virginia graduated their entire offensive line.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
Fiesta Bowl
Alabama over Houston
Peach Bowl
Clemson over Ohio State
National championship
Alabama over Clemson
* I'm not predicting the Heisman. Too close to call between CJ Stroud and Bryce Young.
* I hope Alabama LB Will Anderson Jr. gets more respect this year. I had him 3rd on my Heisman ballot in 2021. He's the best football player in the country.
* Houston will need some luck to get in. Their schedule is a cakewalk. I'll pick them anyway. If they don't get the help they need, then it will be Georgia in the playoffs.
* Ohio State gets most of its toughest opponents at home in Columbus. Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan. They have Penn State in Happy Valley.
Games to watch:
Notre Dame @ Ohio State Sep 3
Georgia vs Oregon Sep 3 (Atlanta)
Alabama @ Texas Sept 10
Houston @ Texas Tech Sept 10
Texas A&M @ Alabama Oct 8
Clemson @ Notre Dame Nov 5
Baylor @ Oklahoma No. 19
Utah @ Oregon Nov 19
Michigan @ Ohio State Nov. 26
Big Ten West
1. Iowa
2. Wisconsin
3. Purdue
4. Minnesota
5. Illinois
6. Nebraska
7. Northwestern
Big Ten East
1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Michigan State
4. Penn State
5. Maryland
6. Rutgers
7. Indiana
Ohio State over Iowa in the Big Ten championship game
Player of the Year: CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Defensive player of the year: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
* Iowa's defense will be one of the best in the country. If they can score enough, I see them winning the West.
* Scott Frost will be out at Nebraska. I'm not sure why they kept him last year.
* Michigan's defense won't be the same after losing Asa Hutchinson, David Ojabo, Daxton Hill and a bunch of others. MSU could actually slide into that 2 spot. They play each other Oct 29.
* Wisconsin was 8th in the Big Ten in total offense last year and they lost 8 starters on defense. Everyone is picking them to win the division, but I'll take the Hawkeyes.
* WR Jayden Reed is going to have a spectacular year at Michigan State. Stud.
* Northwestern OL Peter Skoronski has a chance to win the Outland Trophy
* Nick Heberg from Wisconsin is the other great LB in the B1G. He and Campbell are Butkus Award candidates.
ILLINOIS
Wyoming (W)
@ Indiana (W)
Virginia (L)
Chattanooga (W)
@ Wisconsin (L)
Iowa (L)
Minnesota (W)
@ Nebraska (L)
Michigan State (L)
Purdue (W)
@ Michigan (L)
@Northwestern (W)
6-6 overall, 4-5 Big Ten
MVP offense: RB Chase Brown
MVP defense: LB CJ Hart
Freshman of the year: WR Shawn Miller
* Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Purdue are all tossup games. Win three of them and Illinois is bowl bound.
* Wyoming and Chattanooga will be uncomfortably close, but for different reasons. Wyoming because the new Illinois offense isn't yet clicking. Chattanooga because the Mocs have some NFL talent.
* We will probably see both DeVito and Sitkowski at quarterback. It will be a situation where Lunney goes with the hot hand.
* Illinois upsets Purdue in Champaign. The Boilers rushing defense wasn't very good last year. Big day for Chase Brown.
* Illinois can beat Virginia if they get pressure on QB Brennan Armstrong. He has three big-time targets to throw to in Dontayvion Wicks, Keytaon Thompson, and Billy Kemp. Illinois can't match up with those guys. But Virginia graduated their entire offensive line.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
Fiesta Bowl
Alabama over Houston
Peach Bowl
Clemson over Ohio State
National championship
Alabama over Clemson
* I'm not predicting the Heisman. Too close to call between CJ Stroud and Bryce Young.
* I hope Alabama LB Will Anderson Jr. gets more respect this year. I had him 3rd on my Heisman ballot in 2021. He's the best football player in the country.
* Houston will need some luck to get in. Their schedule is a cakewalk. I'll pick them anyway. If they don't get the help they need, then it will be Georgia in the playoffs.
* Ohio State gets most of its toughest opponents at home in Columbus. Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan. They have Penn State in Happy Valley.
Games to watch:
Notre Dame @ Ohio State Sep 3
Georgia vs Oregon Sep 3 (Atlanta)
Alabama @ Texas Sept 10
Houston @ Texas Tech Sept 10
Texas A&M @ Alabama Oct 8
Clemson @ Notre Dame Nov 5
Baylor @ Oklahoma No. 19
Utah @ Oregon Nov 19
Michigan @ Ohio State Nov. 26
Last edited:
