The Big Ten was legitimately the best conference in college football in the 2016 regular season. The bowl season didn’t go so well, but the regular season featured a mighty performance from several teams, and three of them were from the East Division. Michigan, Ohio State, and eventual champion Penn State were all able to get New Year’s Six bowls. In 2014, the SEC West produced three New Year’s Six bowl teams when Alabama, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State all gained berths to the biggest bowls on the schedule.
Can the Big Ten East do it again? We’ll soon find out when the season begins. The big thing to remember is that the home and homes change this year. Ohio State visited Penn State and hosted Michigan last year. This year, the Buckeyes will host PSU and travel to Michigan. Last year, Michigan hosted Penn State, so this year, the Wolverines will have to venture to Happy Valley.
The Ohio State-Penn State game last season was an improbable one. The Penn State offense which looked so unstoppable and potent late in the 2016 season had not yet hit its stride. A blocked kick return fueled a Penn State comeback. The Nittany Lions will have to beat Ohio State this year without such plays – at least, that’s what the odds suggest. Ohio State is probably still the team which calls the shots in the division, though last year’s PSU division title rated as a surprise… and could still happen again.
Odds:
Rutgers +12,500
Maryland +5,000
Indiana +5,000
Michigan State +3,000
Michigan +300
Penn State +250
Ohio State -300
Team On The Rise:
The Indiana Hoosiers aren’t going to win nine games or threaten for the division title… but they might be better than they were last year. Tom Allen was the team’s defensive coordinator, and now he is the head coach after it was discovered that previous coach Kevin Wilson did not look out for the safety of his players. The current roster at Indiana might be more inspired to play well now that a more respected coach is in charge. Allen has done great work with a defense which should remain strong. If the offense can make timely contributions, this team could win seven or even eight games if things break just right.
Team In Decline:
The Penn State Nittany Lions will not be a bad team, but they were a classic case of a team which got every important break last season. The Ohio State game was a representative example, and Penn State narrowly avoided defeat at Indiana while narrowly escaping Minnesota at home. A big part of the Penn State offense was trusting receivers to win jump ball-style throws in traffic. A part of that offense might not be sustainable this season. Penn State will have to be better than it was a season ago in order to maintain the same result as Big Ten East and Big Ten Conference champion.
Hot Seat:
Mark Dantonio of Michigan State is likely to have a 2018 on his horizon, but after the 2016 season spun out of control and off-field problems dogged him throughout the offseason, Dantonio has to be careful. Another 3-9 season just like 2016 could put him in big trouble.
Outlook
The Big Ten East is probably the toughest division in all of football. Even so, it goes to show just how highly regarded Ohio State is when they’re favored by so much. This is really expected to be their year.
Michigan will have plenty to say here and the Wolverines get to host the rivalry game. However, that hasn’t meant much of late as Ohio State has played well in that series. The Buckeyes will also get to host Penn State and they don’t have to face Wisconsin, which makes life pretty easy for them.
The Buckeyes have five road games on the year, including at Indiana and at Rutgers, which should be easy. If they can beat Oklahoma at home in Week 2, this team could be undefeated all the way through until they face Michigan on November 25th.
Prediction: Ohio State to win the Big Ten East
Click here to bet on the college football futures for the 2017 college football season right now. DSI will have all of the latest lines, spreads and props for this year’s action!
