There is a lot of questions in the B1G West in 2015.
Front-runner Wisconsin has a new head coach and some talented players departed. QB is a question and speed on the outside. Both Wisconsin and Minnesota have questions with speed and explosiveness of passing game.
There isn't a boatload skill players with tremendous experience in the B1G West.
It will come down to line play on both sides of the ball.
Wisconsin will start a RFrosh and a sophomore as newcomers in O-Line, as well as a senior interior lineman at RT, in that very important role of RT in the famous Wisconsin running game. Dan Voltz is back to anchor at C, while LT Tyler Marz returns.
Wisconsin has two newcomers in the 3-4 defensive line. They will have two new interior LBs, a junior and redshirt frosh projected. Most ILB units are young in B1G West in 2015.
Experience is in OLB and secondary for first year coach Paul Chryst. Has the recruiting been stellar for the 3-4 set Wisconsin now runs under third year DC Dave Aranda?
Could Wisconsin open 3-3 in 2015?
Key game is B1G home opener vs. IOWA, followed by first true road trip at Nebraska. They open season in Arlington vs. Alabama. Three home tune-ups are Miami-OH, Troy and Hawaii.
Northwestern beat Wisconsin last year in Big Ten opener. Home team is 2-5 since 2005 (Alvarez's final game) in Iowa-UW series.
How much as senior Joel Stave improved after 53% passing, 9 TD, 10 INT, as a junior? Gordon is gone, as well as top TE and #2 WR. Look for Clement to carry and be a key role in passing game?
Northwestern beat Wisconsin last year, but fell 48-7 to Iowa. They have had back to back 5-7 seasons, since first and only bowl win under Pat Fitzgerald.
Who is at QB and TSN called Northwestern the most overrated B1G team in 2015. Iowa is Northwestern's Homecoming Game this year. Iowa last won at Evanston in 2007. Iowa’s B1G schedule resembles 2007.
Like Wisconsin, Northwestern has a very good secondary in 2015. The entire defensive line is back for Northwestern, but not hearing a lot of praise. One starter back in LB corp.
Iowa was 4-4 in B1G last year. Not much enthusiasm heading into 2015, after 45-28 loss at Tennessee. The 1985 team lost to UCLA by the same amount in the 1986 Rose Bowl. Iowa faces Indiana and Maryland in B1G East, so 1-1 appears probable again?
Can Hawkeyes finally compete with B1G West teams for a division?
Nebraska beat Iowa in OT last season. New coach Mike Riley has junior QB Tommy Armstrong at helm. Not an ideal West Coast QB?
Top RB, Top WR, three new OL, top pass rusher and four new starters in back 7 for Cornhuskers in 2015. Iowa won last time at Lincoln. This season, Nebraska gets bye week after trip at Rutgers. Mike Riley is 20-9 off bye weeks per PS.
However, the November 7 game in Lincoln is vs. Michigan State, so mojo maybe off?
Nebraska has lost two straight Senior Days and three straight final B1G Games over last three seasons.
Illinois coach Tim Beckman enters his fourth season. Could the seat be warm to hot in 2015?
Nebraska
at Iowa
Bye Week
Wisconsin (HC)
This season will be an interesting one.
Could we see Jeff George, Jr., a true frosh in relief for Wes Lunt at QB?
Minnesota is TSN's most underrated team in 2015. QB Mitch Leidner is back as a junior, as Jerry Kill enters fifth B1G season. The Golden Gophers must play both Michigan and Ohio State, again.
New RB, New TE, 2 of 3 top WRs departed, two new OL, two new DL, new MLB, as top two tacklers departed. Special teams should be solid though.
Open Thursday Week 1 vs. TCU, then head to Colorado State for Week 2. Kill has struggled off bye, off loss and early on road. Year 1 lost at New Mexico State. Finally won B1G road opener last year at Michigan.
Purdue enters third season under coach Darrell Hazell. Open at Marshall on Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Virginia Tech comes to West Lafayette in Week 3.
They head to Iowa City for Iowa’s Senior Day. Iowa lost last time this game came to Kinnick, so nothing is ever easy in the B1G?
Here is a look at the B1G West. Iowa has a great opportunity due to schedule and State of the Big Ten West. Of course, each B1G West program is saying same thing.
The Big Ten has some big early division games this year. Last year, the B1G games were later.
Best Units per Phil Steele:
QB: Illinois, lead by Wes Lunt.
RB: Wisconsin, lead by Corey Clement & Taiwan Deal
REC: Nebraska
OL: Wisconsin
DL: Is Wisconsin better than Nebraska?
LB: Wisconsin
DB: Wisconsin
ST: Nebraska
Coaching: Iowa and Minnesota
Top Offensive performers per PS:
QB: Wes Lunt, Illinois
RB: Corey Clement, Wisconsin w/ Justin Jackson, Northwestern and Josh Ferguson, Illinois the other top RBs in West
FB: Derek Watt, Wisconsin or SB Dan Vitale, Northwestern
WR: Jordan Westercamp, Nebraska w/ Alex Erickson, Wisconsin
WR: Geronimo Allison, Illinois w/ Tevaun Smith, Iowa or De'Mornay Pierson-El, UNL
TE: Jake Duzey, Iowa*
C: Dan Voltz, Wisconsin
G/C: Austin Blythe, Iowa or C Robert Kugler, Purdue
G: Ted Karris, Illinois w/ Geoff Mogus, Northwestern
T: Tyler Marz, Wisconsin
T: Alex Lewis, Nebraska w/ Josh Campion, Minnesota
PK: Rafael Gaglianore, Wisconsin w/ Paul Griggs, Purdue
KR: Jalen Myrick, Minnesota
DE: Drew Ott, Iowa w/ Dean Lowry, Northwestern
DT: Maliek Collins, Nebraska
DT: Vincent MA Valentine, Nebraska
DE: Jihad Ward, Illinois or Theiren Cockran, Minnesota
OLB: Vince Biegel, Wisconsin w/ DeVondre Campbell, Minnesota
MLB: young group in division, lead by T.J, Neal, Illinois
OLB: Mason Monheim, Illinois w/ Joe Schobert, Wisconsin or David Santos, Nebraska
CB: Eric Murray, Minnesota or Nick VanHoose, Northwestern
SS: Michael Caputo, Wisconsin or Taylor Barton, Illinois
FS: Jordan Lomax, Iowa w/ Nate Gerry, Nebraska
CB: Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Minnesota or Desmond King, Iowa
Nickel: Frankie Williams, Purdue
PT: Peter Mortell, Minnesota
PR: De'Mornay Pierson-El, Nebraska w/ Frankie Williams, Purdue
Front-runner Wisconsin has a new head coach and some talented players departed. QB is a question and speed on the outside. Both Wisconsin and Minnesota have questions with speed and explosiveness of passing game.
There isn't a boatload skill players with tremendous experience in the B1G West.
It will come down to line play on both sides of the ball.
Wisconsin will start a RFrosh and a sophomore as newcomers in O-Line, as well as a senior interior lineman at RT, in that very important role of RT in the famous Wisconsin running game. Dan Voltz is back to anchor at C, while LT Tyler Marz returns.
Wisconsin has two newcomers in the 3-4 defensive line. They will have two new interior LBs, a junior and redshirt frosh projected. Most ILB units are young in B1G West in 2015.
Experience is in OLB and secondary for first year coach Paul Chryst. Has the recruiting been stellar for the 3-4 set Wisconsin now runs under third year DC Dave Aranda?
Could Wisconsin open 3-3 in 2015?
Key game is B1G home opener vs. IOWA, followed by first true road trip at Nebraska. They open season in Arlington vs. Alabama. Three home tune-ups are Miami-OH, Troy and Hawaii.
Northwestern beat Wisconsin last year in Big Ten opener. Home team is 2-5 since 2005 (Alvarez's final game) in Iowa-UW series.
How much as senior Joel Stave improved after 53% passing, 9 TD, 10 INT, as a junior? Gordon is gone, as well as top TE and #2 WR. Look for Clement to carry and be a key role in passing game?
Northwestern beat Wisconsin last year, but fell 48-7 to Iowa. They have had back to back 5-7 seasons, since first and only bowl win under Pat Fitzgerald.
Who is at QB and TSN called Northwestern the most overrated B1G team in 2015. Iowa is Northwestern's Homecoming Game this year. Iowa last won at Evanston in 2007. Iowa’s B1G schedule resembles 2007.
Like Wisconsin, Northwestern has a very good secondary in 2015. The entire defensive line is back for Northwestern, but not hearing a lot of praise. One starter back in LB corp.
Iowa was 4-4 in B1G last year. Not much enthusiasm heading into 2015, after 45-28 loss at Tennessee. The 1985 team lost to UCLA by the same amount in the 1986 Rose Bowl. Iowa faces Indiana and Maryland in B1G East, so 1-1 appears probable again?
Can Hawkeyes finally compete with B1G West teams for a division?
Nebraska beat Iowa in OT last season. New coach Mike Riley has junior QB Tommy Armstrong at helm. Not an ideal West Coast QB?
Top RB, Top WR, three new OL, top pass rusher and four new starters in back 7 for Cornhuskers in 2015. Iowa won last time at Lincoln. This season, Nebraska gets bye week after trip at Rutgers. Mike Riley is 20-9 off bye weeks per PS.
However, the November 7 game in Lincoln is vs. Michigan State, so mojo maybe off?
Nebraska has lost two straight Senior Days and three straight final B1G Games over last three seasons.
Illinois coach Tim Beckman enters his fourth season. Could the seat be warm to hot in 2015?
Nebraska
at Iowa
Bye Week
Wisconsin (HC)
This season will be an interesting one.
Could we see Jeff George, Jr., a true frosh in relief for Wes Lunt at QB?
Minnesota is TSN's most underrated team in 2015. QB Mitch Leidner is back as a junior, as Jerry Kill enters fifth B1G season. The Golden Gophers must play both Michigan and Ohio State, again.
New RB, New TE, 2 of 3 top WRs departed, two new OL, two new DL, new MLB, as top two tacklers departed. Special teams should be solid though.
Open Thursday Week 1 vs. TCU, then head to Colorado State for Week 2. Kill has struggled off bye, off loss and early on road. Year 1 lost at New Mexico State. Finally won B1G road opener last year at Michigan.
Purdue enters third season under coach Darrell Hazell. Open at Marshall on Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Virginia Tech comes to West Lafayette in Week 3.
They head to Iowa City for Iowa’s Senior Day. Iowa lost last time this game came to Kinnick, so nothing is ever easy in the B1G?
Here is a look at the B1G West. Iowa has a great opportunity due to schedule and State of the Big Ten West. Of course, each B1G West program is saying same thing.
The Big Ten has some big early division games this year. Last year, the B1G games were later.
Best Units per Phil Steele:
QB: Illinois, lead by Wes Lunt.
RB: Wisconsin, lead by Corey Clement & Taiwan Deal
REC: Nebraska
OL: Wisconsin
DL: Is Wisconsin better than Nebraska?
LB: Wisconsin
DB: Wisconsin
ST: Nebraska
Coaching: Iowa and Minnesota
Top Offensive performers per PS:
QB: Wes Lunt, Illinois
RB: Corey Clement, Wisconsin w/ Justin Jackson, Northwestern and Josh Ferguson, Illinois the other top RBs in West
FB: Derek Watt, Wisconsin or SB Dan Vitale, Northwestern
WR: Jordan Westercamp, Nebraska w/ Alex Erickson, Wisconsin
WR: Geronimo Allison, Illinois w/ Tevaun Smith, Iowa or De'Mornay Pierson-El, UNL
TE: Jake Duzey, Iowa*
C: Dan Voltz, Wisconsin
G/C: Austin Blythe, Iowa or C Robert Kugler, Purdue
G: Ted Karris, Illinois w/ Geoff Mogus, Northwestern
T: Tyler Marz, Wisconsin
T: Alex Lewis, Nebraska w/ Josh Campion, Minnesota
PK: Rafael Gaglianore, Wisconsin w/ Paul Griggs, Purdue
KR: Jalen Myrick, Minnesota
DE: Drew Ott, Iowa w/ Dean Lowry, Northwestern
DT: Maliek Collins, Nebraska
DT: Vincent MA Valentine, Nebraska
DE: Jihad Ward, Illinois or Theiren Cockran, Minnesota
OLB: Vince Biegel, Wisconsin w/ DeVondre Campbell, Minnesota
MLB: young group in division, lead by T.J, Neal, Illinois
OLB: Mason Monheim, Illinois w/ Joe Schobert, Wisconsin or David Santos, Nebraska
CB: Eric Murray, Minnesota or Nick VanHoose, Northwestern
SS: Michael Caputo, Wisconsin or Taylor Barton, Illinois
FS: Jordan Lomax, Iowa w/ Nate Gerry, Nebraska
CB: Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Minnesota or Desmond King, Iowa
Nickel: Frankie Williams, Purdue
PT: Peter Mortell, Minnesota
PR: De'Mornay Pierson-El, Nebraska w/ Frankie Williams, Purdue
