FOR ENTERTAINMENT ONLY
Having already covered the better of the 2 divisions, we'll move on to the Lil Bro Division in this installment. The East appears to be a 2 team race headed into the seaon, with some interesting side stories as well (can Indiana go bowling, can Hoke build a solid squad, how will Franklin's first PSU team look). The only thing we are assured of is plenty of LOLing at Buttgers and Maryland. Here we go:
Ohio State 10.5
Wins: Navy, VaTech, Kent St, Cincy, Maryland, Buttgers, PSU, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan
Losses:
Tossups: MSU
Prediction: Over, this is a pretty high win total, but OSU is clearly better than 11 of the 12 opponents they'll face this season. The combo of best coach and best player in the conference is hard to go against.
Michigan St 9.5
Wins: Jacksonville, E Michigan, Wyoming, Purdue, Indiana, Michigan, Maryland, Buttgers, PSU
Losses: Oregon
Tossups: Nebraska, OSU
Prediction: Over, I could easily envision a 12-0 season for MSU, but the game at Oregon is a tough ask. Getting the 2 Tossups at home helps considerably. 10-2 seems like the floor for MSU in 2014.
Penn State 8.5
Wins: Akron, Buttgers, UMass, Tarpwestern, Maryland, Temple, Illinois
Losses: Michigan, OSU, MSU
Tossups: UCF, Indiana
Prediction: Under, this isn't an easy schedule, so James Franklin's inaugural B1G season is going to see a few rocky patches in my opinion. OSU and MSU are clearly better, so having those at home doesn't make much difference.
Michigan 7.5
Wins: App State, Miami (OH), Utah, Minnesota, Buttgers, PSU, Indiana, Tarpwestern, Maryland
Losses: Notre Dame, MSU, OSU
Tossups:
Prediction: Over, I'm going with the assumption that the offensive line will be simply shitty, which would be a moderate improvement. MSU and OSU are clearly better, and I'm sure the Catholic officiating crew in South Bend will ensure a victory for the home team. That's 3 losses, but Michigan should handle the other 9 opponents.
Maryland 6.5
Wins: James Madison, USF, W Virginia
Losses: Indiana, OSU, Iowa, Wisky, PSU, MSU, Michigan
Tossups: Syracuse, Buttgers
Prediction: Under, brutal in conference schedule combined with a team that isn't very good adds up to a rough first B1G year for the Turtles
Indiana 5.5
Wins: Indiana St, BGSU, Maryland, N Texas, Buttgers, Purdue
Losses: MethZoo, Iowa, MSU. Michigan, OSU
Tossups: PSU
Prediction: Over, there will be a few ugly losses, but Wilson gets the Hoosiers to a bowl game, which he will either win or lose 73-70
Buttgers 4.5
Wins: Howard, Tulane
Losses: Washington St, PSU, Michigan, OSU, Nebraska, Wisky, Indiana, MSU
Tossups: Navy, Maryland
Prediction: LOL@Buttgers, thanks for getting BTN into NYC though
Please share your predictions and thoughts in the Comment section.
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