Penn State might be really, really good. The OL will be more talented but less experienced. The QB will be an infinitely better passer than Michael Robinson, and if Tony Hunt gets 8-10 more carries per game, I’m fine with that. It’s just a shame they’re playing those two tough road games so early in the year, and a shame that we NEVER win in Columbus. But don’t be entirely surprised if things break our way.

Is it okay if I don’t understand the nationwide Ohio State infatuation? I understand the slobbering over ND anytime they might win eight games, that’s only natural. But Ohio State? Maybe they have a slight edge over the rest of the conference, but I don’t see them as head and shoulders above Michigan, PSU, or Iowa. Minnesota’s conference schedule is ridiculous. Illinois may actually scrape against mediocrity. Smith and Tiller will be canned prior to bowl season.

Go download this Excel spreadsheet of this year’s schedules:
http://www.mattsapundit.com/misc/2006%20%20NCAA%20Schedule.xls

And stop by my place sometime:

http://runupthescore.blogspot.com

Yeah. Yeah. Word.

The season preview edition is up. Mark has Illinois going 5-7, which I think is optimistic, but I’ll take whatever we can get.

The Illini have a couple of gimmes this year - Eastern and Ohio should be guaranteed W’s (if they’re not, we’re in bi…

Seriously, their schedule is really tough and every game is clearly losable. An 0-fer isn’t out of the question by any means. However, they could end up with three or four wins if someone steps up to help the running game.

Andre, I have to think that, since a bowl bid may well be on the line, Purdue will sack up and get it done in Hawaii. It should be a tremendously fun game to watch, and I’m taking the ‘ovre’ whatever it is.

I can’t believe nobody’s challenging my claim that Minnesota will pitch the ofer in the conference.

And Purdue will almost certainly go to Hawaii full of themselves and get smoked like a ham.

at Michigan
at Purdue
Penn State
at Iowa

I am fairly certain on the three road games - Wisconsin generally has trouble with Purdue and Tiller’s wacky system. They might beat PSU, but I’m a little nervous about Bowling Green believe it or not.