BIG 10 2003
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES O:7 D:6 (10-3)
The Wolverines put forth a very interesting squad for 2003. They?re loaded with talent on both sides of the ball as usual, and have the easiest schedule in the Big 10. They get all the major players in the conference in the ?Big House? including Notre Dame, and have a very manageable non-conference slate. QB John Navarre returns for his senior season, and he?s got plenty of weapons at his disposal. RB Chris Perry returns after his 14 TD/1110 YD season to handle the ball carrying duties, and he?s got a dominant O-Line paving the way for him. Michigan has been looking for an O-Line to average over 5.0 YPC, and they just might have it this season with all 5 players having starting experience. Braylon Edwards anchors a very fast and deep WR core. He expects to top his numbers from last year, and the talk around Ann Arbor is that he?s the next David Terrell. I expect QB Navarre to have himself a fantastic season, and have NFL scouts drooling after him much the way they did with Carson Palmer last season. He has the best O-line he?s ever had protecting him, and a playmaker like Edwards will certainly amplify his numbers. The defense slipped a bit overall last year, but it?s still a very solid group. The D-line is less experienced than last year?s, but it has loads more depth. The LB core loses its stud from a year ago, but has more experience that will only help the stop unit?s cause. The secondary boasts one of the best CB duos in the country in Jackson & LeSueur, and they?ll drive opposing QB?s crazy. I?m sure everyone?s familiar with the Wolves FG kicking woes, and they still need to resolve that problem. Michigan really has a shot of bringing home the Big 10 consecutive National Championship?s if they play their cards right. I expect them to be undefeated when the Buckeyes stroll into town November 22nd, and a win there will most definitely send them to the Sugar Bowl in N?awlens.
-- UM is 1-7 ATS as a favorite of 5 or less since 1999.
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES O:11 D:6 (14-0)
Who will ever forget about the Buckeyes 2002-03 season? I for one won?t considering we banked on them in the National Championship game vs. Miami, but it had all the drama and suspense of a trashy romance novel. For starter?s, I still say to this day that their double OT win over Miami was the greatest game I?ve ever seen in my life. Who will ever forget Krenzel?s toss to Michael Jenkins on 4th and 1 at Purdue, or some questionable calls in OT at Illinois? Either way, HC Tressel did what no other coach could do at OSU since the Woody Hayes days. This year?s squad has a bit of a different taste to it. They return their entire offense, but lose some key role players on ?D?. QB Krenzel isn?t the greatest QB you?ve ever seen throw the pigskin, but his intelligence and speed are invaluable. The kid just always finds a way to get the job done, and he?ll only be that much better with a National Championship and another year of experience under his belt. Say what you want about Maurice Clarett!! He?s a stud in my book, and he?s got the heart of a lion. His forced fumble against Miami is a play I?ll never forget. He struggled with injuries throughout the year, but proved to be a gamer when healthy. RB Maurice Hall proved to be more than capable in his absence, and his return is huge for the Buckeye offense. WR Michael Jenkins will be the go to guy this year as Chris Gamble will concentrate more at the CB position. It helps that all but 1 skilled position player returns from last year?s team, but to have the entire O-line return is pure Nirvana. They paved the way for 4.3 YPC rushing last year, and there?s no telling what they?ll average this year with Tressel?s dominated run offense. The defense will be the Achilles heel of the Buckeyes that prevents them from repeating this year. They have just too many key losses from last year?s squad, and those players leadership will be sorely missed. Gone are LB?s Grant & Wilhelm, DE Peterson, and DB?s Doss & Nickey. They should be alright at the CB position with Fox & Gamble, but losing players like Doss and Nickey will be too much for them to overcome. The D-Line is stacked with speed and size, and DE Will Smith will look to better his numbers from a year ago. The LB core is short on experience, and replacing last year?s duo?s amount of tackles will take some time. The special teams will put out numbers that closely resembles last year?s squad, and FG kicking shouldn?t be a problem with K Mike Nugent returning. The Buckeyes have a much tougher road schedule this year, and it?ll be tough for them to escape Wiscy, Penn State, and Michigan unscathed. This year?s squad has loads of talent, but it will be close to impossible for them to pull of the same feats as last year considering the amount of key role players they lost. They will go bowling, but it won?t be for the whole enchilada.
-- OSU is 7-1 ATS their L/8 at home laying less then 10 points
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS O:8 D:9 (7-6)
Would you believe me if I told you the Boiler?s ranked 1st in many categories last year including out gaining their conference opponents? Well they did!!! They were a very unfortunate team last season as bad penalties, and turnover?s cost them many games. They have the talent to compete with the big boys this year, but their conference road schedule is an absolute killer. They have to go to Wiscy, Michigan, and Ohio State. We?ll know more about this team after October 25th. HC Joe Tiller seems to have chosen Kyle Orton as his gunslinger for this season, and the offense will be better off without a rotation. Orton has the ability to go downfield, and he?s got a full complement of WR?s to throw too. Basically all of last year?s wide-outs return with SR John Standeford leading the way. They?re a very talented group, and they?ll have Tiller?s fast paced high scoring offense back in form. The Boiler?s also have a duo of RB?s that ran for over 1700 yards, and a year?s worth of experience will only make them better. The wink link of the offense is the most important. The O-Line loses a bunch of consecutive year starters, and the new guys might have problems picking up the blocking schemes early on in the season. Purdue?s front 7 on defense is one of the best in the Big 10, and their secondary has loads of experience anchored by CB Reeves & FS Schweigert. Last year?s special teams were just horrible in every facet of the game, and they cost them a few games as well. Hopefully they can get a dependable FG kicker, b/c last year?s was atrocious. Purdue has the most returning starters in the conference, and they?ve got as much talent as anyone. The only problem is their conference schedule. It is very tough, and it?ll test them big time. I?m very high on the Boiler?s this season, and they could surprise a few teams in their own backyard if they?re not careful.
--HC Joe Tiller is 18-10 ATS as a home favorite.
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES O:7 D:6 (10-3)
The Wolverines put forth a very interesting squad for 2003. They?re loaded with talent on both sides of the ball as usual, and have the easiest schedule in the Big 10. They get all the major players in the conference in the ?Big House? including Notre Dame, and have a very manageable non-conference slate. QB John Navarre returns for his senior season, and he?s got plenty of weapons at his disposal. RB Chris Perry returns after his 14 TD/1110 YD season to handle the ball carrying duties, and he?s got a dominant O-Line paving the way for him. Michigan has been looking for an O-Line to average over 5.0 YPC, and they just might have it this season with all 5 players having starting experience. Braylon Edwards anchors a very fast and deep WR core. He expects to top his numbers from last year, and the talk around Ann Arbor is that he?s the next David Terrell. I expect QB Navarre to have himself a fantastic season, and have NFL scouts drooling after him much the way they did with Carson Palmer last season. He has the best O-line he?s ever had protecting him, and a playmaker like Edwards will certainly amplify his numbers. The defense slipped a bit overall last year, but it?s still a very solid group. The D-line is less experienced than last year?s, but it has loads more depth. The LB core loses its stud from a year ago, but has more experience that will only help the stop unit?s cause. The secondary boasts one of the best CB duos in the country in Jackson & LeSueur, and they?ll drive opposing QB?s crazy. I?m sure everyone?s familiar with the Wolves FG kicking woes, and they still need to resolve that problem. Michigan really has a shot of bringing home the Big 10 consecutive National Championship?s if they play their cards right. I expect them to be undefeated when the Buckeyes stroll into town November 22nd, and a win there will most definitely send them to the Sugar Bowl in N?awlens.
-- UM is 1-7 ATS as a favorite of 5 or less since 1999.
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES O:11 D:6 (14-0)
Who will ever forget about the Buckeyes 2002-03 season? I for one won?t considering we banked on them in the National Championship game vs. Miami, but it had all the drama and suspense of a trashy romance novel. For starter?s, I still say to this day that their double OT win over Miami was the greatest game I?ve ever seen in my life. Who will ever forget Krenzel?s toss to Michael Jenkins on 4th and 1 at Purdue, or some questionable calls in OT at Illinois? Either way, HC Tressel did what no other coach could do at OSU since the Woody Hayes days. This year?s squad has a bit of a different taste to it. They return their entire offense, but lose some key role players on ?D?. QB Krenzel isn?t the greatest QB you?ve ever seen throw the pigskin, but his intelligence and speed are invaluable. The kid just always finds a way to get the job done, and he?ll only be that much better with a National Championship and another year of experience under his belt. Say what you want about Maurice Clarett!! He?s a stud in my book, and he?s got the heart of a lion. His forced fumble against Miami is a play I?ll never forget. He struggled with injuries throughout the year, but proved to be a gamer when healthy. RB Maurice Hall proved to be more than capable in his absence, and his return is huge for the Buckeye offense. WR Michael Jenkins will be the go to guy this year as Chris Gamble will concentrate more at the CB position. It helps that all but 1 skilled position player returns from last year?s team, but to have the entire O-line return is pure Nirvana. They paved the way for 4.3 YPC rushing last year, and there?s no telling what they?ll average this year with Tressel?s dominated run offense. The defense will be the Achilles heel of the Buckeyes that prevents them from repeating this year. They have just too many key losses from last year?s squad, and those players leadership will be sorely missed. Gone are LB?s Grant & Wilhelm, DE Peterson, and DB?s Doss & Nickey. They should be alright at the CB position with Fox & Gamble, but losing players like Doss and Nickey will be too much for them to overcome. The D-Line is stacked with speed and size, and DE Will Smith will look to better his numbers from a year ago. The LB core is short on experience, and replacing last year?s duo?s amount of tackles will take some time. The special teams will put out numbers that closely resembles last year?s squad, and FG kicking shouldn?t be a problem with K Mike Nugent returning. The Buckeyes have a much tougher road schedule this year, and it?ll be tough for them to escape Wiscy, Penn State, and Michigan unscathed. This year?s squad has loads of talent, but it will be close to impossible for them to pull of the same feats as last year considering the amount of key role players they lost. They will go bowling, but it won?t be for the whole enchilada.
-- OSU is 7-1 ATS their L/8 at home laying less then 10 points
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS O:8 D:9 (7-6)
Would you believe me if I told you the Boiler?s ranked 1st in many categories last year including out gaining their conference opponents? Well they did!!! They were a very unfortunate team last season as bad penalties, and turnover?s cost them many games. They have the talent to compete with the big boys this year, but their conference road schedule is an absolute killer. They have to go to Wiscy, Michigan, and Ohio State. We?ll know more about this team after October 25th. HC Joe Tiller seems to have chosen Kyle Orton as his gunslinger for this season, and the offense will be better off without a rotation. Orton has the ability to go downfield, and he?s got a full complement of WR?s to throw too. Basically all of last year?s wide-outs return with SR John Standeford leading the way. They?re a very talented group, and they?ll have Tiller?s fast paced high scoring offense back in form. The Boiler?s also have a duo of RB?s that ran for over 1700 yards, and a year?s worth of experience will only make them better. The wink link of the offense is the most important. The O-Line loses a bunch of consecutive year starters, and the new guys might have problems picking up the blocking schemes early on in the season. Purdue?s front 7 on defense is one of the best in the Big 10, and their secondary has loads of experience anchored by CB Reeves & FS Schweigert. Last year?s special teams were just horrible in every facet of the game, and they cost them a few games as well. Hopefully they can get a dependable FG kicker, b/c last year?s was atrocious. Purdue has the most returning starters in the conference, and they?ve got as much talent as anyone. The only problem is their conference schedule. It is very tough, and it?ll test them big time. I?m very high on the Boiler?s this season, and they could surprise a few teams in their own backyard if they?re not careful.
--HC Joe Tiller is 18-10 ATS as a home favorite.