Indiana
Coach: Bill Lynch
2007: 7-6 overall, 3-5 in Big Ten (T-7th).
Head of the Class – This defense is going to be one of the better ones in the conference, and maybe, just maybe, in the country. The front seven is all back, and all extremely talented. The question will be if the new secondary can hold up its end of the bargain.
Underachievers – The offense, on the other hand, is the definition of “eh.” Kellen Lewis is a great athlete at quarterback and all, but he doesn’t have any standout weapons to share the ball with. That’ll be enough to be good, but maybe not enough for the top third if the conference.
Academic Suspension – Again, another literal reference. Kellen Lewis, the great athlete just mentioned, broke some team rules and wound up suspended. The difference between this team barely being better than Iowa or Michigan and being neck-and-neck with Penn State or Illinois will reside between his ears.
Michigan State
Coach: Mark Dantonio
2007: 7-6 overall, 3-5 in the Big Ten (T-7th).
Head of the Class – Javon Ringer is the one tailback in the conference that is arguably better than Chris Wells at Ohio State, and he’s also the best of a deep bunch. When you’ve got a workhorse runner, especially in this physical conference, good things can happen for you.
Underachievers – The Spartans’ non-conference schedule features a game at Cal, plus Eastern Michigan, Notre Dame, and Howard Schnellenberger’s Florida Atlantic team. There are just enough questions about this Michigan State team that they could enter conference play 4-0, 1-3, or anything in between.
Academic Suspension – The tail end of the season is similarly shaky for State, with road games against Michigan and Penn State, and Ohio State and Wisconsin at home. Much like the non-conference schedule, the Spartans could realistically finish this year anywhere from 9-4 to 5-7.
Purdue
Coach: Joe Tiller
2007: 8-5 overall, 3-5 in Big Ten (T-7th).
Head of the Class – Curtis Painter gets a fifth year to push his name further up the Purdue record books – and maybe finally actually win a significant game, so he isn’t known as a system quarterback. He personally has the tools, but we’ll see if he has the leadership ability or the offensive resources.
Underachievers – The rest of the offense. Painter lost his two best receivers to the NFL, and who the heck knows what he’s going to get from his line and his running backs. That didn’t keep him from having a bad season last year, but wouldn’t it be nice to have a cohesive unit in front of you?
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