The Final Score - Your source for Big Ten Sports

Big Ten Football Previews – Part X & XI

Editor's Note: These are the last two in a series of my annual summer Big Ten football previews. They've been pared down due to time constraints. Check back next week for another season of Get Gamm!

Team: Ohio State Buckeyes

Tidbits: The Buckeyes have lost three straight bowl games, dating back to a Fiesta Bowl romp over Notre Dame after the 2005 season. OSU's longest bowl losing streak if four, between 1978-80 and 1990-93.

Past Predictions/Results:
2008 Prediction / actual: 11-1, 8-0 (1st) - BCS Title Game / 10-3, 7-1 (T-1st) - Fiesta Bowl
2007 Prediction / actual: 10-2, 6-2 (3rd) - Captial One / 11-2, 7-1 (1st), BCS Title Game
2006 Prediction / actual: 11-1, 7-1 (T-1st), BCS / 12-1, 8-0 (1st), BCS Title Game
2005 Prediction / actual: 8-3, 6-2 (T-1st), Capital One / 10-2, 7-1 (T-1st), Fiesta
2004 Prediction / actual: 10-1, 7-1 (T-1st), Rose / 8-4, 4-4 (T-5th), Alamo
2003 Prediction / actual: 11-1, 7-1 (1st) / 11-2, 6-2 (T-2nd)
2002 Prediction / actual: 11-2, 6-2 (T-1st) / 14-0, 8-0 (T-1st), National Champs
2001 Prediction / actual: 7-4, 4-4 (T-5th) / 7-5, 5-3 (3rd)

*Note, bowl shown only from 2004 on as I did not predict the bowl berths prior to that season.

Returning Starters: 4 offense, 8 defense, 1 kicker

Key Returnees: QB Terrelle Pryor, RB Dan Herron, DE Thaddeous Gibson, SS Kurt Coleman

Key Losses: RB Beanie Wells, LT Alex Boone, LB James Laurinaitis, CB Malcolm Jenkins, P A.J. Trapasso

Prediction: Ohio State has the potential to return to the pinnacle. But if they do, can they get over the hump? ESPN the magazine recently polled 85 D1 players and they narrowly voted Ohio State (over Notre Dame) as the most overrated program in FBS. Hard to say a team that has lost a grand total of eight games in the past four seasons is overrated, at least in my humble opinion. I made my picks before I knew USC would toss a true freshman QB into the first at the 'shoe, but since I write them in blood...

3-1 OOC (tough loss at home to a young USC team)
7-1 Big Ten (loss in Beaver Stadium)
10-2 Overall, T-1st - BCS bowl berth


Team: Penn State Nittany Lions

Tidbits: The last time Penn State lost back to back bowl games was 1975-76. The Nittany Lions are an outstanding 26-13-2 in bowls, and have played more than half (25) of their bowl games on New Year's Day (or later).

Past Predictions/Results:
2008 Prediction / actual: 9-3, 5-3 (T-2nd), BCS Berth / 11-2, 7-1 (T-1st), Rose
2007 Prediction / actual: 9-3, 5-3 (T-4th), Outback / 9-4, 4-4 (T-5th), Alamo
2006 Prediction / actual: 9-3, 6-2 (T-3rd), Capital One / 9-4, 5-3 (T-4th), Outback
2005 Prediction / actual: 6-5, 3-5 (T-7th), Music City / 11-1, 7-1 (T-1st), Orange
2004 Prediction / actual: 6-5, 4-4 (T-5th), Music City / 4-7, 2-6 (9th)
2003 Prediction / actual: 7-5, 4-4 (T-5th) / 3-9, 1-7 (T-9th)
2002 Prediction / actual: 9-3, 6-2 (T-1st) / 9-4, 5-3 (4th)
2001 Prediction / actual: 5-6, 3-5 (T-7th) / 5-6, 4-4 (T-4th)

*Note, bowl shown only from 2004 on as I did not predict the bowl berths prior to that season.

Returning Starters: 5 offense, 4 defense, 1 kicker

Key Returnees: QB Daryll Clark, RB Evan Royster, DT Jared Odrick, LB Sean Lee

Key Losses: WRs - Norwood, Butler, Williams, DE Aaron Maybin, K Kevin Kelly

Prediction: Ohio State has the potential to return to the pinnacle. But if they do, can they get over the hump? ESPN the magazine recently polled 85 D1 players and they narrowly voted Ohio State (over Notre Dame) as the most overrated program in FBS. Hard to say a team that has lost a grand total of eight games in the past four seasons is overrated, at least in my humble opinion. I made my picks before I knew USC would toss a true freshman QB into the first at the 'shoe, but since I write them in blood...

4-0 OOC (Four total jokes - along the lines of the laughable opponents Minnesota took on with Glen Mason at the helm)
7-1 Big Ten (This time a heart breaking field goal in the last game - at Michigan State - keeps the Nits out of the national title hunt)
11-1 Overall, T-1st, Rose Bowl Berth