Ohio State unanimous choice to win Big Ten, writers say

If I had to pick one game where I thought they were in the most danger it would be the last game of the regular season at Michigan where Jim Harbaugh has been using Ohio State as a psychological motivation tool all summer with his new players.

Purdue prospects include better quarterback play (veteran Austin Appleby is the likely starter), and more consistent offense and defense. “I still look at us as underdogs because the talk is always Michigan-Ohio State”. He also scored two touchdowns on special teams.

The Wildcats have won 10 games since and last season the offense was among the worst in the Big Ten. Cook’s 4th-down pass to keep the final drive in the Cotton Bowl going against Baylor might go down as one of the top-10 important bowl plays in MSU history. The South Point gets so much risk they’ve got to drop it more, similar to the way they play the wait game on Floyd Mayweather fights.

The Spartans figured that out on their way up, suffering through a humbling 2012 season after boastfully predicting their lasting arrival while still holding a return ticket. Travis Jackson is the lone offensive lineman who will not be returning but this is arguably the Spartans deepest position, so they should be alright.

“I think it means reach past what the norm is at Michigan State”, said offensive tackle Jack Conklin.

Not being the only show in town can actually help a running back’s statistics. Those last few hundred yards are a killer. And he’s going to continue to take his game to a higher level.

“I anticipate us playing eight guys again much like we have”. That voter left Bosa off his ballot.

It now appears to be between Macgarrette Kings Jr, who dealt with offseason arrests, and DeAnthony Arnett, who has been rather underwhelming since his transfer from Tennessee two seasons ago, to compete for the starting job at the “Z”. Middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan is a prime breakout candidate.

Michigan State/Big Ten Media Days pressing questions – How good is good enough?

Rutgers entered the Big Ten planning to use the speed and athleticism of its front seven to go around the big bodies on Big Ten offensive lines rather than trying to bump heads in a battle of brute force. This year, coaches like Nick Saban or Art Briles get to play that role should they meet in the playoffs. For the first time in a while, Big Ten coaches and players won’t be answering questions about when they will escape the SEC’s shadow. He missed the last half of the season with a shoulder injury and, as a result, the Hoosiers struggled to a 4-8 record under coach Kevin Wilson. This for a team without a proven quarterback or wideout or nose tackle.

Who’s the best of the West?

Question: Which team will be the most improved in the Big Ten? It should make for better coverage, and perhaps open up greater possibility that some coach on Day 2 will have to respond to something a peer said on Day 1.

The only minor surprise from the All-Big Ten Team is that Zettel is the only Nittany Lion on it. DaeSean Hamilton, Austin Johnson, Jordan Lucas, Nyeem Wartman-White, Brandon Bell, and of course Christian Hackenberg all were likely considered for the honor, but were ultimately edged out.

Yet there are hidden messages speckled within the measured rhythm – those of plus-sized assurance, uttered quietly, in a manner that fits into Michigan State’s ethos of workmanlike efficiency amid a run of historic success.