Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

Rivalries appear often to be streaky ... UGA UF comes to mind also.  For a while Florida was simply way better, but UGA caught up and still had issues.

these things definitely run in cycles.

As for the B1G East. I really see it as a 3 team race with OSU, M, and MSU. All 3 of them have their ? marks, but those are the clear cut top 3 in my opinion. MSU's defense should be fantastic again. If they can get anything out of their offense they will be a contender for the East. OSU has the most STARZ on paper. Michigan probably has the best combo of experience/talent returning and the best QB in the B1G returning. I think a lot for Michigan depends on Gattis obviously and the health of Tarik Black. If they can just get a healthy full season out of Tarik Black that passing attack could light up the scoreboard. I don't know how you'd cover Black, DPJ, and Nico Collins all at once. That's of course if Harbaugh doesn't get in Gattis' way and prevents him from going 3-4 wide outs and decided to go with his stupid ass 8 TE's and 3 FB formations.

these things definitely run in cycles.

As for the B1G East. I really see it as a 3 team race with OSU, M, and MSU. All 3 of them have their ? marks, but those are the clear cut top 3 in my opinion. MSU's defense should be fantastic again. If they can get anything out of their offense they will be a contender for the East. OSU has the most STARZ on paper. Michigan probably has the best combo of experience/talent returning and the best QB in the B1G returning. I think a lot for Michigan depends on Gattis obviously and the health of Tarik Black. If they can just get a healthy full season out of Tarik Black that passing attack could light up the scoreboard. I don't know how you'd cover Black, DPJ, and Nico Collins all at once. That's of course if Harbaugh doesn't get in Gattis' way and prevents him from going 3-4 wide outs and decided to go with his stupid ass 8 TE's and 3 FB formations.

You think MSU's ascendance is sustainable, while PSU will be unable to return to glory?

(Edit: you may be talking about 2019; I was more curious on going forward long-term.)

That's of course if Harbaugh doesn't get in Gattis' way and prevents him from going 3-4 wide outs and decided to go with his stupid ass 8 TE's and 3 FB formations.

Leave Jimmy alone he's managing just fine.I agree about the WR's if Black can stay in the game it should be an interesting season.Open it up what the hell

I think Fiutak always tries to be different to get clicks, and arouse controversy.  If a less major site like his makes normal predictions, it gets lost.

Picking UM isn't some off the wall guess.  It also doesn't affect reality at all.  The game is at AA of course and UM is predicted to be a top ten team by most.  It's also reasonable to think the winner of TG will win the East.

And of course Reality might turn out quite differently.  I doubt anyone predicted the score of TG last year, or even close to that.

Now Steele and Fiutek both have Michigan winning the Big East.

So if OSU wins then Day should be a shoo in for coach of the year, having exceeded expectations, right?

Or would Kirk Ferentz edge him out by earning another contract extension?

Heh, the only shoo-in is Lovie winning 10 games. Anything else and you have to wait and see.

This is one of the rare years when OSU could have a coach of the year. First-year guy, new QB, losing a top rusher and a bunch of receivers. He wins all his games, he'll have a chance. Maybe could happen at 11-1, but would need everything to break his way.

The other contenders would be any West team that does surprisingly well (UW winning 10 games with an OSU/or Mich win, 10-plus wins from many of those other teams, Maryland/IU winning eight, Rutgers winning seven, MSU might have a puncher's chance at 10-2). You'd need a year like last year, or that year Kill won, where there just didn't feel like a great candidate. OSU probably should've gotten it in the Kill year, but the narrative momentum wasn't great for the Bucks.

It is what it is as a program where winning 71 percent of your games earns you a dunce cap. You never get to surprise, and a flawed award given to surprises is not within your grasp. 

(There's a small irony in the way this shows the multifaceted nature of the "everybody gets a trophy" trope that can be made to mean anything at any given time. On one hand, an OSU fan will say a trophy is being given for not excellence. On the other, the reason for everybody getting a trophy is young kids being upset others get something, a thing that happens with many young ones, and parents giving in. And of course, wanting a trophy you shouldn't have is exactly what OSU fans pine for in this case. The larger thought is that trophies are dumb, more for parents than kids, and send the wrong lessons to those who get them as much as those who don't. /End Side Rant)

I think Michigan will be able to beat Penn State on the road and perhaps go into The Game undefeated.   I have little confidence that Michigan will be able to defeat the Buckeyes.