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

1. OSU
Until they actually lose, OSU always gets the benefit of the doubt

2.  Indy
Returning a good QB and good defense.

3.  Iowa
Iowa won their last 6 games of the season in 2020, including solid victories over PSU and Wiscy.  Iowa's defense has been under-rated the last couple years. 

4.  Wisc
Wisconsin rarely goes 2 years in a row without a division title.

5.  PSU
PSU won their last 4 games in 2020 after starting 0-5.  But did not really beat anybody that was any good.

6. NW
If NW tries to repeat its division titles in 2018 and 2020, it will have to do it with defense.  NW has lost some key people but I want to give them some respect for what they have accomplished recently.

7.  Minn
Still has a pretty good QB

8.  Neb
If Frost is going to turn this around, this is the year he needs to do it.

9.  Rut
Rutgers was competitive in almost every game last year, A big improvement.

10.  MD
Never really had a chance to get any momentum going in 2020.  May have the worst head coach in the Big Ten

11.  Pur
Got off to a 2-0 start, then absolutely fell apart in 2020.  Has potential to be a surprise team that comes out of nowhere to win the West.

12.  MICH
Michigan had a big blow out win against Minny in the opening game of 2020, but was just simply bad the rest of the year.  Its only other win in 2020 was a 3OT game against Rutgers.  Mich may come back strong this year but they no longer get the benefit of the doubt in my mind.

13.  MSU
Team has potential and could surprise,  but for now, they need to prove it first.

14.  ILL
Only because they have a new coach taking over and it will take time to improve.

6. Rutgers

14. Minnesota

• 8 Rutgers - because they are trending upwards, while the teams beneath them aren't.
• 11 Minnesota - Eh, I dunno which way they are rowing these days.

What are you two guys seeing that the rest of us aren't?  

You two have Rutgers at #6 and #8 while the rest of us have them at #9, #10, #12 (2x) and #13 (3x).  

You two have Minnesota at #14 and #11 while the rest of us have them at #9, #8, #7 (2x), #6 (2x) and #5.  

I don't mean this to be argumentative so please don't take it that way.  This is a preseason poll so who knows but on these two teams your votes are major outliers and I'm just asking what you are seeing to make you think that?  

4.  Wisc
Wisconsin rarely goes 2 years in a row without a division title.

Since the inception of the B1GCG, there have never been consecutive B1GCG's without Wisconsin.  They made it in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019 while missing in 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2020.  

What is ironic is that they actually have gone two years without a division title (2012-2013) but they went to the B1GCG in 2012 as the third place team.  

:a102:What are you two guys seeing that the rest of us aren't? 

You two have Rutgers at #6 and #8 while the rest of us have them at #9, #10, #12 (2x) and #13 (3x). 

You two have Minnesota at #14 and #11 while the rest of us have them at #9, #8, #7 (2x), #6 (2x) and #5. 

I don't mean this to be argumentative so please don't take it that way.  This is a preseason poll so who knows but on these two teams your votes are major outliers and I'm just asking what you are seeing to make you think that? 

I mean everyone is in agreement that it is a total crap shoot after #1 including yourself. Even your "reasoning" for each team was based on your whims instead of your usual analytical/data based explanations. 

There is no logical reason for our "whims" to be in sync, unless we are intentionally (or unintentionally) influenced by each other's rankings. 

I mean everyone is in agreement that it is a total crap shoot after #1 including yourself. Even your "reasoning" for each team was based on your whims instead of your usual analytical/data based explanations.

There is no logical reason for our "whims" to be in sync, unless we are intentionally (or unintentionally) influenced by each other's rankings.

Agreed, but I think what medina was asking is what whims drove that decision? 

Is there something that you see that makes you think Rutgers is going to be significantly improved this year? Is there something that you see that makes you think Minnesota will take a significant step back?

I think the goal here is not to chastise you for a different ranking, but to better understand what drove your rankings in case you're seeing something that others missed.

they do better than expected or Jimmy could be out

Agreed, but I think what medina was asking is what whims drove that decision?

Is there something that you see that makes you think Rutgers is going to be significantly improved this year? Is there something that you see that makes you think Minnesota will take a significant step back?

I think the goal here is not to chastise you for a different ranking, but to better understand what drove your rankings in case you're seeing something that others missed.

They exceeded expectations last year and, while I am not exactly a recruiting buff, I was hearing up until about a month ago that they had like a top ten class going. 

I don't think that they are going to be a Top 25 caliber team by any stretch, but we are talking about a Conference where 11 teams were worse than Indiana and Northwestern. Pretty much everyone here has Indiana and Northwestern taking a massive step back, so it's not like they finished 2nd and 3rd last year because they are loaded up with NFL talent or anything like that. It's a low bar to clear.