1. Michigan: Has question marks, but maybe the fewest question marks of the bunch. Defense lost a lot but silly to expect them to be bad on defense. Seems like worse case is 2017 level "really good" there. Offense the question is obviously how the new look goes, but it probably ain't getting worse than what they were last year and should likely be a lot more explosive.
2. Ohio State: Loads of talent, loads of questions. New head coach - total mystery. New defensive coaching staff - less of a mystery on what they will try to do but a big question on whether they will be able to do it. New quarterback who only has had limited playing time with a different team. New OL. So we'll see. There is a sense that I could coach this team to 10-2, so anything less than that would be disappointing.
3. Michigan State: Kind of difficult team to judge. Outstanding defense and putrid offense last year. Dantonio reshuffled the deck, but like throwing a dart in the ocean as to what that will mean. They have a good roster, the defense should be strong, and if they have a functional offense they should be a very tough out.
4. Penn State: Kind of like OSU - lots of talent, but a lot of new faces and a lot of questions on what they are doing and whether they can do it. I'm bearish on the offense, but they should be good enough to 9-3ish and certainly have the talent to do better than that.
Here comes the B1GW
5. Minnesota: Hey, I don't know. Fleck has a good history, they had a few guys who looked like real players, and so to the extent I have to pick a team to be five I'm picking them.
6. Nebraska: The Scott Frost Experience is here, and Nebraskans certainly hoping for the year 2 UCF had.
7. Wisconsin: How could I honestly put them any lower? If they get their passing game figured out they could be a very good team.
8. Iowa: It's Iowa. They could be good, or average, and probably not worse than that.
9. Northwestern: Only to the extent that the football might bounce a little harder for them this year.
10. Purdue: Again, could be good, but lots of youth and a grinder of a division.
11. Maryland: Not really sold on the Locks.
12. Indiana: Sneaky sort of team that might be a tough out if their offense gets it together.
13. Illinois: Quietly improving their roster, but are they any good.
14. Rutgers: Someone is always last.