Ohio State Football: Big Ten Preseason Predictions
By Alex Austin
In the hunt for the Big Ten West crown
Iowa (7-5)
Iowa looks like they are going to do what typical Iowa teams do. Run the ball and play great defense. Even though teams know what is coming, the Hawkeyes do it so well that they still find success. For Iowa, there looks like there will be lots of close games on this schedule.
A matter of a possession or two could change this from a third-place team to winners of the West, but until the team shows that they can pass the ball I think they come out on the wrong side of many close and physical games.
Northwestern (8-4)
The defending Big Ten West Champions are back and looking to prove that last year was no fluke. Benefiting from a schedule that could see them win their first six games before being challenged, the Wildcats will ride their hot start and hold on for the second spot in the Big Ten West.
Playing disciplined and avoiding mistakes has been the trademark of this team over the last few years, and there is no reason to believe that will change. This is the same team that played Ohio State close in the Big Ten Championship Game last year and that experience will help propel them to another solid season.