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Reactions: Big Ten

Michigan-Wisconsin winner Orange Bowl bound

Heisman Trophy candidate Drew Brees of Purdue is poised to break most Big Ten passing records. Tom Pidgeon/Allsport

CNNSI.com users were asked to share their predictions of what to expect in Big Ten football during the 2000 season. A sample of the responses we received follows:

Badger defense and special teams will out-score eight of the 12 offenses they face this season. Badgers will destroy Michigan, but have a close game against Purdue.
William F. Ziegenhagen, Kent, Wash.

Indiana will be the surprise team of the Big Ten. Antwaan Randle El is enormously talented and Jeremi Johnson, Levron Williams, Versie Gaddis, Jerry Dorsey and Brian Lewis give the Hoosiers all kinds of offensive weapons. If James Bell can improve this defense half as much as he did with the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest, this will be a tough out for anyone. Ask Michigan, Purdue and Illinois how much fun it is to play IU. They certainly had their hands full last year.
Beth Bauer, Wheaton, Ill.

The Big Ten will finally produce a national champion this season, as the winner of the Wisconsin-Michigan game will go on to an undefeated season and face Nebraska or Florida State in the Orange Bowl.
Ben Walter, Albuquerque, N.M.

Wisconsin will win the Big Ten again this season. Michigan and Penn State will tie for second with Purdue, Illinois and Michigan State in a three-way tie for third. Indiana and Minnesota will end up at .500 for the season and Northwestern and Iowa will bring up the rear.

Drew Brees and Drew Henson will be overshadowed by the success of Antwaan Randle El and backup QB Tommy Jones at IU. IU will upset Purdue on the road and keep Minnesota from climbing any higher than .500.
Mike Courtright, Bloomington, Ind.

Sleeper: Illinois goes to the Rose Bowl! Their entire offense is back (minus an injured receiver). Look for Kurt Kittner to be mentioned for the Heisman!
JB, Minneapolis, Minn.

If the Michigan defense can hold opponents under 21 points per game, they have a good shot at going undefeated. This is the deepest offense Michigan has had in a long time. My prediction is that we will finally have a national championship game with the two best teams from two of the best conferences, Michigan vs. Nebraska, with Michigan coming out on top due to a more talented team.
Mike Siem, Washington, D.C.

Even though Michigan and Wisconsin are the obvious front-runners, you have to look out for Ohio State (revamped offense, talented young D), Illinois (good QB with experience) and Purdue (Drew Brees PERIOD.) I think Casey's off-the-field problems will hurt Penn State early. But I am going to make a prediction: Ohio State comes back and shocks the Big Ten with Bellisari mixing it up on the ground with a good trio and airing it out with the best tandem in the conference this year.
Jeremy Kitson, West Palm Beach, Fla.

The Big Ten is the toughest conference in the land this year; any team that can make it through undefeated will be looking for Oranges. If Wisconsin beats Michigan, book your tickets to Florida to watch the battle of Big Reds (Nebraska). Michigan and Purdue will slug it out for second.
Mark Premo, Madison, Wis.

The winner of the Michigan-Wisconsin game could play for the national title if Nebraska or FSU stumble. Illinois, by not having to play either Wisconsin or Purdue, will surprise again and win eight or nine games. Again the Big Ten will produce seven bowl teams, with all but NU, Iowa, IU, and Minnesota going. The main surprise will be Kurt Kittner emerging as the conference's premier quarterback. If he had a defense Illinois would be in the run for the roses.
Eric Folker, Mishawaka, Ind.

1. Michigan will go undeated
2. Seven teams will go to bowl games
3. Michigan will beat Nebraska 17-14
4. Big Ten will finish 5-2 in bowl games
5. Drew B. will finish second in the Heisman
Lawrence Houston, Grand Rapids, Mich.

People all over the country might actually start to realize that the Big Ten is without a doubt the toughest conference from top to bottom. In any given year, those teams have to face each other and win every game to get to the national championship. In my opinion, the winner of the Big Ten should play for the title every year. They deserve it for running that gauntlet!
Mark Was, Warren, Ohio

Michigan State will once again emerge as the surprise team, and Michigan will disappoint, as has happened the last two seasons. The dominant team will end up being either Wisconsin or Penn State.
Final Standings:
1. Wisconsin
2. Penn State
3. Purdue
4. Michigan State
5. Michigan
6. Minnesota
7. Illinois
8. Indiana
9. Iowa
10. Minnesota
11. Northwestern
Scott Harvey, Marietta, Ga.

There is no clean-cut favorite, although I like Ohio State to come back and win the conference. They are more determined and more committed to win this season than last year. Michigan and Purdue will vie for runner-up. Michigan State and Minnesota are better than most preseason pundits think. On the other hand, Penn State, Wisconsin and Illinois will take this year off. Indiana will provide them with close contests. Northwestern, Iowa and Notre Dame will bottom out. Oops. Notre Dame is not even in the conference. Oh well. Were they in, you know what I mean.
Eugene Zhang, Greenville, S.C.

The Big Ten is easily the best college football conference in the country. They proved that last year when the two schools from Michigan took out the No. 1 and No. 2 teams from the SEC. This year Michigan is definitely going to have the top offense and Wisconsin the best defense. It's up to one of those two teams to take it to the Rose Bowl.
Paul Keeler, Wheaton, Ill.

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