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2015 College Football Preview: Big Ten
By: Staff Writer - StatFox
Published: 8/19/2015  at  11:14:00 AM
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2015 College Football Preview: Big Ten

To get you prepared for the upcoming college football season, we begin our run of all FBS conference previews over the next several weeks. In this next preview, we’ll run through the teams in the Big Ten:

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 6-7
ATS Record: 5-8
Over/Under: 7-6
Points Scored: 25.9 PPG (87th in FBS)
Points Allowed: 34.0 PPG (109th in FBS)
Odds to Win 2015 BCS National Championship: 75/1 (Field)

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 7
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
QB Wes Lunt (7.3 YPA, 14 TD, 3 INT) will be without top WR Mike Dudek (1,036 rec yds) until October, but RB Josh Ferguson (735 rush yds) remains. LBs Mason Monheim (111 tackles) and T.J. Neal (98 tackles) lead a subpar Illini defense.

INDIANA HOOSIERS

BetDSI Sportsbook preview for this school:

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 4-8
ATS Record: 4-7
Over/Under: 6-6
Points Scored: 25.1 PPG (90th in FBS)
Points Allowed: 32.8 PPG (102nd in FBS)
Odds to Win 2015 BCS National Championship: 75/1 (Field)

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 6
QB Nate Sudfeld (6.9 YPA) is back healthy to run the spread, but with a green receiving corps. UAB transfer RB Jordan Howard (1,587 rush yds) is the offensive key. The defense is too generous, especially through the air.

IOWA HAWKEYES

BetDSI Sportsbook preview for this school:

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 7-6
ATS Record: 6-7
Over/Under: 8-5
Points Scored: 28.2 PPG (71st in FBS)
Points Allowed: 25.6 PPG (51st in FBS)
Odds to Win 2015 BCS National Championship: 500/1

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
Junior QB C.J. Beathard (7.0 YPA) will often target WR Tevaun Smith (596 rec yds), because the Iowa ground game is so weak. DE Drew Ott (8 sacks) is the line leader, while FS Jordan Lomax (92 tackles) highlights an elite secondary.

MARYLAND TERRAPINS

BetDSI Sportsbook preview for this school:

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 7-6
ATS Record: 6-7
Over/Under: 7-6
Points Scored: 28.5 PPG (67th in FBS)
Points Allowed: 30.2 PPG (89th in FBS)
Odds to Win 2015 BCS National Championship: 75/1 (Field)

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 4
The Terps will miss WR Stefon Diggs, WR Deon Long and QB C.J. Brown, but really like 6-foot-3 senior QB Caleb Rowe (9.1 YPA). A thin O-Line won’t help RB Brandon Ross (419 rush yds). New DC Keith Dudzinski has little to work with.

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

BetDSI Sportsbook preview for this school:

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 5-7
ATS Record: 5-7
Over/Under: 5-7
Points Scored: 20.9 PPG (111th in FBS)
Points Allowed: 22.4 PPG (27th in FBS)
Odds to Win 2015 BCS National Championship: 85/1

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 9
Defense: Starters Returning: 8
Once new head coach Jim Harbaugh chooses a starter between QBs Jake Rudock (16 TD, 5 INT), Shane Morris (0 TD, 3 INT) and freshman Alex Malzone, the pro-style offense should flourish. New DC D.J. Durkin has an experienced unit.

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

BetDSI Sportsbook preview for this school:

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 11-2
ATS Record: 9-4
Over/Under: 10-3
Points Scored: 43.0 PPG (7th in FBS)
Points Allowed: 21.5 PPG (22nd in FBS)
Odds to Win 2015 BCS National Championship: 20/1

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
Senior QB Connor Cook (24 TD, 8 INT) is outstanding, but the team’s top two skill players are gone (RB Jeremy Langford, WR Tony Lippett). DE Shilique Calhoun (8 sacks) and LB Ed Davis (7 sacks) lead an ultra-stingy defense.

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 8-5
ATS Record: 8-5
Over/Under: 6-6
Points Scored: 28.4 PPG (69th in FBS)
Points Allowed: 24.2 PPG (34th in FBS)
Odds to Win 2015 BCS National Championship: 500/1

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
More is needed from QB Mitch Leidner (11 TD, 8 INT) now that star RB David Cobb is gone. All five starting O-Linemen return. CB Eric Murray (69 tackles) paces an uber-talented secondary, and the front seven is above average.

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS

BetDSI Sportsbook preview for this school:

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 9-4
ATS Record: 8-5
Over/Under: 9-2
Points Scored: 37.8 PPG (13th in FBS)
Points Allowed: 26.4 PPG (60th in FBS)
Odds to Win 2015 BCS National Championship: 110/1

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 6
QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. (7.8 YPA, 53% comp.) must improve for new head coach Mike Riley’s pro-style offense to work. New DC Mark Banker will implore DE Greg McMullen (4 sacks) and S Nate Gerry (5 INT) to increase takeaways.

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS

BetDSI Sportsbook preview for this school:

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 5-7
ATS Record: 5-7
Over/Under: 5-6
Points Scored: 23.0 PPG (101st in FBS)
Points Allowed: 25.2 PPG (48th in FBS)
Odds to Win 2015 BCS National Championship: 75/1 (Field)

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 6
One of three players will replace QB Trevor Siemian, but RB Justin Jackson (1,187 rush yds) is the offensive star. The front seven needs work, but two top-flight CBs remain in Matthew Harris and Nick VanHoose (2 INT each).

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

BetDSI Sportsbook preview for this school:

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 14-1
ATS Record: 10-5
Over/Under: 12-3
Points Scored: 44.8 PPG (5th in FBS)
Points Allowed: 22.0 PPG (26th in FBS)
Odds to Win 2015 BCS National Championship: 2/1

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
The starting stud QB (Cardale Jones or J.T. Barrett) will frequently feed RB Ezekiel Elliott (1,878 rush yds). Braxton Miller is now an h-back and adds another playmaker. This defense is loaded with DE Joey Bosa (13.5 sacks), LB Darron Lee (2 TD) and S Vonn Bell (6 INT).

PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS

BetDSI Sportsbook preview for this school:

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 7-6
ATS Record: 6-6
Over/Under: 6-7
Points Scored: 20.6 PPG (113th in FBS)
Points Allowed: 18.6 PPG (7th in FBS)
Odds to Win 2015 BCS National Championship: 300/1

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
QB Christian Hackenberg (6.2 YPA, 12 TD, 15 INT) needs a bounce-back season and has a veteran WR corps and RB Akeel Lynch (678 rush yds) at his disposal. DT Anthony Zettel (8 sacks) shines brightest in a stellar defense.

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS

BetDSI Sportsbook preview for this school:

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 3-9
ATS Record: 7-5
Over/Under: 6-5
Points Scored: 23.8 PPG (98th in FBS)
Points Allowed: 31.7 PPG (99th in FBS)
Odds to Win 2015 BCS National Championship: 75/1 (Field)

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 9
Defense: Starters Returning: 6
The offense lacks stars, but will play an up-tempo style in 2015. Either QB Austin Appleby (5.3 YPA) or freshman QB David Blough will target top WR Danny Anthrop (616 rec yds). CB Frankie Williams (3 INT) leads a mediocre defense.

RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS

BetDSI Sportsbook preview for this school:

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 8-5
ATS Record: 8-5
Over/Under: 6-6
Points Scored: 26.7 PPG (83rd in FBS)
Points Allowed: 30.2 PPG (89th in FBS)
Odds to Win 2015 BCS National Championship: 75/1 (Field)

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 5
Defense: Starters Returning: 6
Stud WR Leonte Carroo (1,086 rec yds) will catch passes from LSU transfer Hayden Rettig or Chris Laviano. RB Paul James (5.8 YPC) will carry the mail. The defense has stars DT Darius Hamilton (6 sacks) and LB Steve Longa (102 tackles).

WISCONSIN BADGERS

BetDSI Sportsbook preview for this school:

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 11-3
ATS Record: 6-8
Over/Under: 8-4
Points Scored: 34.6 PPG (29th in FBS)
Points Allowed: 20.8 PPG (17th in FBS)
Odds to Win 2015 BCS National Championship: 100/1

2015 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 5
Defense: Starters Returning: 8
New head coach Paul Chryst will rely heavily upon RB Corey Clement (949 rush yds) and QB Joel Stave (9 TD, 10 INT). The defense should remain topnotch with LB Vince Biegel (16.5 TFL) and S Michael Caputo (106 tackles).


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