First Posted: 8/29/2012

Yes, this used to be a regular feature on The Ol' Blog here. Until last November rolled around, that is, and there were some, uh, more pressing matters to attend to.

But we've got a new website, a new blog and a new season. So it's time once again to take a look around the Increasingly Inaccurately Named Big Ten. All records listed are from 2011.

—derek

 WEEK 1

MINNESOTA (3-9, 2-6 Big Ten) at UNLV (2-10, 1-6 MWC)
AWAY	DETAILS	HOME
	11 p.m., today Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nev.
LINE: UM by 8. OK, look. I understand we're all anxious to watch some college football again. But do you really want to stay up past 2 a.m. to see how this one ends? At least under Tim Brewster it was fun to laugh at the Gophers. But last season was just a depressing one for Minnesota, which had to deal with the continuing health problems of new coach Jerry Kill, a grinder of a coach if there ever was one. Things don't look too much better on the field for Kill's crew this year, though imposing QB MarQueis Gray should again be fun to watch. Minnesota is the only team from a major conference to open on the road each season in the last three years. The Gophers lost the last two but should snap the skid here.

No. 24 BOISE STATE (12-1, 6-1 MWC) at No. 13 MICHIGAN STATE (11-3, 7-1 Big Ten)
AWAY	DETAILS	HOME
	8 p.m., Friday Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Mich.
LINE: MSU by 7. Now this is more like it. Boise State is poised to join the mainstream next season with a move to the Big East (and the Big West in other sports -- woooooo college athletics), the Broncos would like to enter with another big season. Gone are offensive stars Kellen Moore and Doug Martin, but the Broncos have done just fine reloading in this past decade of prominence. The Spartans, meanwhile, are perhaps on the cusp of consistent success for the first time in just about ever. Plenty of other major conference schools have fallen victim to Boise in these early matchups, but Sparty seems to be in good position with a mean defensive front to keep the Broncos and their trick plays honest. This could be the start of a special season in Lansing.

NORTHWESTERN (6-7, 3-5 Big Ten) at SYRACUSE (5-7, 1-6 Big East)
AWAY	DETAILS	HOME
	Noon, Saturday Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
LINE: NU by 1. Nothing like a hot, unpleasant opener stuck without air conditioning in a dome named after a company that makes air conditioners. Oddly enough, the Wildcats have looked comfortable no matter where they play their openers under Pat Fitzgerald, going a perfect 6-0 in his tenure. This isn't the Syracuse squad that Penn State got to pound on during the rough transition from Greg Robinson to Doug Marrone. But Marrone, Bill O'Brien's good friend, is much better suited for the job and has the Orange looking much better. I don't think new Cats QB Kain Colter can match the passing numbers of his predecessor, Dan Persa, but his athleticism will ensure NU is still entertaining to watch. This one's a coin flip, but Fitzgerald's streak should live on.

OHIO (10-4, 6-2 MAC) at PENN STATE (9-4, 6-2 Big Ten; wins vacated)
AWAY	DETAILS	HOME
	Noon, Saturday Beaver Stadium, State College
LINE: PSU by 6. Full breakdown tomorrow. Where to begin? Well, there will be plenty of other opportunities to talk about history and all that expected stuff. Let's focus on the football in this space. Given everything that's happened, the Bobcats are a trendy "upset special" pick throughout national outlets this week. And it's true that this is Penn State's toughest opener in many years -- arguably since facing Miami in 2001. Putting aside the hyper emotion of this game, it's just impossible to know how quickly the Lions have assimilated new schemes on both sides of the ball after years of serving up big scoops of vanilla. But even with the mass of transfers, Penn State still is the far more talented team across the board, and that should show in the second half. With Frank Solich at the helm, Ohio definitely has a legitimate chance in this one. But I don't think the Bobcats have enough to win outright.

WESTERN MICHIGAN (7-6, 5-3 MAC) at ILLINOIS (7-6, 2-6 Big Ten)
AWAY	DETAILS	HOME
	Noon, Saturday Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Ill.
LINE: UIUC by 9.5. For the time being, Penn State fans have a new team to root against. That would be the Tim Beckman-led Illini, who royally ticked off Bill O'Brien, his staff and his players with their all-out recruiting effort in State College back in July. Only one player, reserve lineman Ryan Nowicki, jumped ship to Champaign, but it's the principle of the thing that has the Lions riled up. Well there may be good news for them on Saturday, because Beckman will have as much trouble in his debut against the Broncos as O'Brien might have with the Bobcats. It was just four long, arduous Ron Zook seasons ago that WMU beat the Illini in Kalamazoo. And Broncos QB Alex Carder nearly beat Illinois in Champaing last year. If I had to pick an upset in the Big Ten this week, this would be it.

MIAMI U. (4-8, 3-5 MAC) at No. 18 OHIO STATE (6-7, 3-5 Big Ten)
AWAY	DETAILS	HOME
	Noon, Saturday Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
LINE: OSU by 22.5. Yes, folks in Columbus still aren't thrilled about athletic director Gene Smith's decision to take the Bucks' one-year postseason ban in 2012 instead of 2011. The predetermined end to Urban Meyer's first season back in his home state certainly takes a bit of luster off of the proceedings. But the country is eager to see the combination of Meyer coaching Braxton Miller, who Meyer boasts is the most dynamic athlete he has ever had at quarterback (sorry, Tebowers). The Buckeyes surely will be the best team in the country to end their sesaon around Thanksgiving, and its hard to imagine the RedHawks doing anything to spoil that. Ohio State hasn't lost to an in-state opponent since 1921 against Oberlin. Fight on, mighty Yeomen!

IOWA (7-6, 4-4 Big Ten) vs. NORTHERN ILLINOIS (11-3, 7-1 MAC)
AWAY	DETAILS	HOME
	3:30 p.m., Saturday Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.
LINE: UI by 6.5. Let there no longer be any doubt that a horrible, horrible curse afflicts recent Iowa running backs, who, with the exception of Shonn Greene in 2008, have lifespans roughly equal to Spinal Tap drummers. The Hawkeyes have lost five (!) tailbacks since they last played a game in December. Injury, transfers, legal problems -- you name it. Promising freshman Greg Garmon, a one time Penn State target out of Erie who should see time right away, even had a rocky path to Iowa City after facing drug charges. The opening opponent isn't much comfort, either. The Huskies stunned Ohio in last season's MAC title game, shaking off a huge deficit. This NIU squad may not have that same level of juice in it, but remains a tricky opponent. The Huskies are technically the home team, but playing the game at the Bears' cavernous old home by the lake might mitigate the advantage. Feels like one of those one-score games that Kirk Ferentz teams always seem to pull out in the end.

EASTERN KENTUCKY (7-5, 6-2 OVC) at PURDUE (7-6, 4-4 Big Ten)
AWAY	DETAILS	HOME
	3:30 p.m., Saturday Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Ind.
Oh, goody. I was wondering what happened to all of the depressing Week 1 matchups against FCS teams. In this case, there's an obvious connection, as Purdue coach Danny Hope was initially brought over from EKU by Joe Tiller in 2008 to be his successor. Hope had five successful seasons with the Colonels, finishing second in the Ohio Valley Conference three times before winning the title and a trip to the NCAA tournament in his final year. Needless to say, things haven't gone so smoothly for him in Lafayette. Where Tiller at least produced exciting, high-flying teams, Hope's tenure has been characterized by injuries and disappointment. This is his chance to turn that around, returning the most starters in the entire conference. And two of the Boilers' Leaders Division foes -- Penn State and Ohio State -- aren't even eligible to reach the Big Ten title game. If Purdue wants to regain some relevance, it will start this season with a stomping of Eastern Kentucky.

SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (12-2, 6-2 C-USA) at No. 17 NEBRASKA (9-4, 5-3 Big Ten)
HOME	DETAILS	AWAY
	3:30 p.m., Saturday Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Neb.
LINE: UNL by 17.5. Southern Miss indirectly caused Penn State's final bit of embarrassment in the 2011 season. The Golden Eagles knocked off unbeaten Houston in the Conference USA title game, sending the Cougars spiraling down from a BCS at-large bid to the ignominy of the TicketCity Bowl. I don't think anyone needs a reminder of that particular bowl game. All of this is to say that this is not the same Southern Miss squad, which loses many of its best skill players and saw up-and-coming coach Larry Fedora bolt for North Carolina. So while this looks on paper to be a tough one for Nebraska to open their second season in the league, it really may not be that close. The 'Huskers have enjoyed success under Bo Pelini, but the fans in Lincoln are still yearning for a milestone -- either a conference title or a BCS bid -- that has largely eluded the program since Tom Osborne was on the sideline. Sure, Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead aren't exactly Gill and Rozier or Frazier and Phillips, but another year together should give them one of the league's more productive offenses.

NORTHERN IOWA (10-3, 7-1 MVC) at No. 12 WISCONSIN (11-3, 6-2 Big Ten)
HOME	DETAILS	AWAY
	3:30 p.m., Saturday Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wis.
Under Bret Bielema, Wisconsin has evolved into the class of the Big Ten, a hurdle the Badgers could never quite clear under successful predecessor Barry Alvarez. With Penn State and Ohio State banned from the postseason, there's no reason to think the Badgers won't be right back in the Big Ten title hunt, angling for a third straight trip to Pasadena. Russell Wilson is gone, but he is replaced by another talented product of the NCAA's grad school transfer loophole, former Maryland QB Danny O'Brien. But he won't have to do much heavy lifting with Heisman finalist Montee Ball (it's pronounced Mon-TAY now, but I'm too lazy to find the code for the accent mark over that last 'e') back for a final year. Needless to say, an FCS outfit -- even a respectable one like the Panthers -- isn't going to pose a threat.

No. 8 MICHIGAN (11-2, 6-2 Big Ten) vs. No. 2 ALABAMA (12-1, 7-1 SEC)
HOME	DETAILS	AWAY
	8 p.m., Saturday Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
LINE: UA by 12. Ahh, the main event. This is exactly the type of game Bill O'Brien said he's interested in scheduling -- a marquee opener, possibly at a neutral site to get around the logistics and wrangling of two-year contracts. What initially looked like a mismatch when announced more than a year ago is now the spotlight game of the opening week thanks to Brady Hoke's quick turnaround of the Wolverines. With Denard Robinson at the helm of a rejuvenated team, Michigan has a puncher's chance. Unfortunately for UM, Nick Saban is on the other sideline, fresh off winning a second national championship in three seasons for the Crimson Tide. There is no better coach in college football at sucking the life out of even the most dynamic of talents on offense. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Wolverines get a few shots in early and even carry a lead into the second half. But the smart thinking is that the Tide will adapt quickly enough to pull away late in the fourth. Still a must-see game after you work your way home from State College.

INDIANA STATE (6-5, 4-4 MVC) at INDIANA (1-11, 0-8 Big Ten)
HOME	DETAILS	AWAY
	8 p.m., Saturday Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Ind.
And then there's this game. Ugh. Actually, there could be some entertainment value here outside of the actual football being played. Southern Indiana is scheduled to get absolutely drenched on Saturday by the remnants of Hurricane Isaac, with an estimated 7-8 inches of rain falling before it's all said and done. How much of it will still be hitting Bloomington by nightfall remains to be seen, but all the water could add some interest to a contest you otherwise wouldn't look twice at. The good news for the Hoosiers is that they're undefeated against FCS teams under Kevin Wilson, dispatching South Carolina State last season. Of course, they lost the other 11 games they played in 2011, but IU will take anything it can get at this point. The Sycamores struck early in last year's opener at Beaver Stadium before sputtering to the finish line. Expect a similar result here.

NITTANY NOTES: Comeback Edition of Around the Big Ten