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Using the recently released AP Poll:

• #19 Wisconsin
• #25 Iowa
• #37 Minnesota
• #43 Illinois

Teams neither ranked nor receiving votes:

• Purdue
• Nebraska
• Northwestern

Games amongst the top-4:

• 1A, 2H Iowa visits UW, hosts MN and IL
• 1A, 2H Minnesota visits IA, hosts UW and IL
• 2A, 1H Wisconsin visits MN and IL, hosts IA
• 2A, 1H Illinois visits IA and MN, hosts UW

That favors the Hawkeyes and Gophers and is a challenge for the Badgers and Illini.

B1G-E opponents:

• Wisconsin visits IU, hosts tOSU and RU
• Iowa visits PSU, hosts MSU and RU
• Minnesota visits tOSU, hosts M and MSU
• Illinois visits UMD, hosts PSU and IU

This looks like a big disadvantage for Minnesota since they play both tOSU and M. The other three each only play one of the big three from the East.

Which of UW/IA/IL's schedules are most favorable depends on just how good you think tOSU/PSU/M are relative to UW/IA/IL. If the Eastern teams are "beatable" then UW/IL have the more favorable schedules because they get HFA against their toughest opponents (tOSU/PSU). If not then Iowa has the more favorable schedule because they get HFA in the games where it might matter.

IMHO, all of the above probably favors Iowa. That said, I still don't think they will get to Indy for two reasons:

• They visit Camp Randall, and
• Brian Ferentz.

I'm picking Wisconsin.

Did Iowa install that fun and gun offense?

I heard a rumor that they are going to attempt a new and mysterious gimmick called the forward pass but that was only a rumor, it probably isn't true.  

Since this the last year for divisions, I am finding myself rooting for ILL to take the last Big Ten West title since they are the only school in the West never to win or even tie for a division title. 

This would be a fitting end for the Big Ten West,  with everybody winning or tieing at least once for a division title.   Of course you have to go back to legends and leaders to count Nebraska's last division title and Minn has never made to the CCG,  losing the tiebreaket the one year they tied for first, but they did get a trophy. 

Since this the last year for divisions, I am finding myself rooting for ILL to take the last Big Ten West title since they are the only school in the West never to win or even tie for a division title.

This would be a fitting end for the Big Ten West,  with everybody winning or tieing at least once for a division title.  Of course you have to go back to legends and leaders to count Nebraska's last division title and Minn has never made to the CCG,  losing the tiebreaket the one year they tied for first, but they did get a trophy.

So very PJ Barnum.

Purdue is a total mystery this year.  Won the west last year, but has so many questions this year that most prognosticators have them in the 5th or 6th place slot for this year.  It wouldn't surprise me if they went 3-9 or 8-4.  It's probably going to come down to the O-line making holes for Mock to run through.

Purdue is a total mystery this year.  Won the west last year, but has so many questions this year that most prognosticators have them in the 5th or 6th place slot for this year.  It wouldn't surprise me if they went 3-9 or 8-4.  It's probably going to come down to the O-line making holes for Mock to run through.

If Jeff Brahm was still around,  I would give Purdue a chance to go 8-4,  but with a new coach coming in,  it's definitely feels like a year where they scrap the old system and start over which usually means playing younger players with little experience and building for the future.  So 3-9 sounds about right for Purdue.  Of course I have been wrong before.