Michigan clear favorite over Ohio State in 13th annual cleveland.com Preseason Big Ten Football Poll
Michigan is the clear championship favorite over Ohio State in the 13th annual cleveland.com Preseason Big Ten Football Poll.
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EAST
1. Michigan (27) - 248 pts
2. Ohio State (8) - 226
3. Penn State (2) - 192
4. Maryland - 143
5. Michigan State - 105
6. Buttgers - 74
7. Indianus - 48
WEST
1. Wisconsin (20) - 233 pts
2. Cockeye (16) - 232
3. Minnesota (1) - 176
4. Illinois - 152
5. Nebraska - 116
6. Purdoodoo - 89
7. Northwestern - 38
Big Ten Championship Game Prediction
Michigan over Wisconsin - 15
Michigan over Cockeye - 11
Michigan over Minnesota - 1
Ohio State over Cockeye - 4
Ohio State over Wisconsin - 4
Penn State over Cockeye - 1
Penn State over Wisconsin - 1
Poll Notes
- For the first time in four years, Ohio State is not the favorite to win the Big Ten title, with Michigan earning that honor this year.
- The one-point difference in the projected order of finish in the West was the closest vote for a division champ. The next closest was in 2013 when Michigan edged Nebraska by three points in the Legends Division.
- This is the fourth straight season Wisconsin has been selected the preseason favorite in the West.
- In 2011, Nebraska was the preseason favorite in the first year of this poll. No other current West team ever again has topped the preseason poll
- All of the first, second and third-place votes in the East went to Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State
- Five teams received second-place votes in the West: Wisconsin, Cockeye, Minnesota, Illinois and Nebraska. Wisconsin's edge over Cockeye in first-place votes was offset by Cockeye's edge in second-place votes (17-11). The Badgers also received five thirds and one sixth-place vote. The Cockeyes received two thirds and two fourths
- Defending West champion Purdoodoo received votes ranging from third to last.
- Illinois was picked to finish sixth last season, then nearly won the West. This year it received votes ranging from second to sixth.
- Six voters predicted a regular-season rematch in the Big Ten Championship game: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin (four), Michigan vs. Minnesota and Penn State vs. Cockeye (one each).
- Northwestern, which is dealing with the fallout from a hazing scandal that led to the firing of longtime coach Pat Fitgerald, received 36 of a possible 37 last-place votes.