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OSU picked to win B1G, Iowa tabbed 2nd for West
Jul. 25, 2014 11:45 am
Ohio State was picked to win the Big Ten championship and Iowa was tabbed for second place in the newly created Big Ten West Division, according to a preseason sportswriter poll released Friday morning.
The poll was arranged by Cleveland Plain Dealer sportswriter Doug Lesmerises and includes two reporters that cover each Big Ten team and two national reporters. The Gazette's Marc Morehouse and Scott Dochterman participated in the poll.
Among the 29 voters, Ohio State received 23 first-place votes (counting ties) in the East and 195 total points, outdistancing Michigan State (10 first, 180 total) and Michigan (136). Twenty reporters had the Buckeyes advancing out of the East with 19 picking the Buckeyes to win the Big Ten championship. Nine selected Michigan State to qualify for the title game and all picked the Spartans to win.
In the West, Wisconsin received 15 first-place votes and 183.5 points, just ahead of Iowa (11 first-place, 173) and Nebraska (5 first place, 157.5). Fourteen writers had Wisconsin advancing to the title game, while nine had Iowa and five tabbed Nebraska. One writer picked Northwestern.
Only one writer chose a West Division team to win the Big Ten title, tabbing Nebraska to upend Ohio State.
EAST
1. Ohio State, 195 points (23 first-place votes)
2. Michigan State, 180 points (10)
3. Michigan, 136 points
4. Penn State, 105.5 points
5. Maryland, 84 points
6. Indiana, 78.5 points
7. Rutgers, 33 points
WEST
1. Wisconsin, 183.5 points (15 first-place votes)
2. Iowa, 173 points (11)
3. Nebraska, 157.5 points (5)
4. Northwestern, 112 points (1)
5. Minnesota, 96.5 points
6. Illinois, 58 points
7. Purdue, 31.5 points
* there are more than 29 first-place votes in each division because of ties
Picks to win Big Ten Championship
Ohio State 19
Michigan State 9
Nebraska 1
Big Ten title game matchup predictions
Ohio State over Wisconsin, 12
Michigan State over Iowa, 5
Ohio State over Iowa, 4
Ohio State over Nebraska, 3
Michigan State over Wisconsin, 2
Michigan State over Nebraska, 1
Michigan State over Northwestern, 1
Nebraska over Ohio State, 1
Voters (two who cover each school were asked to vote. Only one vote was received for Maryland)
Ohio State
: Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman
Michigan State
: Mike Griffith, Kyle Austin
Michigan
: Nick Baumgardner, Brendan Quinn
Penn State
: Bob Flounders, Audrey Snyder
Indiana
: Dustin Dopirak, Zach Osterman
Maryland
: Matt Zenitz
Rutgers
: Dan Duggan, Keith Sargeant
Wisconsin
: Tom Mulhern, Jeff Potrykus
Iowa
: Marc Morehouse, Scott Dochterman
Nebraska
: Brian Christopherson, Sam McKewon
Northwestern
: Teddy Greenstein, Kevin Trahan
Minnesota
: Joe Christensen, Marcus Fuller
Illinois
: Bob Asmussen, Steve Greenberg
Purdue
: Mike Carmin, Pete DiPrimio
League
: Adam Rittenberg, Phil Steele
l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@sourcemedia.net