Big Ten Mailbag: Chances Iowa runs table for second straight season?

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 2 years ago

Before lighting my sparklers and grilling hot dogs, I thought I’d go through my Big Ten Mailbag. [ MORE: East OL | West OL | East pass-catchers | West pass-catchers | East backfields | West backfields | East DL | West DL | Top 7 QBs | Top 10 WRs ] I tackle questions about the Nebraska quarterbacks, Iowa’s prospects for regular-season perfection and Wisconsin’s chances to slow LSU RB/beast Leonard Fournette in the season opener, among other subjects. Let’s go! What is the likelihood that Iowa runs the table in the regular season again? The Hawkeyes get Wisconsin, Nebraska,

Mailbag: Jim Harbaugh, MSU's 'chip on the shoulder' & more

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 2 years ago

Is Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh getting too much attention? Who will win the Big Ten East? And what’s up with that perceived chip on the shoulder at Michigan State? I get into all of that—and more–in this super terrific mailbag. Why do you continue to be a publicist for Jim Harbaugh? Is he paying you to keep his name alive in your columns? The last time I looked, there were 13 other coaches in this league. Do they do nothing? – David Walimaki OK. I have received several emails along these lines. Seems some in Big Ten Nation are suffering from

Mailbag: Big Ten East favorite, Michigan pass-catchers & more

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 2 years ago

My Big Ten Mailbag is filling up. So, let’s answer some questions! Who is gonna win the East? Does Michigan have the best fleet of pass catchers in the Big Ten? Are we anointing Jim Harbaugh too quickly? Let’s go!! Who do you think will win the Big Ten East? – Steven Spivey It could be a terrific race, with Michigan State, Ohio State and Michigan the favorites. Michigan State is the defending champ, but it has lots of holes to fill—beginning at quarterback. Michigan remains a bit of a work-in-progress, which like MSU needs a new signal-caller. That brings

Big Ten football mailbag: Counting down the days to football

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 2 years ago

How good could the Huskers football team be? Is this the year Michigan knocks out Michigan State? Which team is in a transition year but still has hope? Your emails landed in Tom Dienhart's inbox, and he answers them once again in his weekly mailbag.

Big Ten Mailbag: So many early football predictions & more

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 2 years ago

Time to reach into my Big Ten Mailbag. Can Michigan go 12-0? Is Iowa a national title contender? Will any true freshmen play for Nebraska in 2016? I look at those questions and others below. Let’s go! I think that Michigan can go 12-0 this season. Michigan isn’t deep at linebacker and along the defensive line. But the Wolverines are strong in the secondary, receiver, d-line and tight end spots. – Ben I am very high on Michigan, too. But, I’m not so sure the Wolverines will go 12-0. I could see Michigan going 10-2 or 9-3. The fact Jim

Big Ten Mailbag: How will unbalanced slate impact league?

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 2 years ago

I dig into my Big Ten Mailbag to answer your questions about the Big Ten’s looming nine-game league schedule, Michigan State concerns and Iowa’s prospects in 2016, among other topics. Let’s go! With schools playing nine Big Ten games this year, how important will scheduling be in deciding outcomes this fall? – Larry Roehrkasse It will be big, as for the first time since 1984, Big Ten teams will have to a nine-game conference schedule. Teams from the East Division will host five conference home games during even-numbered years, while teams from the West Division will host five conference home

Big Ten Mailbag: More spring football questions & answers

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 2 years ago

Sifting through my mail bag on a warm spring day and what do I find? Questions about Nebraska’s 2016 prospects, Indiana’s spring game, Wisconsin’s quarterback situation and more. Let’s go! Reminder: All available Big Ten spring football games are on BTN2Go, so you can watch games that already happened and get ready for ones coming up. I’ll be at Michigan State’s game on Saturday – it’s one of four games on the final weekend of spring football. All games are listed here with links to watch each live on BTN2Go. More spring football coverage: After watching the spring game, what is

Tom Dienhart answers your latest Big Ten questions

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 2 years ago

You have questions, and I have answers … some of the time. Here is the latest edition of my Big Ten Mailbag. As usual, the mailbag is 100 percent guaranteed. What team will be the favorite next season in Big Ten hoops? – Matt We still need to find out which players who have declared for the draft will stay in the draft. But knowing what we know, I think next year’s race should come down to three schools: Michigan State, Wisconsin and Indiana. The Spartans lose Denzel Valentine, Matt Costello, Deyonta Davis and Bryn Forbes, among others, but Tom

Big Ten Mailbag: Dark horse players, Penn State QB & more

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 2 years ago

It’s time for my latest Big Ten Mailbag, what with the basketball season in our rear-view mirror and spring football in full swing. Lots of interest in Michigan and its upcoming season. And who could be some dark horse offensive players next fall? Who do you think are some dark-horse offensive players for the 2016 season? – Joey Brown There are some interesting choices for the upcoming football season. Here are some dark horses to watch for each school. Illinois WR Mikey Dudek Indiana QB Richard Lagow Iowa RB Akrum Wadley Maryland WR D.J. Moore Michigan RB Ty Isaac Michigan

Mailbag: Unbalanced schedules, Coach of the Year & more

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, 2 years ago

The basketball season is winding down. Who is the league coach of the year? And all hail Indiana! Spring football also is on the minds of readers. Could Nebraska win the West? I look at those questions and others in my mail bag. The conference schedule just isn’t fair with how it is unbalanced. It can be the luck of the draw on who you play once and who you play twice. – Brad I agree. I long for the old days when the league played almost exclusively on just Thursdays and Saturdays and there was a round-robin schedule to crown

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