| Never has a conference been so overwhelmingly | | | | only to flop big-time in front of a national audience. This |
| celebrated at the beginning of the season, and so | | | | troublesome history is the only thing keeping Ohio |
| completely dismissed at the end of the season as the | | | | State from a vote of confidence to commandeer this |
| Big Ten. Every year it seems as if Ohio State is just | | | | season's Big Ten class. That, and they have |
| coming up short or Penn State is losing the big one. | | | | effectively lost all their big guns: James Laurinitis, |
| The mistake people make is in so vehemently | | | | Malcolm Jenkins, Brian Robiske, and Chris Wells. That is |
| disrespecting the conference once the national | | | | not to say the Buckeyes don't have talent. They are |
| championship inevitably goes to someone else after | | | | simply in a "down year" position, and it will require some |
| weeks of anticipation that "this could be the year." | | | | good old-fashioned "fighting off the ropes" moxie to |
| Truth is this: the Big Ten is a quality football conference | | | | rise to the top of the heap. |
| that perhaps receives too much attention and cannot | | | | 1. Penn State: Penn State is coming off a Rose Bowl |
| possibly, and with consistency, live up to the pressure. | | | | appearance and a victory over rival Ohio State. The |
| No matter. Getting ready for the 2009 college football | | | | Nittany Lions may have a young receiving corps, but |
| season, there are some great bets to be made, and | | | | they've got All Big Ten back Evan Royster to carry |
| these are the top three football picks from the Big Ten | | | | some of the load. Defensively, they return Sean Lee, a |
| conference you should look out for: | | | | top caliber linebacker, to lead the defense. All it will take |
| 3. Michigan State: Last season, the Spartans logged | | | | is the same tenacity they had last year to clinch the |
| nine wins and four losses. Running back Javon Ringer | | | | conference and perhaps land another BCS |
| kept the Spartans in the conference title mix all season | | | | appearance. |
| long until a late loss to rival Penn State dashed any | | | | Whether you agree with these top three Big Ten |
| and all hopes. Unfortunately for the Spartans, they are | | | | football picks for the 2009 college football season or |
| losing their quarterback Brian Hoyer and Ringer, but | | | | not, one thing is for certain: there is money to be made |
| expectations are high for the talent pool coming up. | | | | in college football betting. Before placing your bets on |
| Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Greg Jones | | | | the season, however, keep in mind that you should |
| makes up for a lot on the other side of the ball in the | | | | select an established, reputable sportsbook. Watch for |
| linebacker position. Look for this team to achieve | | | | reputation, comments, and a bookmaker bonus. Many |
| better than expectations and to beat some teams | | | | services that allow you to bet on your football picks |
| they probably shouldn't. | | | | will offer you a bookmaker bonus as a courtesy for |
| 2. Ohio State: Coming off an | | | | using their service. A bookmaker bonus allows you to |
| impressive-by-most-team's standards 10-3 season, the | | | | play longer with less risk, and you should take full |
| Buckeyes were ultimately disappointed by their | | | | advantage. |
| 2008-2009 performance - hardly their first. On more | | | | So break out the piggybank and the foam #1 finger: |
| than one occasion they have reached the title game | | | | football season is here again! |