The Cleveland Plain Dealer has released their preseason Big Ten prediction poll consisting of voting by 34 media members around the conference. The Big Ten has no official poll, so the Cleveland newspaper has taken up the charge, released this poll for the ninth year in a row now.

Michigan is predicted to win the Big Ten East, while Nebraska is picked in the West. You can go to the Cleveland.com site for the predictions on who will win the Big Ten. (As if you think media members would vote for anyone in the West over either Ohio State or Michigan.)

Interesting fact: Nebraska and Iowa tied for the most first-place votes, but Nebraska did slightly better in overall voting.

Here’s how the voting went down:

BIG TEN EAST

1. Michigan, 222 points (20 first-place votes)

2. Ohio State, 214 points (14)

3. Michigan State, 156 points

4. Penn State, 154 points

5. Indiana, 86.5 points

6. Maryland, 82.5 points

7. Rutgers, 37 points

BIG TEN WEST

1. Nebraska, 198 points (14 first-place votes)

2. Iowa, 194.5 points (14)

3. Wisconsin, 172.5 points (4)

4. Northwestern, 142.5 points (1)

5. Purdue, 110.5 points

6. Minnesota, 100 points (1)

7. Illinois, 34 points

My thoughts:

• Both divisions have a terrible, terrible team. In the East it’s Rutgers. In the West, Illinois. I’m not sure how either of those teams are going to improve their standings, honestly.
• Northwestern won the West last year, now they’re fourth? They have a lot coming back.
• Minnesota has two experienced quarterbacks, one of the best receivers in the Big Ten, two 1,000-yard rushers, and their defense straightened itself out after PJ Fleck fired his defensive coordinator in mid-season - and they get picked sixth?
• Iowa had a NFL-caliber quarterback, and two first-round level NFL tight ends last year. They didn’t win the division, but now they’re picked first/second?
• I haven’t even said anything about Nebraska.

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