Big Ten Football & Basketball Blog

We mentioned that Big Ten Fans had released their 2008 Wisconsin preview earlier in the week, and now the Big Ten fan site has added to their 2008 Big Ten football preview. The addition of the Ohio State, Penn State and Illinois previews now means that most of the top teams in the Big Ten in 2008, per college football experts, have now been covered.

Per many publications, the Buckeyes are ranked #2 in the preseason rankings by Athlon Sports. The 2008 Ohio State football preview gives insight into the Buckeyes this coming fall. Illinois improved from 2 wins in 2006 to 9 wins and a Rose Bowl appearance in 2007. Find out what Big Ten Fans thinks of the Illini in the 2008 Illinois football preview. Finally, Penn State returns a lot of talent but is inexperienced at QB. How will Joe Pa do with the Nittany Lions in 2008? Find out in our 2008 Penn State football preview.

As always, look to Big Ten Fans for you Big Ten gear & tailgate supplies and look to College Sports Fans for college merchandise for all of your favorite teams!

The first of the 2008 Big Ten football previews has been released as the 2008 Wisconsin Badgers football preview is now live at BigTen-fans.com. The provider of the Big Ten previews thanks to our partnership with the 2008 college football preview at CollegeSports-fans.com, Big Ten Fans takes a look at the 2008 Wisconsin football team. Feel free to read more about the 2008 Badgers and let us know what you think. As always, keep looking to Big Ten Fans for additional Big Ten football team previews and Big Ten sports coverage all season long! And when you’re done reading the previews make sure to discuss Big Ten football on the Big Ten forums!

For years there has been talk in Ohio and Michigan about how the Michigan Wolverines have successfully recruited in the state of Ohio. In fact, Michigan’s two most recent Heisman Trophy winners, Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson were both Ohio kids. But despite falling on tougher times and a recent lack of success with their rivak Buckeyes, it seems that Michigan is not going to stop recruiting the Buckeye state. According to the Lindy’s College Football preview magazine, in the Wolverines’ nationally 10th-ranked recruiting class, seven players are from Ohio compared to just five from their home state of Michigan. While much of the class was recruited by outgoing coach Lloyd Carr, don’t expect Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez to stay away from the Buckeye state. Having coached at West Virginia, a state with Ohio’s Southeast border, RichRod knows that Ohio is indeed a hotbed for high school football talent.

The Athlon Sports 2008 college football preview is out and it seems that Athon staff loves Ohio State. Athlon’s Big Ten 1st Team Offense includes QB Todd Boeckman, RB Chris Wells, WR Brian Robiskie and OL Alex Boone. Meanwhile, their 1st Team Defense for the Big Ten also has four Buckeyes listed in linebackers James Laurinaitis & Marcus Freeman, CB Malcom Jenkins and S Anderson Russell. Three Ohio State players made the All-Big Ten 2nd Team and one made the All-Big Ten 3rd Team for Athlon Sports.

In addition to the All-Big Ten teams, Ohio State was ranked the #1 recruiting class for 2008 in the Big Ten and 10 of the top 13 newcomers in the Big Ten are Buckeyes.

In addition to Athlon’s college preview which is now on newstands, the 2008 NCAA college football preview from College Sports Fans proves to be a solid one as well.

Coming off one of the worst season’s in their program’s history, the Minnesota Golden Gophers look for improvement in 2008. After an abrupt firing of head coach Glen Mason following their 2006 season’s bowl loss, the Gophers didn’t even have a chance to think about bowling in the 2007 season as they went 1-11 and 0-8 in the Big Ten. But hope is in the air in Minnesota as head coach Tim Brewster looks to get more wins for his team in 2008. With all of this in mind, the 2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers football preview has been released as part of the 2008 NCAA college football previews over at College Sports Fans.

Wow. Not many people saw that coming. After a 36-36 tie at the half, Wisconsin looked like they had the Davidson Wildcats well within reach with just halftime adjustments needed by Bo Ryan and his staff in order to send the Badgers to the Elite 8. What happened instead was a dominating 37-20 second half as Davidson topped Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament to end the Badgers’ season. #3 seed Wisconsin ends their season 31-5 while the Wildcats (29-6) will likely face #1 Kansas on Sunday with a trip to the Fianl Four on the line. While fans rush to buy Davidson apparel & merchandise, Wisconsin fans should not hang their heads as 2007-2008 was another very successful season.

It’s halftime at Ford Field in Detroit in the Midwest Regional’s first Sweet 16 game as the Wisconsin Badgers and Davidson Wildcats are tied 36-36. In a game that was expected to be defense-dominated, both teams are on pace to score over 70 points, not your typical final when defense is your focus. Before fans run out to get their Wisconsin Badgers clothing & apparel for a trip to the Elite 8, they need to find a way to stop Davidson star Stephen Curry who has 11 first half points. The Wildcats have 7 players who scored inthe first half while Wisconsin has just 5 players who have score and Trevon Hughes injured his foot in 8 minutes of play and will not return for the Badgers.

The Wisconsin Badgers are in action again tonight at the #3 seed in the Midwest as they face the #10 Davidson Wildcats in the Sweet 16. While Davidson merchandise is flying off the shelves thanks to Stephen Curry leading the Wildcats to the Sweet 16, Bo Ryan has his Badgers right where he wants them, as a darkhorse National Championship contender. The two teams will tip off shortly after 7 pm tonight at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, with the winner facing the winner of #1 Kansas vs. #12 Villanova in the Elite 8 on Sunday.

After another great Big Ten season, the Big Ten Tournament proved to be full of upsets and surprises. Both Minnesota & Illinois pulled off upsets as the Illini advanced to the Big Ten championship game, but in the end Wisconsin emerged as the winner. After all was said and done, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan State & Purdue each were named to the 2008 NCAA Tournament. The Big Ten Champion Badgers earned a #3 seed in the Midwest, Michigan State was named a #5 seed in the South, Purdue is a #6 seed in the West and Indiana received a #8 seed in the East. College Sports Fans has added team capsules for all 65 teams in the 2008 NCAA Tournament which you can click on and read below.

> Wisconsin Badgers 2008 NCAA Tournament

> Michigan State Spartans 2008 NCAA Tournament

> Purdue Boilermakers 2008 NCAA Tournament

> Indiana Hoosiers 2008 NCAA Tournament

DFN Sports is proud to announce that DFN member sites BigTen-fans.com and CollegeSports-fans.com will carry coverage of the 2008 Big Ten Basketball Tournament and the 2008 NCAA Basketball Tournament. Follow all of the great action in the Big Ten Tournament and the Big Dance online with DFN Sports sites!