Predicting wins, losses and where every Big Ten team will finish this season

College football is finally back… well, almost back.

We have flipped the calendar to August and that means there will be college football games played later this month. This includes a handful of Big Ten teams that’ll be taking part in some Week 0 action.

With the season right around the corner, I have taken my best stab at predicting every single Big Ten game this year and determining where each team will finish. Take a look at my predictions for each Big Ten team, including your Michigan State Spartans, below:

Illinois

Record: 5-7 (3-6 in Big Ten)

Notable Wins: at Indiana, vs. Iowa and at Northwestern

Notable Losses: vs. Virginia, vs. Minnesota and vs. Purdue

Bowl Game: None

Illinois was picked to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten West Division again this year, and I agree with the media on that. But, I do think they’re going to be a tough opponent in each game this year and wouldn’t be surprised if they play their way into a bowl game.

How Illinois starts the season will ultimately determine if they’re in contention for a bowl game late in the year. I have the Fighting Illini opening up 3-1, and if they are any worse then getting to five wins will be nearly impossible with the back-half of the schedule.

Iowa

Record: 8-4 (5-4 in Big Ten)

Notable Wins: vs. Iowa State, vs. Michigan and vs. Wisconsin

Notable Losses: at Illinois, at Purdue and at Minnesota

Bowl Game: Pinstripe Bowl

Iowa is a hard team to read entering this season, with me again not having a ton of confidence in the offense they’ll put out there behind Spencer Petras. But regardless, the defense will be good enough to carry this team to another solid season and eight wins at worst this fall.

I have the Hawkeyes opening the season 5-0, with a marquee win over Michigan in early October. From that point on, things go a bit downhill starting with an upset loss at Illinois the following week. Iowa will finish near the…