Iowa City’s hometown Iowa Hawkeyes are predicted to win the Big Ten West, according to the annual Cleveland.com sports writers poll. They were chosen by a staggering margin: The Hawks received 32 of the 39 total votes. Nebraska came in second with three votes, Wisconsin was third with two and a single vote cast for Northwestern. A lone journalist predicted that the title would be split between Iowa and Floyd of Rosedale foe Minnesota.
In the other division, Ohio State (25 votes) was the most prevalent picked to wear the East crown, with Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines (8 votes) next in line.
How did the pros figure Iowa would fair in their repeat trip to the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis? Not too hot — only one of the polled writers believed the Hawks would come out on top. Though the Hawks are the most popular choice to make it to the title game, the Buckeyes are the overwhelming favorite to win it (27 votes; Michigan snagged the other 11).
But then again, championships are decided on the field and not in the news room. Cleveland.com admits that their poll “has never correctly picked the Big Ten champion in five tries.” And ESPN predicted the Hawks to finish 8th in the Big Ten last season — we all know how that turned out.
