i don't think NW, Purdue or Illinois will be better teams than us this year. but you have to somewhat understand where they are coming from on this "list". not saying i agree with it, but they are just playing a mathematical numbers game here. they see that leaders division team ohio state is banned from post-season play this coming season and the fact that the leaders division is the overall weaker division of the two in the big ten. what with purdue, indiana, illinois and penn state all being in it. and that is where you get a list with illinois and purdue being listed ahead of us as far a bowl projections for 2012. not because they are necessarily going to be better in a head to head match up with us when we play each other. but because they each get to play considerably easier division schedules than the teams from the legends division.
don't agree with the NW pick though. NW does get to play both indiana and illinois from the leaders this season. and those are both in evanston. and their other opponent is a downtrodden and embarrassed penn state team from the leaders division. meanwhile, we get wisconsin, purdue and illinois. with the becky badger and illinois games being on the road at their places.