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The Big Ten had a very good regular season, but struggled through a bowl season that saw most its teams lose to out of conference competition. That being said, the conference will almost assuredly have some of the top squads in the nation in 2011, and here is an early look at who is most likely to win this year’s national championship.

The Ohio State Buckeyes will be without their top quarterback, running back and wide receiver for the first five games of the season, but that doesn’t stop them from having a 2012 BCS National Championships line of +2,000. Only one of those games should even be close without their starters, based on their perennially dominant defense.

Two of college football’s best teams not in a BCS bowl will square off in the Capital One Bowl as the 9th ranked Michigan State Spartans take on the 16th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in Orlando. The Spartans finished 11-1 with a share of the Big Ten title. Alabama (9-3) couldn’t repeat as national champions, but still had a strong year. The Spartans are a 10 point underdog in the college bowl odds.

Michigan State Spartans quarterback Kirk Cousins had a solid season, throwing for 2,705 yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He will be without top pass catcher B.J. Cunningham who broke his foot in practice, but he will still have receiving yards leader (761) Mark Dell.

The 5th ranked Michigan State Spartans travel this weekend to meet the 18th ranked Iowa Hawkeyes in an attempt to maintain their perfect record. The Spartans (8-0) are looking to avenge a defeat to Iowa last year and propel themselves into the Big Ten Championship. After losing to Wisconsin last week, the Hawkeyes have to win this game to stay in the Big Ten race. Iowa is a 6.5 point favorite in the NCAA football odds.

Heisman candidate and college football’s most exciting player Denard Robinson will be on the big stage this weekend. Robinson and the 18th ranked Michigan Wolverines will host the 17th ranked Michigan State Spartans for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Both of these teams are 5-0 and looking to keep pace with Ohio State for a possible Big Ten championship.

The Michigan Wolverines are coming off a close win over Indiana, 42-35, while the Spartans most recently scored an impressive win over then 11th ranked Wisconsin. The college football lines have the Wolverines as a 4.5 point favorite.

2009 Total Offense Rank (yards per game): 38
2009 Total Defense Rank (yards per game): 73

The Michigan State Spartans had a rough 2009 season, finishing with a disappointing six wins. Head coach Mark Dantonio, known as a defensive guru, led a lackluster defense that couldn’t get the job done. The Spartans do have some talent coming back, but it will be an uphill battle in a tough Big Ten conference.