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WATCH: BTN analysts show some major love to Northwestern with bold predictions

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

Saquon Barkley is the easy pick for the B1G’s leading rusher. J.T. Barrett and Trace McSorley are simple answers to the conference’s top quarterback question.

But Big Ten Network analysts J Leman and Dave Wannstedt don’t like the easy answers.

The two analysts were asked about what prediction they’d be “all alone” about for the 2017 season. The answers might be a little surprising.

Leman said Northwestern’s Justin Jackson, not Barkley, would lead the B1G in rushing this season. He highlighted the fact that Jackson actually led the conference in the category last year. He also said Penn State had too many weapons and Barkley wouldn’t have the number of touches necessary to lead the league.

Wannstedt went to the quarterbacks for his prediction. He believes Northwestern’s Clayton Thorson will finish the year with the highest grade of any gunslinger in the conference.

Yeah, both Leman and Wannstedt went with Wildcats for their bold predictions. Does that mean Northwestern is in for a surprisingly strong year in 2017? We’ll find out in a few days.

Check out the video for the explanations from Leman and Wannstedt in the video below.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB