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Big Ten off and running

The News-Gazette's Bob Asmussen has Urban Meyer and Ohio State (above) as the Big Ten team to beat this season. Ahead of the league's media days today and Tuesday in Chicago, Asmussen, along with 37 other media types who cover the league, took part in a preseason football poll, with Dough Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain Dealer spearheading the efforts. Here's a look at their picks:

Big Ten West (First-place votes in parentheses)

SCHOOL POINTS

1. Wisconsin 259 (31)

2. Northwestern 219 (5)

3. Nebraska 176.5 (2)

4. Iowa 164.