Unhappy far outnumber the happy in Big Ten

It's weird. There is one winner and one loser in every college football game. Yet, my take on the Big Ten is that far more fans are disappointed in their teams' seasons than elated, or even content.

Maybe we should put a ban on preseason expectations in sports. They're hard to reach, easy to miss.

I count two of the 12 Big Ten teams as having satisfied fans right now. It would be three, since Penn State has achieved to its near-maximum in my opinion with a 9-2 record and a shot at the Leaders (stupid name) Division title, but we all know why Penn State fans aren't happy these days.

THE HAPPY:

Michigan (9-2): Wolverine fans will be really happy if their guys beat Ohio State to end their 7-game losing streak to the Buckeyes, which they will. Michigan wasn't a pick to go 10-2.

Michigan State (9-2): Winning the Legends (stupid name) Division title and beating Michigan at home and Ohio State and Iowa on the road? MSU will take that every year. Although, the glow wears off fast if the Spartans a) fall to Northwestern Saturday or b) lose in the Big Ten title game and plummet perhaps as far down as the Outback Bowl.

THE UNHAPPY:

Penn State (9-2). On pure football, hap-hap-happy. But this year isn't about football in Happy Valley.

Wisconsin (9-2). It isn't misery, not by a longshot. However, this will always be a season of what might have been. Last-minute losses at Michigan State and Ohio State cost the Badgers a shot at the national-title game. But, there is still a second-straight Rose Bowl that is within Wisconsin's grasp.

Nebraska (8-3). No misery here, either, but losses of 31 points at Wisconsin and 28 at Michigan have tempered the enthusiasm considerably. Yet again, there is no BCS bowl trip for Husker fans to make. But they should enjoy Florida.

Iowa (7-4). Another what-might-have-been. Had Iowa beaten Iowa State and Minnesota, it's a very happy 9-2. Winning at Nebraska Friday will flip this over to happy, I think. But if the Hawkeyes lose in Lincoln, they're 7-5 in the regular-season and 4-4 in the conference for the second-straight year. Not happy.

Illinois (6-5). Five straight losses. And a bad bowl game.

Northwestern (6-5). From the outside, you would think Wildcat fans would be content with going to a bowl. Winning at Nebraska was something to treasure, too. However, quarterback Dan Persa's recovery from a ruptured Achilles was slower than hoped for in a year when NU fans were thinking 8-4, not 6-6 (they'll lose to Michigan State Saturday -- probably). Northwestern was picked to finish ahead of Michigan in many publications. The 'Cats bowl won't be anything special.

Ohio State (6-5). Losing to Michigan will be the last straw in a dismal (by OSU standards) season. Bring on Urban Meyer.

Purdue (5-6). Yes, the Boilermakers can gain bowl-eligibility for the first time in four years with a win at Indiana Saturday. But only 40,000 tickets were sold to the last two Purdue home games, against Ohio State and Iowa. The fans aren't fooled. It's not a good Purdue team.

Minnesota (2-9). Expectations were low. The Gophers have showed fight in beating Iowa and giving Michigan State a great battle. But 2-9 is 2-9, and losing to New Mexico State and North Dakota State doesn't feed the bulldog.

Indiana (1-10). No explanation necessary.