Big Ten Landscape Is Cluttered

After a mostly highly competitive Week 10 in Big Ten play, both the Leaders and Legends divisions are trying to sort out the pretenders from the contenders.  Four out of the five games were decided by fourteen points or less and every team is starting to become competitive.  The Minnesota Golden Gophers only fell by seven in East Lansing to the 17th ranked Michigan State Spartans.  Iowa and Northwestern upset 15th ranked Michigan and 10th ranked Nebraska, respectively.  Ohio State and Wisconsin also came up with large victories in possible trap games against a porous Indiana team and Purdue, respectively.  Overall, it was an extremely entertaining week for Big Ten football.

First, lets look at the Legends division.  Currently at the helm is Michigan State, with a 4-1 record.  Nipping at their heels are Michigan, Nebraska, and Iowa, all at 3-2.  Michigan State finishes with games at Iowa and Northwestern, and a home game against Indiana.  You would have to believe that the Spartans should win two of the games, leaving the only big game on their schedule left against Iowa.  That could be a huge game for Big Ten championship considerations.  Nebraska has a significantly more difficult schedule remaining and would really have to play well if they want any hope in contending for the title.  Michigan and Iowa also have hard schedules coming in, so if Michigan State can just hold their ground they should earn a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game.

Now, lets take a look at the Leaders Division.  Penn State is clearly the frontrunner in this division sitting at 5-0 and coming off of a bye.  They are followed by Ohio State and Wisconsin who are both at 3-2.  Penn State has an extremely hard schedule coming in though.  They play both Wisconsin and Ohio State on the road as well as Nebraska at home.  Ohio State and Wisconsin have comparably hard schedules, but Ohio State holds the tiebreaker with a 33-29 win over Wisconsin on October 29.  If Penn State can just keep up their stellar defensive play and pick up the pace on offense slightly they will be able to pull it off, but it will be very tough.

I am looking forward to an exciting finish in the Big Ten and hopefully we will see a team pull off a Rose Bowl win.  There is nothing better than a Big Ten team beating down a Pac-12 opponent in Pasadena.