This B1G Week 12/2-8

Hello and welcome friends to another edition of this B1G Week. Feast Week is done and we certainly had some surprises. Michigan beat two top ten teams on their way to winning the Battle for Atlantis and jumping from unranked to the top five. On the more negative side, Michigan State had a surprising loss that sent them to the losers' side of the Maui bracket.

Tournaments are over and now it's time for the Big Ten ACC Challenge. The set of games is always the highlight of the non-conference season and this year is no different. There are three top-eleven matchups going down, including number one Louisville facing off against number four Michigan. As always it's hard to pick a winner ahead of time so you'll just have to keep winning to find out who we think will take the crown.

Once the Big Ten ACC Challenge is over it's time for the December conference games to start. As weird as it still is to see conference games this early it is always entertaining to watch.

Big Ten Game of the Week

Tuesday - 7 PM - ESPN - Michigan @ Lousiville - This is a surprise to for me to be the Big Ten Game of the Week. Michigan had an amazing week in the Bahamas and found themselves moving from unranked to ranked number four. Louisville is another surprise as after a few upsets they've moved all the way up to the top-ranked team in the land. I like Louisville to take this one at home.

Nonconference Game of the Week

Sunday - 4 PM - ACC Network - North Carolina @ Virginia - This is the obvious choice here as these are two of the best teams in the nation facing off against each other. As always they'll be super tight with each other but I like Virginia to take this one. 

Power Ranking

1. Michigan (+3)
2. Ohio State (+0)
3. Maryland (+0)
4. Michigan State (-3)
5. Penn State (+1)
6. Indiana (+1)
7. Illinois (+2)
8. Purdue (+0)
9. Iowa (+2)
10. Rutgers (+0)
11. Wisconsin (-6)
12. Minnesota (+0)
13. Nebraska (+0)
14. Northwestern (+0)

Power Ranking Thoughts

There were a lot of changes this week. Michigan is the bright spot as they beat both North Carolina and Gonzaga to get them to number one in this week's power rankings. Wisconsin is our big loser after dropping two to mid-major sides. 

Actual Rankings

1. Maryland - 8-0
2. Indiana - 7-0
3. Michigan - 7-0
4. Ohio State - 7-0
5. Illinois - 6-1
6. Penn State - 6-1
7. Rutgers - 6-1
8. Iowa - 5-2
9. Michigan State - 5-2
10. Nebraska - 4-3
11. Purdue - 4-3 
12. Wisconsin - 4-3
13. Northwestern - 3-3
14. Minnesota - 3-4

B1G Picks

Monday

7 pm - ESPN 2 - Miami @ Illinois

Grant's Pick: Illinois, Troy's Pick: Illinois

9 pm - ESPN 2 - Clemson @ Minnesota
Grant's Pick: Clemson, Troy's Pick: Minnesota

Tuesday

7 pm - ESPN U - Northwestern @ Boston College
Grant's Pick: Boston College, Troy's Pick: Boston College

7 pm - ESPN/2 - Iowa @ Syracuse
Grant's Pick: Iowa, Troy's Pick: Syracuse

7 pm - ESPN/2 - Michigan @ Louisville 
Grant's Pick: Michigan, Troy's Pick: Louisville

9 pm - ESPN 2 - Florida State @ Indiana
Grant's Pick: Indiana, Troy's Pick: Indiana

9 pm - ESPN U - Rutgers @ Pittsburgh
Grant's Pick: Pittsburgh, Troy's Pick: Pittsburgh

9:30 pm - ESPN - Duke @ Michigan State
Grant's Pick: Duke, Troy's Pick: Michigan State

Wednesday

7:15 pm - ESPN U - Nebraska @ Georgia Tech

Grant's Pick: Nebraska, Troy's Pick: Georgia Tech

7:15 pm - ESPN/2 - Notre Dame @ Maryland
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Maryland

7:15 pm - ESPN/2 - Virginia @ Purdue
Grant's Pick: Virginia, Troy's Pick: Virginia

9:15 pm - ESPN U - Wake Forest @ Penn State
Grant's Pick: Wake Forest, Troy's Pick: Penn State

9:15 pm - ESPN 2 - Wisconsin @ North Carolina State 
Grant's Pick: North Carolina State, Troy's Pick: North Carolina State

9:15 pm - ESPN - Ohio State @ North Carolina
Grant's Pick: Ohio State, Troy's Pick: North Carolina

Friday

6:30 pm - FS1 - Iowa @ Michigan
Grant's Pick: Michigan, Troy's Pick: Michigan

Saturday

Noons - BTN - Penn State @ Ohio State
Grant's Pick: Ohio State, Troy's Pick: Ohio State

2:30 pm - FS1 - Nebraska @ Creighton

Grant's Pick: Creighton, Troy's Pick: Creighton

5 pm - ESPN 2 - Illinois @ Maryland
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Maryland

5:30 pm - BTN - Indiana @ Wisconsin
Grant's Pick: Indiana, Troy's Pick: Indiana

Sunday

5 pm - BTN - Northwestern @ Purdue
Grant's Pick: Purdue, Troy's Pick: Purdue

7 pm - BTN - Rutgers @ Michigan State
Grant's Pick: Michigan State, Troy's Pick: Michigan State

Grant's Previous Week Pick Record: 12-5

Grant's Total Pick Record: 69-13

Troy's Previous Week Pick Record: 11-6

Troy's Total Pick Record: 65-17



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