This B1G Week 2/24-3/1

Hello and welcome friends to another edition of this B1G Week. Well we are in the homestretch of the season and things are still crazy competitive across the board. There are currently four teams tied for second place and a handful more that are trying to avoid playing in the first day of the Big Ten Tournament. Despite that we still have a multiple game leader at the top of the pack. Maryland holds a two game lead over the rest of the conference and if they are able to win both games this week they'll clinch at least a share of their first ever Big Ten title.

With it being the second to last week of the regular season it is also a good time to look at potential tournament bids. The conference is looking to set a record for both amount of teams to get in and percent of teams to get in but they'd need 12 teams to get in to make that happen. Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana all picked up much needed wins as of late to put them in pretty good shape to make the dance. On the flip side, Minnesota and Purdue aren't helping their case. The Boilermakers have lost four straight putting them at 500 with Minnesota joining them at that winning percentage. The selection committee can't take teams for at-large bids if they have more loses than wins so in order to keep their hopes alive these teams really need to start picking up some wins. 

Big Ten Game of the Week

Saturday - 8 PM - ESPN - Michigan State @ Maryland - This will be the second meeting of the team picked to win the league and the team currently leading the league. The Terps were able to win one on the road against MSU earlier in the season so Sparty will be looking for revenge. If Maryland wins on the road at Minnesota on Wednesday night this game will be their chance to clinch a share of their first Big Ten title. 

Nonconference Game of the Week

Monday - 7 PM - ESPN - Louisville @ Florida State - When you get a top eleven match-up on a Monday you can't really complain. These two teams sit tied upon the ACC throne with Duke at the moment. FSU took the initial game between the two but if the Cards can pull this one off they'd hold the tie-breaker for the number one seed in the ACC tournament.

Team of the Week

Michigan Wolverines - Boy does everyone want to avoid the Wolverines as of late. Since beginning conference play with a 2-6 record Michigan has bounced back to win 7 of their last 8. U of M topped this off two big road victories in place that other teams have had troubles. They started the week with handing Rutgers their first home loss of the year and followed it up with a hard fought win at Purdue. Overall a great past few weeks for Michigan. 

Team of the Weak

Rutgers Scarlet Knights - Rutgers didn't have a terrible week. I wouldn't exactly call losing to a red hot Michigan team (see Team of the Week) and on the road at Wisconsin bad loses. However, the Scarlet Knights are just 2 for their last 7 games. Rutgers may have potentially played themselves back into the bubble discuss when we were talking about a pretty good seed not too long ago. 

Actual Rankings

1. Maryland - 12-4 - 22-5
2. Penn State - 10-6 - 20-7
3. Iowa - 10-6 - 19-8
4. Michigan State - 10-6 - 18-9
5. Wisconsin - 10-6 - 17-10
6. Illinois - 9-6 - 17-9
7. Michigan - 9-7 - 18-9
8. Rutgers - 9-8 - 18-10
9. Indiana - 8-8 - 18-9
10. Ohio State - 8-8 - 18-9
11. Minnesota - 7-9 - 13-13
12. Purdue - 7-10 - 14-14
13. Nebraska - 2-13 - 7-19
14. Northwestern - 1-15 - 6-20

B1G Picks

Monday

8 pm - BTN - Nebraska @ Illinois

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

Tuesday

7 pm - ESPN 2 - Iowa @ Michigan State
Grant's Pick: Michigan State, Troy's Pick: Michigan State

Wednesday

7 pm - BTN - Rutgers @ Penn State

Grant's Pick: Penn State, Troy's Pick: Penn State

9 pm - BTN - Maryland @ Minnesota
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Maryland

Thursday

7 pm - FS1 - Indiana @ Purdue
Grant's Pick: Purdue, Troy's Pick: Indiana

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

8 pm - BTN - Illinois @ Northwestern
Grant's Pick: Illinois, Troy's Pick: Illinois

9 pm - ESPN 2 - Ohio State @ Nebraska
Grant's Pick: Ohio State, Troy's Pick: Ohio State

Saturday

Noon - BTN - Penn State @ Iowa

Grant's Pick: Iowa, Troy's Pick:

8 pm - ESPN - Michigan State @ Maryland
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Maryland

Sunday

2 pm - BTN - Indiana @ Illinois
Grant's Pick: Indiana, Troy's Pick: Illinois

4 pm - CBS - Michigan @ Ohio State
Grant's Pick: Ohio State, Troy's Pick: Ohio State

4:15 pm - BTN - Northwestern @ Nebraska
Grant's Pick: Nebraska, Troy's Pick: Nebraska

6:30 pm - BTN - Minnesota @ Wisconsin
Grant's Pick: Wisconsin, Troy's Pick: Wisconsin

Grant's Previous Week Pick Record: 8-4

Grant's Total Pick Record: 179-69

Troy's Previous Week Pick Record: 9-3

Troy's Total Pick Record: 182-66



To stay up to date on the newest Head in the Game articles (and general sports commentary), follow @headingameblog on Twitter. You can also find us on Twitter @T_RoyStory (Troy) and @G_Tingley (Grant)

This B1G Week 2/17-23

Hello and welcome friends to another edition of this B1G Week. With just about four weeks left until selection Sunday things are moving and shaking in the Big Ten. Maryland has established themselves as the front runner for conference champs while the Nittany Lions are chomping at their heels. The league still has an outside chance to get 12 teams into the Big Dance which would be a record for both the total number of teams to make it and the percentage of teams to make it. In order to do so though, teams such as Purdue and Minnesota need to pick up some wins, not so much for quality of wins but for quantity as both as hovering close or at the 500 mark. Additionally, teams like Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio State need to also get some wins to overcome a sluggish or inconsistent conference record.

Additionally, Grant is slowly catching up to me in the game pick results which means I should have never bragged about going perfect the other week. This is a lesson to all you kids out there not to get cocky.

Big Ten Game of the Week

Tuesday - 6:30 PM - FS1 - Illinois @ Penn State - This is a match-up of teams that have been having different fates as of late. Illinois was once firmly in the discussion for a Big Ten title but have lost four straight games. On the other side is Penn State who has established themselves as a title contender by winning 8 straight to put them just a game behind Maryland.

Nonconference Game of the Week

Saturday - Noon - ESPN - Kansas @ Baylor - A top five match-up makes for a clear choice for the noncon game of the week. Baylor has won 22 straight games, not losing since their second game of the year against Washington. Kansas is looking to avenge their home defeat to the Bears earlier in the year and draw even in the Big 12 title hunt. I actually like the Jayhawks to pull this one out. 

Team of the Week

Penn State Nittany Lions - Penn State didn't do anything overly flashy this past week but they were able to do what they needed to to stay in contention for the conference crown. They started by knocking off Purdue on the road which is never easy. They followed that up with a home victory over Northwestern, which while not headline making is something that you just need to do. 

Team of the Weak

Purdue Boilermakers - It was Boiler down this past week for Purdue. Following a week where they demolished Iowa and picked up a win at home against their in-state rival IU, Purdue dropped two games in which they weren't really in either. Losing to Penn State and Ohio State are nothing to be embarrassed about but you at least want to make them a competitive game which they weren't able to do. 

Actual Rankings

1. Maryland  - 11-3 - 21-4
2. Penn State - 10-4 - 20-5
3. Michigan State - 9-6 - 17-9
4. Rutgers - 9-6 - 18-8
5. Iowa - 9-6 - 18-8
6. Illinois - 8-6 - 16-9
7. Wisconsin - 8-6 - 15-10
8. Ohio State - 7-7 - 17-8
9. Michigan - 7-7 - 16-9
10. Purdue - 7-8 - 14-12
11. Indiana - 6-8 - 16-9
12. Minnesota - 6-8 - 12-12
13. Nebraska - 2-12 - 7-18
14. Northwestern - 1-13 - 6-18 

B1G Picks

Tuesday

6:30 pm - FS1 - Illinois @ Penn State
Grant's Pick: Penn State, Troy's Pick: Penn State

7 pm - ESPN - Purdue @ Wisconsin
Grant's Pick: Wisconsin, Troy's Pick: Wisconsin

8 pm - BTN - Northwestern @ Maryland
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Maryland

Wednesday

7 pm - BTN - Michigan @ Rutgers

Grant's Pick: Rutgers, Troy's Pick: Rutgers

9 pm - BTN - Indiana @ Minnesota
Grant's Pick: Indiana, Troy's Pick: Indiana

Thursday

7 pm - ESPN - Ohio State @ Iowa
Grant's Pick: Ohio State, Troy's Pick: Iowa

8:30 pm - FS1 - Michigan State @ Nebraska
Grant's Pick: Michigan State, Troy's Pick: Michigan State

Saturday

2 pm - ESPN - Michigan @ Purdue

Grant's Pick: Purdue, Troy's Pick: Purdue

Sunday

Noon - FS1 - Penn State @ Indiana
Grant's Pick: Indiana, Troy's Pick: Indiana

1 pm - BTN - Rutgers @ Wisconsin
Grant's Pick: Wisconsin, Troy's Pick: Wisconsin

3 pm - BTN - Minnesota @ Northwestern
Grant's Pick: Minnesota, Troy's Pick: Minnesota

4 pm - CBS - Maryland @ Ohio State 
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Ohio State

Grant's Previous Week Pick Record: 11-2

Grant's Total Pick Record: 171-65

Troy's Previous Week Pick Record: 10-3

Troy's Total Pick Record: 173-63



To stay up to date on the newest Head in the Game articles (and general sports commentary), follow @headingameblog on Twitter. You can also find us on Twitter @T_RoyStory (Troy) and @G_Tingley (Grant)

This B1G Week 2/10-16

Hello and welcome friends to another edition of this B1G Week. While the weather stays ice cold,(who's complaining, I'm not complaining), the Big Ten continues to be red hot! It was another intense week of games that saw teams get big road wins, who would've thought that was possible. Midweek Penn State picked up a huge win over Michigan State and on Friday Maryland took a solo lead of the conference with a win at Illinois. Just as you thought it was a safe bet for the home teams to take wins things like that happen.   

Big Ten Game of the Week

Saturday - 6 PM - ESPN - Maryland @ Michigan State - Either of Michigan State's games this week could have easily have been the game of the week. After losing to their in-state rival on Saturday, the Spartans dropped to two games back of the lead but they are playing the two teams ahead of them in the standings. The Terps are currently in the lead and winning this game would go far.

Nonconference Game of the Week

Monday - 7 PM - ESPN - Florida State @ Duke - This is a very important game in the top-heavy ACC. Both teams are currently a game and half back of Louisville and Duke is coming off a very exciting game against North Carolina on Saturday. The question here is will they have a let down after the emotional victory.

Team of the Week

Maryland Terrapins - The Terps had a very good week. First, the knocked off a tough Rutgers squad and followed it up by winning the battle for first place at Illinois. Maryland is a solid game above everyone else in the conference. They follow up last week with games against Nebraska and at Michigan State.  

Team of the Weak

Michigan State Spartans - Sparty had a rough week. They lost at home to Penn State and on Saturday dropped another to their in-state rival Michigan. After starting the season as the AP Number One, MSU finds themselves two games back of the conference lead. Things don't get easier as the Spartans have to take on Illinois and Maryland this week. 

Actual Rankings

1. Maryland - 9-3 - 19-4
2. Penn State - 8-4 - 18-5
3. Illinois - 8-4 - 16-7
4. Michigan State - 8-5 - 16-8
5. Iowa - 8-5 - 17-7
6. Rutgers - 8-5 - 17-7
7. Purdue - 7-6 - 14-10
8. Wisconsin - 7-6 - 14-10
9. Minnesota - 6-7 - 12-11
10. Ohio State - 5-7 - 15-8
11. Indiana - 5-7 - 15-8
12. Michigan - 5-7 - 14-9
13. Nebraska - 2-10 - 7-16
14. Northwestern - 1-11 - 6-16

B1G Picks

Tuesday

6:30 pm - BTN - Penn State @ Purdue
Grant's Pick: Purdue, Troy's Pick: Purdue

8:30 pm - BTN - Nebraska @ Maryland
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Maryland

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

Wednesday

7 pm - BTN - Rutgers @ Ohio State

Grant's Pick: Ohio State, Troy's Pick: Ohio State

9 pm - BTN - Michigan @ Northwestern
Grant's Pick: Michigan, Troy's Pick: Michigan

Thursday

8 pm - BTN - Iowa @ Indiana
Grant's Pick: Indiana, Troy's Pick: Indiana

Saturday

Noon - Fox - Purdue @ Ohio State

Grant's Pick: Ohio State, Troy's Pick: Ohio State

Noon - BTN - Northwestern @ Penn State
Grant's Pick: Penn State, Troy's Pick: Penn State

2:15 pm - BTN - Wisconsin @ Nebraska
Grant's Pick: Wisconsin, Troy's Pick: Wisconsin

4:30 pm - BTN - Illinois @ Rutgers
Grant's Pick: Rutgers, Troy's Pick: Rutgers

6 pm - ESPN - Maryland @ Michigan State
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Michigan State

Sunday

1 pm - CBS - Indiana @ Michigan
Grant's Pick: Michigan, Troy's Pick: Michigan

1 pm - Iowa @ Minnesota - FS1
Grant's Pick: Minnesota, Troy's Pick: Iowa

Grant's Previous Week Pick Record: 8-4

Grant's Total Pick Record: 160-63

Troy's Previous Week Pick Record: 6-6

Troy's Total Pick Record: 163-60



To stay up to date on the newest Head in the Game articles (and general sports commentary), follow @headingameblog on Twitter. You can also find us on Twitter @T_RoyStory (Troy) and @G_Tingley (Grant)

This B1G Week 2/3-9

Hello and welcome friends to another edition of this B1G Week. With Super Bowl over the sports world now shifts its attention to the basketball world. Hopefully though the Big Game didn't overshadow the fact that the Head in the Game went a collective 25-1 in last week's picks. I'd like to credit our obvious genius but in reality every home team not named Nebraska or Northwestern won last week so we kind of just followed the season long trend. 

Big Ten Game of the Week

Friday - 8 PM - FS1 - Maryland @ Illinois - This is a very important game in terms of the title race here in early February. Illinois has surprisingly remained in a tie for first with Michigan State while Maryland is a half game back of the two front runners. The Terps escaped at home back in December with a single point victory where Illinois led most of the game.

Nonconference Game of the Week

Saturday - 2:30 PM - Fox - Seton Hall @ Villanova - This is another very big game that will go toward determining a conference champ. Both the Pirates and the Wildcats suffered home defeats this past weekend but remain the top two teams in the conference. Seton Hall has been one of my favorite teams to watch this year but I like the fighting Jay Wrights to secure the win at home. 

Team of the Week

Ohio State Buckeyes - OSU has been struggling as of late in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes at one point found themselves second in the AP and one of the favorites to win the league but struggled mightily in January. While wins over bottom feeder Northwestern and an Indiana team that does very poorly on the road aren't overly impressive the important thing for Ohio State right now is just to get as many wins as they can. 

Team of the Weak

Indiana Hoosiers - This past week wasn't exactly the most fun to watch for Hoosier fans. IU lost two road games this week but the reason why they made Team of the Weak is that they never were really in either game. Road losses are acceptable in the Big Ten but you want to at least be competitive.

Actual Rankings

1. Michigan State - 8-3 - 16-6
2. Illinois 8-3 - 16-6
3. Maryland - 7-3 - 17-4
4. Iowa - 7-4 - 16-6
5. Rutgers - 7-4 - 16-6
6. Penn State - 6-4 - 16-5
7. Wisconsin - 6-5 - 13-9
8. Indiana - 5-6 - 15-7
9. Minnesota - 5-6 - 11-10
10. Purdue - 5-6 - 12-10
11. Ohio State - 4-6 - 14-7
12. Michigan - 4-6 - 13-8
13. Nebraska - 2-9 - 7-15
14. Northwestern - 1-10 - 6-15

B1G Picks

Tuesday

7 pm - FS1 - Rutgers @ Maryland
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Maryland

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

8 pm - BTN - Penn State @ Michigan State
Grant's Pick: Michigan State, Troy's Pick: Michigan State

Wednesday

7 - BTN - Iowa @ Purdue

Grant's Pick: Purdue, Troy's Pick: Iowa

9 pm - BTN - Wisconsin @ Minnesota
Grant's Pick: Minnesota, Troy's Pick: Minnesota

Friday

8 pm - FS1 - Maryland @ Illinois
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Illinois

Saturday

Noon - Fox - Michigan State @ Michigan

Grant's Pick: Michigan State, Troy's Pick: Michigan State

2 pm - ESPN - Purdue @ Indiana
Grant's Pick: Indiana, Troy's Pick: Indiana

4 pm - BTN - Minnesota @ Penn State
Grant's Pick: Penn State, Troy's Pick: Penn State

6 pm - BTN - Nebraska @ Iowa
Grant's Pick: Iowa, Troy's Pick: Iowa

Sunday

1 pm - CBS - Ohio State vs Wisconsin
Grant's Pick: Ohio State, Troy's Pick: Wisconsin

6:30 pm - BTN - Northwestern @ Rutgers
Grant's Pick: Rutgers, Troy's Pick: Rutgers

Grant's Previous Week Pick Record: 12-1

Grant's Total Pick Record: 152-59

Troy's Previous Week Pick Record: 13-0

Troy's Total Pick Record: 157-54



To stay up to date on the newest Head in the Game articles (and general sports commentary), follow @headingameblog on Twitter. You can also find us on Twitter @T_RoyStory (Troy) and @G_Tingley (Grant)