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



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