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.
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
Team of the Weak
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
- Maryland - 12-4 - 22-5
- Penn State - 10-6 - 20-7
- Iowa - 10-6 - 19-8
- Michigan State - 10-6 - 18-9
- Wisconsin - 10-6 - 17-10
- Illinois - 9-6 - 17-9
- Michigan - 9-7 - 18-9
- Rutgers - 9-8 - 18-10
- Indiana - 8-8 - 18-9
- Ohio State - 8-8 - 18-9
- Minnesota - 7-9 - 13-13
- Purdue - 7-10 - 14-14
- Nebraska - 2-13 - 7-19
- 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
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
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
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
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 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
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