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



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