Not much to wrap up for the Minnesota game. MSU cruised, doesn't prove much except Edwin Baker is a stud and the Spartans are 9-1. I've gotten a couple questions about what the Big Ten's situation is for bowl games, so I'll do my best. Here's some tidbits about the bowl-bound teams to look for:
Michigan State
Why not start with the Michigan Staters? The Rose Bowl tiebreakers were elaborated on in an earlier post, but it may get extra messy in the home stretch. Wisconsin, OSU, Iowa, and MSU are tied at the top. Wisconsin and Iowa win out, MSU goes to the Rose Bowl. However, if OSU beats Iowa in a few weeks, an 11-1 MSU team in the top ten nationally may not get to a BCS bowl. Only two teams from each conference can go to BCS games - if Wisconsin and OSU win out, both will be ranked ahead of MSU so the BCS would make the logical choice. I believe riots are warranted if that happens.
Michigan (Skunkbears)
Bowl eligible in the worst kind of way. Pretty sure Bo rolled over in his grave and Woody laughed like hell on Saturday, when the Wolverines won a 67-65 nailbiter in Ann Arbor. This basketball score brought to you be Terrible Defense! I will give credit where credit is due - Denard Robinson went out with a head injury, and Forcier came in and played a solid game. The Big Ten will likely get 8 bowl-eligible teams, so Michigan should start looking at plane tickets for Florida or Texas.
Ohio State
These guys again? Stop hogging all the glory. Penn State, Iowa, and Michigan still on the schedule. The Bucknuts have been anything but flashy this season, with Terelle Pryor seemingly being held back a bit. OSU fans have been criticizing Tressel quite a bit over the years because he's still playing smashmouth, grinding football without letting Pryor run wild as much as possible. OSU can hope for a BCS bowl, but not the Rose Bowl (unless Wisconsin craps the bed).
Wisconsin
They beat Iowa and Ohio State. That's impressive. MSU's win against the Badgers looks that much more impressive late in the season. They've got a relatively easy schedule remaining - Indiana, Michigan, and Northwestern - so they're hoping for Ohio State to win out, which would lead to a Badger trip to Pasadena
Iowa
So close to the elusive Rose Bowl...but can't quite get there. Unless they beat OSU and Wisconsin and MSU both drop one, Iowa's best argument is Capital One Bowl. They'll be ranked high, but once again the two-teams-per league rule is in effect.
Penn State/Illinois/Purdue/Northwestern
I lumped these 4 in together because they're in the same boat - three are at 6 wins with Illinois likely to get one more against Fresno State in the season finale. They'll contend for a better bowl slot - the Capital One bowl and Outback will be taken, but there will be a giant clusterfuck to determine what team goes where. If someone accurately guesses this week, you get 10 dollars from yours truly.
Minnesota
Flailing right now. Head Coach fired, staff is likely not going to be around after the season. Gophers don't have much hope to get another win so they're playing for dignity in their last two games.
Indiana
Gotta feel for the Hoosiers. Ben Chappell is one of the best QB's in the Big Ten and they've got the best WR corps as well. They have yet to win a Big Ten game, with 3 games slipping through their fingers. Quite literally, in regards to the most recent game. 4th and 10 with the game on the line, a well-placed pass to the end zone was caught...but subsequently bobbled and dropped. A catch would have certainly meant Indiana getting one of the biggest wins in recent memory, upsetting the Big Ten leading Hawkeyes. They need two wins out of Purdue, Penn State, and Wisconsin to go bowling - doesn't look good.
There you have it. Football 101 on Tuesday. I'm going to summarize the ridiculous controversies and headlines from the season so far. See you then!
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