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Big Ten Update

There were six Big Ten games this weekend - three good and three not so good. We'll start with the not so good. Penn State ended Indiana's run at going bowling at season's end with a 45-22 win against the Hoosiers, dropping them to 4-7 on the season. The same thing happened with Iowa, as they were trounced in Ann Arbor by Michigan, 42-17, to fall to 4-7. Nebraska dominated the now 6-5 Golden Gophers of Minnesota by the final score of 38-14. In the three decent games, Purdue defeated Illinois 20-17 to improve to 5-6 and keep their bowl hopes alive. Northwestern and Michigan State were back and forth for sixty minutes, before the Wildcats were able to prevail in East Lansing by the final of 23-20. Lastly, it took overtime, but Ohio State found a way to remain unbeaten with a 21-14 overtime win against Wisconsin in Madison.

With one week left to go in the Big Ten regular season, it's official that 7-4 Wisconsin (4-3 in-conference) will represent the Leaders division in the Big Ten Championship game. If Nebraska defeats Iowa next week, they'll face the Badgers in the title game. If the Huskers fall to the Hawkeyes and Michigan finds a way to defeat unbeaten Ohio State, the Wolverines would represent the Legends division in the Big Ten title game.

For the time being, just two teams are uncertain about their bowl-eligibility fate - Michigan State and Purdue. The Spartans will go on the road to take on Minnesota next Saturday. Purdue will play host to 4-7 Indiana. I think I give an edge to Michigan State in the first game, which would likely send them to a bowl game with a 6-6 record. The second of the two games I mentioned could go either way. Due to both Ohio State and Penn State being ineligible for bowl games due to NCAA violations, there are currently only five Big Ten teams that are eligible for bowl games (seven maximum if both Michigan State and Purdue win next weekend). For the time, it appears as if Nebraska, Michigan, Northwestern, Minnesota, and Wisconsin will go to bowl games, while Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana, and Illinois will be staying home. Sadly, if Purdue falls to Indiana next week, the Leaders division will only have one bowl-eligible team - that being Wisconsin.

The Big Ten has been a very mediocre conference this year and that's being kind. A perfect example of this is the fact that Wisconsin could very well lose to Penn State next week, fall to 4-4 in-conference, 7-5 overall, and represent the Leaders division in the Big Ten title game. If they lose the Big Ten title game, that'd drop them to below .500 in-conference play and only one game over .500 overall. If they won the game, the Big Ten would send a five-loss team to a BCS bowl game. How's that for "mediocrity" right there? If they don't play well in their bowl games, their image will suffer even more as a result.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/standings

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/scoreboard?confId=5&seasonYear=2012&seasonType=2&weekNumber=13

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