A closer look at the race for the Big Ten title

  • 02/22/2013 8:41 am in

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We’re getting down to crunch time in the race for the 2013 regular season Big Ten championship with just four games to go in conference play for Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin and five for Michigan.

Here’s a look at the road each team faces the rest of the way and an outlook on their chances to capture the league crown:

INDIANA (12-2)

· Remaining games: at Minnesota (Feb. 26), Iowa (March 2), Ohio State (March 5), at Michigan (March 10)

· Outlook: The Hoosiers took control of their own destiny with Tuesday’s win in East Lansing. Indiana now has a one-game lead over the Spartans in the loss column and an easier schedule the rest of the way. If Michigan State drops one of its four remaining games and Indiana wins three of its four remaining contests, it would clinch its first title since 2002 and first outright title since 1993.

· Projected record: 15-3

MICHIGAN STATE (11-3)

· Remaining games: at Ohio State (Feb. 24), at Michigan (March 2), Wisconsin (March 7), Northwestern (March 10)

· Outlook: Not only did Michigan State lose to Indiana on Tuesday, it likely fumbled away its chance to win the regular season title. The Spartans have the toughest road remaining with three games against the league’s top five teams. Two of those games are on the road against teams Michigan State has already beaten, including Michigan, which was embarrassed in East Lansing and will be seeking revenge.

· Projected record: 13-5

WISCONSIN (10-4)

· Remaining games: Nebraska (Feb. 26), Purdue (March 2), at Michigan State (March 7), at Penn State (March 10)

· Outlook: The Badgers have a favorable schedule the rest of the way with the exception of a game at the Breslin Center. If, and it’s a big if, Wisconsin can win out, it would still have a chance to share the title with two Indiana losses.

· Projected record: 13-5

MICHIGAN (9-4)

· Remaining games: Illinois (Feb. 24), at Penn State (Feb. 27), Michigan State (March 2), at Purdue (March 6), Indiana (March 10)

· Outlook: Michigan, like Wisconsin, would likely need to win out to share the title thanks to a recent stretch that resulted in three losses in four games. Winning out would mean the Wolverines flawlessly navigate a schedule that includes hosting white-hot Illinois on Sunday, beating Michigan State and Indiana at home and also winning at Purdue. As easy as the game in West Lafayette may appear to be on paper, the Wolverines are just 3-4 in Big Ten road games.

· Projected record: 13-5

OHIO STATE (9-5)

· Remaining games: Michigan State (Feb. 24), at Northwestern (Feb. 28), at Indiana (March 5), Illinois (March 10)

· Outlook: The Buckeyes are technically still in the race, but they would need a miracle to get a piece of the title. Even if Ohio State wins out, it would be officially eliminated with two more wins by Indiana.

· Projected record: 11-7

All projected records via KenPom.com.

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