The B1G Regular Season Title:As noted above, Maryland clinches a share of the title with a win at home over Michigan State. They would clinch an outright title with a win and losses by PSU (@IA), IL (vIU), and UW (vMN). Iowa can only win a share if: - They win out (vPSU, vPU, @IL), and
- Maryland loses out (vMSU, @RU, vM), and
- Michigan State loses at least one more game (@PSU, vtOSU), and
- Wisconsin loses at least one more game (vMN, vNU, @IU)
Thus, Iowa will be eliminated this weekend if they lose OR Maryland wins.
This weekend's games and their impact on the B1G and NCAA races:
Penn State at Iowa, Saturday at noon on BTN: Both are locks so this only impacts seeding in the NCAA. As far as the B1G race, PSU needs a win to keep alive any realistic chance of catching Maryland to tie for the B1G regular season title.
We project an Iowa win. If Penn State wins instead that moves them up to 14-4 and alone in second place. It moves Iowa down to 11-9 and tied with Ohio State for 6th/7th (Iowa would win the tie, no game in Columbus).
Michigan State at Maryland, Saturday at 8pm on ESPN: Both are locks so this only impacts seeding in the NCAA. As far as the B1G race, everybody chasing the Terps needs an MSU win. With a win the Terps would clinch at least a share of the regular season title and eliminate Iowa and MSU from contention for that. Additionally, if PSU loses earlier at Iowa then they would be eliminated by a Maryland win as well. That would leave only Illinois and Wisconsin in contention and even they would need to win out and have Maryland lose their last two games (@RU, vsM).
We project a Maryland win. If MSU wins instead that would move them up to 13-7 and tied with IL, UW, and PSU for 2nd/3rd/4th/5th. Maryland would fall to 15-5 but still alone in first place.
Indiana at Illinois, Sunday at 2pm on BTN: Indiana needs wins but their last two are home games (MN, UW) so I do NOT think this is a "must win" for them. That said, it would obviously REALLY help.
We project an Illinois win. If Indiana wins instead that would move them up to 11-9 and tied with tOSU for 7th/8th. It would move Illinois out of the three-way tie for 2nd/3rd/4th and into a three-way tie with MSU and IA for 4th/5th/6th.
Michigan at Ohio State, Sunday at 4pm on CBS: Michigan would absolutely lock up a bid with a win.
We project an Ohio State win. If Michigan wins instead they would take over Ohio State's spot at 11-9 and alone in 7th place while Ohio State would fall into Michigan's spot at 10-10 and tied with Indiana for 8th/9th.
Northwestern at Nebraska, Sunday at 415pm on BTN: Neither can make the NCAA without winning the BTT.
We project a Nebraska win. If the Cornhuskers do win that would nearly lock up 13th place for them and 14th for Northwestern as the Wildcats could do no better than a tie for 13th/14th. If Northwestern does win it would move them up to 2-18 and Nebraska would fall to 2-18. Further, Northwestern would win that tie based on their season sweep of the Cornhuskers and get the 13th seed.
Minnesota at Wisconsin, Sunday at 630pm on BTN: The Gophers have reached the stage where every game is pretty much a must win game. They need wins badly and they are running out of time to get them.
We project a Wisconsin win. If Minnesota wins instead they would move up to 9-11 and tied with RU and PU for 10th/11th/12th while Wisconsin would fall to 12-8 and tied with MSU and IA for 4th/5th/6th.