Vaughn Dalzell breaks out in this week's Big Ten Power Rankings, Purdue takes the lead, and Michigan State and Illinois battle for second place.
1. Purdue Boilermakers (23-3, 12-3)
Upcoming games: Thursday against Rutgers (-16), Sunday against Michigan (-13)
*Projected line* Odds of winning the Big Ten: (-4000)
Purdue was shocked by Ohio State on Sunday, and Illinois and Michigan State gave the Boilermakers hope of winning the regular season title. However, the Boilermakers have one projected spread with fewer than eight points remaining, and that's a road trip to Illinois on March 5th.
This is a matchup where Illinois could beat Purdue if they lose, and if they win, it could push Illinois into the top spot come March.
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2. Michigan State Spartans (17-9, 9-6)
Upcoming games: Tuesday vs. Iowa State (-9), Sunday vs. Ohio State (-9)
*Projected line* Odds of winning the Big Ten: (+7500)
The Spartans have won five of their last six games, but only one came against a team worthy of bragging rights (Illinois). Michigan State is projected to win four of its remaining five games, while Purdue is projected to lose.
Regardless of whether Michigan State or Illinois are the second-best teams in the Big Ten, the recent wins the Spartans have earned have given them an edge. This is a 2A-2B situation, probably because MSU owns the better team, but Illinois has the best players and scorers.
3. Illinois Fighting Illini (19-6, 10-4)
Upcoming games: Wednesday against Penn State (-8), Saturday against Iowa (-11)
*Projected line* Odds of winning the Big Ten: (+1500)
Illinois' one loss in its last six games is the only thing keeping it from second place here, but a good schedule at home against Purdue gives Illinois a chance to make some noise heading into the restart. It is given. Illinois is 6-2 since Terrence Shannon returned, scoring 27, 31 and 28 points in the last three games and scoring 20 or more points in four of the six games.
4. Northwestern Wildcats (18-8, 9-6)
Upcoming games: Thursday vs. Michigan (-9), Wednesday vs. Maryland (-9)
*Projected line* Odds of winning the Big Ten: (+50000)
Northwestern got a much-needed road win against Indiana on Sunday, but a must-win game against Michigan complicates the rest of its schedule. The Wildcats have two road games at Maryland and Michigan State, plus two home games against Iowa State and Minnesota. It would be ideal if there was a split with four games left, but this time it's March, so who knows what will happen.
5. Nebraska Cornhuskers (18-8, 8-7)
Upcoming games: Wednesday vs. Indiana (-2), Sunday vs. Minnesota (-6)
*Projected line* Odds of winning the Big Ten: (+35000)
Nebraska has lost six straight road games, but has won 10 straight home games, including two games against Michigan State and Penn State last week.
Nebraska is on the road for three of its final five regular season games at Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan. They are the top three opponents to win on the road heading into the Big Ten Tournament.
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6. Minnesota Golden Gophers (16-8, 7-6)
Upcoming games: Thursday vs. Purdue (+17), Sunday vs. Rutgers (-4)
*Projected line* Odds of winning the Big Ten: (+100000)
Minnesota was on a three-game winning streak, but lost two road contests to Iowa and Purdue. A home win against Rutgers got the team back on track, but Ohio State's win over Purdue made Thursday's Gophers home game even more interesting.
OSU has lost 16 straight road games, so it's a bit of a trap game at home against a desperate Buckeyes team with a coaching change.
7. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (14-11, 6-8)
Upcoming games: Thursday against Purdue (+16), Sunday against Maryland (-1)
*Projected line* Odds of winning the Big Ten: (+100000)
Rutgers won four straight against Michigan, Maryland, Wisconsin and Northwestern before dropping a road contest at Minnesota on Sunday. The Knights have taken advantage of some bad teams during their winning streak, but the addition of Jeremiah Williams has changed the dynamic of this team and made it better.
8. Wisconsin Badgers (17-9, 9-6)
Upcoming games: Tuesday vs. Maryland (-7), Tuesday vs. Indiana (-5)
*Projected line* Odds of winning the Big Ten: (+7500)
Wisconsin lost four straight before defeating Ohio State at home, but the Badgers came back and lost to Iowa State in OT. The Badgers haven't been able to catch a break in their last six games (1-5), and after starting the season 16-4, it looks like it could all be lost for Wisconsin.
9. Ohio State Buckeyes (14-12, 4-11)
Upcoming games: Minnesota (+3) on Thursday, Michigan State (+9) on Sunday.
*Projected line*
After OSU fired Chris Holtmann, the Buckeyes rallied to lead Purdue by five points at halftime and held on for their biggest win of the year.
The Buckeyes are not a tournament team, but Ohio State will be a team on the rise with a head coaching change and all of its young talent.
10. Iowa Hawkeyes (15-11, 7-8)
Upcoming games: Tuesday at Michigan State (+9), Saturday at Illinois (+11)
*Projected line*
Iowa State has won and lost its last eight games, going 4-4 during that span. The Hawkeyes are 3-0 in their last three home games and 0-3 in their last three road games. Iowa's batting average has hovered around .500 all season, and they haven't been able to win more than three games in a row.
11. Indiana Hoosiers (14-11, 6-8)
Upcoming games: Wednesday vs. Nebraska (+2), Saturday vs. Penn State (+4)
*Projected line*
The Hoosiers had a week off in Northwestern's game plan, but fell short in a four-point loss at home. Indiana is expected to be underdogs in the remaining six games of the regular season and will likely finish below .500 with a recent 2-6 record in their last eight games.
12. Maryland Terrapins (14-12, 6-9)
Upcoming games: Tuesday at Wisconsin (+7), Sunday at Rutgers (+1)
*Projected line*
Maryland is 1-4 in its last five games and has one of the most dramatic teams in terms of home-versus-away splits. The Terps are 11-4 at home and 3-8 on the road and on neutral courts. This Terps team has struggled to shoot at home and on the road, ranking 345th from the 3-point line (28.7%) and 162nd from the free-throw line (72.2%).
13. Penn State Nittany Lions (12-14, 6-9)
Upcoming games: Wednesday vs. Illinois (+8), Tuesday vs. Indiana (-4)
*Projected line*
Penn State was preparing for the game on a three-game winning streak, but the tables have now turned and the Nittany Lions are 0-3 in their last three games. The challenge could continue for Penn State, as the rest of the schedule includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Maryland.
14. Michigan Wolverines (8-18, 3-12)
Upcoming games: Thursday against Northwestern (+9), Sunday against Purdue (+13)
*Projected line*
Michigan is 2-13 in its last 15 games as it becomes increasingly difficult to stay positive against the Wolverines. This roster and staff will likely be cleaned up this offseason, as 10 double-digit losses were not expected this season. Of Michigan's last eight losses, the Wolverines have lost all eight games by 10 points or more.
Big Ten Power Rankings posted in order
- Purdue (-4000)
- Michigan (+75000)
- Illinois (+15000)
- Northwest (+50000)
- Nebraska (+35000)
- Minnesota (+100000)
- Rutgers (+100000)
- Wisconsin (+7500)
- Ohio
- iowa
- Indiana
- maryland
- pennsylvania state university
- michigan
*Odds to win the Big Ten regular season according to DraftKings
Further up: Michigan State (3), Minnesota State (8), Iowa State (12), Ohio State (13)
Going down: Illinois (2), Rutgers (6), Wisconsin (7), Penn State (9), Maryland (10)
