PSU, N’W and Purdue should be wins. Beyond that, I’d be happy to get 1 and split the road slate. Pair that with 6-2 at home and that puts us at what, 13-7? Not the worst thing in the world. Obviously 9-7 after a 4-0 start doesn’t sound all that great, but the conference is tough and our home slate is tougher than our road slate in terms of the teams we play. 12 Big Ten wins this year is a good season. I think we can and should get more than that. I would not be surprised with anywhere from 12-16 wins at the end of the day.
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Also if we think 15-5 wins the conference…
If Wisconsin split 3-3 in home and homes with Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, they’d have to go 9-1 in all other games to hit that, in a stretch that includes home/away with Northwestern, @ Rutgers, @ Maryland (who already beat them) and @ Purdue.
Good luck.
My guess is that one or two teams perform above expectations to get 15-5 and win the conference. Average case is a 14-6 tie, but generally, someone performs above expectations.
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What happens if a team can’t complete its schedule though?
Let’s say Penn State continues missing games. You have a bunch of teams missing one game and too many need to make up the PSU game for PSU to actually play everyone they missed. In that case, might the Big Ten allow single play teams who are missing a common game to play each other instead? It wouldn’t necessarily be 100% fair to the standings obviously, but it seems better than simply missing a game at the end.
I think they’ll do everything to get games in. It is much easier to get games in for hoops than football. The schedule has collapsible byes but you can also just play games on short rest, tourney week, who knows what in order to squeeze them in.
I wouldn’t worry about games that are being postponed now.
Worry about the schedule if outbreaks continue through the season. That’s when the big Ten and other leagues will start getting creative with their schedules.
Yeah – I have no idea how to handicap the likelihood of 100% of the schedule being played, but just wondering the scenario how you determine the conference title IF it doesn’t happen.
The 21 day thing is part of why I lm a bit worried. 2 medium sized outbreaks on a team and we’re talking 10 missed games if it’s a busy stretch. Unless I’m missing something regarding the protocols, that is.
They’re not 21 days anymore, although 17 days will still have an impact. The bigger factor is how long close contacts have to be quarantined.
I wish they were more transparent with the protocols, but I’m wondering if that is what is going on at PSU. Sounds like it has been confirmed that they have 2 cases. I’m wondering if there are a certain amount of days that the others need to be tested as negative before they are cleared from quarantine? Could make sense as to why they have had to cancel OSU but could have everybody else cleared in time for Michigan.
I believe you are able to test out if quarantine in the Big Ten with some number of negative tests.
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Anybody picking against the contenders tonight?
Iowa @ Maryland
Indiana @ Wisconsin
Illinois @ Northwestern
I have a feeling one of the three loses but I don’t know who.
The Northwestern games feels most interesting which is funny because Illinois is my favorite “contender”. Indiana at Kohl Center… we know that script.
Tonight might help settle things back into the tiers we all expected pre season. IU got a little life from their recent ugly win but I expect WI to mail them. Illinois should win comfortably if they are the contender we think. Maryland looks cooked after some initial spark this season.
It’s fun to have rooting interest in these now re: Conference championship
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Illinois may not watch up too well defensively with Nance and Northwestern’s 5 out. I mean maybe they can stick Cockburn on Beran like we did, but they don’t really have a Franz Wagner type that can then pick up Nance as well. Their “power forward” is 6’3" Damario Williams and their 2nd tallest starter is 6’5" Ayo Dusunmo.
Maryland has lost 5 of last 7, I think Iowa will get their best shot as they will be desperate to rebound and build a resume.
I think Maryland is stealing this one. They’ll do just enough this year to keep Turg around and enrage the fan base 
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