If we are serious about a Big Ten title - and we damn well should be the way we have played! - tonight is huge after Wisconsin upset Purdue last night. Here is the top of the Big Ten standings as of this morning:
#10 Michigan State: 3-0
#13 Ohio State: 3-0
Illinois: 2-0
Wisconsin: 2-1
Four teams (MINN, NU, MICH, RU) sit at 1-1, and #3 Purdue is at 1-2 with a home loss already. MSU and OSU barely survived road tests against Northwestern and Nebraska, teams (presumed to be) near the bottom of the Big Ten hierarchy. Minnesota has been a surprise team, and I anticipate The Barn to be loud. If we can move to 3-0 with road wins against Iowa and Minnesota ... we are truly controlling our own destiny. I expect us to trip up here and there like every other team, but you have a better chance of surviving your "off games" at home than you do on the road. Every road win is precious.
P.S. This week actually appears to be huge for some early separation in the conference standings. OSU plays a desperate IU in Bloomington on Thursday, and Iowa travels to Wisconsin. Then, on Saturday Purdue travels to play a PSU team that just knocked off Indiana, and MSU travels to Ann Arbor for a rivalry game. Lastly, on Sunday Wisconsin travels to Maryland after the Terps have hopefully lost two straight.
We obviously have to take care of our own business ... but if we win two games that we are favored in (ILL -7 at Minnesota tonight...) this week, we could very well be alone in first place on Sunday.