[NU Sports] The .500 Club

[Jim Leonard]

Ok, I'm one of the people who failed to turn back my clock so I have an extra hour this morning, forgive me. Based on Michigan's loss and MSU's loss yesterday there is a traffic jam on the way to 6-6 in the Big Ten this year. I feel like Tim Russert working his white board on election night in 2000. 

Minnesota (5-4):        lose to Illinois, beat South Dakota State, lose @ Iowa ----------------- finish 6-6
MSU (4-5):                beat Western Michigan, win @ Purdue, lose to Penn State ----------- finish 6-6
Northwestern (5-4):   lose @ Iowa, win @ Illinois, lose to Wisconsin --------------------------- finish 6-6
Michigan (5-4):          win @ Purdue, lose @ Wisconsin, lose to Ohio State ------------------ finish 6-6
Indiana (4-5):               beat Wisconsin, lose @ Penn State, beat Purdue ----------------------- finish 6-6

This would leave Illinois (3-9) and Purdue (3-9) out in the cold. 

Granted, Illinois beating Minnesota is remote, Purdue losing its last three is unlikely, and Indiana beating Wisconsin doesn't seem probably, BUT it could happen. This would leave the Big Ten with 9 'bowl eligible' teams and no doubt NU watching from home because of our poor attendance and small alumni base. 

Now if Purdue rallies to become the Boiler Spoiler, they could beat Michigan, Michigan State, and Indiana thereby pushing all three over the edge to a losing record and being 6-6 themselves. 

Go Cats!
Jim