Week 11 B1G Power Rankings and Bowl Projections

Joe Robbins/Getty Images



Rank Bowl Pre 1 2 3 4 5  6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
1
CFB
Playoff
-
-
-
2
Orange
-
-
-
3
Outback
-
-
-
4
Holiday
-
-
-
5
Tax
Slayer
-
-
-
6
Pinstripe
-
-
-
7
SF Bowl
-
-
-
8
Quick
Lane
-
-
-
9
Heart of
Dallas
---
Rankings are determined before each week's games. 

The upper crust
Welp, it is done. Ohio State's complete dismantling of Michigan State was by all accounts their one and only college playoff statement game and JT Barrett's Heisman coming out party. Baring a stumble in any of their final three games where they'll be heavy favorites, they'll win out and most likely face the winner of tomorrow's Wisconsin vs Nebraska game in the B1G championship.

A win there, coupled with a losses by any 4 of those pesky 7 teams ahead of them in the CFB playoff poll will likely send the Buckeyes to the playoff because of course it will.

This creates a situation which could benefit Michigan State in terms of bowl selection. Whomever loses to Ohio State in the B1G title game (I predict Wisconsin), will be punished with a late-season loss that will impact their bowl stock. A 10-2 Michigan State will be a nice draw for any major bowl.

The bowlers
Here's where it gets really messy. Because now it's not so much about power rankings as it is bowl stock. Bowls really only care about TV ratings and tickets sales by drawing the biggest name they can possibly get. Michigan, Penn State, Iowa, the loser of the Wis-Neb game (or the winner for that matter) will all be nice draws for any bowl, regardless of their final record. Minnesota and Maryland are bowl eligible. Rutgers, I'm not so sure they'll get there.

The bowl hopeful and everyone else
Indiana and Northwestern must win out to make a bowl. Illinois needs two wins in their final three games against Iowa, Penn State and @ Northwestern. And finally Purdue, with their loss a week ago to Wisconsin…has become the first B1G team eliminated from bowl contention.

No comments

Post a Comment

Home