If Michigan wins out, it clearly wins the Big Ten East.
If Michigan beats MSU and OSU and loses only one other game (vs. PSU, at RU, vs. IU), Michigan will be 8-1 in the Big Ten with a 2-0 record vs. MSU and OSU. The best OSU could be is also 8-1, but it would lose the head-to-head tiebreaker to Michigan. The best MSU could be is 7-2. Even if PSU is the one that hands U-M the loss, the best PSU could be is 7-2 with losses to OSU and MSU.
Maryland also only has one Big Ten loss. However, even if the Terps win out (uh, no), both they and Michigan would be 8-1, and Michigan would win the head-to-head tiebreaker.
This is not the only way Michigan can win the Big Ten East and advance to Indy. If Michigan loses to MSU and then wins out, including wins over PSU and OSU, and MSU loses again (most likely to OSU), U-M still plays for the Big Ten championship. However, U-M would not control its destiny and would need the Spartans to lose again. We thought that would happen in 2015, but whoooooops.
Conclusion: If Michigan beats MSU and OSU, it's pretty much a lock to win the Big Ten East.
That'd be quite the narrative basher, huh?
If Michigan beats MSU and OSU and loses only one other game (vs. PSU, at RU, vs. IU), Michigan will be 8-1 in the Big Ten with a 2-0 record vs. MSU and OSU. The best OSU could be is also 8-1, but it would lose the head-to-head tiebreaker to Michigan. The best MSU could be is 7-2. Even if PSU is the one that hands U-M the loss, the best PSU could be is 7-2 with losses to OSU and MSU.
Maryland also only has one Big Ten loss. However, even if the Terps win out (uh, no), both they and Michigan would be 8-1, and Michigan would win the head-to-head tiebreaker.
This is not the only way Michigan can win the Big Ten East and advance to Indy. If Michigan loses to MSU and then wins out, including wins over PSU and OSU, and MSU loses again (most likely to OSU), U-M still plays for the Big Ten championship. However, U-M would not control its destiny and would need the Spartans to lose again. We thought that would happen in 2015, but whoooooops.
Conclusion: If Michigan beats MSU and OSU, it's pretty much a lock to win the Big Ten East.
That'd be quite the narrative basher, huh?
