Beating Michigan State was a huge step towards Indianapolis for Michigan. The Wolverines control their destiny in the Big Ten East, and with four games left, here are the most likely paths to winning it:
Win Out: Duh. Plus, if Michigan win its next three games (vs. PSU, at RU, vs. IU) and Ohio State loses one of its next three (vs. NEB, at MSU, at MD), U-M will clinch the East before The Game.
Lose Only One of Next Three; Beat OSU: As long as U-M doesn't lose more than once in its next three games, Michigan will play for the East title against OSU if OSU doesn't lose again beforehand.
There also situations where, because OSU lost to Purdue last night, Michigan could lose two of its next three games and still win the East if it beats OSU. An example would be Michigan loses to PSU and Indiana, PSU loses to Wisconsin, and Michigan beats OSU, in which case only Michigan and OSU would be 7-2 in the East and U-M would win the head-to-head tiebreaker. Obviously, Michigan would prefer to avoid this altogether, and a win vs. PSU in two weeks would effectively do that.
The conclusion is pretty much the same, though: Michigan most likely will be playing for the Big Ten East championship in Columbus.
Win Out: Duh. Plus, if Michigan win its next three games (vs. PSU, at RU, vs. IU) and Ohio State loses one of its next three (vs. NEB, at MSU, at MD), U-M will clinch the East before The Game.
Lose Only One of Next Three; Beat OSU: As long as U-M doesn't lose more than once in its next three games, Michigan will play for the East title against OSU if OSU doesn't lose again beforehand.
There also situations where, because OSU lost to Purdue last night, Michigan could lose two of its next three games and still win the East if it beats OSU. An example would be Michigan loses to PSU and Indiana, PSU loses to Wisconsin, and Michigan beats OSU, in which case only Michigan and OSU would be 7-2 in the East and U-M would win the head-to-head tiebreaker. Obviously, Michigan would prefer to avoid this altogether, and a win vs. PSU in two weeks would effectively do that.
The conclusion is pretty much the same, though: Michigan most likely will be playing for the Big Ten East championship in Columbus.
