The Big 10 West is the Division that nobody has taken a strangle hold. Illinois has already beaten Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota and is currently in the driver’s seat with a 4-2 division record. If the Illini win in Champaign against Purdue on Saturday, they will have a hammerlock on the West title.
BUT IF ILLINOIS LOSES ON SATURDAY…….
Can you believe there is potential for a 5-way tie for the West at 5-4 that is not far fetched?!?!
Let’s assume that Illinois also loses at Michigan before beating Northwestern in the finale. Illinois finishes at 5-4.
Purdue, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota all sit at 3-3. Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin all play each other. For a 5-way tie to occur, the trio needs to go 1-1 against each other and win their other division game.
Wisconsin plays at Nebraska on November 19. The Badgers will likely be favored.
Iowa is home versus Nebraska on November 25. Iowa will definitely be favored.
Minnesota is a 17-point favorite over Northwestern this Saturday.
With an Illini loss to Purdue, all the above looks plausible.
However, Purdue’s future looks like the weak link in the 5-way-tie scenario. Purdue’s final two games are against the Big 10’s 2 weakest teams: Northwestern and AT Indiana. Rivalry games are unpredictable so an Old Oaken Bucket upset is not impossible.
The Odyssey cannot recollect a 5-way tie for a title and we do enjoy occasional chaos. What would be the tiebreaker in event of a 5-way tie? The first tiebreaker would be the record against the other 4 co-champions:
Illinois would be in good shape with a 3-1 mark.
Iowa would be 2-2.
Wisconsin would be 2-2.
Purdue would be 2-2.
Minnesota would be 1-3.
The Odyssey’s mischievous side is rooting for a 5-way tie! However, the experts in Las Vegas say that the Illini are a touchdown favorite to put all such chaos to rest.