If you were to run the simulator right now with the matchups already chosen, you end up with
MD: 16-4 26-5
PSU 15-5 25-5
MSU 13-7 21-10
IA 12-8 21-10
ILL 12-8 20-11
WI 12-8 19-12
MN 10-10 16-14
OSU 10-10 20-11
RUT 10-10 19-12
PU 10-10 17-14
MI 9-11 18-13
IN 7-13 17-14
That would be very clear at the top, with MD probably getting a 1 or a 2 seed, PSU probably a 2 or a 3, but then after that it is very muddy. How much should the B1G be valued? How does a Purdue team, at 17-14 look with all their big wins, or Michigan with their big wins at 18-13 look? They have to be in right? So if those teams make it in at a 10 seed, that has to put the MSU, ILL, and Iowa trio with all their wins in the 5-6 line right?
So looking ahead, it becomes even more interesting to me. Granted, upsets can happen at any time and should not be taken for granted, but it is expected for a top team in the standings at home to beat a lower team on the road. We all know all of Iowa's games are big and will greatly impact our season as well as the standings, but there are not that many games left that could shake things up at the top a lot, and of those games, many of them have Maryland. Here they are:
MSU - MD. MSU at home. Bracket says MSU wins here and if they do then nothing changes above, but still a big game.
IN - PSU: Bracket says PSU wins on the road. Indiana is not a bad team and can beat anyone at home.
OSU - MD: Bracket says MD wins this on the road.
MN - MD: Bracket says MD wins this on the road as well.
PSU - MSU. Much like the MSU/MD game, nothing changes if the home team wins but MSU can beat PSU on the road.
RUT-MD: Bracket says MD beats Rutgers, who is unbeaten at home, on the road.
I dont think MD is that good to win all those games on the road, and dropping any of them or multiple of them definitely changes the landscape of the big ten in the ncaa's. That further compresses the pack.
