Sunday, November 4, 2018

Maryland's only chance to win the Big Ten East

I thought Maryland was out of contention for the Big Ten East, but then I saw one scenario that could give them the division.

Maryland would have to force a tie with Michigan at 6-3.  Due to the structure of the remaining schedule, such a tie would also have to involve Ohio State.



Let's look at the records step by step.

Current standings:
Michigan 6-0 (tiebreakers over PSU, MSU, and Maryland)
Ohio State 5-1 (tiebreaker over PSU)
Michigan State 4-2 (tiebreaker over PSU and Maryland)
Maryland 3-3 (no tiebreakers)
PSU 3-3 (no tiebreakers)

Step 1:  Maryland wins out.  (Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State)
Michigan 6-0 (tiebreakers over PSU, MSU, and Maryland)
Ohio State 5-2 (tiebreaker over PSU)
Michigan State 4-2 (tiebreaker over PSU and Maryland)
Maryland 6-3 (tiebreaker over Ohio State)
PSU 3-4 (eliminated due to the 4th loss)

Step 2:  Michigan loses out.  (Rutgers, Indiana, Ohio State)
Michigan 6-3 (tiebreakers over MSU and Maryland)
Ohio State 6-2 (tiebreaker over Michigan)
Michigan State 4-2 (tiebreaker over Maryland)
Maryland 6-3 (tiebreaker over Ohio State)

Step 3:  Michigan State beats Ohio State.
Michigan 6-3 (tiebreakers over MSU and Maryland)
Ohio State 6-3 (tiebreaker over Michigan)
Michigan State 5-2 (tiebreaker over Ohio State and Maryland)
Maryland 6-3 (tiebreaker over Ohio State)

The only way Michigan State stays in the tie is to go 1-1 in their remaining games (Nebraska, Rutgers).  If they lose both, they drop out.  If they win both, they win the division.

Therefore, there are only two scenarios left for Maryland.

Scenario #1:  Four way tie (Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State)
Michigan and Michigan State would be 2-1 against the group, better than the 1-2 that Ohio State and Maryland post. Michigan would then clinch the division on head-to-head.

Scenario #2:  Three way tie (Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State)
All three teams would go 1-1 against each other and it would come down to divisional records -
Maryland 4-2, Ohio State 4-2, Michigan 3-3.  Michigan is eliminated, and Maryland would win on head-to-head over Ohio State.

Here are all of the results needed for Maryland to clinch the division:
November 10
-Maryland win over Indiana
-Rutgers win over Michigan
-Michigan State win over Ohio State

November 17
-Maryland win over Ohio State
-Indiana win over Michigan
-Nebraska win over Michigan State

November 24:
-Maryland win over Penn State
-Ohio State win over Michigan
-Rutgers win over Michigan State

If any of these nine games go the other way, Maryland is eliminated.

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