Before the season began, a group of 39 football writers covering the Big Ten was tasked with predicting the winner of the East and West divisions and the subsequent conference championship game. Common sense suggested the favorites in the East were Ohio State and Michigan, while the West would belong once again to Iowa.
In total, 27 writers projected Ohio State to win the league title, 11 pegged Michigan and one went with Iowa. None chose Wisconsin or Penn State. Only three even had the Badgers playing in the title game, and none tabbed the Nittany Lions.
But when the confetti drops Saturday night in Indianapolis, either the Badgers or Nittany Lions will be crowned Big Ten champions.