Crazy But True: Here’s how Michigan can STILL win the Big Ten East Division

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NCAA Football: Maryland at Michigan

Michigan’s Big Ten championship hopes were seemingly crushed with two early conference losses to rivals Michigan State and Penn State. Yet, chaos in the Big Ten on Saturday has opened the door for Michigan, who throttled Minnesota on Saturday. Well, maybe just slightly cracked the door open.

Michigan fans, proceed with caution when getting your hopes up because a LOT has to go right for them in the next few weeks for any chance at capturing that elusive first title for Harbaugh.

WIN OUT

Got to take care of business first and foremost if you’re Michigan. The Wolverines a tough end to their season with a trip to Madison to take on the undefeated Wisconsin Badgers and the latest edition of “The Game” at home against Ohio State. The revamped Michigan offense will be put to the test but if redshirt freshman quarterback Brandon Peters can lead them to three more victories, he will have done his job.

OHIO STATE BEATS MICHIGAN STATE

Michigan, Big TenMichigan fans who are looking for teams to cheer for in next week’s matchup between Ohio State and Michigan State may have an answer. An Ohio State win over Michigan State would be another step towards the seemingly unreachable Big Ten championship. Sparty will be going into the game with major confidence after a big win against Penn State. Ohio State, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back after a 31-point loss to Iowa.

An away game at The Shoe is never an easy win, especially in November, but doubt Dantonio at your own risk. It was not long ago that he walked off the Buckeyes with a game-winning field goal, en route to the College Football Playoff that season.

ANOTHER MICHIGAN STATE, PENN STATE LOSS

Michigan, Big TenThe next two seem even more unlikely as Michigan’s going to need some help from some pretty unreliable sources to have a chance. So break out your Scarlet Knight gear, as Michigan’s season relies on some major upsets. The first two steps seem plausible yet difficult. As for the last two, well, that’s more of a stretch.

After the Spartans play Ohio State, they return home to host Maryland (4-5, 2-4 Big Ten) and finish up the season at Rutgers (4-5, 3-3). As for the Nittany Lions, they return home for a pair of contests against the aforementioned Scarlet Knights and Nebraska (4-5, 3-3) before closing out the year at Maryland. Not likely, but we’ve seen crazier things in college football, right?

I am not suggesting you go to Vegas and bet on the Maize and Blue to win it all but hey, it’s your money. However, were all of this to happen, Michigan would then be 10-2 (7-2 Big Ten), Ohio State would be 9-3 (7-2), Michigan State would be 8-4 (6-3), and Penn State would be 9-3 (6-3). Michigan would then be tied with Ohio State where they would win the head-to-head tiebreaker.

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The Big Ten tiebreaker is not an easy thing to grasp, but tiebreaker rules and head-to-head losses against Penn State and Michigan State require all of these scenarios to play out.

With all that said, chaos has run rampant through college football this year so nothing is guaranteed. Michigan does not control their own destiny but there is still hope! Kinda.