Big Ten Power Ratings as of Jan 19 2010

1. Michigan State (5-0)
Last week MSU successfully defended the home court against Minnesota and Illinois. The Spartans are on a roll.
2. Wisconsin (4-2)
Last week UW won at Northwestern and lost at Ohio State. The Badgers may vie for the Big Ten title if the Spartans miss a beat.
3. Purdue (2-3)
Last week PU dropped a home game to Ohio State and a road game to Northwestern. Arguably the Boilermakers should slip below the Buckeyes but we still think Purdue is the better team.
4. Ohio State (3-3)
Last week OSU won at Purdue and defeated Wisconsin at home. It was a very impressive week for the Buckeyes but not quite enough to crack the top three just yet. We'll get a first hand look at the Buckeyes tonight.
5. Northwestern (2-3)
Last week NU lost a home game to Wisconsin and defeated Purdue at home. The Wildcats' split of a pair of home games against ranked opponents is power rating neutral.
6. Minnesota (3-3)
Last week UM lost two road games at Michigan State and Indiana (OT). The first loss was expected for the Gophers but the second loss not so much.
7. Illinois (4-1)
Last week UI won at home against Penn State and lost to Michigan State on the road. Both of these outcomes were as expected, but the manner in which the Illini narrowly defeated the Nits and were blown out by Sparty left much to be desired and validated a power rating well below their conference record.
8. Michigan (3-2)
Last week UM won home games against Indiana and ranked non-conference foe Connecticut. The Wolverines helped their post-season cause with the victory over the Huskies, but much work still needs to be done to make the NCAAs.
9. Indiana (2-3)
Last week IU lost to Michigan on the road and defeated Minnesota at home in OT. The Hoosiers' win over the Gophers turned some heads, and Pitt's resurgence makes that road victory look more impressive.
10. Penn State (0-5)
Last week PSU lost at Indiana and at Iowa. The Nits' loss at Iowa hurt their power rating. As consolation we thank the Nits for proving once again that Seth Davis is a moron (he said Iowa might go winless in conference).
11. Iowa (1-5)
Last week Iowa won home games against Tennessee State and Penn State. Although the Hawkeyes defeated the Nits we are not fooled. The Hawkeyes are a bad team (see their narrow victory against a poor Tenn St squad).