Big Ten Power Rankings as of Feb 8 2010

1. Wisconsin (8-3)
UW defeated Michigan State and won at Michigan in impressive fashion. They jump two spots to the top of the heap.
2. Purdue (7-3)
Last week PU won a rivalry game at Indiana. Not terribly impressive but good enough to keep the status quo.
3. Michigan State (9-2)
MSU lost at Wisconsin and at Illinois. The once no-brainer top pick slipped a couple of spots partly because of the losses but also because of the uncertain status of Kalin Lucas who injured his ankle in Madison.
4. Ohio State (8-3)
Last week OSU held on for home wins against Penn State and Iowa. We are still tempted to move them up the rankings but it was too much to drop MSU more than two spots this week.
5. Northwestern (5-6)
NU easily defeated Michigan and Indiana at home. Maybe this will quiet the homer accusations from some of Carmody Court's readers?
6. Illinois (8-3)
Last week UI won at Iowa and at home against Lucas-less Michigan State. We hate to reward them for taking advantage of MSU's injury problems, but you have to give them a little credit.
7. Minnesota (5-5)
Last week UM sneaked out a victory at Penn State. Any road victory should not be a demotion but the Illini did help their cause this past week
8. Michigan (4-7)
UM lost at Northwestern and to Wisconsin in Ann Arbor. No change, but the wheels are falling off.
9. Indiana (3-7)
Last week IU lost to Purdue in Bloomington and at Northwestern. No change.
10. Iowa (2-9)
Last week Iowa lost to Illinois at home and at Ohio State. No change.
11. Penn State (0-11)
Last week PSU lost at Ohio State and to Minnesota at home. The games were competitive and we really wish PSU had been able to pull one of these games out. It's only a matter of time until they get their first conference win, and they will have two shots at it against NU.