Michigan State the king of the North
The Spartans are the clear favorites to win the Big Ten heading into the 2nd week of January. They are currently sitting atop the Big Ten standings.
Michigan State will have their challengers to dethrone them as they have shared or won the conference title the past two seasons. The Spartans are currently 5-0 and the only undefeated team in the Big Ten as they play their next game on the road against Purdue. The most important thing that Michigan State has done in conference play has been their ability to be consistent and not lose a game that they were favored to win.
Every top contender in the Big Ten lost a game that they were favored to win. It is not that upsets never happen but the conference is so balanced from top to bottom that there have been numerous upsets in Big Ten play in the early part of conference play. It all started when now No. 11 ranked Ohio State lost to Minnesota by 13 in the second week of December.
The Buckeyes who played very well in non-conference play beating Kentucky and Villanova have lost their last three Big Ten games. Now No. 19 ranked Michigan like Ohio State played very well in non-conference play as they beat No.1 ranked Gonzaga but has stumbled in Big Ten play having lost to Illinois and Michigan State as well as barely surviving double overtime to beat Purdue at home.
Current No. 12 ranked Maryland started the season 10-0 and undefeated winning the Orlando Invitational defeating Marquette in the championship game. However, they struggled in early Big Ten play coming from behind and beating Illinois by one point on their home court. After losing to Penn State, they did win their next two Big Ten games but recently lost at Iowa. No team currently has shown to be a serious threat to stopping Michigan State from capturing their third straight Big Ten regular-season title.