Forecasting the Final Standings in the Big Ten Leaders Division

We're right around the halfway point of the season, and things are finally starting to take shape in the Big Ten.

The Legends Division race is much more intriguing than the race in the Leaders, but there are still some interesting storylines in that division.

Will Wisconsin go undefeated?  Can Illinois sustain their success?  Will Indiana win another game?

Those questions will be answered in this preview of how the standings will look in the Leaders Division at the end of the regular season.

6. Indiana (1-11, 0-8)

I just don't see how anybody can realistically say that Indiana is going to win another game this year.

Their most winnable game is easily Purdue on Nov. 26, but even then they'll probably be underdogs.

They may have a shot at winning the Northwestern game on Oct. 29, but other than those two, it doesn't look like they'll have a chance in any other game.

This team is just simply terrible right now, and the recent news of Gunner Kiel's decommitment is especially discouraging.

However, the future looks reasonably bright in Bloomington, as Kevin Wilson will at least make this team competitive in a few years.

In fact, I'm going to go as far as to say that Wilson turns Indiana into a yearly six- or seven-win team.

For this season though, the Hoosiers will be extremely lucky if they even win another game.

5. Purdue (4-8, 2-6)

This Purdue team actually isn't as bad as some people thought they would be, but regardless they're probably not going to go to a bowl game.

If they don't, Danny Hope may be lucky if he survives until next season.

Purdue is currently 3-3, and would likely need three more wins to make a bowl game.

Realistically though, they'll probably only win one more game: Indiana.

There's a possibility they could beat Iowa on Nov. 19, but they'll certainly be underdogs going in.

Some may think this is absurd, but I think they have a great chance of beating Illinois on Oct. 22.  I'm not saying it will happen, but look for Purdue to at least keep it close and maybe even win.

If Purdue can beat Illinois, Iowa and Indiana, then that will put them at six wins, but the likelihood that they win all three of those games is extremely low.

Look for the Boilermakers to finish 4-8, with that one win being over Indiana.

It could be a long offseason for Danny Hope.

4. Ohio State (7-5, 4-4)

This disastrous season for Ohio State got a little better when they beat Illinois last week, but there's still a lot of misery to come.

They'll certainly beat Indiana and Purdue, and they'll probably beat Penn State at home.

However, there's a good chance that Wisconsin comes into Columbus and wins, and also that the winning streak against Michigan ends.

That would put the Bucks at 7-5, which would be enough to get them into a lower-tier bowl game.

The Insight Bowl seems like a likely destination for them.

3. Illinois (9-3, 5-3)

Illinois showed that they may have been a little overrated with last week's game against Ohio State.

Everybody hyped them up after their 6-0 start, but people should have remembered their close call with Western Michigan at home, and their narrow three-point win over Northwestern at home.

We'll see if this Illinois team is for real in the second half of the season.

They have to be mighty careful when traveling to Purdue on Oct. 22.  They'll probably win, but look for it to be extremely close, with no more than a seven-point win.

They certainly can go into Happy Valley and win on Oct. 29, but right now I'm going to say that a mediocre Penn State team beats them.

The Nov. 12 home game with Michigan is a complete tossup, as either team could certainly win.

It will be interesting to see if Wisconsin is still undefeated when they come to town on Nov. 19.  If they are, there's a decent chance that Illinois could ruin their perfect season.

The finale with Minnesota seems like it would be an automatic win, but it's not just because it's on the road.  Illini fans still remember what happened in the Minnesota game last year.

Ron Zook has probably bought himself a few more years with a solid season, and a likely Jan. 2 bowl appearance.

2. Penn State (8-4, 5-3)

Penn State is not a very good team.  They are 6-1, but they haven't done anything impressive when looking at their schedule.

They will have a chance to prove themselves, though, in these last five games of the year.

The game at Northwestern on Oct. 22 is extremely dangerous, as Northwestern could certainly come out with a win.  The game is a complete tossup.

So is the Illinois game on Oct. 29, as either team could easily win.  However, I gave the edge to Penn State, and that is why they are ahead of Illinois in these standings.

The Nebraska game on Nov. 12 is very winnable also.  Nebraska hasn't looked good so far, but could be improved by then.

It will be extremely hard to go into Ohio State and win on Nov. 19, but it isn't impossible.

This may sound kind of dumb to some people, but I would almost give Penn State no chance in the season finale against Wisconsin.

It's in Madison, and the Badgers will be on the verge of wrapping up a great season.

I have this Penn State team going 8-4, and probably landing in a Jan. 2 bowl game.

1. Wisconsin (11-1, 7-1)

It seems like almost everybody around the country is assuming Wisconsin will go undefeated.  The real question people are asking is whether or not they'll make the BCS title game.

However, I'll be one of the few that is still saying Wisconsin is going to lose a game.  Who are they going to lose to?  I don't have an exact answer, but there are certainly plenty of candidates.

The Oct. 22 game in Michigan State will be extremely tough, and they could certainly come out of there with a loss.

A week later on Oct. 29, they have to travel to Ohio State.  You could certainly make the case that that is their toughest remaining game of the year.  It will be very hard to come out of there with a win.

The Nov. 19 showdown in Illinois will be huge.  Wisconsin may be 10-0 going into that game, but who knows if they'll come out undefeated?

As mentioned earlier, I don't think Penn State in the season finale will be much of a test.

I don't know which one, but I think either Michigan State, Ohio State or Illinois will take down Wisconsin.

Either way, the Badgers will still make the Big Ten championship and likely win it.

If they don't go to the BCS title game, then they'll probably end up in the Rose Bowl for a second straight year.