Dutcher believes the Gophers could win the game. “State is not playing well,” he said. “They’re having trouble scoring.”
Michigan State is Dutcher’s pick to finish second in the Big Ten. “It’s hard to judge them because their schedule has been murder,” he said.
Ohio State is the most talented team and a “step ahead” of everyone else in the league in Dutcher’s opinion. The Gophers, after a home game next Tuesday with Indiana, must play at Ohio State on January 9.
The Gophers could avoid a lot of anxiety by finishing their first four conference games with at least a 2-2 record. “They’re talented enough to beat anybody on any given night,” Dutcher said. “They’ll be a tough out at Williams Arena.”
In Dutcher’s conference finish predictions, he groups Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota together as teams likely to be right behind Ohio State and Michigan State. “I think you can just throw a blanket over them (Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota),” he said.
Wisconsin is next in predicted order. The Badgers are less talented than teams ahead of them including Minnesota, according to Dutcher.
Northwestern impressed during the nonconference schedule going 9-1 but is likely to finish just behind the Badgers. Dutcher doesn’t think the Wildcats have the depth to compensate for injuries and foul trouble. Penn State, Indiana, Michigan and Iowa look like bottom feeders in the conference standings.