Sharp: MSU should switch divisions to balance Big Ten With Big Ten West Division struggling, especially Nebraska, it would make sense for conference to realign divisions

Drew Sharp | Detroit Free Press Columnist

The addition of Nebraska hasn’t helped the Big Ten’s football standing.

If anything, the Cornhuskers have worsened an already-laughable national reputation. Nebraska perfectly fits the general Big Ten football narrative of “Remember when,” as in “Remember when the only leather in the stadiums were the football helmets.”

The Cornhuskers are already assured an eighth-straight season with a minimum of four losses.

The Big Ten foolishly thought that Nebraska could anchor its West Division in the conference’s latest realignment. Instead, the Cornhuskers’ continued regression has greatly contributed to a divisional disparity that’s turned the Big Ten West into the Big Ten East’s (sorry, but I can’t help it) “little brother.”

Iowa is unbeaten, ranked ninth in the first College Football Playoff rankings. But nobody is truly taking the Hawkeyes seriously because the division is a joke.

Michigan could have a little better than expected initial season under Jim Harbaugh, but still finish fourth in the Big Ten East behind Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State. Don’t think for a second that will go unnoticed at conference headquarters.

Nebraska’s slovenly appearance might force the Big Ten into another divisional tweak in an effort to create more competitive balance.

The logical decision would be to move the Spartans to the West. They could still annually protect the MSU-Michigan game, and such a move would also guarantee a yearly renewal between Michigan State and Wisconsin, a series that has produced some of the more exciting Big Ten games since Mark Dantonio’s arrival in East Lansing in 2007.

And it could create the opportunity for a Michigan State-Michigan battle on a neutral field in the Big Ten championship game.

Perhaps more importantly, it saves the Big Ten from the Cornhuskers further embarrassing the conference. It could’ve easily taken Missouri, a program that has played pretty well in the more competitive SEC.

Nebraska’s role the remainder of the season is potential spoiler. It could destroy the Spartans’ playoff run Saturday night in Lincoln. But another brutally awful home effort could apply even more job pressure on first-year head coach Mike Riley.

The picks

After a recent study ranked Lions’ fans as the second drunkest in the NFL, there were calls for the Mystic One to undergo a blood alcohol test after his 5-0 record last week. A 27-20 overall mark for the season. It’s another week for the all-seeing, all-knowing famed seer, sage, soothsayer and former director of the Minnesota football school of clock management… The Great Boodini.

Michigan State (minus-5½) at Nebraska –The Spartans are frustrated that the College Football Playoff selection committee is changing its criteria to suit its interests. While crediting other teams for blowing out their opponents, the committee penalized Michigan State for needing five minutes to score three touchdowns against Indiana in its last game. Pick – Michigan State

Rutgers (plus-22) at Michigan – In another attempt to further suck up to The Savior, the NCAA unanimously approves Jim Harbaugh’s request that the Wolverines’ games only last 58 minutes and 40 seconds after Michigan’s last two late-game scares. Pick – Rutgers

Minnesota (plus-23) at Ohio State – While it’s laughable that quarterback J.T. Barrett might only miss a single game for his DUI arrest last weekend, Uncle Urban insists that even more serious punishments await. Barrett must pay for his own tattoos for the next two months while driving around Columbus in a 1975 Chevy Vega that (gasp) he paid for himself. Pick – Minnesota

Iowa (minus-7) at Indiana – The Hawkeyes complain that they aren’t getting enough respect nationally, arguing that the woefully poor Big Ten West Division’s getting an unnecessarily bad rap. But it doesn’t help the division’s reputation when the Lions play their final eight games against Big Ten West competition … and they still can’t win a game. Pick – Iowa

Penn State (plus-2) at Northwestern: Pick – Penn State

Illinois (toss-up) at Purdue: Pick -- Purdue

Wisconsin (minus-13) at Maryland: Pick -- Wisconsin

Contact Drew Sharp: dsharp@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @drewsharp. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/drew-sharp/.