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The BCS outlook for the Big Ten has improved over the past couple of weeks, but the BCS rankings projections for week 13 still don't show a Big Ten team among the top ten teams.
According to the latest BCS rankings projections from SB Nation, the Michigan State Spartans will be ranked 13th followed two spots later by the Michigan Wolverines at 15. Michigan's strong showing on Saturday while beating the Nebraska Cornhuskers has thrust them not only into the BCS rankings but also into talk of an at-large bid to a BCS bowl game.
SB Nation counts Michigan among the "Big Winners" of the week.
Michigan: After the failed Rich Rodriguez experiment, no one could've foreseen that the Wolverines would be on the verge of a 10-win season and maybe a BCS bowl berth. Michigan, without being burdened with an appearance in the Big Ten championship game, might be just a win over archrival Ohio State away from earning its first trip to a BCS bowl since the 2006 season.
The Wisconsin Badgers shouldn't be too far outside the Top 15 this week and will likely join the party with a win over Penn State next week. That would leave Wisconsin and Michigan State battling in the Big Ten Championship game for a coveted BCS bowl berth in the Rose Bowl.