Big Ten Championship Game 2011 Projections: Michigan State Locks Up Spot In Indianapolis

With one week left in the Big Ten season the 2011 Big Ten Championship game is starting to take shape after the Michigan State Spartans clinched a trip to Indianapolis along with the top spot in the Legends Division after beating the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday.

The Michigan Wolverines helped their rivals in East Lansing by beating the Nebraska Cornhuskers and since Michigan State beat Michigan earlier in the season, the Spartans clinched the division with their win.

The Leaders Division spot in the championship game will be decided next week when the current division leader Penn State Nittany Lions travel to Madision, Wisconsin to take on the Wisconsin Badgers for a shot at the Rose Bowl.

Regardless of the matchup, the Big Ten Championship game will be plenty intense since both teams will have two losses heading into the game. That means the championship game loser won't have an at-large BCS bid to cushion the blow, while conference foe Michigan may end up with a BCS bid by missing out on the championship game but finishing the season with just two losses.

The Ohio State Buckeyes will have a say in that scenario though, with a chance to beat Michigan next week in Ann Arbo