It appears nine or even 10 Big Ten teams could gain at least six victories while there are seven automatic bowl bids available, assuming the conference receives only its one guaranteed Bowl Championship Series bid and not an extra at-large BCS bid, too.

The general assumption has been that six victories makes a team bowl eligible and in Michigan State’s case basically clinch a bid because the Motor City Bowl wants the Spartans if they are available.

However, it’s not true six victories will get the job done for MSU. Most years it would. This year is different because of the balance in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten.

• Two victories needed for bowl