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the old question

if Northwestern is playing well and threatening to win... do the zebras throw a few flags to help the Buckeyes?

the old question

if Northwestern is playing well and threatening to win... do the zebras throw a few flags to help the Buckeyes?

I don't think Northwestern will be a threat to win by midway through the 3rd Qtr. They have a defense to hang in there for a while, and while Indiana showed how vulnerable Ohio State can be on defense, Northwestern does not have that Indiana's offensive capability. 
I have considered the premise of your question as it applies in big conference games. I recall a game about 5-years or so ago involving Iowa State and Texas that made me wonder if referees, whether consciously, or not, have motive to, and act, to help the conference get a team into a bigger game.

I believe you are correct in counting out the tie between East and West, which I didn't do a good job at before. As for predictions for the final week, I will go with this:

E - Ohio State > Northwestern
E - Indiana > Purdue
E - Rutgers > Nebraska
E - Penn St > Illinois
W - Iowa > Michigan

E-4 > W-1

Well,
Indy-Purdue canceled
Iowa-Michigan cancelled

What's left?
E-3 > W-0

Here is what I have (somebody correct me if I missed something):
B1G-E:

• 1-0 tOSU, beat UNL
• 1-0 IU, beat UW
• 1-1 UMD, beat MN, lost to NU
• 1-1 M, beat MN, lost to UW
• 1-1 MSU, beat NU, lost to IA
• 1-1 RU, beat PU, lost to IL
• 0-2 PSU, lost to UNL and IA
• 6-6 overall

B1G-W:

• 2-0 IA, beat MSU and PSU
• 1-0 IL, beat RU
• 1-1 UW, beat M, lost to IU
• 1-1 UNL, beat PSU, lost to tOSU
• 1-1 NU, beat UMD, lost to MSU
• 0-1 PU, lost to RU
• 0-2 MN, lost to M and UMD
• 6-6 overall

So they were tied 6-6 heading into this past weekend then:

• UNL>RU made it 7-6 W
• tOSU>NU made it 7-7
• PSU>IL made it 8-7 in favor of the B1G-E

Close, really close.