How dire is the Big Ten West? Let’s go position-by-position.

THE BEST OF THE WORST

It’s not exactly original to say the top of the Big Ten East is far, far ahead of the cream of the Big Ten West crop. This year, though, the gap has grown particularly wide.

Michigan State lost to Michigan and Ohio State by a combined 51 points. The Spartans just beat West division leader Illinois by eight — and the Illini still have the best chance of representing the West in the conference title g…