B1G Bowl Projections for 11/10

JonDMiller

JonDMiller

Publisher/Founder
Check out this week's B1G Power Rankings.


Iowa is now bowl eligible, so this is when I actually give a rip enough to want to speculate on bowl slotting.
This process isn't as cut and dried as it once was and will continue to get more and more murky with the ever changing landscape of the sport.


That said, here's a shot and we'll adjust week to week.


ONE UP SCENARIO: Meaning just one Big Ten team goes to a BCS bowl.


BCS: Ohio State. It's just a matter of will it be the National Title game or just the Rose Bowl. Oregon losing this week will help their national title hopes.
Capital One: Wisconsin. The win Saturday against BYU will help the Badgers in the computer polls and human polls, too. If the Badgers can get to 14th in the final BCS poll, I think they can get to a BCS bowl at 10-2, because that is what their record will be. We put them in the Cap One in the One Up Scenario
Outback Bowl: Michigan State doesn't travel all that well. They've disappointed the Orlando folks a few times in the past and frankly, that's a more family friendly trip than Tampa. Which is not to say Tampa isn't a blast; it might be my favorite place to visit.
Buffalo Wild Wings: Nebraska. This just seems like the landing spot for the Huskers in a one-up scenario, based on their remaining schedule.
Gator Bowl: Michigan I believe Iowa will beat Michigan and lose to Nebraska. You'd like to think the Iowa-Michigan game will be a play in game for the Gator, if the Big Ten is in a one-up scenario. I think Michigan beats Northwestern this coming weekend, then loses to Iowa and Ohio State to end the year. They are 7-5 and Iowa finishes 7-5. The problem in this scenario is Michigan is going to win this beauty pageant more often than not.
Texas Bowl: Iowa Houston's Reliant Stadium. Nice facility, guaranteed good weather indoors...Better than staying home? Kirk Ferentz faces off against his old pal Bill Snyder?
Heart of Dallas: Minnesota. The Gophers are 8-2...they play Michigan State and Wisconsin yet this year, which means they will be 8-4. They wont be two games up in the standings on Iowa or Michigan, therefore the Gator can choose who they want. Minnesota's traveling history is abysmal, so going off of that history I think they get jumped.
Pizza Pizza: Nobody home...Penn State is on probation, Indiana isn't winning two out of their last three, nor is Northwestern. Illinois will lose to Ohio State next week and will be mathematically eliminated from a bowl bid.


TWO UP SCENARIO: Two Big Ten teams to BCS bowl games


BCS: Ohio State
BCS: Wisconsin
Cap One: Michigan State
Outback: Nebraska
Buffalo Wild Wings: Michigan
Gator: Iowa
Texas: Minnesota
Dallas & Detroit: No mas B1G


WHAT IF IOWA WINS OUT: If that happens, I think the best they could get to would be the Outback in a two-up scenario and Buffalo Wild Wings in a one-up scenario.


WHAT IF IOWA GOES 0-2: Then I'd go Dallas in the one-up, Texas in the two-up.


NOTE: This post was published Saturday night, November 9th. Here are Jerry Palm's bowl projections, released on November 10th. He is calling for a ONE UP scenario and the primary difference he has is Minnesota in the Texas Bowl against Kansas State...I put Iowa there as I am projecting a win for Iowa against Michigan, meaning I believe there will only be a one-game gap between Iowa and Minnesota.
 
Woo hoo, this is more fun now that we know Iowa will be going to a bowl. I love the bowl games so the more B1G teams playing the better. I think Northwestern can pull off the upset at home against Michigan, they have had 2 weeks to prepare for this game. Then they will need 1 more against either Michigan State or at Illinois. Northern Illinois verse Northwestern would be a good matchup in the Pizza Bowl.

It sucks Indiana cannot pull out an upset against Wisconsin or Ohio State as that offense would be fun to watch in a bowl game. But an unlikely scenario.

Part of me is hoping for the 1 up situation. I think the match ups are much better if they only get 1 team into a BCS bowl and Nebraska would get destroyed if they ended up in the Outback against one of the better SEC schools.. About the only chance they have is if Ohio State gets into the NC game or if Michigan State upsets Ohio State in the B1G title game. I cannot see Wisconsin bumping Oregon, Clemson, or an SEC school for a 2nd BCS bid.
 
Lets just find a way to beat Michigan and Nebraska.... then go have fun. PLEASE, lets not stagger into a bowl game losing the next two
 
Diesel, So is the Music City Bowl a no for sure? I know some posters were throwing that around before. I dig Nashville and would go if they were there.

Ill hang up and listen.
 
OUTofTOWNHAWK said:
Diesel, So is the Music City Bowl a no for sure? I know some posters were throwing that around before. I dig Nashville and would go if they were there.

Ill hang up and listen.
Click to expand...

Starting in 2014, the Music City Bowl will have a choice between either the B1G and the ACC versus the SEC.
The Music City Bowl was excited with the Big Ten agreement years ago, but were stuck with Minnesota 3 out of the 4 years.

This bowl game is always close to a sell-out, which is amazing for a lower-tier bowl.
Downtown Nashville is gorgeous that time of year with the Christmas lights.
One evening, they have both of the bands in downtown Nashville. Kind of like Ybor City, except it's a not a parade.
 
Thanks for the update, Jon. I could see NU maybe winning two to get eligible and there is an obscure rule that NU could utilize if they beat Illinois and there aren't enough 6-6 teams available. Basically, if you are 5-7 and within the top 5 of grad rates, you can still be picked, so maybe the conference could still fill the pizza bowl.
 
okeefe4prez said:
Thanks for the update, Jon. I could see NU maybe winning two to get eligible and there is an obscure rule that NU could utilize if they beat Illinois and there aren't enough 6-6 teams available. Basically, if you are 5-7 and within the top 5 of grad rates, you can still be picked, so maybe the conference could still fill the pizza bowl.
Click to expand...

Unlikely, 72 bowl spots and 58 teams already eligible and another 16 teams that have 5 wins.
 
Minney has got to be the worst 8-2 team in recent memory. You could throw a toss up at which win for Iowa was easier, them or Purdue. Honestly Iowa should have put 30+ up on the Goofs as well. No problem for Iowa jumping over them as long as they don't lose their last two.
 
HawksMN said:
Minney has got to be the worst 8-2 team in recent memory. You could throw a toss up at which win for Iowa was easier, them or Purdue. Honestly Iowa should have put 30+ up on the Goofs as well. No problem for Iowa jumping over them as long as they don't lose their last two.
Click to expand...

Boy, there are a lot of 2 loss teams that underwhelm me. There are 2 loss ACC schools, Duke and Miami, that I think Minnesota could play with. Miami's early season win over Florida is looking less and less impressive. There is also a 2 loss Cincinnati team who got pounded 45-17 earlier this year at Illinois. Having said that Minnesota looks to be in for some reality checks finishing up against Wisconsin and MSU.

Keep in mind some of these posters have changed their tune from a few weeks ago when they were talking down the win. I know of one who is spewing crap on the basketball forum after yesterday's underwhelming win. Some people get chubbys over anything negative.
 
Last edited:
Scooby said:
Starting in 2014, the Music City Bowl will have a choice between either the B1G and the ACC versus the SEC.
The Music City Bowl was excited with the Big Ten agreement years ago, but were stuck with Minnesota 3 out of the 4 years.

This bowl game is always close to a sell-out, which is amazing for a lower-tier bowl.
Downtown Nashville is gorgeous that time of year with the Christmas lights.
One evening, they have both of the bands in downtown Nashville. Kind of like Ybor City, except it's a not a parade.
Click to expand...

I've wanted to go visit Nashville for some time...this would be a good excuse....'cept for maybe the weather being much better in Texas or florida (typically).

Also, Is the Buffalo Wild Wings bowl in Buffalo? ;)
 
HawksMN said:
Minney has got to be the worst 8-2 team in recent memory. You could throw a toss up at which win for Iowa was easier, them or Purdue. Honestly Iowa should have put 30+ up on the Goofs as well. No problem for Iowa jumping over them as long as they don't lose their last two.
Click to expand...

Totally agree
 
The Texas Bowl is the most logical projection at this point. Iowa is not going to be favored in either of the next 2 games (perhaps Michigan) and it is unlikely the Big Ten gets 2 teams into the BCS. If Iowa was to beat Michigan then the projections would start climbing. It will be interesting to find out which bowl representatives will be at the game.
 
I don't know about y'all, but I'm liking the bowl that most promises some delicious pizza. So lets go down a notch and get our pepperoni on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Share this page

Top