The Big Ten's Bowl Battle for Respect

Drew Thurman (12:55 pm)

Turn on College GameDay almost any Saturday morning, and you will hear "overrated" chants when the Big Ten is mentioned. The media and other conference fans have been hard on the Big Ten, but can you blame them? In the last decade the conference actually has a losing record in bowl games, including a 3-5 record a season ago.

So, do things improve this season?

The signs seem to be pointing to a big no! Looking at the bowl schedule this year, it looks as if the Big Ten will need a few upsets just to try to match the record from a season ago.

Here are the matchups.

Champs Sports Bowl
Wisconsin vs. Florida State

Alamo Bowl
Northwestern vs. Missouri

Insight Bowl
Minnesota vs. Kansas

Outback Bowl
Iowa vs. South Carolina

Capital One Bowl
Michigan State vs. Georgia

Rose Bowl
Penn State vs. USC

Fiesta Bowl
Ohio State vs. Texas

Analysis?

The non-BCS bowls look much better than the matchups in the BCS bowls for the Big Ten. I feel Iowa can handle South Carolina, and Minnesota can beat an overrated Kansas team, because I have little respect for the Big 12 North. Then there is Florida State, who doesn't blow anyone out, so Wisconsin should be able to hang around.

Outside of these three games, though, it is going to be an uphill battle for the Big Ten!   

Northwestern and Michigan State both have their hands full against teams that are more stockpiled with talent, especially the Spartans, who are going to have to play their best game ever on defense to have a chance.

Then there are the two BCS matchups for Ohio State and Penn State, and neither looks pretty. In a year where most BCS conferences were top-heavy, the Big Ten was a free-for-all. This leaves the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions the task of facing the best the Big 12 and Pac-10 have to offer.

All in all, the Big Ten could easily be looking at a 2-5 or 3-4 record, and that is if things go well. Not to be pessimistic, but I don't think this is the year for the Big Ten to improve its reputation. I may be wrong, but the bowl battle for the Big Ten doesn't look pretty on paper!