Michigan Football: Why Wolverines Are Still on Course for BCS Bowl

A BCS Bowl game is still well within the sights of the Michigan Wolverines.

Losing to the Iowa Hawkeyes was an obvious setback (especially since Hemingway was robbed of a touchdown) but the Wolverines still have a chance to prove themselves.

Each of their remaining games are against quality opponents, and Michigan is only one game back in the Legends division.

The Michigan State Spartans control their own destiny, but this race is far from over.

Here are five reasons why the Wolverines are still on course for a BCS Bowl game.

5. Illinois Has Fallen Apart

Illinois has fallen apart in recent weeks.

A team that was once 6-0 is now 6-3, and has all but erased itself from the Big Ten race.

Playing a hostile Wolverine team is probably not the best way to turn things around.

Michigan will be looking to rebound from that tough loss at Iowa, and this road game should be a great way to get back on track.

Both of these teams are in the top 13 in the nation in points allowed per game.

So this could be one of the lower scoring matchups of the season for the Wolverines.

4. Ohio State Is Finally Vulnerbale

After seven miserable years, Michigan can finally head into its end of the season showdown with Ohio State and expect victory.

The Buckeyes have gone through well documented turmoil this past year and the on-field product has suffered accordingly.

Ohio State is 6-3, and has struggled to develop young quarterback Braxton Miller.

This is in no way an easy win for the Wolverines, but for the first time in seemingly forever, Michigan has players of at least equal caliber to the Buckeyes.

This rivalry has decided the fate of the Big Ten many times in years past, but this season it may decide if Michigan will get to play in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game.

3. Nebraska Is Beatable

Nebraska has big wins over Michigan State and Ohio State already this season, but the Cornhuskers' recent loss to Northwestern does mean they may not be quite as good as their beatdown of Michigan State would indicate.

This is a team with the 101st-ranked passing attack in all of college football.

They and Michigan both rely heavily on the running game to succeed, so it will be interesting to watch Taylor Martinez and Denard Robinson compete against one another.

It is tough to believe Ohio State is not the toughest game remaining on the Wolverine's schedule, but that is the case this season.

2. The Leaders Division Is Struggling

The Big Ten Leaders division has gone into a downward spiral rather quickly.

The Wisconsin Badgers have lost two of their last three conference games.

Illinois has lost three in a row.

Oh, and there is that whole situation at Penn State.

The Nittany Lions are still undefeated in the conference, so they have the best path to the conference championship game.

But with the firing of Joe Paterno and the scandal that has rocked the university, it is unknown how the Penn State team will respond.

What this means for Michigan is that if they are fortunate enough to win the Legends division, they will play in a winnable game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

1. The Big Ten Is an Automatic Qualifier

The Big Ten provides its champion with an automatic qualification into the BCS.

So while Michigan may not have the resume to earn an at-large bid, they still have the ability to win their own conference.

The new divisional format the conference has implemented certainly plays to the Wolverines' favor.

They are one game behind division-leading Michigan State (the Spartans hold the tiebreaker.)

While Sparty controls its path to the Legends division title, it is not out of the realm of possibility for them to stumble in tough road contests with the Iowa Hawkeyes and Northwestern Wildcats.

Is it a long shot?

Definitely.

But Michigan still has something to play for. That much is certain.