Penn State: The 5 Most Likely Bowl Games They're Headed to

Even though there are only two games left in the regular season, the Penn State Nittany Lions bowl destination is still largely undecided.

Sitting in first place in the Leaders Division of the Big Ten, but with two very tough road games remaining, the close of this season could go in either direction for the Nittany Lions.

Here are the five most likely bowl games Penn State will end up playing in to finish their 2011-2012 college football season, considering scenarios in which they win out, win some of their remaining games, or (unfortunately) lose out.

5. Outback Bowl

It seems unlikely that the Outback Bowl would want to host the Penn State Nittany Lions again after pairing them against the Florida Gators in that same game last season.

However, the Outback Bowl gets third pick of Big Ten teams, and if Penn State is the most attractive team available, they will take them.

I'd have to imagine Penn State would have to win both of its last two games and lose the Big Ten Championship to end up playing in Raymond James Stadium again this New Year's.

4. Rose Bowl

The outcome here is obvious. If the Penn State Nittany Lions win next week against the Wisconsin Badgers, or if they beat the Ohio State Buckeyes today and Wisconsin loses to the Illinois Fighting Illini, they will play in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game.

If they win that game (likely against the Michigan State Spartans), they will play in their third ever Rose Bowl game (the previous appearances being in 1995 and three years ago in 2008).

With two tough games remaining, and both of them on the road, it seems unlikely that the Nittany Lions will come away with the Big Ten Championship this year, especially with the considerable distractions with which the team is grappling.

3. Gator Bowl

The Gator Bowl hasn't featured a Penn State Nittany Lions team since 1976, so it might jump on them if presented the opportunity to do so.

To get to the Gator Bowl, the Nittany Lions would likely have to win one of their last two games, which would likely keep them in one of those last few spots in the top 25.

One snag in this scenario is the possibility that the Florida Gators could be picked to play in this game. It's doubtful that they would want a rematch of two teams that played each other in a bowl game last year.

2. Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas

If the Penn State Nittany Lions lose both of their final two games, this is likely the bowl game they will be heading to.

The Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas (boy that's a mouthful) gets the sixth choice of Big Ten teams. If the Nittany Lions lose both games and finish 8-4, they will probably be chosen behind Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Nebraska, which would leave them in Houston.

1. Insight Bowl

The Insight Bowl and Gator Bowl alternate which gets fourth and which gets fifth pick of Big Ten teams in any given year. This is the game that I would project Penn State ending up in at this point in the season. The likely scenario that would produce an Insight Bowl berth would be a win against the Ohio State Buckeyes and a loss to the Wisconsin Badgers.

A spot in the Insight Bowl would pair Penn State against the fourth picked team from the Big 12, which could be the Texas Longhorns, Baylor Bears or Kansas State Wildcats.