Big Ten Bowl Predictions After Week 12

The Big Ten Conference is finally playing out. Michigan State has clinched their spot in the inaugural Big Ten Championship game. The Spartans must wait for the winner of next weekend’s Penn State vs. Wisconsin game to see who their opponent will be.

Michigan’s pounding of Nebraska means that the Wolverines have put themselves in position for a BCS bowl bid.

With one week left in the Big Ten regular season, the bowl picture for the conference is starting to take shape. Here is how I see the conference playing out and what bowls each team from the Big Ten Conference will be heading to….

Wisconsin

Bowl Projections: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Ca.)

Opponent: Oregon

Date / Time: January 2, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern

TV: ABC

Wisconsin’s remaining schedule: (Penn State)

Projected record: 6-2 Conference, 10-2 Overall

Many people counted Wisconsin out of the Big Ten Championship game after they lost to Michigan State and Ohio State. Wisconsin now controls their own dynasty. With a win over Penn State at home on Saturday, the Badgers will make it to Indianapolis.

I think Wisconsin will not only make it to the Big Ten Championship game, they will get their revenge on Michigan State. This will send the Badgers to the Rose Bowl to play the Pac-12 Champions, the Oregon Ducks.

Michigan

Bowl Projection: Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, La.)

Opponent: Houston

Date: January 3, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern

TV: ESPN

Michigan’s remaining schedule: (Ohio State)

Projected Record: 6-2 Conference, 10-2 Overall

Michigan is eliminated from consideration for the Big Ten Championship game, but the Wolverines still have much to play for this weekend against Ohio State. With a win on Saturday, Michigan will be eligible for a BCS at-large bid.

If the SEC is awarded two teams in the National Championship game (LSU vs. Alabama), the Sugar Bowl will select two at-large teams to play in their bowl. Those two teams will be Houston (if they are undefeated) and Michigan. This would be a fun, high scoring game to watch.

Michigan State

Bowl Projections: Capitol One Bowl (Orlando, Fl.)

Opponent: Arkansas

Date / Time: January 2, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern

TV: ESPN

Michigan State’s remaining schedule: (@ Northwestern)

Projected Record: 7-1 Conference, 10-2 Overall

Michigan State has had a great season. The Spartans have made it to the Big Ten Championship game, but I think they will have a hard time beating Wisconsin twice (if Wisconsin beats Penn State).

Wisconsin will beat the Spartans and the BCS will select Michigan over Michigan State as an at-large team. This will send Michigan State to the Capitol One Bowl to play another tough luck team in Arkansas.

Penn State

Bowl Projections: Outback Bowl (Tampa, Fl.)

Opponent: Georgia

Date / Time: January 2, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern

TV: ABC

Penn State’s remaining schedule: (@ Wisconsin)

Projected Record: 6-2 Conference, 9-3 Overall

Despite all of the controversy surrounding the Nittany Lions, they have been able to put together a solid season. The question is: Will they be rewarded for their play on the field?

Some rumors have been going around that the bowls do not want Penn State and the baggage they bring. I doubt that rumor is true.

Penn State will lose to Wisconsin on Saturday. The Nittany Lions will still have a respectable 9-3 record which will send them to the Outback Bowl to play a Georgia team who will be coming off of a loss in the SEC Championship game.

Nebraska

Bowl Projections: Gator Bowl

Opponent: Florida

Date / Time: January 2, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern

TV: ESPN-2

Nebraska's remaining schedule: (Iowa)

Projected Record: 5-3 Conference, 9-3 Overall

Who is Nebraska? One week they look like the class of the conference and the next week they look like a mediocre team.

I think the good Cornhuskers team shows up on Friday to win the inaugural Heroes Game over Iowa. With this win Nebraska will be 9-3 and headed back to the Gator Bowl (The Cornhuskers played Clemson in the 2009 Gator Bowl). The opponent this time will be the Florida Gators. This is a game the Cornhuskers can win.

Ohio State

Bowl Projections: Insight (Tempe, Az.)

Opponent: Oklahoma

Date / Time: December 30, 2012 at 10:00 p.m. Eastern

TV: ESPN

Ohio State’s remaining schedule: (@ Michigan)

Projected Record: 3-5 Conference, 6-6 Overall

It has been a rough season for Ohio State fans this year. The Buckeyes are used to going to BCS Bowl games, but that will not happen this season.

Ohio State will lose in the Big House on Saturday which will make the Buckeyes 6-6 on the season. If Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma in the Bedlam Game, the Sooners will be Ohio State’s opponent in the Insight Bowl.

If you were told before the season that the Buckeyes and Sooners were going to play in a Bowl game, the question would have been: Which BCS Bowl is it?

Iowa

Bowl Projections: Meineke Car Care (Houston, Tx.)

Opponent: Texas A@M

Date / Time: December 31, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern

TV: ESPN

Iowa’s remaining schedule: (@ Nebraska)

Projected Record: 4-4 Conference, 7-5 Overall

Like Nebraska, Iowa is another team that has two identities: The good Iowa team that beat Michigan and the bad Iowa team that lost to Minnesota.

I think the bad Iowa team shows up in Lincoln on Friday and the Hawkeyes lose to the Cornhuskers.

The lost would make Iowa 7-5 and send them to the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Their opponent in this game would be another up and down team in Texas A&M.

Purdue

Bowl Projections: Ticket City (Dallas, Tx.)

Opponent: Texas

Date / Time: January 2, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern

TV: ESPN-U

Purdue’s remaining schedule: (@ Indiana)

Projected Record: 4-4 Conference, 6-6 Overall

Purdue has been one of the quietest teams in the Big Ten Conference. No one talks about Purdue, but when you look at the Big Ten Standings, the Boiler Makers are right in the middle.

Purdue will beat Indiana on Saturday which will make them 6-6 on the season and eligible for a bowl game. Purdue will be headed to the Ticket City Bowl to play Texas in Dallas.

Illinois

Little Caesar’s Bowl: (Detroit, Mi.)

Opponent: Northern Illinois

Date / Time: December 27 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern

TV: ESPN

Illinois remaining schedule: (@ Minnesota)

Projected Record: 3-5 Conference, 7-5 Overall

Illinois started out the season 6-0. The Illini have lost five straight games, but I think the losing streak will come to an end this week when Illinois plays Minnesota. The win would put Illinois at 7-5 on the season and send them to the Little Caesar’s Bowl to play Northern Illinois. This would be a game many Illinois fans would like to see.

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