2011 Bowl Projections: Predicting Where the Big Ten Teams Are Headed

2011 hasn't exactly been a banner season for the Big Ten conference as the league has had to endure two major scandals at two of its top programs this year.

Still, at least the holidays should be a little merrier in Big Ten land since the conference has a whopping ten bowl-eligible teams this year, with only Minnesota and Indiana out of the running for the postseason. 

Sure, four of those teams may have a mediocre record of 6-6, but nonetheless, the Big Ten is going to have a big presence in the postseason this year.

We'll have to see how tonight's Big Ten championship game between Michigan State and Wisconsin ultimately plays out, but at this point, here's a look at my best guess for where all of the Big Ten's bowl-eligible teams are headed.

Wisconsin Badgers: Rose Bowl

Wisconsin is not only going to be focused on avenging its loss to Michigan State from earlier in the season when the two meet tomorrow in the Big Ten championship game, in the back of their minds, the Badgers know that they've also got unfinished business out in Pasadena, after falling to TCU in the Rose Bowl last season. 

This year's team is a step above the 2010 bunch, though, and if QB Russell Wilson, RB Montee Ball and the rest of the Wisconsin crew can make it back out to the west coast, they'll have a great shot to give the Oregon Ducks a real run for their money. 

Michigan Wolverines: Sugar Bowl

It doesn't seem fair that Michigan would get to play in a BCS bowl game, instead of the loser of the Big Ten championship game, but fair isn't a word that you'll find in the college football dictionary. 

The Wolverines just couldn't get over the hump in the Legends division this season, but that doesn't change the fact that they're still 10-2, and if they end up in the Top 14 of the BCS standings, they'll definitely be in the running to be an at-large selection for a BCS bowl game. 

If things break right, we could be seeing Michigan take on the Houston Cougars in the Sugar Bowl down in New Orleans. 

Nebraska Cornhuskers: Capital One Bowl

Nebraska may have come up short in its quest to make it to the Big Ten title game in the team's first year in the conference, but the Cornhuskers still managed to put together a very respectable 9-3 campaign. 

That will likely earn them a spot in the Capital One Bowl, which will be played in Orlando on Jan. 2. 

Nebraska would face off against an SEC foe, likely either Georgia or South Carolina. 

Michigan State Spartans: Outback Bowl

The loser of the Big Ten championship game will truly be a loser in every sense, as not only won't they be going to the Rose Bowl, they'll likely get dropped down all the way to the Outback Bowl. 

No offense to the good people of Tampa that run the Outback Bowl, but it's obviously not as exciting as heading out to Pasadena for the granddaddy of them all.

If Michigan State comes up short in the Big Ten championship game, the Spartans will likely be packing their postseason bags for Florida once again.  

Hopefully, they'll fare better than last year, when they got embarrassed by Alabama 49-7 in the Capital One Bowl.

Ohio State Buckeyes: Gator Bowl

It looks like the Gator Bowl is going to be a matchup of Urban Meyer's current team, Ohio State, against his former team, the Florida Gators. 

Meyer won't be coaching in the game, of course, but it will be interim coach Luke Fickell's last hoorah before he takes a demotion and joins Meyer's staff. 

Buckeyes fans will be ready to put this year's ugly 6-6 campaign behind them and get ready for next year, and they'll be hoping that the boys from Columbus can get a little early momentum for 2012 with a win down in Jacksonville. 

Penn State Nittany Lions: Insight Bowl

Given the scandal that is still swirling around Penn State, no one is quite sure which bowl will actually extend an invitation to the Nittany Lions this year. 

Yes, Penn State is 9-3, and yes, the team has a huge fan base, but what bowl is going to want that kind of media distraction?

Don't be surprised if the Nittany Lions drop down the bowl food chain, past a few teams that they're clearly better than. 

The Insight Bowl may be the one that actually takes a chance on them. 

Iowa Hawkeyes: Meineke Car Care Bowl

Iowa will put its string of three straight bowl victories on the line this year, but the only question that remains is, where will the Hawkeyes do it?

The Insight Bowl and the Meineke Car Care Bowl seem to be the most likely destinations for the Hawkeyes,  but the fact is, they're pretty much near the bottom of the Big Ten bowl pecking order right now. 

One things's for sure, though, no matter where Iowa ends up, you better tune in to get a look at RB Marcus Coker, who had a sensational postseason performance as a freshman last year.

Purdue Boilermakers: TicketCity Bowl

With a 6-6 record, Purdue is bowl-eligible for the first time during Danny Hope’s three-year coaching tenure.

The Boilermakers haven’t been to a bowl game since 2007, so it should be nice for Purdue fans to get to make a postseason trip for the first time in four years.

The way things are shaping up right now, those fans will likely be heading to Dallas for the TicketCity Bowl, which will be played on Jan. 2.

Northwestern Wildcats: Little Caesars Bowl

Northwestern certainly didn't have the season it was hoping for this year, as the Wildcats finished with just a 6-6 record, but coach Pat Fitzgerald will at least be happy that his team is once again in the postseason for the fourth straight year.

From the looks of things, it appears likely that senior quarterback Dan Persa will be finishing off his great career in Detroit in the Little Ceasars Pizza Bowl.

The Wildcats will face an opponent from the MAC in the game, and it's looks like it's probably going to be Toledo.

Illinois Fighting Illini: New Orleans Bowl

Do you remember back when Illinois was 6-0 and ranked in the Top 20?

Don’t worry, Illini fans can’t remember it either.

Those days seem like a distant memory, given the second-half collapse the team endured, losing six straight games to end the season.

The swoon finally cost perennial hot-seat coach Ron Zook his job, and it left the team at 6-6 and searching for a postseason home.

The Illini are probably the least desirable bowl-eligible team in the Big Ten right now, and if the other nine teams all gobble up the conference’s bowl bids, it’s going to be interesting to see where Illinois actually lands.

The New Orleans Bowl, probably the least prestigious postseason game out of the 35 bowls, could be Illinois’ final destination.