Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, November 19, 2012
The Big Ten bowl picture continues to solidify. Nebraska remains the favorite to get to the Rose Bowl. But with Notre Dame-my projection last week to play the Huskers in Pasadena–now projected to play in the BCS title game, the Cornhuskers have a new foe: Oregon.
Michigan (Capital One) and Wisconsin (Outback) remain poised to play in Florida on New Year?s Day. And Northwestern (Gator) also looks to be in prime position to join them after beating Michigan State.
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Minnesota is the only other bowl-eligible Big Ten team. Purdue (vs. Indiana) and Michigan State (at Minnesota) each needs to win to get to the required six victories. And I think each will make it. Iowa, Illinois and Indiana have been eliminated from postseason consideration.
Here is my 13th look at where your school may be bowling over the holidays.
BOWL GAME | MATCHUP | TOM'S PROJECTIONS |
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Wed., Dec. 26 @ 7:30 p.m. ET |
Big Ten No. 8 vs. MAC | Northern Illinois vs. Non-Big Ten team |
Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas Fri. Dec. 28 @ 9 p.m. ET |
Big Ten No. 6 vs. Big 12 | West Virginia vs. Minnesota |
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl Sat., Dec. 29 @ 10:15 p.m. ET |
Big Ten Nos. 4-5 vs. Big 12 | TCU vs. Michigan State |
Heart of Dallas Bowl Tue., Jan. 1 @ noon ET |
Big Ten No. 7 vs. Big 12 | Baylor vs. Purdue |
TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl Tue., Jan. 1 @ noon ET |
Big Ten Nos. 4-5 vs. SEC | Mississippi State vs. Northwestern |
Outback Bowl Tue., Jan. 1 @ 1 p.m. ET |
Big Ten No. 3 vs. SEC | South Carolina vs. Wisconsin |
Capital One Bowl Tue., Jan. 1 @ 1 p.m. ET |
Big Ten No. 2 vs. SEC | Georgia vs. Michigan |
Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio Tue., Jan. 1 @ 5 p.m. ET |
Big Ten No. 1 vs. Pac-12 | Oregon vs. Nebraska |
Here's my list from last week.
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BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section. |
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