Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, May 8, 2013
It?s spring time. So, it must be time for 2013 bowl projections! At least it is in the world of CBSSports.com?s Jerry Palm. And I?m not gonna argue with him. The guy has a degree in computer science from Purdue. He was in the marching band, but I won?t hold that against him.
Me? I barely got into Purdue! And I wasn?t in the band–but I did listen to a lot of music in my frat house on David Ross Road.
Ohio State fans will like to see the Buckeyes picked to play Alabama in Pasadena in the final BCS title game. Could it get any better than Nick Saban vs. Urban Meyer? Of course not. In case you are wondering, Alabama is 3-0 all-time vs. Ohio State. The schools last met in the Citrus Bowl after the 1994 season, with the Crimson Tide taking a 24-17 victory.
Other bowl projections with Big Ten teams:
Rose: Nebraska vs. Stanford
Capital One: Michigan vs. Florida
Outback: Wisconsin vs. Georgia
Gator: Michigan State vs. Ole Miss
Buffalo Wild Wings: Northwestern vs. Oklahoma State
Meineke Car Care: Purdue vs. Baylor
Heart of Dallas: Minnesota vs. East Carolina
Little Caesar?s Pizza: Illinois vs. Northern Illinois
Not bad. But I think Northwestern should at least be back in the Gator Bowl-if not maybe the Outback. I think the Wildcats will be very good. I am a bit surprised to see Purdue and Illinois projected to be in bowls. I think Indiana may have a better shot at the postseason than either the Boilermakers or Fighting Illini. The Hoosiers haven?t been to a bowl since 2007.
Nebraska fans should enjoy going to the Rose Bowl. And pressure will be relived from Bo Pelini.
If Iowa does miss a bowl, it would be the first time the Hawkeyes missed the postseason in consecutive seasons since a three-year drought from 1998-2000.
| About Tom Dienhart | 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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