Hoosier Huddle's Big Ten Bowl Projections: 11/20/17

Written By: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

As of November 20, 2017

After a very successful first year of doing bowl projections, we are back at it in 2017 to project each bowl matchup involving a Big Ten team. Most importantly, we’ll be projecting where we believe the Indiana Hoosiers will end up. Keep in mind, these are projections and it’s my best guess as to where teams end up at the end of the season, not where they might go if bowls were selected today.

With only one regular season slate of games remaining, there are a number of intriguing possibilities. This is my best guess as to how things will play out.

Orange Bowl – Ohio State vs. Miami – December 30 at 8 pm

This is pretty simple for the Badgers. If they can win out, they’ll be 13-0 and I cannot imagine a 13-0 Big Ten champion being left out of the playoff. The more I watch Wisconsin and their stifling defense, the more I am accepting the distinct possibility of 13-0 becoming a reality. There is no chance they lose to Minnesota and they’ll enter the Big Ten Championship game against Ohio State at 12-0. I am sticking to my guns and projecting the Badgers to finish 12-1. Ohio State beating Michigan and then Wisconsin to become Big Ten champs will leave them at 11-2 and I think they’ll be the top ranked Big Ten team in the final playoff rankings. I think they’ll  be taking on the top-ranked non-playoff team from the ACC and I am projecting that to be Miami (with Clemson winning the ACC). Ohio State would be ranked higher than the highest non-playoff team in the SEC (Auburn with three losses, Georgia with two) and therefore go to the Orange. I think a 12-1 Wisconsin would get chosen as an at-large team by the Fiesta Bowl and take on PAC-12 champs USC in “Rose Bowl-lite” desert battle.

Fiesta Bowl – Wisconsin vs. USC - December 30 at 4 pm –

See above…

Outback Bowl – Penn State vs. Mississippi State – January 1 at noon

The Citrus Bowl has an ACC/Big Ten option. Since I have a Big Ten team (Ohio State) being ranked higher than the second-ranked SEC team or Notre Dame, the Big Ten gets the Orange. This means the first non-New Year’s Six game for the conference is the Outback Bowl. This matchup has previously been listed as the Michigan State Spartans against Texas A&M and then as Northwestern against Mississippi State. Penn State will not be making the playoff as they now have two losses, no chance to win the Big Ten East and no real standout win on their resume. Still, they will likely be 10-2 and are a very capable team. Mississippi State is a very talented opponent and this would be a tremendous matchup.

Music City Bowl – Michigan State vs. South Carolina – December 29 at 4:30

I’m keeping South Carolina in this contest but I have adjusted the Big Ten team in this game. I’ll put the Spartans in Nashville and have them battling the Gamecocks. After beating Maryland, MSU just needs to take care of business against Rutgers to end up at 9-3. That’s a very nice bounce back season for a young team that wasn’t expected to do much in 2017.

Holiday Bowl – Northwestern vs. Stanford – December 28 at 9:00

Dropping the TaxSlayer Bowl from consideration has me sending the Wildcats West to take on Bryce Love and the Stanford Cardinal. While this matchup won’t have quite the same juice as a Harbaugh versus Stanford battle would, Northwestern is playing tremendously well right now and they have earned this spot. Stanford could improve their lot by knocking off Notre Dame but there’s not a lot of upward mobility for them. Still, if they both win this weekend, this game could be a matchup of ranked 9-3 teams and I think it would be a great watch.

Foster Farms Bowl – Michigan vs. Arizona – December 27 at 8:30

Michigan was dismantled by Wisconsin and they now take on Ohio State and will be heavy underdogs. That means they are staring 8-4 in the face. I think seeing Michigan take on Rich Rodriguez would be entertaining and it would be interesting to see the Wolverines defense go against the electric Khalil Tate.

Pinstripe Bowl – Iowa vs. Louisville – December 27 at 5:15

The Iowa Hawkeyes laid an egg on Saturday. For some reason, they neglected to be the least bit aggressive on offense and fell in convincing fashion to Purdue in Iowa City. That is a very damaging loss and they need to knock off Nebraska on Friday to ensure a winning season. I don’t see them dropping below this slot, regardless of what IU or Purdue do. Virginia, Boston College and Wake Forest are other potential opponents but I’m sending Louisville to the Big Apple.

Quick Lane Bowl – IU vs. Boston College – December 26 at 5:15

The Old Oaken Bucket Game matchup between the Hoosiers and Boilermakers is for pride, bragging rights, the trophy and this season, a spot in a bowl game. In short, this Saturday’s clash is as big as this game has been in years. I am projecting IU as the winner and to the victor goes the bowl slot. It is possible IU ends up the Pinstripe Bowl again and I guess it is theoretically possible they get chosen for Nashville and the Music City Bowl. They won’t be going out west. The bowl tie-in is with the ACC and the Quick Lane Bowl is ninth on the conference’s list. There are multiple options: Virginia, Duke (only five wins right now), Georgia Tech (same)…I don’t think they want a rematch with the Cavaliers as the game so I’ll go with the Boston College Eagles. They are currently 6-5 and they take on Syracuse this weekend.