Hoosier Huddle's Big Ten Bowl Projections

2018 Bowl Projections

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

As we enter the second half of the college football season, minds begin to drift towards the postseason. Every week brings a shifting in the standings and the potential bowl destinations. This article is not a reflection of where things currently stand. Rather, it is an attempt to project how things will finish. This is my best guess at the bowl game assignments for the Big Ten and of course, the Indiana Hoosiers (if there is to be one).

-As of October 21, 2018 -

College Football Playoff Semifinal

Michigan vs. Alabama – Cotton Bowl

It is difficult to envision Ohio State beating the Michigan Wolverines after watching the Bucks get blown out in West Lafayette. If Michigan goes 11-1, wins the Big Ten Championship game to reach 12-1 and has only a loss to Notre Dame in South Bend (in the opening week of the season) on their resume, they’ll go to the playoff and be selected as the #4 seed. I have Clemson and Notre Dame as the other matchup.

New Year’s Six Bowl

Rose Bowl (B1G vs. PAC-12) – Ohio State vs. Washington State

I am now projecting the Buckeyes to go 10-2 and be runner-up in the East division. The Rose Bowl would be thrilled to have the Buckeyes back in Pasadena as the highest ranked non playoff team in the conference. Their opponent is currently projected as the Washington State Cougars, a team that is having a very impressive campaign and currently sit at 6-1. They spanked Oregon and the fate of the PAC-12 could very well come down to the Apple Cup on November 23.

Citrus Bowl (B1G vs. ACC or SEC) – Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Kentucky Wildcats

-The Citrus Bowl has a contract to take five different teams in six years if at all possible. That means no Michigan or Minnesota. The opponent is to be the top possible ranked team from the SEC or ACC. I am projecting Iowa to finish 10-2, win the West (they host Northwestern and don’t play Ohio State or Michigan) and then lose in the Big Ten Championship to Ohio State. The SEC will be really interesting as I have Alabama sitting at 13-0 and the #1 seed and then Georgia being 11-2 and the SEC East champion and going to the Sugar Bowl. I think Florida and LSU could definitely end up being chosen for the Fiesta Bowl or the Peach Bowl. That leaves me with the projected 10-2 Kentucky Wildcats.

Outback Bowl (B1G vs. SEC) – Michigan State Spartans vs. Texas A&M Aggies

-Again, this bowl would prefer to have five different teams in six years if at all possible. That means no Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan or Northwestern if possible. I’m torn between MSU and PSU here but the Nittany Lions still have games against Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan remaining. I think the Spartans win seven games and they already have the head-to-head edge on Penn State. In addition, they have recently been to the Holiday Bowl and both Wisconsin and PSU have recently been to the Outback Bowl. Texas A&M is having a nice season in Jimbo Fisher’s debut campaign and the SEC field has already been quite picked over.

San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl (B1G vs. PAC-12) – Penn State Nittany Lions vs. USC

-Another bowl that would prefer to have five different teams in six years. So, no Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin or MSU. This would have been a nice landing spot for someone like the 8-4 or 9-3 Wisconsin Badgers but the Holiday Bowl would prefer a new team and Penn State cannot go to the Gator Bowl. That makes this a good spot to slide the Penn State Nittany Lions in. So, how about a Rose Bowl rematch?

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (B1G vs. SEC) – Wisconsin vs. Mississippi State

-No Penn State or Iowa if possible. This is a rotation between the Music City Bowl and the Gator Bowl and the B1G played in Music City in 2016 and 2017 so this year will very likely be the B1G in the Gator Bowl. The Badgers need a spot and a trip to Florida makes sense. The SEC is picked over but this would still be a tough matchup for the Badgers.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl (B1G vs. ACC) – Purdue vs. Virginia

The Pinstripe Bowl would prefer to have eight different teams in eight years. That means no Iowa, NW, PSU or IU if possible. Purdue suddenly looks like they could win 7 or 8 games, despite a difficult remaining schedule and the decisive win over Ohio State leaves me no choice, I have to project them to a bowl game.  The Virginia Cavaliers are a similarly hot team and they are actually in contention to win the Coastal division in the ACC.

Redbox Bowl (B1G vs. PAC-12) – Northwestern vs. Colorado

Again, they want five teams in six years so no PU, IU, MD or Nebraska. The Washington State Cougars are having a nice season and Northwestern could very well finish with six or seven wins despite their typical slow start. The Wildcats have not been out west in a while so this selection makes sense for all sides.

Quick Lane Bowl (B1G vs. ACC or Conditional MAC tie-in) – Indiana vs. Eastern Michigan

Indiana is going to need to beat two of Minnesota, Maryland or Purdue to reach bowl eligibility. They are not playing particularly well but I remain optimistic that they will find a way to make that happen. The ACC has a whole lot of bowl tie-ins but the conference is somewhat down this season and I don’t think they’ll fill out their bowl obligations. Eastern Michigan knocked off Purdue earlier this season, this bowl game gives them an opportunity to go for the state sweep and the game being in Detroit might get some attention for this matchup.

SERVPRO First Responders Bowl (B1G vs. C-USA) – Maryland vs. UAB

B1G has not played in this bowl since 2014 so they seem likely to be in it this year instead of Armed Forces Bowl. I am projecting Maryland to lose to Indiana and finish at 5-7. Doing so could get them selected as a 5-7 squad.