All of this changes if someone doesn't beat the Beavers... I'll be using my column this week to...

All of this changes if someone doesn't beat the Beavers...

I'll be using my column this week to look at the full range of possibilities for each of the 8 Big Ten teams that can qualify for a bowl. I'll also explain each of the potential opponents.

National Championship: Oklahoma v. Florida
Rose: Penn State v. USC
Fiesta: Ohio State v. Texas
Sugar: Alabama v. Utah
Orange: Miami v. Pitt (Why not? Pick any of the crappy teams from either conference. They're all the same)

Capital One: Michigan State v. Georgia
Outback: Iowa v. South Carolina
Alamo: Wisconsin v. Oklahoma State
Champs: Northwestern v. North Carolina
Insight: Minnesota v. Kansas
Motor City: Illinois v. Ball State

On the Couch with a Queso Bowl: Michigan, Purdue, Indiana

about 1 month ago Bama Hawkeye Comment 9 comments 0 recs |

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So...

….you’re assuming Illinois beats NU, and Wisconsin beats Cal-Poly? Because otherwise, there is NO WAY for Wisconsin to jump over Northwestern….

Even if that happens, I doubt a disappointing/weak Wisconsin team jumps over Northwestern team that has been a surprise and a great story nationally.

I have it:
Rose: Penn State
Fiesta: Ohio State
Capital One: Michigan State
Outback: Northwestern (a stretch, feel free to flop them with the team below)
Alamo: Iowa
Champs: Minnesota
Insight: Wisconsin

No one ends up in the Motor City Bowl, thanks to NU kicking Illinois in the teeth, and reclaiming Sweet Sioux and returning it to its proper home in Evanston.

by Chadnudj on Nov 17, 2008 1:14 PM CST 0 recs

Wisky could easily jump NW

Wisky travels. Really well. NW can’t even fill its own stadium. May not jump NW ultimately, only saying they very well could.

by imadirtyoldman on Nov 17, 2008 1:16 PM CST up 0 recs

Slight error...

…while NU doesn’t fill its stadium well, it has had NO problem selling bowl tickets. See 2000, when the Outback Bowl bypassed Big Ten co-champion Northwestern for Ohio State. Ohio State FAILED to sell its ticket allotment, while NU exceeded the sales quota for its tickets to the Alamo Bowl.

NU’s home attendance woes have much more to do with NU’s small alumni base in Chicago (we’re the second smallest Big Ten alumni base in Chicago, ahead only of Penn State) and the array of Chicago options in entertainment (sports or otherwise). In fact, NU’s alumni base is spread pretty evenly nationwide, meaning an NU game in, say, Florida, would likely attract a LOT of NU alums living down there who hadn’t attended an NU game all season. Throw in the fact that NU has not been to a bowl since 2005’s Sun Bowl, and you also have an alumni/student base VERY anxious to travel.

And let’s face it, Northwestern at 8-4, even, if a much better/more interesting/compelling story than a disappointing 7-5 Wisconsin team.

So while you’re correct it could happen, it really shouldn’t….

by Chadnudj on Nov 17, 2008 1:41 PM CST up 0 recs

I'll get to this more on Wed.

But yes, I am predicting an Illini win. And an Iowa win. And a Penn State win. And an Ohio State win.

by Bama Hawkeye on Nov 17, 2008 1:36 PM CST up 0 recs

You've got Texas on the board twice

I’m assuming you intended to pick Oklahoma against Florida for it all. (After all, you had them in that position last week, and the Red Raiders couldn’t have done anything to change your mind)…

Or Texas could just warm up against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl then hop a plane to Miami. That makes about as much sense as anything else the BCS drums up.

by Law Buckeye on Nov 17, 2008 1:16 PM CST 0 recs