B1G Bowl Projections: Week 12

Wisconsin may still be the last remaining team without a loss in the Big Ten, but will the Badgers be the team to make the College Football Playoff? Will there be a surprise two-loss team to take their place instead?

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The Rose Bowl (College Football Playoff Semi-Final Jan. 1st) -Wisconsin Badgers vs. Miami Hurricanes

This has been my pick for this game for three weeks in a row and I refuse to change it. Wisconsin refuses to lose a game this season despite how lack luster they have looked in some games (coughcough vs. Illinois coughcough). We all want to see the Badgers go up against the turnover chain and see how they do, don’t we?

The Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl (Jan 1st)- Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Washington Huskies

The Huskies lost to Stanford this past week putting them in the twilight zone of two-loss teams. They will persevere, They have a strong offense and ran into a Heisman hopeful who could not be stopped. Ohio State continues to make a push for a two loss team that makes the CFP. I’m just not sure the selection committee would put them in. They deserve it as much as anyone in my opinion, despite my early inclination towards Penn State.

Playstation Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 30th)- Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Aeris Williams and company sure gave the Crimson Tide a scare last week. Mississippi State gave Alabama it’s toughest game of the year and for good reason. Penn State had a convincing win over a hot Rutgers squad, but Trace McSorley out-shined Saquon Barkley considerably. Barkley has been fading down the stretch. He only averaged 2.5 yards per carry against a Rutgers defense that really isn’t all that good.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (Dec. 29th)- Michigan State Spartans vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Michigan State got trounced by the Buckeyes last week in a really embarrassing loss for them. If Sparty had pulled that game off they could have put themselves into the conversation for a new years day game. Here they sit with three losses and no hope for a major bowl appearance. Has Oklahoma State reached the record for most points scored in a season yet? No, no they have not. Florida State in 2013 still has that by....a lot. Back to the point the Cowboys can score at an incredible clip, their offense is going to take them a long way.

The Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl (Dec. 29th) Michigan Wolverines Vs. Memphis Tigers

Memphis had a bye week last week so nothing really changed for them. The Tigers are still a very talented offensive team. Michigan thumped Maryland to firmly place the Terrapins out of bowl contention unless they pull of some miracle. Michigan only has two losses and has looked considerably better with Brandon Peters at quarterback.

The Quick Lane Bowl (Dec. 26th) Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Arizona Wildcats

Arizona whooped up on a really bad Oregon State team this week and they look like they will continue to win throughout the rest of the season barring anything crazy. Have I mentioned you should watch Khalil Tate play? Iowa lost a grinder to Wisconsin but they should be fine going forward, they’re a tough team but inconsistency has been their downfall this year.

The New Era Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 27th) Northwestern Wildcats Vs. Georgia Tech Yellowjackets

The wildcats picked up a close win against the Boilermakers on Saturday. Charlie Kuhbander knocked in three field goals in the second half, but other than the both of these teams were severely underwhelming. By the way, Thanksgiving is around the corner — who wants some wishbone? That’s what Georgia Tech is bringing to the table and they got all the fixins’.

Honorable Mentions

This week for honorable mentions i’m just going to name you off all of the teams in the Big Ten that are good, but not quite good enough for a bowl game. I’ll also go ahead and list their projected final records. There are a lot of them.

Purdue Boilermakers (4-8)

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-8)

Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-8)

Indiana Hoosiers (4-8)

Maryland Terrapins (5-7)-(I Believed in you D.J. Durkin)

Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-7)