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I might use the term murder death kill a too often but I'm comfortable in saying that Nebraska got murder death killed last night. For weeks, a few random posters would say something like "Don't count out Wisconsin" and we'd avoid them like lepers. Well, they were right. Nebraska's history of playing poorly in championship games is well documented. Last night's Big Ten Championship might go down in history as one of the most lopsided B1G games EVER. Seriously, in 60 years we might not see another B1G Championship game that bad. I'd love to stay and chat but we're on a schedule today. So on to the projections. Don't worry though, the explanations should be sufficient.
First, remember the rules:
- The best teams don't always go to the best games. In the end, butts in the seat and eyes to the television are the biggest factors.
- The order of BCS selection (and we're bringing the title game back to South Beach this season) is 1) Replacement for #1 Team; 2) Replacement for #2 Team; 3) Fiesta Bowl; 4) Sugar Bowl; 5) Orange Bowl.
- If a Big Ten or Pac-10 team qualifies for the BCS Championship Game, the Rose Bowl will NOT be required to take a non-automatic qualifier. This was only required of the Rose Bowl the first time (2010 season) it occurred over the current four-year contract.
- The Insight Bowl is now the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. Per the one and only Brendan Stiles, the Gator Bowl gets the first pick between the two.
- Apparently, the Outback Bowl only takes teams from the SEC East and Auburn.
- The TicketCity Bowl is now the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
Here's a full breakdown of the Big Ten bowl tie-ins:
|
Pick |
Bowl Game |
Opponent |
|
No. 1 |
Rose Bowl |
Pac-12 No. 1 or BCS |
|
No. 2 |
Capital One Bowl |
SEC No. 2 |
|
No. 3 |
Outback Bowl |
SEC No. 3 |
|
No. 4 |
Gator Bowl |
SEC No. 6 |
|
No. 5 |
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl |
Big 12 No. 4 |
|
No. 6 |
Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas |
Big 12 No. 6 |
|
No. 7 |
Heart of Dallas Bowl |
Big 12 No. 8 |
|
No. 8 |
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl |
MAC |
Now that we've gotten the formalities out of the way, let's get to the projections.
|
BCS |
|
|
|
Why Notre Dame: The Irish end the season #1 in the poll for the first time since 1988. Why Alabama: After winning one of the greatest games I've ever seen, the Tide will play the Irish in Miami. |
|
Rose |
|
|
|
Why Wisconsin: The B1G Champion is a 8-5 team. #B1G! Why Stanford: Playing Stanford rather than Oregon is something B1G fans are much more comfortable with. |
|
Fiesta |
|
|
|
Why Kansas State: The Wildcats land here as the Big 12 champion. Why Oregon: The Ducks will be a popular at large and the Fiesta Bowl execs are sure to pick them first. |
|
Sugar |
|
|
Why Florida: A one loss Gator team lands here as the SEC's replacement. Why Oklahoma: I'm sure a few people were expecting to see Louisville here. Well, I don't have NIU making the top 16 in the BCS. As they're left out, the Sugar takes OU. |
|
|
Orange |
|
|
|
Why Florida State: Still the ACC Champion. Why Louisville: Kent State loses to NIU, NIU doesn't make the top 16, the Sugar doesn't take Louisville and the Cardinals end up here. |
|
Capital One |
|
|
|
Why Nebraska: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. - Signed, the rest of the Big Ten. Why Georgia: I've heard conflicting reports on who is going to the Capital One. Some are saying Texas A&M, some are saying LSU and some are saying Georgia. I'm sticking with Georgia. |
|
Outback |
|
|
|
Why Michigan: The Wolverines fall to the Outback with Wisconsin going to the Rose. Why South Carolina: No change. |
|
Gator |
|
|
|
Why Northwestern: Everyone gets knocked down a peg. Why Mississippi State: Over-rated CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP. |
|
BWW |
|
|
|
Why Michigan State: As expected, MSU gets to six wins and BWW takes them. Why Texas Tech: With the Big 12 taking 2 teams in the BCS, everyone moves up a spot. After the first two non-BCS teams, there are FOUR Big 12 squads at 7-5. The BWW takes Texas Tech due to tiebreakers. |
|
Car Care |
|
|
|
Why Minnesota: Good matchup for the Gophers? You make the call. Why West Virginia: It's down to Baylor and West Virginia for the Car Care. I like West Virginia. |
|
Heart of Dallas |
|
|
|
Why Iowa State: Iowa's most hated in-state rival... Why Purdue: versus Iowa's most hated conference rival. |
|
Little Caesars |
|
|
|
Why Western Kentucky: /name out of hat again Why NIU: A 12-1 team playing in the PIZZA PIZZA bowl? And they lost to Iowa?! LOL. |
|
Ro*Tel |
|
|
|
Why Iowa: WE'RE THE BEST TEAM IN THE MAC. Why Illinois: RIP ILLINI football. Why Indiana: Basketball is on so who cares? Why Ohio State: No, you still can't play in the Rose Bowl. That's your own fault. Why Penn State: More BOB? More BOB. |
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All helmet images credit to The Helmet Project.