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Post Week 14 - Bowl Projections

Off Tackle Empire's latest bowl projections for the Big Ten and the BCS following week 14 of NCAA football action.

Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

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
Pasadena, California

Pac-12 No. 1 or BCS

No. 2

Capital One Bowl
Orlando, Florida

SEC No. 2

No. 3

Outback Bowl
Tampa, Florida

SEC No. 3

No. 4

Gator Bowl
Jacksonville, Florida

SEC No. 6

No. 5

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
Tempe, Arizona

Big 12 No. 4

No. 6

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas
Houston, Texas

Big 12 No. 6

No. 7

Heart of Dallas Bowl
Dallas, Texas

Big 12 No. 8

No. 8

Little Caesars Pizza Bowl
Detroit, Michigan

MAC

Now that we've gotten the formalities out of the way, let's get to the projections.

62399ab4ed1a262b47f78b615b6ae39b_wix_mp_128_medium

BCS

Notre_dame_old1_mediumvs. Alabama_medium

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.

Rosebowl_small_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium

Rose

Wisconsin_medium vs. Stanford_old8_medium

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.

Fiestabowl_2006_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium

Fiesta

Kansas_state_helmet_medium vs. Oregon_medium

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.

Sugarbowl_2006_sm_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium

Sugar

Florida_medium vs. Oklahoma_medium

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.

Orangebowl_2010_small_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium

Orange

Florida_st_medium vs. Louisville_medium

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.

Capitalonebowl2002_small_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium

Capital One

Nebraska_medium vs. Georgia_medium

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.

150px-outbackbowl2008logo_medium

Outback

Michiganhelmet_medium vs. South_carolina_old13_medium

Why Michigan: The Wolverines fall to the Outback with Wisconsin going to the Rose.

Why South Carolina: No change.

Sm-gator_medium

Gator

Northwestern_medium vs. Mississippi_st_medium

Why Northwestern: Everyone gets knocked down a peg.

Why Mississippi State: Over-rated CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP.

BWW

Michigan_st_medium vs. Texas_tech_medium

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.

Meineke_car_care_bowl_of_texas_small_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium

Car Care

Minnesota_medium vs. West_virginia_medium

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.

Heartofdallasbwol_logo_announced_october_4__2012__100x100__medium

Heart of Dallas

Iowa_st_medium vs. Purdue_medium

Why Iowa State: Iowa's most hated in-state rival...

Why Purdue: versus Iowa's most hated conference rival.

Littlecaesarsbowl_2009_sm_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium_medium

Little Caesars

Western_kentucky_medium vs. Northern_illinois_medium

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.

Stock-photo-bowl-of-warm-queso-cheese-dip-with-a-plate-of-tortilla-chips-3144749_medium_medium_medium_medium

Ro*Tel

Iowa_mediumIllinois_mediumIndiana_medium

Ohio_st_mediumPenn_st_medium

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.


All helmet images credit to The Helmet Project.