[NU Sports] Big Ten bowls ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Interesting day as the bowl picture starts to shape
up. 

I was encouraged by our QB and defensive play ... part
of it may have been the weather, but I saw hustle and
a team that has most certainly not quit on the coaches
or season and that's a nice testament to Coach Fitz
after such a tough loss last week. Of course, had we
played like this on D and had a healthy CJ all year, I
think we have at least 3-4 more wins now.

Around the rest of the league, some real interesting
happenings to see if we will fill out our bowl
committments.

BCS
---
Barring a major, major, MAJOR upset, the league will
have two BCS teams this year. Michigan and Ohio State
should enter their showdown in Columbus at 11-0 and
ranked #1 and #2 for what could be the biggest Big
Game of 'em all. 

Depending on the closeness of the game and other
factors, they could meet again in the BCS title game
(remember that Oklahoma and Nebraska did not drop out
of the 1-2 matchup after late losses in recent years
and that the loser will be done on 11/18 while other
teams have 2 more weeks to lose). A close OSU loss
would especially increase chances of a repeat match.
But unless it's a total blowout, the loser still
should get a BCS at-large bid, probably from the folks
in Pasadena who really want that Rose Bowl tradition
back.

OTHER BOWLS
-----------
* WISCONSIN could still slip into a BCS bowl if the
cards fall right, but after the close escape today,
it's likely Florida for the Cheeseheads. They play PSU
and Iowa in their final two Big Ten games. Two wins
and it's a repeat visit to Orlando ... probably
against the SEC Championship loser (Tennessee probably
wins out and won't have the title game so they could
get a BCS at-large as well).

* PENN STATE is another bowl lock and if they win in
Camp Randall, could be thinking Citrus as well. But
it's more likely a trip to Tampa for the Outback Bowl,
perhaps against an old-school SEC power -- Georgia or
Bama? -- to relive those classic Sugar Bowl matchups.

* IOWA still has faint hopes of a Citrus bid if they
beat the Badgers at home, but their stock is sliding
lately and it may be a drop down to the heart of Texas
for the bumblebees for an Alamo Bowl game against
Mizzou or Texas A&M.

* PURDUE is on the bowl bubble right now with a
dangerous game at MSU next week, a tougher-than-usual
Bucket game vs. IU and trips to Illinois and Hawaii.
They should have enough to earn an Insight Bowl bid (a
shootout against Texas Tech or Okie State perhaps?),
but if they get upset along the way, they may need
that Island Trap game against Hawaii to be eligible.

* INDIANA appears to be bowl bound right now despite
those early losses to Southern Illinois and UConn.
It's a nice run and a nice story of a team rallying
around the coach ... the Michigan game is a loss, so
then they should just need a win against Minny or
Purdue (both on the road) to reach six wins. A trip to
Detroit against Central Michigan or Kent State could
be a nice cap on the season ... or if MSU makes a run,
perhaps a trip to Orlando for the Champs Bowl.

* MSU/MINNY still have hope because there'll likely be
the Champs Bowl spot open if they get to six wins (or
a Motor City trip for MSU) ... but they play each
other so that probably eliminates one, and they may
both stumble. Minnesota has no room for error, needing
to beat Iowa, MSU and Indiana. Sparty can lose the
finale at PSU, but must win the next two at home
against Purdue and Minnesota.

Should be an interesting November with three main
races: the BCS title race between Big Blue and the
Bucks, the Citrus race with Wisky/Iowa/PSU and the
bowl bubble races in West Lafayette, Bloomington (yes,
Bloomington!), East Lansing and Minneapolis.

As for NU and the Illini, we'll have the Sweet Sioux
game to play for and both teams really want to build
toward next year now that they've found their
quarterbacks of the future.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!


 
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