[NU Sports] Updated Bowl Predictions

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> Notwithstanding that we are 1 win away from
> eligibility and 2 wins away from real consideration,
> we still get no respect from at least

... or from ESPN. During the PSU-Indiana game, they
had the Big Ten standings up and seemed "shocked" that
NU was a win from bowl eligibility.

But Indiana's gonna be a heck of a team to beat for us
- mobile QB and stud WR really play into our defensive
weaknesses. I think most of the Big Ten will be hoping
Mr. Hardy decides to play on Sundays next year. If I
had to guess at the bowl picture at this point, I'd
say ...

BCS TITLE GAME: LSU (12-1) vs. Oklahoma (12-1)
- No one makes it through unscathed, and OU has the
easiest path of the one-loss teams while LSU emerges
as the winner of the best league to play at home. It
helps that both will have a title game to make one
last case in what should be a wild finish at the
polls.

ROSE BOWL: Ohio State (11-1) vs. Oregon (11-1)
- The Buckeyes lose at PSU but still win the league
and get to play in Pasadena against the winner of the
USC at Oregon - not a bad consolation prize

SUGAR BOWL: Florida (10-3) vs. Hawaii (12-0)
- With their make-up pick for losing LSU, the Sugar
selects another SEC team and winds up stuck with
Hawaii. If the Warriors lose, look for Texas here?

ORANGE BOWL: Virginia Tech (12-1) vs. West Virginia
(11-1)
- When the excitement dies down, these two are the
best teams in the ACC and Big East and they face each
other in what used to be an annual rivalry. Too bad no
one outside of Appalachia cares much.

FIESTA BOWL: Southern Cal (10-2) vs. Penn State (10-2)
- If Oregon wins the Pac 10, the Fiesta gets the
winner of SC-Cal ... only question is where they go
with the other pick. They could keep Big XII ties with
Texas, but a streaking 10-win PSU team brings a lot of
fans.

That leaves the rest ...

CITRUS BOWL: Michigan (8-4) vs. Georgia
- The Wolverines trip up vs. the Bucks and somewhere
else (tonight or more likely at Wisconsin) to slip a
bit here, but still a big draw (and the fact that
Bucky was here last year) gets them selected for
Orlando against whoever emerges from the wild SEC
race.

OUTBACK BOWL: Wisconsin (9-3) vs. South Carolina
- Could be the Vols, could be Kentucky ... who knows
with this Crazy SEC race. But the Badgers will take
another New Year's visit to Florida after a midseason
slump.

ALAMO BOWL: Illinois (8-4) vs. Texas Tech
- Ugly colors for TV, but a pretty game for those who
enjoy offense.

CHAMPS BOWL: Indiana (7-5) vs. Wake Forest
- Good March Madness matchup ... we'll see how it
fares as a bowl. IU gets the spot over Purdue as
they'll finally take home the bucket this year.

INSIGHT BOWL: Purdue (8-4) vs. Kansas State
- Will the Wildcats get revenge for that 1998 Alamo
Bowl upset?

MOTOR CITY BOWL: Northwestern (7-5) vs. Miami (OH)
- Two wins might not even be enough for the Cats ...
if MSU beats Purdue, the Boilers, Sparty and Cats
could all wind up 7-5 and MSU would go here. But if
Purdue wins at home, the Motor City Bowl -- much to
their dismay -- has to take a 7-5 NU team over 6-6
MSU. 

OUT: Michigan State 6-6, Iowa 5-7, Minnesota 1-11

So we could have nine bowl-eligible teams for seven
bowls ... we really need to get that extra BCS berth.

Of course, if NU and MSU can both beat the Boilers,
Purdue could be the one at 6-6 on the outside while
MSU gets to go to Detroit and NU comes to Phoenix
(making everyone outside of West Lafayette happy) ...
so our game next week is a big one.

LET'S GO CATS!!!
-SjT

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

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