[NU Sports] Bowls

[cherron604 at aol.com]

CBS Sportsline has the conference sending 8 teams, and has us in Detroit

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/bowls/predictions

The weekend upsets have separated the teams into 2 groups - the locks (Iowa, Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin) and the others.  All of the others have 'a chance', but some are more likely than others.

Minnesota (5-4)  Illinois, South Dakota St, at Iowa
NU (5-4) at Iowa, at Illinois, Iowa
Michigan (5-4)  Purdue, at Wisconsin, Ohio State
Michigan St (4-5)  Western Michigan, at Purdue, Penn State
Indiana (4-5)  Wisconsin, at Penn State, Purdue
Purdue (3-6)  at Michigan, Michigan St, at Indiana
Illinois (2-6)  at Minnesota, Northwestern, at Cincinnati, Fresno St

Minnesota has some room for error, needing one win, and hosting Illinois and South Dakota St.
We must beat Illinois (not certain, maybe 50-50 ?)
Michigan must beat Purdue.
Michigan State made their life tougher - now they must beat Purdue and Western Michigan
Indiana must beat Purdue and score an unlikely upset against Wisconsin
Purdue must sweep.  That would probably knock out Michigan and MSU.
Illinois must sweep.  That would knock us out.

I guess I will be rooting for Purdue the next two weeks, then hope Indiana wins the Bucket.
And hope that a healthy Mike Kafka can lead us past the inconsistant Illini (they always seem to get more excited for a Michigan game than a Northwestern game).

That might lead to 6 teams bowl eligible, and with Iowa in the Rose and Penn State in the BCS, we could land in either Tempe or Orlando.

Go Boilers !

Chuck Herron   Tech '85