[NU Sports] Big Ten bowl picture ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Ugh ... with the Illini losing an SEC-style shootout today, we had a real chance at getting back to a January 1 bowl in Jacksonville with a clear path of simply holding on to a 21-0 lead at PSU and beating Illinois. Now we need to get an upset or two. We know we can play with the big boys, but we sure can't play with a lead. UGH!

Breaking down the bowl picture ...

B(C)S BOWL: Oregon vs. TCU
- I don't see the Ducks losing, but I do see "we gave up 24 to Chattanooga" Auburn losing, and with Bama also losing, that means that we should have a "bracket buster" in the title game unless more computer shenanigans put Oklahoma or Wisconsin in there. Unfortunately, it won't be the Boise-Ducks rematch from Chip Kelley's first game that we all WANT to see, but instead a snoozer of a game with TCU (who did look impressive at Utah today - but was beaten by Boise last year) against the Ducks. Yawn.

ROSE BOWL: Wisconsin vs. Boise State
- If you still don't hate the B(C)S for all the bad they've done for college football, you will after this year and what they do to try and destroy any semblance of tradition left with the Granddaddy. Wisconsin gets here by winning the B(C)S part of the 3-way tie (though it'll be close with OSU if they run the table since Michigan and PSU both won today) ... but instead of allowing the Rose Bowl reps to choose the winner of tonight's Stanford-Arizona game (or OSU) to replace the Ducks, they will have to take Boise State (I believe) since they will be in the top 4. This pain will grow if it's Arizona who wins tonight, as they have never been to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl ... and Oregon State has not been here in ages, and Stanford provides an attractive TV draw with Luck. Thanks for screwing up EVERYTHING you touch with your craptastic Midas Touch, BCS.

SUGAR BOWL: Auburn vs. Ohio State
- The Tigers can now lose to Bama and still win the SEC, so they go to Nawlens. And with the first pick of the rest of the teams, Sugar Bowl folks take the Big Ten's seat-fillers and TV ratings to make what should be -- by far -- the most attractive of the B(C)S games.

ORANGE BOWL: Virginia Tech vs. LSU
- Florida folks best hope the Noles can win the ACC instead, but the Gobblers have the lead now and will face the second at-large pick from the SEC. In a shocker, the Tigers must play a ROAD game in the B(C)S. Uh oh! :)

FIESTA BOWL: Nebraska vs. Pitt
- Here's the real stinker of the B(C)S lineup ... the Huskers beat the Sooners in a great Big XII title game swan song and then get stuck with the Big Least rep, who may not even be ranked. Double yawn.

Now for the Big Ten slots ...

CITRUS BOWL: Michigan State vs. South Carolina
- Not sure who will get an angry Bama, but Sparty better hope that Slick Nick's bunch heads to Jerryworld for the Cotton so they can face the ole' ball coach in what would be a more entertaining matchup.

OUTBACK BOWL: Iowa vs. Arkansas
- Could be a fun game here with Stanzi vs. Mallett and one of the classier coaches against one of the most classless.

GATOR BOWL: Penn State vs. Florida
- After suffering through years of Big East and ACC teams, the Gator Bowl is welcomed back to January 1's TV schedule for most of America with this matchup of big-name programs.

INSIGHT: Michigan vs. Texas
- Not sure the records will allow it, but the folks in Phoenix have a long history of working the back rooms for the best matchup and this would be the Insight Bowl's most marquee game - by a mile.

TEXAS: Illinois vs. Oklahoma State
- Get ready for a lot of orange and a lot of points - fun game.

DALLAS: Northwestern vs. Kansas State
- I still get my purple Wildcats bowl, and NU still gets January 1, but not in Phoenix and not a big bowl on New Year's Day ... still, KSU fans will pack the stands and Dallas is probably a better destination for NU fans than Houston or Jacksonville, plus you gotta love a stadium full of purple cats!

OUT: Purdue, Indiana, Minnesota - I just don't see Purdue getting in. They gotta beat Michigan to have a prayer, and if they do that, then it's Detroit most likely.

So with today's loss, it's almost certain that we'll be headed to Texas to play a Big XII team - we just need to see which one and where. Phoenix is looking like a lost cause and Florida is a goner unless we can pull some big-time upsets.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

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STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
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