For at least 19 young men on the Iowa Hawkeye roster, the Outback Bowl on January 1st will be the last time they put on the Black and Gold.  We'll sorely miss those fellas.  I'm confident Kirk Ferentz and his staff are developing great talent to replace them next year, but losing a player is more than just losing a player.  Iowa fans are losing members of their Satruday afternoon families.  We've watched these young men grow.  We've followed their careers.  We've cheered for them and hollered ourselves hoarse, willing them to push the ball just one yard farther.  Now we have to say goodbye.  For some, Saturday afternoons will be replaced by Sunday afternoons, but for others, this is the last hurrah.  Here's a quick list of the seniors we're saying goodbye to at the official end of the 2008 season (by jersey number):

#2 Harold Dalton    Position: DB,   Hometown: Camden, NJ

Harold is a big reason the Iowa defense was so stout this year.  He embodied the Norm Turner defense by being tough, physical and aggressive. 

#14 Devan Moylan  Position: DB,  Hometown: Panorama Terrace, IA

#16 Drew Gardner  Position: DB,  Hometown: Cherry Hill, NJ

#21 Nate Guillory  Position: RB, Hometown: Houston, TX

Unfortunately for Nate, Shonn Greene returned to the Iowa field and Jewel Hampton was recruited.  Nate had some huge talent to follow.

#29 Bradley Fletcher  Position: DB, Hometown: Youngstown, OH

Another fabulous defensive back that won't be around for next year.  Fletcher is a ferocious DB that punishes receivers. 

#35 Jared Oberland  Position: FB,  Hometown: Whitefish Bay, WI

#37 Gavin McGrath  Position: LB,  Hometown: Cedar Rapids, IA

#38 Jordan McLaughlin  Position: FB, Hometown: Belmond, IA

#47 Mitch King  Position: DL,  Hometown:  Burlington, IA

Mitch is a monster that we'll likely be seeing on Sundays next year.  He's not big for a DL, but he's quick and aggressive.  He's also the most talked about Hawkeye behind Shonn Greene.  He's been the emotional leader of the stingy Hawkeye defense.  With Mitch, it's more than the play we'll miss, it's the leadership and character he's brought to the team.

#53 Matt Kroul  Position: DL,  Hometown: Mount Vernon, IA

Over the course of the season, Matt has been overshadowed by Mitch King.  While Mitch may have gotten more attention, Matt has been every bit the animal in the trenches.  In fact, much of Mitch's success has been because of Matt.  Teams have been unable to double or triple Mitch because Matt was too much of a force in his own right.  Matt is a solid run stopper and is a ferocious tackler.  I'm hopeful Matt will find his way to the bigtime as well.  He should have a very bright future.

#58 Rob Bruggeman  Position: OL,  Hometown:  Cedar Rapids, IA

Rob is a big reason for Shonn Greene's success this season.  While Shonn is every bit the runner he appears to be, he is right to give credit to his offensive line.  Bruggeman has moved more bodies around than the county coroner.  Ricki Stanzi should also be singing Rob's praises.  He's had far more opportunities to stay on his feet than Jake Christiansen did last season, thanks to "Rob and the boys'" protection.  Offensive Linemen often don't get the kind of credit they deserve.  The ultimate compliment for Rob would be a spot on someone's roster at the next level.

#59 Anton Narinsky   Position: DL,  Hometown:  Chagrin Falls, OH

#70 Austin Postier  Position:  OL,  Hometown:  Iowa City, IA

#71 Seth Olsen  Position: OL,  Hometown:  Omaha, NE

Seth's importance was most noted when he wasn't there.  Iowa's three game losing stretch happened during a period when Olsen was out with an injury.  The OL just didn't seem to function as well without his leadership and strength.  Seth is a powerful leader and immovable blocker.  Good luck in the pro's Seth!

#75 Wesley Aeshliman  Position:  OL,  Hometown:  Bloomfield, IA

Unfortunately, the most vivid memory I have of young Wesley was the play where he got hurt.  He was holding off not one, but two defenders during a field goal attempt when his hip dislocated, sending Aeshliman crashing to the ground.  I hope the young man heals completely and has a bright future.

#80 Andy Brodell  Position:  WR,  Hometown:  Ankeny, IA

The fact that Andy made a single catch in 2008 is more a testament of his attitude and spirit than his ability, and that speaks volumes.  Andy tore his hamstring muscle completely away from the bone in '07.  Surgery repaired the injury, but it's Brodell's determination that repaired his status as a starting Hawkeye and formidable receiver.  I don't know what his future is as far as the NFL is concerned, but what he's done just to get back into the lineup is impressive enough.  That he's one of Stanzi's favorite targets and the leading Hawkeye receiver is just icing on the cake.

#81 Tony Moeaki  Position:  TE,  Hometown:  Wheaton, IL

Injuries plagued Moeaki's season.  He never could quite seem to get healthy and stay that way.  When he was, however, he was, and is, a solid TE that I believe could make it at the next level.  Injuries are a curse, however...especially the last one: a concussion. 

#83 Brandon Myers  Position:  TE,  Hometown:  Prairie City, IA

Brandon follows in a great line of awesome Hawkeye Tight Ends.  Scott Chandler now plays pro.  Dallas Clark now plays pro.  Before them, came Marv Cook.  Is Myers the next Hawkeye TE to move on to bigger stadiums?  Maybe.  Brandon is a solid target with decent hands.  Most importantly, however, he can block as well as he can catch.  It'll be interesting to see if anyone can step up and continue the tradition of great Iowa TE's when Myers is gone.

#85 Michael Sabers  Position:  TE,  Hometown:  Iowa City, IA

 

One thing I hope Iowa fans will notice is that, of the 19 names above, 11 of them were born and raised in the great corn state.  Iowa does a great job of recruiting great talent from their own yard.

 

The future for the Iowa Hawkeyes looks bright.  I think, however, it's important to look at the past, if for only a moment, to say thanks to those who have helped this proud program reach the heights it's currently at, and set the tone for a brighter future.  Best of luck to the graduating seniors of the University of Iowa.  Fare the well fellas....fare thee well....

 

 

We're down to seven days until the kickoff of bowl season.  Most of the games in mid-December are snoozers that many fans don't care a hoot about.  However, there are a couple of very good bowls early in the season; one of which is as good as virtually any BCS bowl on the docket.

For those who have read my blog before, you know I'm a fan of the Big Ten Conference and its teams.  However, since the Big Ten doesn't play a bowl game until December 27th, I'm stepping outside the box and giving some predictions for games leading up to the Big Ten Bowls and the BCS matches.

Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl

December 20, 2008  8:00 P.M. (Eastern)  ESPN

BYU vs. Arizona

This is BYU's fourth appearance in the Vegas Bowl.  USC, here's someone that feels your pain.  There's no doubt that it's a letdown for the Cougars to be playing in Sin City yet again.  For Arizona, playing anywhere after the end of the regular season is a huge bonus.  The Wildcats haven't been bowling since 1998.

Who Cares? 

Every true college football fan should care - at least a little.  This is "one of those bowls".  BYU came into the season looking for an at-large berth in a BCS bowl.  Two losses and the lack of a great blowout or two knocked that dream off the radar.  As I said above, Arizona is making their first appearance in a bowl in ten years.  This bowl will pit two decent teams with more talent than they've been given credit for in a game that they both hope will launch them to something bigger and better next year.

Why This Could Be Good...

Talk about the Pac-10 all you want.  I'll agree with any argument that says its weak.  Still, Arizona held USC to only 17 points while scoring 10 of their own against a defense that has been fantastic this year.  So what?  So what is that USC averages 37.5 pts/game offensively and is #1 in the nation in terms of points allowed per game and passing yards per game.  Not only that, they have the 5th ranked rushing defense.  For the Wildcats to hold them to under 20 while scoring at all says something about their ability.  Arizona, despite dropping a 24-23 heartbreaker to Stanford, losing to Oregon, USC and New Mexico, is much improved over past years.  Their new spread offense is coming around.

BYU, on the other hand, is 10-2 yet again.  That's not bad considering they're in the same conference as Utah and TCU (their two losses this year).  They beat New Mexico 21-3....who beat Arizona 36-28.  Also, these two teams have faced each other in the two seasons prior to '08.  They split those games, with the home team winning each time.  This will be a game between two teams who are evenly matched and know each other as well as anyone else in the bowls.

What I'd do if I was BYU's...

Offensive Coordinator:  QB Max Hall has to rebound from the Utah loss where he threw the ball away more often than I've thrown away pages from my never published novel.  First and foremost, he has to protect the football and make smart decisions.  Arizona's defense isn't anything he can't beat, he just has to keep his head about him.  Utilize the return of TE Dennis Pitta.  Keep him involved in the offense by throwing short-to-mid range passes closer to the middle.  I'm also wondering how healthy RB Unga is?  Test him early and often.  Combining the run game with a short pass game should draw the defense in tight and give you a shot or two at hitting WR Austin Collie down the side.  Spread the wealth around.  Don't give them just a target or two to key on.  As with any game, your play at the line will have to be up to snuff.  Protect Hall and give him a few seconds to make his reads and he'll move the ball for you.

Defensive Coordinator:  Arizona QB Willie Tuitama plays control football.  He'll generally keep his passes short and to the outside.  LB David Nixon will have to have his head on straight.  The secondary as a whole can't get sucked into playing too tight.  As crazy as it may sound, let the short stuff go.  I should say, don't get too worried about it.  At least, until you start to feel the endzone creaping up on your backside.  Then, lock down.  Stuff the run early and force Arizona to the air, then your CB's and Safeties can work on stopping the TD passes short, where you have the least territory to have to defend. 

Head Coach:  Get your staff and players fired up for this game.  I know you were hoping for something bigger, but this is what you've got.  Arizona will come out fired up.  Play flat and you'll lose this one and everyone will say you weren't that good to begin with. 

What I'd do if I was Arizona's...

Offensive Coordinator:  Do what you do best: spread the ball around.  BYU has a very good LB in Nixon, but he's just one man.  The rest of the defense is suspect.  Keep Nixon running from side-to-side and you'll eventually wear him out.  When you get down toward the red zone, pull out one of those "special plays" or two -  just to keep them guessing.  Don't abandon the run too early, but you can afford to use the pass to set up the run, rather than the other way around.

Defensive Coordinator:  BYU's RB Unga has played much of the season injured.  They're predicting he'll be fine by game time, but there will always be the question of just how ready he is to go.  Lock down on him early and shut down the Cougar running game.  Your secondary needs to keep a close eye on Pitta as well as Collie.  The main thing is, keep the plays in front of you.  Don't let them burn you deep.  Small gains can be corrected, but it's a lot tougher to bounce back from the big plays.

What'll Happen:  This one should be a bit of an offensive shootout.  The fans should love it.  No one seems to care much for good defense these days.  In the end, Arizona's offense has more weapons and I like the way they move the ball better.  They're more controlled and should eat up more of the clock.  They'll slowly wear down the Cougar defense.

Pick:  Arizona 37 - BYU 31

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

December 23, 2008  8:00 P.M. ESPN

#11 TCU vs #9 Boise State

Really?  San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl?  For crying out loud, who names these things?  I know...corporate sponsorship.  Still, that's a little rediculous, don't you think? 

Who Cares?

Quite a few people actually.  Either of these two could've/should've been in a BCS bowl.  How on earth did they end up playing on December 23rd in a bowl whose name is longer than any billboard in America?  This game should be better than the Orange Bowl, which pits two mediocre teams who happen to be in more respectable conferences. 

Why This Should Be Good...

TCU and Boise State are #2 and #3 in scoring defense respectively.  Maybe, for those of you who think defense is holding someone under 60 points, this will be a snoozer.  For those of us who still respect a mean D-line and LB's who crush QB's like squeezing orange juice, this should be a fantastic game.  No doubt those rankings are skewed by the fact that these two teams play weak conference schedules, but they're still pretty good.

What I'd do if I was Boise State's....

Offensive Coordinator:  QB Kellen Moore will be your ticket.  He needs to spread the ball around.  WR Austin Pettis is a great target, but he'll find coverage to be thick.  Get RB Ian Johnson involved in more ways than just the run attack.  Hit him with screens and short lobs while shooting bullets to your WR's on quick outs and short crosses.  Don't try to be sexy.  The TCU defense will chew up sexy and spit it out.  Just try to move the ball down field a little at a time.  Your O-Line has been very good, but they'll need to be pumped up for this one.  You'll have to put together some kind of scheme to handle Jerry Hughes.  Moore only needs a little time for routes to develop. 

Defensive Coordinator:  LB Ellis Powers needs to be a madman, but the big play needs to come from the line.  Get pressure on the QB and don't give him time to make solid reads.  WR Jeremy Kerley will be back in the TCU lineup, so your CB's will need to stick to their assignments and keep a blanket on him.  Stack the box and put pads on Turner.  He's a bruising back, so expect to get hit back.

What I'd do if I was TCU's...

Offensive Coordinator:  Run the ball.  A lot.  You're ranked #1 in time of possession, and that's key.  Keep the ball out of Boise State's hands and control the clock.  Protect the ball and protect your QB.  Move the ball around the corners and keep away from the middle of the field.  That's dangerous territory.  Make Powers move around a lot to get to the ball.  Short patterns to the outside should give you the matchups you need, but if the run game works as planned, you should find one or two decent gains down the sideline. 

Defensive Coordinator:  Boise State's O-Line has done a great job of protecting their QB.  You're going to have to really make them work for it this time.  Hensen and Phillips need to be flying all over the field, constantly moving to the ball.  CB's Sanders and Priest need to watch their lanes and keep an eye on Kerley.  Eliminate the deep threat and contain the run.  Do that and you'll fluster Moore.  Eventually, he'll make a mistake.

What'll Happen:  TCU lost the two games this year that were the biggest, getting drummed 35-10 by Oklahoma and losing 13-10 to Utah.  The only good win they have this year is a 32-7 thumping of BYU.  Boise State, on the other hand, has beaten everyone put in front of them.  They had some growing pains at times, but got the job done.  They'll do it again in the SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl.

Pick: Boise State 20 - TCU 19

I'm only putting up two picks for now.  As we get into next week, I'll likely put up a couple more, just to keep things interesting. 

Good Luck, Happy Holidays, and Happy Bowling!

The bids are in, accepted, and the announcements have been made.  The Big Ten scored four January bowl games, and some fantastic matches. 

In my last post, I projected how I thought the bowls would pan out.  Rather than update that one, I thought I would just write a new post and cover who's going where for the holidays. 

So, without further ado:

Fiesta Bowl  January 5  8:00 P.M., FOX (all times are Eastern)

Texas vs Ohio State

This should be a great game.  OSU was playing as well as anyone in the nation once Wells returned and got back into the rythm.  Not that they weren't good before that, but they really became powerful once they were all healthy.  Texas, on the other hand, could very well be part of the National Title game right now.  It doesn't get any better than this!  Well....except Iowa in the NCG, that is....(I haven't thrown any homer comments in for a while, so you'll have to live with it...lol)

My Pick:  I didn't pick this one.  I thought OSU would get a BCS Bowl, but I didn't know which one.  I thought maybe Sugar, but this is even better. 

Rose Bowl  January 1 4:30 P.M. ABC

Penn State vs. USC

This one was pretty easy to pick.  As long as USC didn't blow it against UCLA, this game didn't require any thought. 

Both of these teams are out to prove that they deserved something a little better.  Not that there's anything wrong with the Rose Bowl, and I'm not saying that either of these teams are better than Oklahoma/Florida.  I'm just saying that, with one loss each, it could easily be these two in the NCG, rather than the Rose Bowl.  Both teams have powerful offenses.  The question is...just how good is USC's defense?  They did very well against OSU...early in the year.  What about Penn State?  What about now?  This should be a far better game than it would have been if Oregon State had been here. 

My Pick: Penn State vs USC

Capital One Bowl January 1, 1:00 P.M. ABC

Georgia vs. Michigan State

Michigan State had a great season in the Big Ten.  Spartan fans briefly thought they might have a shot at the Rose Bowl.  While that didn't pan out, the Cap One is a very good bowl and they'll love their visit to Orlando.

Georgia is a tough team and will give the Spartans a real test.  MSU is up to the challenge though.  It'll be interesting to see how the Dawgs handle Ringer, Hoyer and Company. 

My Pick: Georgia vs Michigan State      chalk two up for IHawk!

Outback Bowl January 1, 11:00 A.M.  ESPN

Iowa vs. South Carolina

In my projections, I'd said that if the Outback chose SC, they might not need to take Iowa.  Turns out, the Outback went for the whole enchilada and took both teams.  I'm sure there are some Northwestern fans out there who are upset about this pick.  Don't take it personally folks.  It's not that the Outback really thought Iowa was a better team than Northwestern (I do, but I'm a homer).  Iowa just travels better.  It's all about the green, and this was a chance to take a very competitive team that travels well over a very competitive team that doesn't travel as well.  It's purely economical. 

Iowa has one of the toughest defenses in the Big Ten.  Shonn Greene is one of the best RB's in the nation, if not THE best back.  South Carolina is going to have their hands full with this team.  The Gamecocks are no pushover, though.  They've got an offense that can get things done and they'll push the Hawkeye D as far as it can stretch.

My Pick: Northwestern vs. South Carolina     IHawk 2.5

Insight Bowl December 31, 5:30 P.M. NFL

Kansas vs. Minnesota

As a fan of the Big Ten, I'm nervous about this game.  If Minnesota could take this time to remember how they got off to that 7-1 start and go back to playing that kind of football, Kansas could be in trouble.  If they can't do that, Minnesota is in big trouble.  This will be a good game to watch to see which Minnesota team shows up. 

My Pick: Nebraska vs. Minnesota     IHawk 3.0

Alamo Bowl December 29,  8:00 P.M. ESPN

Northwestern vs. Missouri

Again, I'm sure there are some NW fans who find this to be a bit of a letdown.  If you've read this far, you've already read why I believe it happened this way.  This is still a great bowl game to go to.  San Antonio is a good destination in late December and you won't get a better opponent than Missouri. 

This game should be a battle of offenses.  Chase Daniel will likely pick apart the Wildcat defense as he's done a lot of defenses this year.  It won't be easy, though.  The Wildcats have a pretty interesting defense; one unlike any Missouri's faced all year.  Northwestern won't be completely healed by bowl time, but they'll have most of the pieces in place.  CJ Bacher will get a chance to showcase his own talents. 

My Pick: Iowa vs. Missouri     IHawk 3.5

Champs Sports Bowl  December 27, 4:30 P.M.

Florida State vs. Wisconsin

Florida State isn't quite the Florida State they used to be.  On the other hand, Wisconsin is becoming the Wisconsin they want to be.  They just had a little side track....a four week sidetrack.  They closed the season strong, and will give Florida State a lot to chew on.  The downside for Wisconsin is that Orlando is nearly a home game for the Seminoles.  Badger fans, pool your money and go support your team.  I know...easier said than done.  If it were that easy, I'd be going to see the Hawkeyes play.  I'd love nothing more than to see a huge see of Red and White rushing the field when the Badgers beat up on the Seminoles.

My Pick:  Wisconsin vs. Miami    IHawk 4.0

 

Well, there they are.  I'm not putting anything fancy or insightful into this one.  There will be plenty of time between now and December 27th to put together a closer look at each bowl game.  Just as I did for the regular season (from when I started blogging, anyway), I'll do my predictions for the bowl games and add my "what I'd do..." portion. 

Congratulations to all seven Big Ten bowl bound teams and their fans.  Good luck in your respective games.  GO GIT 'R' DONE!!! 

I was 4.0 for 6.0...leaving out the OSU pick since it was a crapshoot as to which bowl they'd get.  Not too bad, but could've been better. 

That's it from here....for now....but not for long.....

smell it...smell it....now take it

You think you've got the Big Ten bowl picture all figured out?  Some of it's set in stone, but some of it isn't.  A lot of it is being figure out, as I type.  Even now, Oregon is beating Oregon State by 10 in the 2nd quarter.  That plays huge into the Big Ten bowl schedule.  Here's what I think will pan out and how the bowls will fall for our Big Ten teams. 

From top to bottom, here we go:

Rose Bowl:

The Players:  Penn State (locked), Oregon State, USC

My Gut Feeling:  USC will get the Rose Bowl invite and face Penn State in the Rose Bowl.

Why:  Penn State, though technically titled co-Champions of the Big Ten, beat OSU in the head-to-head game and earned the right to represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl.  Oh yeah, they beat pretty much everyone else on their schedule too.  That helps. 

The Pac-10 is becoming more clear.  Though Oregon State defeated USC in their head-to-head match, by losing to Oregon, they will lose the Pac-10 race.  That'll open the door for USC to take it over and head to Pasadena. 

Why this would be a great match:  I don't care what all the SEC/ACC/Big 12 fans spew on their blogs and whatnot, Penn State is a very good team.  They're well coached, have solid talent, and still have a lot to prove to the nation.  Most certainly, they'll want to prove that they shouldn't have been overlooked so easily for a real shot at the National Championship Game.  Some one-loss team will get into that game and they'll want to show that maybe it should have been them. 

On the other side of the ball, USC is playing as well, if not better, than anyone in the country.  Oregon State was their only slip, back in week 5, and since then they've been taking care of business quite handily.  They'll want to leave no doubt that the OSU game (Oregon State, not Ohio State) was an abberation. 

What Could cause this not to happen:  Two things.  Oregon State could come back and beat Oregon and clinch the Pac-10 title.  This isn't favorable to anyone in the Big Ten, really.  At least not to those whose teams stand to move up a bowl by USC getting the Rose Bowl bid.  The other thing that can ruin it is if USC inexplicably loses to Notre Dame or UCLA.  Notre Dame is terrible again this year and UCLA isn't much better.  USC should do it's part to get to Pasadena, so it's up to Oregon State to decide who'll play against the Nittany Lions.

What will Happen:  I know this is awfully late in the game to decide this, but I don't think OSU will stage their needed comeback. 

Penn State vs USC

Update: Oregon defeated Oregon State 65-38, which means, Ohio State has the inside track to getting the Big Ten a second team in a BCS bowl.

Captial One Bowl

The Players: Ohio State, Michigan State, Georgia

My Gut Feeling:  If the aforementioned Rose Bowl selection pans out, then the Buckeyes will likely get a BCS bowl.  Which one, I don't really know yet.  There are a couple of choices that could fall into place.  Assuming that's the case, I'll temporarily pencil Ohio State for the Sugar Bowl.  That leaves the door open here for Michigan State to swoop in.

Why?  As I'll discuss a little later, the whole thing about bowls taking Big Ten #2, #3, #4, etc, isn't really that they take the Big Ten team that finished in that spot in the conference.  Basically, it means that's who they should take...but the choice isn't definite.  What it literally means is that the Cap One Bowl gets second choice for their Big Ten representative, behind the Rose Bowl.  The Cap One, however, generally sticks to the conference standings when making their pick.  They go for competition over anything else, and assume that a team's record is indicative of their ability.  That's commendable of them.  Particularly when other bowls choose money over competition. 

At any rate, the Spartans earned this spot by virtue of being third in the conference and the top two going to other bowls. 

On the other side, Georgia will finish third in the SEC behind Alabama and Florida, who will both be going to BCS bowls. 

What could make this not happen:  IF Ohio State isn't selected for a BCS bowl, they will be the Big Ten rep for this bowl and not the Spartans.  That's virtually the only thing that will keep this from happening.  It's not at all impossible, given that the Oregon State game isn't over yet and the Big Ten isn't exactly the most loved conference in the country this year.  However...aside from BCS bowls, the other bowls don't have to take who the BCS would like them to.  It's their choice who they pick, as long as they stay with their contractual obligations to the conferences tied to them. 

Why this would be a great match:  It has potential.  Georgia is a very talented team that not long ago was being talked about for a National Championship.  Michigan State is the team that could have won the conference with a little luck.  Neither panned out, and here they are. 

What will Happen:  Ohio State will get their BCS bowl and represent well.  That'll leave...

Michigan State vs Georgia

Outback Bowl:

The Players: Michigan State, Northwestern, Iowa, Mississippi, LSU, South Carolina

My Gut Feeling:  First, I should explain why there are so many players in line for this bowl.  As I mentioned before, some bowls don't necessarily take conference standings as the rule when making their selections.  As an example, I'll use 2005 Iowa and Michigan.  The two teams had identical records and Michigan won the head-to-head.  Still Iowa was chosen for the Outback over Michigan.  Why?  Despite Michigan having a much bigger name nationally, Iowa travels better.  Believe it or not, the Hawkeyes have one of the best records in the country when it comes to bringing fans to bowl games.  The Outback committee takes that into consideration when they make their selections.  The rules governing who you can take and who you can't go something like this:

You can't take a 6-6 team if there are 7-5 teams available.

You can take a 7-5 team over an 8-4 (or 8-4 over 9-3, etc), but cannot have a difference of more than one game.  Therefore, you can't take a 7-5 team over a 9-3 team even if that 7-5 team travels better or is a bigger draw. 

With all of that in mind, my gut says that Iowa will be the Big Ten rep for the Outback if OSU gets a BCS bid.  They have a worse record than Northwestern or MSU and lost to both of them, but Iowa was hotter down the stretch, beat PSU (who beat MSU), and travels as well, if not better than both schools. 

On the other side, I'll take LSU.  Why?  Anyone outside of Iowa remember the last time Iowa and LSU met in a bowl game?  It was a last second touchdown that lifted the Hawkeyes over LSU for the win.  As an Iowa fan, I can think of few finishes better than that one.  Two, actually come to mind, but that's all.  The folks at Outback know that this rematch would be a big draw for fans from both schools.  LSU travels fairly well and they're a nationally recognized name.  Even though Ol' Miss faired better than them in conference standings,  The Outback is kind of the rebel bowl in this sense.  They take who they like and have less regard for conference standings.

South Carolina's name has been tossed around as well, and this really could be a factor for the Outback folks.  It could even knock Iowa out of the running.  Their fans don't have to travel very far to reach Tampa and that means they can bring tons of folks to town.  For that reason, they wouldn't need all the fans Iowa tends to bring and they'll be more apt to bring the higher ranked team in the Big Ten over the one that brings more local revenue.

Why?  This is where the rubber meets the road for bowl games.  Like it or not, bowl games are big business.  Not only do they bring great matchups that people will pay big money to see, but they're huge tourist attractions.  A local economy can be hugely affected by the influx of 50,000 or 60,000 fans (could be a conservative figure) ready to take in the sights, buy a ton of souveniers, eat their food, and stay in their hotels.  There are a lot more people relying on a big turnout than just the ticket sellers.  I'm not trying to call the Outback folks greedy by any means, but these are tough times and money has to figure into things.  No one wants to pay millions to put on a great show, only to have maybe 30,000 people show up to the party. 

What will happen:  This one is a lot tougher than I had hoped.  I'm going against my gut on this one and I'll say they'll take

South Carolina vs Northwestern...banking on the SC fans traveling so close to home.

Alamo Bowl

The Players: Iowa, Northwestern, Missouri, Nebraska

My Gut Feeling: Assuming everything else I've said falls into place, there's no way Iowa doesn't get this bowl.  I'm still very hopeful that Iowa will get selected for the Outback, but if not, they'll get the Alamo.  Yes, both Minnesota and Wisconsin have 7-5 records and could, theorhetically be invited over the Hawkeyes, but I just don't see it happening. 

I think Mizzou gets the call here, though either opponent would be great for the Hawkeyes.  It's a border war either way you look at it.  The only way this doesn't happen is if Iowa goes to the Outback and leaves NW available for this bowl.

Why?  Iowa is (in my humble opinion) the best 8-4 team in the nation.  Down the stretch they played like a team that could/should be in the hunt for a BCS bowl, if not a NCG.  However....they're not undefeated and they're not conference champions...they're 8-4.  Considering the last two years, that's not bad.  They travel well, they have Shonn Greene as a show piece and they upset PSU.  Those are all reasons for Alamo folks to like the Hawks. 

Mizzou has the misfortune of being in the same conference as Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech, meaning they got the 4th spot in the conference.  It just won't pan out any other way. 

Nebraska finished 5th having to follow all the others I already named....

What will happen:  Supposing the Outback doesn't take Iowa over NW, and being that Mizzou will rank higher than Nebraska....

Iowa vs Missouri

*Interesting side note:  Mizzou head coach Gary Pinkel cancelled a four year deal that would have had Iowa playing Missouri in OOC games.  He may yet have to face the Hawkeyes...and this isn't the year he really wants to face them...

Champs Sports Bowl

The Players:  technically....Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, BC, Maryland, Miami, Virginia Tech

I have to admit that I have no clue how in the world these conference things work out in the ACC.  VT is scheduled to play in the conference championship, yet they are tied for the 3rd best record in the conference and 4th record overall.  How does that happen?  Shouldn't it be between the two teams with the best record?  They don't even have the best record in their division.  I don't get it....

My Gut Feeling:  This one is hard for me to figure out because of the whole conference championship thing.  This is the kind of thing that actually makes me glad the Big Ten doesn't have such a screwed up mess.  Anyway, I don't think Iowa will fall this far, but if OSU doesn't get a BCS bid, then they could definitely be here.  That leaves it between Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Minnesota looked much better than Wisconsin in the beginning, but Wiscy ended their season much stronger. My gut feeling is that Wisconsin will get a bid over Minnesota. 

 I don't even know what to think of the ACC, so I'll just throw stones in the dark and let someone out there correct me....

Why?  Oops....I already told you why. 

What will happen:  I'll take VT out of the equation, though I don't think they are.  For the same reason, I'll eliminate BC and that'll likely screw up everything for me.  Oh well....

Wisconsin vs. Miami...with a big "I don't get what's going on here" attached....

Insight

The Players: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas

I'm not really sure what the final standings in the Big 12 will be, but all of these teams have at least some tie to the Insight. 

My Gut Feeling:  is that Missouri won't fall this far in the pecking order.  I'm pretty sure Nebraska will be the one selected to go to Tempe for the B12.  If everything else pans out, that'll leave Minnesota in line for this one.

Why?  Minnesota jumped out to a huge 7-1 record on the year and locked in a bowl.  They dropped their last four, which is why they'll go to tempe instead of Tampa or somewhere like that.  Hawk fans will tell you that Tempe is a pretty nice place, though, and they'll treat you real well down there. 

Nebraska is turning their program around and this is step one.  They'll get the benefit of facing a Gopher team that hasn't looked very healthy at the end of their season.  This year, there were a lot bigger boys than the Huskers in the Big 12.  They're definitely game, though.

What'll Happen:  I'm pretty sure there's little doubt here, unless OSU doesn't get a BCS, then just shuffle Wisconsin down to here and move Minnesota over to the Motor City Bowl.

Minnesota vs Nebraska

 

I really and truly hope that someone can explain to me the conference championship deal and how that all works.  As I see it, I don't get how you can have a true conference championship when you have teams like VT playing teams like BC and neither of them have either of the two best records in their conference, nor the best record in their respective divisions.  Likewise, I keep hearing how Oklahoma could end up playing Missouri in the Big Twelve championship.  How does that happen when Texas has the better record in the South Division?  It makes no sense to me.  Explain it to me Basill....I'm confused.

Anyway, there's a look at who I think will be where when the dust settles.  I'm sure someone will shoot holes in the whole thing and remind me of something that got completely lost while I was busy trying to figure out who was where in their conferences. 

And yes...I'm writing this because I'm antsy.  There's football going on all around and the Big Ten isn't involved.  I'm restless.  I'm having anxiety attacks here....I can't eat, I can't sleep....well...okay....I'm not having any problem with those last two....but I'm having WITHDRAWALS!!!  I can't wait for the bowl picture to finally shape up so I can start researching each of the teams involved. 

That's it from here....until I get antsy again in a day or two and throw something else out there to be picked on...

 

 

This is just a quick rundown of who finished where in the Big Ten and a few thoughts/stats surrounding each team. 

From bottom to top...here they are:

Indiana

overall record: (3-9),  Big Ten record: (1-7)

This was not what the Hoosiers had invisioned as their follow up to the 2007 season that led to a bowl bid.  It was supposed to have been a springboard to bigger things.  Unfortunately, it was a throwback to years they'd hoped had gone by. 

Big Win: Yes, they had one.  Winning 21-19 over Northwestern on October 25th was a pretty big deal.  The Wildcats were a formidable team and this was the Hoosier's Homecoming.  Indiana's defense played the best game of their season and stopped NW late in the fourth quarter to solidy their unlikely victory.  Anytime you're a team struggling like Indiana has, beating a team with a winning record and a locked bowl bid is a big deal.  If nothing else, it showed what the Hoosiers were capable of, if only they played every game that way.

Reason to be optimistic: With all of their players healthy, they should have been a much better team.  They just lacked depth.  Not that they would have contended for a conference championship or anything, but they could have been a competitive team.  More importantly, they have a pretty decent recruiting class that was redshirted, almost across the board.  Once the Hoosiers get those kids in the lineup, they should have a lot more weapons at their disposal for next year.

Ending the season: The Hoosiers had four straight losses to finish the season.  That's not the kind of momentum you want to carry into the off-season.  Still....see above. 

Bowl?  Um...not hardly.  Not this year anyway.  Who knows what next year will look like.

Michigan

overall record: (3-9)  Big Ten record: (2-6)

What a fall from grace!  This was the losingest season in Wolverine history.  There's no reason to believe that Michigan has become the new perennial basement dweller they looked like this year, however.  RichRod is a new coach, with a new scheme, and the Wolverines have simply not adapted the way he'd hoped.  I still think RR is a pretty decent coach and he'll have Michigan back into winning ways in a few years...if the Wolvering alum can hang on that long...and if they can stop the flow of recruits heading to other schools.

Big Win:  29-6 win over Minnesota on November 8th.  Minnesota faded horribly over the stretch of their season, but they'd still been a decent team.  Any team that goes 7-1 to start their season is pretty decent.  With that being said, for Michigan to have such a convincing victory, dominating on both sides of the ball, is a big deal.  For one bright, shining moment, Michigan looked like Michigan again. 

Reason to be optimistic:  As I said before, RR is a new coach who implemented a new scheme.  If he can figure out how to meld his old version of the spread with the personnel Michigan has, they could become a formidable offense.  The defense wasn't as terrible as it sometimes looked and if he can work on the fundamentals in spring ball, Michigan could make a dramatic turnaround in only a year.  They won't be Penn State good in only one year, but they could make big strides.

Ending the Season:  Michigan finished with a two game slide after the Minnesota victory.  Everything that looked good, suddenly looked so bad again.  It still beats losing four in a row....

Bowl?  For the first time in a very long time....no. 

Purdue

overall record: (4-8)  Big Ten record: (2-6)

For the sake of allowing seabass to keep his sanity, I won't mention Tiller's new house!  Unfortunately, that seemed to be the only thing the coach was really focused on all year.  The team that featured a future pro QB in Curtis Painter sure fell flat on their faces.  A last game blowout over Indiana kept the Boilermakers from occupying the unenviable position of last in the Big Ten.  The really unfortunate thing is that there were a few very brief moments where Purdue looked brilliant.  A drive here or a play there made the Boilermakers appear to be on the verge of turning some corner and becoming something better than they were.  It just never panned out that way, though, and they were just plain bad.

Big Win:  62-10 romp over Indiana on November 22nd.  After an excruciating season that had Purdue fighting to dig their way out of the basement, they needed something more than a squeaker.  This was a butt-whooping and can at least give the Boilermakers something positive to reflect on Joe Tiller's final season.

Reason to be optimistic:  Next year the Boilermakers will start from scratch.  They'll have a new coach, new personnel and a new field general to lead them.  With that there are bound to be growing pains, but at the same time, they can hardly get much worse.  They now will have something they can build on and will get a snapshot of what their future may look like.

Ending the season:  Purdue got the huge win over Indiana to send them off into never-never land...as in, never-never play that poorly again. 

Bowl?  No, but they may not have been as far off as it looks.  Had they connected on the hail mary at the end of the Iowa game and had a little more success against a fading Minnesota team, Purdue could have found themselves bowl eligible.  It's probably lucky they didn't....that could have been very embarrasing for them and the rest of the Big Ten.

Illinois

overall record: (5-7)  Big Ten record: (3-5)

There's no real excuse for this team.  They should have been bowl eligible.  They laid down in the game against Northwestern and handed away any chance they had at a post-season appearance.  Ron Zook pinned the entire hopes of the team on one man.  Was that because he knew they didn't have the talent elsewhere to help?  Or did he really think Juice Williams could carry an entire team through a Big Ten schedule all by his lonesome?  I'm guessing the former is probably the truth. 

Big Win:  27-24 win over Iowa November 1st.  Iowa wasn't the Big Ten's most successful team this year, but they were one of the toughest.  Especially once Ricki Stanzi started to find his footing.  To get past one of the nation's best scoring defenses is no small feat, but they pulled it out.  It was a great win in front of an appreciative home crowd.

Reason to be Optimistic:  As good an athlete as Juice Williams is, I think the Illini are better off without him.  They'll be forced to find success elsewhere and that should help them identify new playmakers they may not have even known were on the roster.  Still, Juice will likely return for his senior season and that gives you at least one powerful offensive weapon.  If Zook can strengthen the line a little more and find a good running back to give your attack a little more balance, the offense should be impressive.  A bowl game is definitely not out of the question for next year.

Ending the Season: the Illini lost their last three.  That has to leave a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach; to be one win away from bowl eligibility and not find it in three games... 

Bowl? No bowl for you!!!

Minnesota

overall record: (7-5)  Big Ten record: (3-5)

Minnesota was the Comeback Kid through the first half of the season.  Not so much for what they did during the games, but what they'd done with the season.  This team looked like they could potentially put pressure on the conference front runners.  Then everything fell apart at the seams.  They couldn't beat any of the quality conference teams and started to look more and more like a mediocre team that benefitted from a soft early schedule.  Their huge turnover margin faded down the stretch, and their wins followed suit.

Big Win:  27-20 over Illinois October 11th.  Illinois turned out not to be very good, but at the time they were still looking like a bowl team.  It was a quality win for the Gophers and the last good one they'd get all year.

Reason to be Optimistic:  The foundation has been laid.  The end of the '08 regular season may have been disappointing, but they have a lot of good things they can focus on going forward.  Their defense knows how to hit hard and the line isn't too bad.  They have thier two best offensive weapons in Decker and Weber returning next year.  Solidify the defense, get the turnovers rolling again, and this year could be a spring board into '09. 

Ending the Season:  The Gophers lost their last 4 to end any hope of a New Year's bowl.  The finale, a 55-0 drumming at the hands of the Hawks may have been a good thing.  It may be what they needed to wake them up and realize that they need to get their heads in the game if they want to win their bowl.

Bowl?  Yes!  The question still remains as to which one.  It could be Champs, it could be Inisight or it could be Motor City.  Exactly where will depend on whether or not Ohio State is granted a BCS bowl.  We'll know in a couple of weeks.

Wisconsin

overall record: (7-5)  Big Ten record: (3-5)

The Badgers came into the season thinking conference championship.  That went out the window when they suffered a four game losing streak mid-season.  Normally, one couldn't blame Wisconsin for three of those losses.  They had a brutal schedule, facing Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State in three straight weeks.  As it turned out, Michigan wasn't that good, but the other two were still nothing to sneeze at.  Unfortunately, Wisconsin lost all three, then followed them up with a loss to Iowa.  The Badgers didn't hang their heads, though, and rallied back to win four of their last five and salvage a year that was starting to look very bleak. 

Big Win: 27-17 over Illinois October 25th....or....36-35 over Cal Poly November 22nd.  Take your pick.  The win over Illinois was significant because it breathed new life back into the Badgers and seemed to get them back on the right page.  The Cal Poly win was significant because the Mustangs are much tougher than most people will ever give them credit for, and that was the win that secured the Badgers a bowl game. 

Reason to be Optimistic:  The Badgers have shown resiliance.  They lost to the four best teams in the league (excluding NW, who they didn't play this year), but injuries played a part.  Plus, I got the feeling that the Badgers were blindsided a little.  They weren't overmatched, but they weren't mentally prepared for some of those games either.  The good news is, that's a fairly easy fix for next year.  It starts with Double B, running the show.  He's got to get the players better prepared.  They've got some good talent returning next year and momentum to carry them into bowl season.  If they can win their bowl game, they'll be in good position to make some real noise next year.

Ending the Season:  Wisconsin won four of their last five and ended on a three game win streak.  Many will bash them for an OT win over Div 1AA Cal Poly, but it should be a non-factor.  The notion that Div 1AA or Mid-Major conferences, or less respected conferences are somehow not up to par with the "big six" is idiotic.  Boise State isn't the only "lower conference" team to knock off big boys.  They can play too folks.  In my book, this win is as impressive as any the Badgers have earned this year.  They've got great momentum and confidence heading into their bowl game.

Bowl?  Yes!  As with all but one of the Big Ten teams, the bowl game is still undecided.  What is definite is that Wisconsin will be playing another game sometime in December.

Iowa

overall record: (8-4)  Big Ten record: (5-3)

Iowa hasn't gotten a lot of love from the rest of the nation this year.  I can't say as I completely blame them.  That three game losing streak didn't do them any favors, nor did the loss to Illinois.  Still, for a team that went 6-6 both of their last two seasons, this was a great year.  All of their losses were extremely close, meaning this season could have been even better than it was.  They found a superstar running back and broke in the quarterback of their future.  All in all, things are looking very bright for the boys from Iowa City.

Big Win:  Easily it was the 24-23, last second victory over #3 Penn State on November 8th.  It showed that Iowa could play with the big boys and it was the only opportunity Iowa would have all year to beat a top 25 team as MSU and Northwestern weren't ranked when they played the Hawks and OSU got the lucky break of not having to face Iowa this year. :-)

Reason to be Optimistic:  Let's count the ways.  Many of the key players are, or could be, returning.  Shonn Greene likely won't, as he has a promising NFL career ahead of him, but Jewel Hampton has looked very good with a 5.0 yrd/carry average in his freshman tries.  Ricki Stanzi has grown by leaps and bounds and despite losing Mitch King and Matt Kroul, the defensive line looks solid.  The defensive secondary should be just as good and the O-Line should be even more solid.  All-in-all, if Iowa isn't a threat for the conference title next year, it'll be a disappointment....but no pressure or anything....

Ending the Season:  The Hawks ended their season on a three game win streak, including a 55-0 shutout over Minnesota in their final game in the Metrodome.  The downside is, they should have ended on a six game win streak, but for that nasty little loss at Illinois.  The upside is, they still finished very strong and that impresses bowl people as much as the overall record.

Bowl?  Yes! And unlike the last bowl they attended two years ago, they don't have to squeak their way into one.  There's been a lot of talk that Iowa might even leapfrog Northwestern into a better bowl.  The reps from the Outback have been very interested in Iowa, as have the reps from Capital One, though I seriously doubt they would take Iowa over Michigan State.  That would be wrong on so many levels. 

Northwestern

overall record: (9-3)  Big Ten record: (5-3)

This was a great year for the boys in Purple.  9-3 is pretty good by about anyone's standards, but for a team that has so rarely been near the top of the Big Ten, this is a banner year.  Just like when he was playing for the Wildcats, coach Fitzgerald has brought pride back to the Wildcat team in ways they haven't seen in nearly a decade.  He implemented a new offense (interestingly, one he never played) and his players responded beautifully.  He expected nothing less than their best and they gave it to him.  Injuries likely cost this team an even better season, but it was a huge step in the right direction and the future looks pretty bright.

Big Win:  22-17 over Iowa on September 27th.  Why this game?  A couple of reasons.  First of all, despite falling behind 17-3 late in the second quarter, the Wildcats ripped off 19 unanswered points, holding Iowa scoreless in the second half to secure the win.  Second of all, it was Iowa's homecoming and you always love to beat a tough team on their homecoming.  Oh yeah...maybe most importantly...they were the only team to beat the Hawks in Kinnick Stadium this year....

Reason to be Optimistic:  This should be only the beginning of things to come.  Yes, they're losing some key players and that will hurt, but their replacements have nearly all seen some decent playing time this year.  They won't exactly come into things green around the gills next spring.  Fitzy should have them ready to go by kickoff next fall.  The intensity in this program will translate into wins on the field.  How far they go will depend entirely on how closely the team pays attention to their coaching staff during drills.

Ending the Season:  The Wildcats won their last two after dropping an ugly one to Ohio State.  Two weeks before that, they dropped a curious one to Indiana.  What was going on there?  Still, they ended on a strong note and that 27-10 win over Illinois was sufficiently impressive, even if Illinois isn't all that.

Bowl?  Yes!  The Wildcats could be headed to Tampa, Tempe, or San Antonio.  No matter which they get, it'll be a pretty good bowl. 

Michigan State

overall record: (9-3)  Big Ten record: (6-2)

The Spartans were one win and a little help from a trip to Pasadena.  It's pretty exciting when you can go into the final week of Big Ten play and still be getting talked about in connection with the Rose Bowl.  The Spartans have a Heisman hopeful and a solid all around team.  It might be tempting to think of the coulda-woulda-shoulda's, but that's a waste of time.  Sparty had a pretty darn good year and he should get rewarded as handsomely as can be expected with two teams ahead of him in the conference. 

Big Win:  37-20 over Northwestern on October 11th....or....25-24 over Wisconsin on November 1st...or...16-13 over Iowa on October 4th.  Three big games?  Well, not in a lot of ways, but yes in a lot of ways too.  Beating Northwestern was a big win for the Spartans because Northwestern was the highest rated opponent the Spartans beat in the Big Ten this year.  It solidified their place in the conference and kept them alive for much more.  The Wisconsin game was big because the Badgers were full-fledged into their comeback when MSU knocked them back down.  Wisconsin was playing well again and that was a very tough win.  The Iowa game doesn't really look like much except the fact that they held off a late surge by Iowa to get the win.  Realistically, those two teams were very evenly matched and MSU pulled it out.  They weren't able to knock off either OSU or PSU, so take your pick of these three...

Reason to be Optimistic:  Besides the fact that they could easily be playing in the Capital One Bowl?  Try that they were oh-so-close to playing in the Rose Bowl.  Yeah, I know...they were in the mix, but not really.  They were in the hunt and that's more than 8 other teams in the Big Ten can say.  The big question for next year will be: how will they handle the loss of both Ringer and Hoyer at the end of the season?  I think they'll be just fine.  They still have some talent returning and recruiting (especially in-state) is looking pretty decent.  This team is setting itself up to be very competitive for years to come.

Ending the Season:  The Spartans lost their last game of the season, but it was to conference champion Penn State.  Before that they'd won three in a row, following the OSU loss.  Losing to the two toughest teams in the conference, but beating everyone else, is no slap in the face. 

Bowl? Yes!  Possibly Capital One, if OSU gets into a BCS bowl.  At very least, they're looking at Outback and that's pretty darn good.

Ohio State

overall record: (10-2)  Big Ten record: (7-1)

Well, you can't play for the National championship every year, now can you?  I'm sure Buckeye fans would give a resounding "YES!', but, no, not really.  Ohio State came very near to playing in the Rose Bowl, and had not Penn State slipped to Iowa, it would have been a definite destination.  Their only conference loss came to Penn State in a close, hard fought game.  In fact, the only two losses sustained by the Buckeyes this year were to teams that have been repeatedly mentioned in connection with the NCG.  That's pretty much what you'd expect from a team that's represented the Big Ten in the major bowl not once, but three times in recent years. 

Big Win:  When your only real (perceived) competition is Penn State, and you lose to them, it's hard to come up with a "Big Win".  Especially when you got hammered by USC early in the year.  Still, I would have to say the 45-7 throttling of Michigan State was that win.  The Spartans were soundly in the hunt for the conference title and the Buckeyes left now doubt who the better team was. 

Reason to be Optimistic:  I'm sure for some Buckeye fans, it's a little tough to be.  The NCG slipped away fairly early, then the Rose Bowl slipped away late.  Still, Ohio State had another great year and will represent the Big Ten well in their bowl game.  Pryor and Wells should both be returning again next year to lead the Buckeye attack.  There's no reason to believe that next year the Buckeyes won't be back in the hunt for the conference title and possibly a national title.  As for the remainder of this year, a big bowl win would go a long way towards restoring their tarnished image as well as the Big Ten's. 

Ending the Season:  Ohio State won their last three after the narrow loss to Penn State.  They outscored the last three teams 80-37 as Wells and Pryor looked to be at the peak of their game.  Woe be unto the team that thinks they'll steamroll the Buckeyes in their bowl game....

Bowl? Duh!  There's still a very big question as to which one.  Capital One is the easy answer, but it's not even nearly cut and dry.  First off, there could still be a key loss or four that could theorhetically place PSU in the NCG.  It won't happen, but it could.  That would give OSU the green light for the Rose Bowl.  However, even when that doesn't pan out, there's still no reason PSU couldn't move up into another BCS game.  There are 6 BCS slots "above" the Rose Bowl and despite conference affiliations and such crap, it would only take one loss to a top team to conceivably push PSU up to say....the Orange Bowl.  That too could give OSU the Rose Bowl.  There are other options out there, but I'm too tired to figure them all out.  Suffice to say that OSU's fate is not yet sealed.  Many things could happen, but one thing is for certain: OSU will be playing in the New Year.

As has been correctly pointed out to me: unless there is a meltdown at the top of the rankings and Penn State gets the highly unlikely nod for the NCG, there is no chance of them playing in any other bowl than the Rose Bowl (no knock on the Rose Bowl intended).  Thus...OSU's options are a) a BCS bowl or b) the Capital One Bowl.  There is virtually no chance that they will end up in any "lesser" bowl than the Cap One, and no path that would lead them to the Rose Bowl short of the aforementioned miracle. 

Penn State

overall record: (11-1)  Big Ten record: (7-1)

I don't even want to call them co-Champions of the Big Ten...they are the champions of the Big Ten!  They won the tie breaker and that's all there is to it.  For JoePa, despite whatever disappointment remains in missing the NCG, this was a great year.  He proved he could implement a spread offense (despite his old-dog-old-tricks stereotype) and make it work.  His team ranked near the top of nearly every statistical category.  The Lions were just one missed field goal in a freezing cold stadium from being perfect on the year.  That's a record every team would love to have.

Big Win:  The showdown of the year (in the Big Ten anyway), was the game against Ohio State.  It not only had a huge bearing on the conference championship, but also the national championship.  The Nittany Lions had to go to the dreaded Horse Shoe to face the Buckeyes on their own turf on October 25th, and walked away with a 13-6 victory.  Holding the powerful Buckeyes to only six points was a major defensive achievement.  It was the green light for all of Penn States hopes and dreams for the season.

Reason to be Optimistic:  Again, there are several.  Penn State can be the hero of the Big Ten this year by beating whoever they face in the Rose Bowl.  For the future, there's no reason to believe this was a one-time, last hurrah for JoePa and Company.  Unless the alumni run Joe out of town, he'll be back next year to push for perfection again.  They'd be idiotic to let him go, despite his age.  Clark and Royster should be returning next year and will generate a lot of excitement on campus.  In fact, the Lions will return quite a few players next year, which should mean that we've only begun to see what these guys are capable of.

Ending the Season:  After the heartbreaking loss in Iowa City, Penn State ended the year winning their last two, including a huge win over Michigan State to secure the conference title.  It was a great rebound from a game that could have been a major distraction. 

Bowl? NO....just kidding....DUH!  Everyone, everywhere is saying that Penn State will be representing the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl.  As I said above, it's not quite that cut and dry.  Yes, it's most likely what will happen, but it doesn't have to be.  Not yet.  There are still two weeks worth of games that could change everything.  There are so many scenarios that could play out, it boggles the mind.  I sincerely doubt that PSU would miraculously find their way back into the NCG, but it can't be ruled out until it's officially ruled out.  PSU will be in a January Bowl.  Claiming we know right now which one it will be is premature and unfair to the Lions.

 

That's just a quick rundown of what's going on, where everyone finished and a (very brief) overview of the season.....in a nutshell....minus the salt....

As PSPKNINE so wisely pointed out, now is the time for true Big Ten fans to step up and root for the teams that they'd have rooted against most of the year.  The better the Big Ten looks in their bowl games, the better your team looks when they beat them next year, so put away the home pom-poms (except when your team plays in a bowl) and pull out the Big Ten ones.  GO BIG TEN!  Here's to hoping "our boys" will silence the haters out there by whooping up on bowl opponents!