Each week leading up to the announcement of the Badgers' bowl destination on Dec. 6, Andy Baggot will take a look at one of Wisconsin's potential destinations. More information is available at UWBowlCentral.com.
 |
|
BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. -- Now that the Wisconsin football team has qualified for a bowl assignment for the 14th-consecutive season – the longest streak in the Big Ten Conference – a guessing game has come to life:
Where will the Badgers go bowling and who will they play?
The Big Ten has contractual agreements with 10 bowls, including the College Football Playoff, which seeds the top four teams in the nation as determined by a 12-member selection committee. One of the committee members is Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez.
The CFP isn't an option for the Badgers, who are 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten West Division heading into their annual rivalry game with Minnesota (5-6, 2-5) Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Of the nine remaining bowl possibilities, one is off-limits to Wisconsin. Because they played in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida, last January, knocking off Auburn 33-30 in overtime, the Badgers can't play there again this year.
That leaves the following options:
• Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl, Jan. 1, Orlando, Florida
• Holiday Bowl, Dec. 30, San Diego, California
• Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, Dec. 30, Nashville, Tennessee
• Taxslayer Bowl, Jan. 2, Jacksonville, Florida
• New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Dec. 26, New York, New York
• Foster Farms Bowl, Dec. 26, Santa Clara, California
• Quick Lane Bowl, Dec. 28, Detroit, Michigan
• Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Dec. 29, Fort Worth, Texas
Multiple national media outlets offer weekly predictions on bowl matchups. Entering the final week of the regular season, Jerry Palm of CBS Sports projects the Badgers will face unranked Utah (8-3, 5-3 in the Pac-12 Conference) in the Holiday Bowl. That's the same destination forecast last week by ESPN only its matchup called for Wisconsin to face Oregon.
With Michigan State beating Ohio State last Saturday and Iowa clinching the Big Ten West Division, all signs point to a Spartans-Hawkeyes clash in Indianapolis for the Big Ten title. The winner of that game would presumably go to the CFP with the loser going to the Rose Bowl.Â
Most bowl projections also have the winner of the Ohio State-Michigan game earning a New Year's Six bowl invitation with the loser heading to the Citrus Bowl. That then leaves the Outback Bowl for Northwestern.
Headline: Badgers face Utah in Holiday Bowl debut.
Pertinent details: Kickoff at 9:30 p.m. (CST) at Qualcomm Stadium. ESPN will televise.
Website: www.sandiegobowlgames.com.
Series: Wisconsin has faced the Utes three times dating back to 1961 and is 2-1. The last meeting took place in the 1996 Copper Bowl in Tucson, Arizona. Tailback Ron Dayne finished off his record-setting freshman season with the Badgers by rushing for 246 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-10 victory.
Personal note: This matchup would have had much greater appeal had Gary Andersen stayed on as coach of the Badgers instead of leaving for Oregon State after last season. Andersen and Utah coach Kyle Whittingham are close friends and former colleagues. Andersen was Whittingham's defensive coordinator and assistant head coach from 2005 to '08.
Key matchup: You probably couldn't ask for a more even pairing in terms of offense. Utah began the week ranked 79th in the nation in total offense, averaging 381.6 yards per game. The Badgers, meanwhile, were 81st with an average of 381.1 yards per outing. The Utes have amassed 4,198 yards of offense compared to 4,192 for Wisconsin.
Wow factor: While Wisconsin hasn't defeated a team with a winning record this season, the Utes have wins vs. Michigan (9-2), Oregon (8-3), Arizona State, (6-5), California (6-5) and Utah State (6-5).?
Final thought: The matchup would highlight the health of two star-crossed running backs. Devontae Booker, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher for Utah, underwent knee surgery after a loss to Arizona on Nov. 14 and reports say he could be back in time for a bowl. Meanwhile, Wisconsin junior Corey Clement will look to be completely healthy after sports hernia surgery on Oct. 1 tampered with his effectiveness all season.Â
For complete details on potential bowl destinations, ticket information and travel packages, be sure to check out UWBowlCentral.com.
