Each week leading up to the announcement of the Badgers' bowl destination on Dec. 4, 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. — The latest bowl projections involving the Wisconsin football team are sure to raise some eyebrows across the country.
One has UW making its first appearance in the College Football Playoff.
Another has the Badgers making their 10th appearance in the Rose Bowl.
Both are good possibilities after the CFP committee, which includes Wisconsin Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez, released its rankings Tuesday that had UW slotted seventh for the second-consecutive week.
The Badgers head into their Big Ten Conference assignment at Purdue on Saturday ranked sixth in the Associated Press poll with reason to feel good about their place in the college football universe.
Wisconsin (8-2 overall, 5-2 in league play) has won four straight overall, 10 straight vs. the Boilermakers (3-7, 1-6) and controls its path in the race to represent the West Division in the Big Ten title game on Dec. 3 in Indianapolis.
The Badgers own the head-to-head tiebreaker with West Division co-leader Nebraska (8-2, 5-2) and host Minnesota (7-3, 4-3) at Camp Randall Stadium in the regular-season finale on Nov. 26.
If Wisconsin takes care of its business, it will face either one of three East Division co-leaders — Michigan, Ohio State or Penn State — for the Big Ten title.
Using that scenario, Stewart Mandel of FOX Sports boldly projects the Badgers will knock off Penn State, finish 11-2 overall and earn the fourth seed in the third annual CFP bracket.
Their reward: A matchup with top seed and defending national champion Alabama, currently 10-0, in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta on New Year's Eve.
Two other prominent forecasters, CBS Sports and College Football Talk, have Wisconsin facing Utah, currently 8-2 overall, in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Jan. 2.
This matchup projects the Badgers would win the Big Ten title but fail to qualify for the CFP.
The Rose Bowl, where UW appeared in 1953, '60, '63, '94, '99, 2000, '11, '12 and '13, would be an extremely nice consolation prize.
For complete details on potential bowl destinations, ticket information and travel packages, be sure to check out UWBowlCentral.com.
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