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. — It's not a matter of which bowl game the Wisconsin football team will play in to close out the 2016 season, but who the opponent will be.
That's the takeaway from looking at the latest projections compiled by the various national outlets.
Most have fifth-ranked UW (9-2 overall) playing in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Jan. 2.
That's based on the general expectation that the Badgers will win Big Ten Conference title, a path clearly defined over the next two weekends, but not qualify for the College Football Playoff semifinals. They were sixth in the latest CFP rankings released Tuesday.
UW, currently 6-2 in league play, would win the West Division outright with a victory over Minnesota on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
Wisconsin would also advance in the event there's a four-way tie with Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska, all with 6-3 records. That would come to life if the Gophers pull off the upset in Madison and Iowa knocks off the Cornhuskers on Friday in Iowa City.
The Badgers would face either Michigan, Ohio State or Penn State in the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 3 in Indianapolis.
CBS Sports, ESPN and Sports Illustrated are among those with Wisconsin making its 10th appearance in the Rose Bowl, but they forecast different opponents out of the Pac-12 Conference.
CBS' Jerry Palm has Utah (8-3). The Utes faced Wisconsin in the Copper Bowl in 1996 and lost 38-10.
ESPN college football reporters Mark Schlabach and Brett McMurphy have Southern California (8-3). It would be a rematch of the 2015 Holiday Bowl, won by the Badgers 23-21, as well as Rose Bowl meetings in 1953 and '63. The Trojans won both 7-0 and 42-37, respectively.
Sports Illustrated opted for Colorado (9-2). The last meeting between the schools was the Alamo Bowl in 2002. The Badgers prevailed 31-28 in overtime. The Sporting News also has Wisconsin facing Colorado in the Rose Bowl.
If you want an outlier, Bleacher Report tabs the Badgers as a CFP semifinalist, taking on Alabama in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta on Dec. 31. SB Nation also has the Badgers facing Western Michigan (11-0) in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, on Jan. 2.
For complete details on potential bowl destinations, ticket information and travel packages, be sure to check out UWBowlCentral.com.
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