Regardless of the result of the Illinois football game this upcoming Saturday, the Illini will be going to a bowl game this season.
That is the first I have been able to say that in a very long time. The wait was worth it because I am extremely excited to see the Orange and Blue go up against another tough team from another conference for a game that is in the postseason. But what bowl will the Illini be heading to this season?
The answer is going to be revealed here in the next couple of weeks, but let’s take a guess on how the bowl landscape will play out for the Big Ten.
Ohio State is going to be in the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes wouldn’t take a spot in the Rose Bowl since it is just part of the New Year’s Day bowl games and not the College Football Playoff.
The next bowl would be the Rose Bowl where the Big Ten is traditionally matched up against either the Pac 12, according to an article by collegefootballnews.com. I have this game going to Wisconsin after they beat Minnesota this upcoming weekend. I believe that game will determine who goes to the Rose Bowl.
The next bowl would potentially be the Citrus Bowl. Last season this game featured Penn State falling to Kentucky. I think Minnesota is going to get the nod this season, though. They have had a good run that will be rewarded with a good bowl game.
Penn State is the next in line for a bowl game. I have the Nittany Lions heading to the Outback Bowl. In three of the last six years, this game has featured Iowa with the Hawkeyes winning it last season. But I think Penn State is fit for this bowl game. They should be a good representation of the conference against a likely SEC opponent such as Auburn.
I will be curious to see who ends up getting slotted in the Holiday Bowl. Last year it was Northwestern who took this spot being Utah 31-20. But I think Michigan will take over this spot this year. They have had a solid run but aren’t at the top of the Big Ten.
Iowa has been another tough Big Ten team this season. I believe they will end up in the Gator Bowl. This bowl featured SEC vs. ACC last year, but it has featured the Big Ten in the past. I think the Hawkeyes are a perfect candidate to play in this solid bowl game. They should be able to hold their own.
Last season, the Redbox Bowl featured Oregon and Michigan State. The Ducks narrowly won 7-6, but I think the Big Ten sends another team out to California. This time I have the Indiana Hoosiers making the trip out there. This would be a good experience for the Hoosiers. Their bowl situation is similar to Illinois’.
I think the final week of the season will help determine the final two bowl games. Illinois should be able to get the Quick Lane Bowl which features a team from the Big Ten against a team from the ACC. It would be between Illinois and Indiana for this bowl game. I think the Illini would be best suited for this bowl game considering how well the fanbase would travel. I would imagine the house would be packed Orange and Blue.