On “Conference Championship Saturday,” the Wisconsin Badgers
dream season came to a halt. They entered the Big Ten title game unbeaten,
taking on Ohio State, a team that already had two losses on the year. After an
injury scare the week before, Buckeye quarterback and NFL draft prospect J.T.
Barrett was deemed fit to play, and he certainly did. He wasn’t great, but he
did just enough. The Buckeyes got a big night from running back J.K. Dobbins,
to the tune of 17 carries for 174 yards with a long of 77. The same question
that always haunts the Badgers is the same question that took them out of the
college football playoff in this game- They pad their record against inferior
opponents, and every time (or almost every time,) they play a good team, they
wind up losing. That was the case again this time. The Badgers then missed out
on the college football playoff, and will play in the Orange Bowl on December
30 against Miami. The question that faces the Badgers is the same
question that they always face when they step outside of conference to play a
team in Florida, the SEC, or a California-based PAC-12 team. Do they have
enough speed as a team to keep up with their opponent?
Final Score: 34-27 Miami.
Let’s take a look at the other Big Ten bowl games.
Pinstripe Bowl - Iowa vs. Boston College
Another year, and another solid season for the Hawkeyes, who
finished 7-5. Boston College, after an abysmal 2016 campaign, came back from
the dead this season, finishing 7-5. It should be a low scoring, but solid
game.
Final Score: 20-16 Iowa.
Holiday Bowl, - Michigan State vs. Washington State
Man, these Holiday Bowl matchups are always so much fun, and
this edition will be no different. In this one we have the powerhouse
Washington State offense vs the mighty Spartan defense. Who budges first?
Final Score: 27-24 Michigan State
Music City Bowl - Northwestern vs. Kentucky
Of all of the Big Ten bowl games, this one should be one of
the least interesting. This is one of Pat Fitzgerald’s best Northwestern teams
ever, and it features a quarterback draft prospect named Clayton Thorson who
has come flying out of nowhere to a potential first round projection.
Final Score: 34-17 Northwestern
Cotton Bowl, USC vs. Ohio State
This game is going to be a classic. The top overall prospect
on the board, USC quarterback Sam Darnold goes up against Ohio State. J.T.
Barrett isn’t too shabby in his own right, and this game will give him an
opportunity build his own draft stock.
Final Score: 31-28 USC
Fiesta Bowl - Washington
vs. Penn State
This is going to be another classic. Washington quarterback
Jake Browning, another in this loaded quarterback draft class, gets one more
chance to improve his draft stock against Penn State, who features the best
running back in the country, Saquon Barkley, who is currently projected to go
second in the draft behind USC’s Sam Darnold.
Final Score: 30-24 Washington
Outback Bowl, Michigan vs. South Carolina
Simply put, these two teams are going to beat each other
into an oblivion in this game, and points will be at a premium.
