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Wisconsin Football Bowl Projections

By Paul Bretl

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 30: The Wisconsin Badgers celebrate defeating the Minnesota Golden Gophers with the Paul Bunyan Football Trophy in the game at TCF Bank Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Badgers defeated the Golden Gophers 38-17. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 30: The Wisconsin Badgers celebrate defeating the Minnesota Golden Gophers with the Paul Bunyan Football Trophy in the game at TCF Bank Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Badgers defeated the Golden Gophers 38-17. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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After knocking off Minnesota to claim the Big Ten West Title, let’s see what bowl some of the college football experts have this Wisconsin Football program playing in.

It’s been a bit of a roller coaster season for the Wisconsin Football program. The season started off on a tremendous high as they were 6-0, which included four shutouts by the defense, and they were ranked sixth nationally. However after that fast start, the low point in the season would hit as the Badgers lost back-to-back games to Illinois and Ohio State, which put them two games behind Minnesota in the Big Ten West with just four games to play.

But now having won those final four games, including a convincing win over the Gophers, along with some help from Iowa, the Badgers are Big Ten West Champs once again and will have a rematch with Ohio State for the Big Ten Title. Not to mention that they jumped up to the #8 spot in the latest College Football Playoff rankings.

Certainly pulling off the upset over Ohio State is a long shot, but for argument sake, if Wisconsin does win and depending on what happens in a few other games, could they crash the College Football Playoff party?

Although that outcome may not be likely, we can still hold on to that sliver of hope as we watch the Big Ten Championship. However, not to spoil anything but as I’m sure you expected, none of the bowl projections below have the Wisconsin football team in the College Football Playoffs. But, I do smell roses.

Brad Crawford – 247 Sports

Rose Bowl 

Wisconsin v. Oregon

"“If Utah wins the Pac-12 and is invited to the final four, that means Oregon will represent the league in the Rose Bowl at 10-3 overall against the Big Ten runner-up Wisconsin. Penn State could play here if the Nittany Lions finish ranked above the Badgers in the final committee rankings. It’s not a longshot to believe that could happen should Wisconsin lose by several touchdowns to the Buckeyes in Indianapolis.”"

Kerry Miller – Bleacher Report

Rose Bowl

Wisconsin v. Utah

"“If we assume Ohio State beats Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship, the race for the Big Ten’s spot in the Rose Bowl will be one of the most intriguing debates on Selection Sunday.Aside from the Buckeyes, the Badgers are currently the highest-ranked Big Ten team. Factor in their division title, and they would certainly be the choice as of today. But if the Buckeyes stomp them by a 38-7 margin for the second time this season, would it knock the Badgers behind Penn State and down to the Orange Bowl? Might it be enough to drop them out of the Top 10 altogether, falling to the Citrus Bowl while promoting Florida to the Orange Bowl and Auburn to the Cotton Bowl?Conversely, if Wisconsin pulls off the upset, would it be enough for the Badgers to vault into the Top Four? Would it be Ohio State who drops out to make room for Wisconsin, or would a two-loss Big Ten champion and its one-loss runner-up finish ahead of both 12-1 Oklahoma and 12-1 Utah?Either way, the Big Ten title game is going to produce a tough decision for the CFP selection committee.”"

Jerry Palm – CBS Sports

Rose Bowl

Wisconsin v. Oregon

"“The current projection has Wisconsin and Penn State ahead of both Florida and Alabama this week and even after Wisconsin loses to Ohio State, perhaps even if the Badgers lose badly again. The committee has a history of being kind to championship game losers, and after all, Ohio State does beat everyone badly these days.”"

Mark Schlabach – ESPN

Vrbo Citrus Bowl

Wisconsin v. Auburn

This is the one projection that does not have Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. With Ohio State going to the College Football Playoff with a win, typically the next highest ranked Big Ten team would head to Pasadena. Currently the Badgers are ranked 8th and Penn State is 10th, so Mark must feel that a Wisconsin loss will drop them below the Nittany Lions in the rankings. In turn sending Penn State to the Rose Bowl.

Next. Badgers have nothing to lose against Ohio State. dark

Without a head-to-head matchup this season between Wisconsin and Penn State, the decision will be at the mercy of the Playoff Committee and whatever criteria they deem worthy of determining who will play in the Rose Bowl. But is it fair to penalize a Badger team that played an extra game against the #1 ranked team in the country? I don’t think so, but we will see how it all shakes out.

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