Big Ten and the BCS

The college football bowl games have all been announced, and for a "weak" football conference, the Big Ten somehow managed to snag eight bids, two in vaunted BCS bowls. Someone out there must think these schools can at least draw fans, which would be more than anyone down here in SEC country would give them credit for.

Unfortunately, although I'm overjoyed at seeing Indiana listed on the slate, I think the Big Ten got some tough matchups, perhaps sneaking into games they shouldn't have been invited to. And I'm not talking about Ohio State getting into the BCS title game.

Here are my breakdowns of the bowl games featuring Big Ten teams:

Motor City Bowl, Detroit
PURDUE (7-4) vs. Central Michigan (8-5) - Dec. 26
Central Michigan is one of the hottest teams in the country right now, having gone from a 4-4, totally average team to an 8-5 conference champion. Purdue, on the other hand, started 5-0, only to finish 7-5. Two teams moving in different directions, and the Big Ten has a habit of getting upset by the Mac. Still, I've got to go with the Boilers here. After such an awful ending to the season (getting beat by IU for only the second time in ten years), I think Purdue bounces back and comes ready to play. Besides, with over a month between games, they have enough time to heal and get a gameplan together. Advantage: Big Ten

Champs Sports Bowl, Orlando
No. 14 Boston College (10-3) vs. MICHIGAN ST. (7-5) - Dec. 28
This is one of several severe mismatches for the Big Ten. Boston College would've probably been in the national title talks if they hadn't lost their conference championship to Virginia Tech. Now, they get dropped to a late December game against a bottom-feeding Big Ten team? Who knows what the first-year Michigan State coach will pull out, but I'd guess it won't be enough to slow down Matt Ryan. This could be an upset special, but I wouldn't put my own money against BC. Disadvantage: Big Ten

Valero Alamo Bowl, San Antonio
PENN STATE (8-4) vs. Texas A&M (7-5) - Dec. 29
This is pretty much a home game for A&M, but I think that's balanced out by the fact that they'll be coached by an interim head coach, which is never easy. Both teams have been totally schizophrenic this year. They've managed a few upsets, but have also dropped some easy ones. It will totally depend on who comes to play, but I think JoePa can get his boys ready in time to steal one in the lone star state. When it comes down to two evenly matched teams, go with the better defense, and that's Penn State. Advantage: Big Ten

Insight Bowl, Tempe
INDIANA (7-5) vs. Oklahoma State (6-6) - Dec. 31
Not only is Indiana back in a bowl for the first time since my brother-in-law played for them, but they're actually matched up against a team with a worse record? I can barely believe it. Both teams are very average teams, but Indiana has the more explosive offense, led by exciting (but turnover prone) QB Kellen Wilson and soon-to-be first-round draft pick, WR James Hardy. It's entirely possible that IU blew its emotional on the Purdue game and won't come to this one with a lot of fire. Instead, I'm hoping Terry Hoeppner's inspiration still burns and they come out with some heat. I'm picking with my heart and going for IU. Advantage: Big Ten

Outback Bowl, Tampa
No. 18 WISCONSIN (9-3) vs. No. 16 Tennessee (9-4) - Jan. 1
This one's a tough one. Wisconsin's young, and not really that spectacular. But Tennessee's been so hot and cold, you just can't predict with Volunteers team will show up. The Vols have a senior QB, but that senior's name is Erik Ainge, so that doesn't count for much. I trust the ball control offense of the Badgers much more than I do the erratic offense of the Vols, even if Tennessee has more experience and more speed. I think this will be a low-scoring, ugly game, and I'm giving the win to Wisconsin. Advantage: Big Ten

Capital One Bowl, Orlando
MICHIGAN (8-4) vs. No. 12 Florida (9-3) - Jan. 1
This is the first of two lopsided, New Year's Day mismatches for Big Ten teams. Totally healthy, Michigan should be one of the best teams in the nation. But they somehow find a way to suck even when their skill players are all on the field. Michigan's Mike Hart is the real deal at RB, but senior QB Chad Henne went from being a Heisman hopeful to one of the most disappointing players in the conference. Match that underachieving offense against soon-to-be Heisman winner Tim Tebow, who's broken every SEC record in existence, and you have a recipe for awfulness. This game will be one that SEC fans use to show how much better the SEC is than the Big Ten, but in reality, this is just stupid scheduling. Florida should be playing Illinois, which would give the press the whole Ron Zook thing to sieze on. And Michigan should be playing someone middle-of-the-pack like Auburn. There's always the chance that the Wolverines will play hard for outgoing coach Lloyd Carr, and their outgoing seniors. But I don't see them pulling out an upset in Florida's backyard. Disadvantage: Big Ten

Rose Bowl, Pasadena
No. 13 ILLINOIS (9-3) vs. No. 7 USC (10-2) - Jan. 1
And the matchups keep getting worse. Illinois has some decent talent, but USC is TOO talented. And they also happen to be clicking on all cylinders for the first time this year. Remember when they were considered a shoe-in for the national title game? Well, that's the team that showed up for their last three games, not the team that got beat by Stanford. If this ends up being a two-score game, I'll consider it a moral victory. Disadvantage: Big Ten

Allstate BCS Championship Game, New Orleans
No. 2 LSU (11-2) vs. No. 1 OHIO STATE (11-1) - Jan. 7
The funny thing about this matchup is that when Ohio State was undefeated and number one a few weeks ago, everyone kept talking about who they'd match up against in the final game, and several analysts though LSU would be the easiest top-rated team for them to play. Most of the other contenders ran some form of spread offense, or at least had a mobile QB. But LSU plays more of a power running game, which is perfect for a Big Ten team. I think Ohio State has a much better chance in this game than they did against Florida last year, which is strange, since OSU had almost a half-dozen first rounders on last year's team. To me, this is the most important Big Ten game of the year. Even more important if Illinois and Michigan both get crushed. If Ohio State wins, people have to shut up at least a little about the weakness of the Big Ten in comparison to the SEC. But if OSU loses, especially if they get blown out, everyone will just talk about weak strength of schedule and how they didn't even deserve to get into this game in the first place. So here's to hoping Jim Tressel pulls out all the stops and the Buckeyes leave it all on the field in their search for redemption. I don't even want to live in Atlanta anymore if the Big Ten loses their three top bowl games, two of them to SEC teams. It's bad enough listening to sports radio as it is. I'm picking Ohio State because I HAVE to pick Ohio State. Every Big Ten fan in the nation should be rooting for the Buckeyes right now. Advantage: Big Ten

So the total, the way I see it, is 5-3 for the Big Ten, and that's after giving them wins in at least two "you pick 'em" games. There's not a lot of margin for error if the Big Ten wants to come out ahead in their postseason bowl record this year. But if every team comes to play, we could get a couple nice wins against the SEC and Big 12, and could redeem ourselves just a little bit in the national picture.

Go IU, Go Big Ten!