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. — The Wisconsin football team is in a fairly predictable place when it comes to its postseason life.
UW keeps winning, keeps moving up in the weekly polls and keeps impressing members of the College Football Playoff committee.
On the heels of a third consecutive Big Ten Conference victory, the Badgers are not only seventh in the weekly Associated Press and Amway coaches' rankings, they are seventh in the second edition of the CFP ratings released Tuesday.
Given those parameters, Wisconsin (7-2 overall) is projected to play in one of the six prime bowl games scheduled on or around New Year's Day.
Most major media outlets — CBS, Fox Sports, The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated — have the Badgers playing Louisville (8-1) in the Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, on Dec. 30. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Madison time.
One ESPN reporter, Brett McMurphy, is also forecasting that matchup pitting the Big Ten vs. the Atlantic Coast Conference.
There's one outlier and he has an eye-catching proposition.
Another ESPN reporter, Mark Schlabach, has the Badgers meeting Arkansas (6-3) in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida, on Jan. 2. Kickoff is noon Madison time.
That projection is a nod to the idea that UW will stumble over its next three regular-season games — either Illinois on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium, at Purdue on Nov. 19, or Minnesota at Camp Randall on Nov. 26 — and tumble in the bowl pecking order for Big Ten teams.
The pairing by Schlabach would get a lot of attention, though.
Wisconsin would face a Razorbacks outfit coached by Bret Bielema, whose time in Madison was memorable.
He coached the Badgers from 2006 to '12, compiling a 68-24 record while winning three consecutive Big Ten championships from 2010 to '12.
Bielema abruptly left UW for Arkansas in December of 2012 and was ultimately replaced as coach by Gary Andersen.
Two years later, Andersen left Madison for Oregon State. His replacement, Paul Chryst, worked as offensive coordinator under Bielema from 2006 to '11.
For complete details on potential bowl destinations, ticket information and travel packages, be sure to check out UWBowlCentral.com.
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