Each week leading up to the announcement of the Badgers' bowl destination on Dec. 8, 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. — Those attempting to predict Wisconsin's 18th consecutive bowl assignment are focusing on one familiar state and two well-known locations.
But those same forecasters offer options when it comes to projecting who the Badgers will face, including one eye-catching prediction that weighs heavily on future schedules.
The projections come the same week Wisconsin found itself rated 13th in the first College Football Playoff ranking of the season. The Badgers have two losses but the selection committee sees them as the third-best team in the Big Ten Conference behind top-rated and unbeaten Ohio State and fourth-ranked and unbeaten Penn State.
Wisconsin (6-2 overall, 3-2 in the Big Ten) is situated four spots ahead of Minnesota (8-0, 5-0) and five ahead of Iowa (6-2, 3-2) in the initial CFP assessment.
Some clarity on that front is expected Saturday when UW hosts the Hawkeyes at Camp Randall Stadium and Penn State plays at Minnesota.
For now, bowl forecasters have the Badgers playing in either the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, or the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. The Citrus is scheduled for Jan. 1 at noon. The Gator is slated for Jan. 2 at 6 p.m.
Wisconsin has had 30 bowl assignments since 1952 and 11 have taken place in Florida. It's never appeared in Jacksonville, but it's played in Orlando five times.
Sports Illustrated and The Athletic are among the entities that project the Badgers in the Gator Bowl. SI has them playing Texas A&M from the Southeastern Conference, while The Athletic predicts Kentucky of the SEC will be the opponent.
Multiple outlets that have Wisconsin in the Citrus Bowl have Auburn of the SEC as the opponent. However, Yahoo Sports has Notre Dame, an independent, as the matchup.
The Badgers have played the Irish 16 times, but not since 1964. The schools are scheduled to face one another next season at Lambeau Field in Green Bay and in 2021 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Additional Links:
