B1G Bowl Projections, Week 12: Showdowns abound

The biggest matchup in the Big Ten this season is the Big Game.

Michigan at Ohio State. Noon ET Saturday in Columbus. Winner captures the B1G East Division, books a place in the conference championship game in Indianapolis and keeps its College Football Playoff hopes alive.

That’s all.

The Buckeyes barely kept all of that alive by surviving Maryland in overtime on Saturday. The Wolverines struggled as well but played just well enough to top Indiana.

The Terrapins and Hoosiers could have become bowl eligible by pulling off an upset. Instead, Maryland has to beat Penn State on the road to get that sixth win. Indiana has one more shot against Purdue, which is also 5-6. The Boilermakers and Hoosiers will not only meet for the Old Oaken Bucket in Bloomington, they’ll also be participating in a de facto loser-leave-town match because only the winner reaches the postseason.

Minnesota also failed to hit the six-win mark and, at 5-6, faces a tall task in trying to do so this week against Wisconsin. Illinois (4-7) got blown out by Iowa, confirming that the Fighting Illini will be staying home during bowl season.

Now, check out this week’s projections:

Jim Tomlin

Longtime newspaper veteran Jim Tomlin is a writer and editor for saturdaytradition.com and saturdaydownsouth.com.