B1G Confidence: Ranking conference teams most likely to win their bowl games

The end of the college football regular season is devastating to any number of people. The mascot head enthusiasts, Imagine Dragon fans, and my wagering brethren all hit a emotional lull that no buildup to Army vs. Navy and the Heisman Trophy presentation can satiate.

We cope through any number of efforts, including a forecast of the bowl games. All one-and-done types, don’t worry about your favorite team playing one more game after the initial bowl. Here in the B1G we like a tidy finale, no loose ends with the possibility of a championship game looming.

There are nine bowl games involving B1G teams. Here is my confidence (from least to most likely) of who will defend the honor of Rutgers, Illinois, and the rest of the conference’s unfortunate.

1. 1. Michigan State vs. Oregon: I put too much stock in the directions of programs when it comes to bowl games. It’s a weird time of the year, who wants to play, who wants to forgo the game in favor of the draft. Those sorts of questions pop up time and time again. Oregon enthusiasm is high under first year head coach Mario Cristobal. Michigan State slogged through an uneventful 7-5 season. Michigan State struggles in pass defense, disturbingly ranked 64 nationally in a conference without many superior passing offenses. Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert lights up the Spartans.
   2. Iowa vs. Mississippi State: Tight End Noah Fant chose to sit out the game against the Bulldogs. Folks could argue that Iowa Offensive Coordinator Brian Ferentz and quarterback Nate Stanley made that decision several weeks ago as the Fant averages two receptions per game over the last four weeks of conference play.
   3. Purdue vs. Auburn: Jeff Brohm is back and morale hasn’t been this high in West Lafayette since Tate and Lyle ceased production for a day. Purdue will struggle to stop Auburn on offense in an exciting game.
   4. Northwestern vs. Utah: The Utes have a little more balance to their offense than Northwestern. The Wildcats will struggle to score on a defense that allowed an average of just under 19 points per game.
   5. Wisconsin vs. Miami: The rematch of last year’s Orange Bowl where Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst won the admiration of every crewneck dad with his summation of Miami’s Turnover Chain lacks the buzz and energy from last year’s game as both programs are one land mass of overwhelming disappointment. Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook failed to stay on the field, forcing defenses to keep everyone short of their assistant quality control manager to skill position players in the box to dismantle running back Jonathan Taylor and limit his rushing yards.  
   6. Penn State vs. Kentucky: Call the debate between the SEC and B1G over, Mike Locksley is back at Maryland! Now that I’ve performed my obligatory enthusiasm for the conference’s newest hire, we can end any debate between the conferences. Not a debate, but more of a great divide. I have irrational enthusiasm for Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley and overvalue his ability to generate offense outside of games against Michigan State. Kentucky’s Bennie Snell Jr., is a haul to take down at running back but McSorley ends up with the ball in his hands at the end of the game and leads the Nittany Lions on a game-winning drive.
   7. Michigan vs. Florida: Michigan claims a small semblance of redemption (in the mind of the program) to cap off a season with thwarted expectations.
   8. Minnesota vs. Georgia Tech:  FAPJ! Farewell Already Paul Johnson is (probably) next in the line of hokie catchphrases and dudeness that Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck will use as a rallying cry to broadcast on social media and emblazon on the team’s uniform. Minnesota has too much time to prepare for an option team. As much as I’d like Johnson, the triple-option aficionado and nick-named Dollar General Steve Spurrier who along with Duke’s David Cutcliffe and Spurrier could form the college football version of the Highwaymen, and Georgia Tech to amass 300 rushing yards in his final game as head coach, his 5-7 record in bowl games gives me little faith in Tech’s ability to beat Minnesota.
   9. Ohio State vs. Washington: I don’t expect Urban Meyer to come out a loser in his last game. An 11-3 overall record in bowl games is too much to pass up. Meyer is one of the few coaches whose name alone guarantees my confidence in picking his team in a bowl game. He’s too good with an entire month to prepare. Conference redemption starts and ends with the Buckeyes, who along with the rest of the B1G will have plenty of time to nurse their injuries in front of the television for the national championship game.