B1G bowl projections after Week 8: Could league get 3 in NYD6?

Usually when Big Ten fans talk about The Shoe, they mean Ohio Stadium, a k a “The Horseshoe.”

But now the conversation revolves around the shoe throw heard ’round college football. In Florida’s shocking loss to LSU on Saturday, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Gators — when Marco Wilson threw an LSU player’s shoe — helped the Tigers win.

What does this have to do with the B1G? Because it brings up the possibility of 3 B1G teams in the New Year’s Day 6.

We will find out on Tuesday how badly the College Football Playoff voters punish Florida, ranked No. 6, for the inexplicable loss. It certainly helps Buckeyes fans breathe a little easier with their 4th-ranked team sitting on just 5 wins. But Florida’s drop could also help bring No. 14 Northwestern into consideration for a major bowl even if the Wildcats lose to Ohio State in Saturday’s B1G Championship Game.

Bottom line, a close loss could help boost Northwestern’s case that they belong in 1 of the 6 major bowls (we think Indiana is in as well). Will it happen? We are projecting not. We think NU won’t move up enough this week and that even a close loss to the Buckeyes would leave the Wildcats on the outside looking in. But it’s worth pondering.

Here are the latest B1G bowl projections:

Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Clemson

Fiesta Bowl: Indiana vs. USC

Citrus Bowl: Northwestern vs. Florida

Outback Bowl: Iowa vs. Missouri

Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Minnesota vs. North Carolina State

Music City Bowl: Penn State vs. Tennessee

Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Michigan vs. West Virginia

Jim Tomlin

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