Bowl Buzz: Roses or Citrus? Badgers’ future in their hands
November 28, 2019 | Football, Andy Baggot, Bowl Central
Minnesota game instrumental in determining bowl path for Wisconsin
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.
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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, a strong consensus has formed regarding a bowl destination for the Wisconsin football team.
The No. 13 Badgers theoretically remain in the mix for a berth in the College Football Playoff as well as the Rose Bowl. Those possibilities will either be enhanced or vanish completely depending on what happens Saturday when they face Big Ten Conference rival Minnesota in Minneapolis.
If Wisconsin (9-2 overall, 6-2 in the Big Ten) wins, it will represent the West Division in the conference championship game opposite East winner Ohio State, which is 11-0 overall and 8-0 in league play entering its game with Michigan.
Should the Badgers fall at TCF Bank Stadium in the duel for Paul Bunyan's Axe, their bowl status would definitely level off, giving the Gophers (10-1, 7-1) the inside track to their first Rose Bowl since 1961.
Steady as we go. #OnWisconsin
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) November 26, 2019
At the moment, most bowl forecasters have Wisconsin locked into the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1 in Orlando, Florida. Most of the predictions have Auburn as the opponent, although CBS Sports has Florida as the opposition.
While the Badgers have met Auburn three times in bowl games, including once in the Citrus after the 2005 season, they've never faced Florida.
Two other possibilities were floated — Mark Schlabach of ESPN projects Wisconsin will be matched against Utah in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 in Pasadena, California, while Brett McMurphy of Stadium College Sports has the Badgers slotted opposite Tennessee in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2 in Jacksonville, Florida.
