Are the Gophers headed back to the Texas Bowl?
By Frank Bi
Nov 30, 2013; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive tackle Devyn Salmon (55) celebrates the win after a game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
The latest bowl projections are out, a day following a wild weekend in college football. As for the Gophers, who lost to Michigan State on Saturday, 14-3, their shot at playing a bowl game in the New Year took a significant hit with their fourth loss.
Minnesota could very well end up in the same bowl game they played in last year — the Texas Bowl formerly the Meineke Care Care Bowl of Texas. The bowl would pit a Big Ten and Big 12 team against each other on Dec. 27 with the Gophers possibly matching up against the 7-5 Kansas State Wildcats.
While Minnesota fans will continue to hold their breath for a Gator Bowl bid, Michigan’s near win against Ohio State will probably be enough for them to squeeze past Minnesota for the New Year’s game in Jacksonville.
As for the Capital One Bowl, Wisconsin is looking like the favorite, despite losing to Penn State. The loss took them out of BCS Bowl contention, but their 9-3 record is good enough for a trip to Orlando.
The biggest winner of the weekend might be Michigan State, who benefited from Alabama’s loss to Auburn. The Spartans are looking good to return to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1988.