The Big Ten never has a lack of bowls available for its teams. So as IU continues to hover around the .500 mark, a bowl game remains a realistic possibility. In fact, ESPN's Bruce Feldman projects IU to play in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (formerly Motor City Bowl) in Detroit (updated projections were released today).
It might be key for the Hoosiers to have two Big Ten teams take spots in BCS bowl games. If Penn State and Iowa (Ohio State is likely out) can stay in the BCS picture and fill a spot in a non-Big Ten BCS bowl (Fiesta Bowl, for example), the trickle-down effect means an extra bowl is available to the rest of the conference. Currently Northwestern and IU are tied for that final spot.
Therefore, this week's game against Northwestern will have drastic bowl implications for the Hoosiers. That is, if IU can win one other game through the rest of its schedule.
What are your thoughts? Does any team, much less IU, belong in a bowl after finishing at or just above .500? Does IU deserve to play in a bowl? We always see the arguments for a college football playoff, but what about the system that has bowl games set up for very average teams?
