Northwestern headed to the Sunshine State

A quick late-night 'Cats bite:

With today's 33-31 win over No. 16 Wisconsin, Northwestern has ensured itself no worse than the No. 5 slot in the Big Ten's cavalcade of bowls.

Since most BCS-watching people are assuming the Big Ten will earn its usual at-large BCS bid, then Northwestern and Wisconsin are fighting over the Outback Bowl in Tampa (Jan. 1) and the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando (Dec. 29).

The only way the Big Ten doesn't get a second BCS bid is if Texas gets upset in the Big 12 title game. And even if that happens, I'm guessing the BCS people would rather have a Big Ten team than an undefeated Boise State squad (if it came to that).

Anyway, here's the projected shakedown:

1) Big Ten official BCS berth: Ohio State (10-2, 7-1)
2) Big Ten at-large berth: Iowa (10-2, 6-2) or Penn State (10-2, 6-2).
3) Capital One: Loser of the Iowa/Penn State taffypull.
4) Outback: Wisconsin (8-3, 5-3) or Northwestern (8-4, 5-3). The Badgers finish their regular season at Hawaii on Dec. 5. This would be the Badgers' sixth consecutive Florida bowl.
5) Champs Sports: Loser of the Wisky/NU imbroglio.
6) Alamo: Michigan State (6-6, 4-4) or Minnesota (6-6, 3-5). (Hint: It'll be MSU).
7) Insight: Minnesota

If the Big Ten doesn't get the second BCS bid, then shove everybody down a notch. That means Northwestern and Wisconsin would fight for the Champs Sports bowl. Considering the Badgers have gone to Orlando three of the last four seasons, NU has to be a heavy favorite to get Champs.

It would also do the Alamo Bowl a favor since Northwestern went there last year.

LW