Preseason Bowl Projections
Bowl Projections (Preseason)
Phil Steele– Wisconsin vs. LSU
Jerry Palm– Wisconsin vs. South Carolina
SB Nation– Wisconsin vs. LSU
Scout.com/CollegeFootballNews.com– Nebraska vs. Florida
Athlon Sports– Wisconsin vs. Texas A&M
Sports Illustrated– Michigan vs. Texas A&M
Mark Schlabach (ESPN) – Nebraska vs. South Carolina
Brad Edwards (ESPN) – Wisconsin vs. Florida
Matt Murschel (Orlando Sentinel) – Michigan vs. Florida
Most experts expect to see Wisconsin play in this season’s Capital One Bowl. Five of the nine bowl projections have the Badgers representing the Big Ten Conference in the 2014 edition of the New Year’s Day bowl game. Wisconsin has appeared twice in the history of the game making back-to-back appearances in 2005 and 2006, winning both appearances. However, Wisconsin can also be seen as a surprise pick to appear in this year’s game as there are four Big Ten teams ahead of them in the preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.
The only other Big Ten teams to be projected into the Capital One Bowl are Nebraska and Michigan. Nebraska has appeared three previous times in the Capital One Bowl, including the last two editions of the game. If they were to make this year’s game they would become just the third team in Capital One Bowl history to appear in three consecutive games (Toledo 1969-1971 and Miami (Ohio) 1973-1975). The Cornhuskers lost in all three previous appearances. Michigan has made four previous appearances in the Capital One Bowl, most recently against Florida in 2008. The Wolverines are 3-1 in previous trips to Orlando.
Four teams each were projected at least twice to represent the SEC in this season’s Capital One Bowl. It appears to be a tossup between LSU, South Carolina, Florida and Texas A&M to make it to Orlando for the New Year’s Day game. Both Phil Steele and SB Nation have projected LSU to play Wisconsin in this season’s game. This would be only the third time that the two schools have met with the Tigers winning both previous games. LSU has appeared in three previous Capital One Bowls, with their most recent appearance coming in 2010 against Penn State.
The Gators and Gamecocks start the season ranked tenth and seventh respectively in the Coaches’ Poll. South Carolina has appeared in two previous editions of the Capital One Bowl, with the most recent coming in 2012 when they beat Nebraska 30-13. Florida is tied for second all-time with five previous appearances in the bowl game going 2-3 in those appearances. Both Florida coach Will Muschamp and South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier have previous histories with the Capital One Bowl. Muschamp played in the 1993 game as a safety for Georgia. Spurrier has coached in three Capital One Bowls, two with Florida and in 2012 with South Carolina, going two-and-one in those appearances.
Texas A&M start the season ranked No. 6 in the Coaches’ Poll. If the Aggies appear in the Capital One Bowl, Johnny Manziel would be just the fourth player to appear in the Capital One Bowl as a Heisman winner; the other three winners being Eddie George from Ohio State, Tim Tebow from Florida and Alabama’s Mark Ingram. The 1982 Tangerine Bowl pitted Boston College’s Doug Flutie against Auburn’s Bo Jackson. Doug Flutie (1984) and Bo Jackson (1985) each won the Heisman following their appearance in the game, making them the only other Heisman winners to play in a Capital One Bowl.