Week Five Bowl Projections
Mark Schlabach (ESPN) – Northwestern vs. LSU
Brad Edwards (ESPN) – Michigan vs. LSU
Scout.com/CollegeFootballNews.com – Wisconsin vs. LSU
Jerry Palm – Michigan vs. Georgia
ESPN Big Ten & SEC Blogs – Michigan vs. Georgia
SBNation – Northwestern vs. Texas A&M
Big Ten Network– Wisconsin vs. Georgia
There is much less of a consensus on who will be heading to Orlando from the Big Ten than there was a week ago. Michigan remains the slight favorite appearing in three projections, with Wisconsin and Northwestern close behind in two apiece.
Michigan (4-0) fell from some projections despite being idle this past weekend. The Wolverines return home this weekend for their first Big Ten game of the year as they welcome Minnesota (4-1, 0-1 Big Ten). Michigan currently leads the series for the “Little Brown Jug” 72-24-3, including its current five game win streak against the Gophers.
Wisconsin (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) remains in the projections despite a 31-24 loss at Ohio State. The Badgers scored ten unanswered points to end the game but their comeback effort came up one possession short. Senior wide receiver Jared Abbrederis hauled in ten passes for 207 yards in the loss. Wisconsin is idle this weekend before hosting Northwestern (4-0) October 12.
Before traveling to Wisconsin, Northwestern has quite the test this weekend with Ohio State (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) traveling to Evanston, Ill. The Wildcats will host ESPN College GameDay for the first time since 1995 in a showdown of ranked teams. Northwestern will be looking for its first win over the Buckeyes since 2004 when they upset seventh ranked Ohio State 33-27 in Evanston.
Georgia (3-1, 2-0 SEC) and LSU (4-1, 1-1 SEC) split this week’s Capital One Bowl projections from the SEC The Bulldogs and Tigers played to a 44-41 victory for Georgia this past weekend. LSU QB Zach Mettenberger threw for 372 yards and four touchdowns, but Georgia QB Aaron Murray found Justin Scott-Wesley with just less than two minutes left for his fourth touchdown of the game, and the ultimate game winning score. Both teams will hit the road this weekend with LSU traveling to Mississippi State (2-2, 0-1 SEC) and Georgia heading to Tennessee (3-2, 0-1 SEC).
The only other SEC school to appear in a projection continues to be Texas A&M (4-1, 1-1 SEC). The Aggies are coming off a 45-33 win at Arkansas. Reigning Heisman winner Johnny Manziel threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns and Mike Evans hauled in six passes for 116 yards as he continues to lead to conference in receiving yards. Texas A&M has the weekend off before hitting the road again to take on Ole Miss (3-1, 1-1 SEC).