Week Ten Bowl Projections
Mark Schlabach (ESPN) – Michigan State vs. Auburn
Brad Edwards (ESPN) – Michigan State vs. South Carolina
Scout.com/CollegeFootballNews.com – Michigan State vs. Auburn
Jerry Palm – Michigan State vs. Texas A&M
ESPN Big Ten & SEC Blogs – Wisconsin vs. South Carolina
Big Ten Network– Michigan State vs. Texas A&M
SB Nation– Wisconsin vs. Auburn
Athlon Sports– Michigan State vs. South Carolina
Sporting News– Michigan State vs. South Carolina
Off Tackle Empire– Michigan State vs. Texas A&M
Orlando Sentinel– Michigan State vs. Missouri
Stewart Mandel/SI– Michigan State vs. Texas A&M
USA Today– Michigan State vs. LSU
DrSEC.org- Auburn
The Capital One Bowl projections remain crowded in the SEC with four teams appearing in at least one projection for the third straight week. The Big Ten representative in the game has begun to clear up with only two teams appear in a projection this week and Michigan State sitting clear in the post position.
Michigan State (8-1, 5-0 Big Ten) emerged as the favorites this week thanks to a 29-6 win over rival Michigan. The Spartans offense was led by junior running back Jeremy Langford who collected his fourth-straight 100 yard game. The Michigan State defense, ranked third nationally in points allowed, stymied the Wolverine offense surrendering only two first half field goals and 168 total yards, including -48 on the ground. The Spartans are idle this weekend before ending the year with three consecutive Legends division games against Nebraska, Northwestern and Minnesota.
Wisconsin (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) is the sole other team to appear in a projection out of the Big Ten this week. The Badgers won their third straight conference game, a 28-9 win over Iowa, this past weekend. James White led the Wisconsin offense, rushing for 132 yards and two touchdowns in the win. The Badgers finish their out of conference schedule this weekend when they welcome BYU (6-2) to Madison.
Michigan (6-2, 2-2 Big Ten) fails to appear in a projection this week, the first time this has happened all season. The Wolverines dropped a 29-6 decision to in-state rival Michigan State last weekend. Michigan returns home to face Nebraska (6-2, 3-1 Big Ten) this weekend.
Auburn and South Carolina remain the favorites to represent the SEC in the Capital One Bowl for the fourth consecutive week. They are joined this week by Texas A&M and Missouri.
Auburn (8-1, 4-1 SEC) is off to its best start since 2010 when they went undefeated and won the national championship. The Tigers rushed for 233 yards, including 168 from Tre Mason, in their 35-17 win over Arkansas. Auburn hits the road for the final time this season as it travels to Tennessee (4-5, 1-4 SEC) this weekend.
Texas A&M (7-2, 3-2 SEC) finished up its out of conference schedule last weekend with a 57-7 win over UTEP. Johnny Manziel threw for 273 yards and four touchdowns and added 67 yards and two scores on the ground in the win. The Aggies finish off their season with a pair of road games against LSU and Missouri, but first have to get past Mississippi State (4-4, 1-3 SEC) in two weekends.
South Carolina kept its hopes of an appearance in the SEC Championship game alive with a 34-16 win over Mississippi State on Saturday. Quarterback Connor Shaw tied his career high with four touchdown passes to go along with 235 passing yards. The Gamecocks have their final off weekend of the year before finishing the year against Florida, Coastal Carolina and Clemson.
Missouri (8-1, 4-1 SEC) rebounded from its first loss of the year with a 31-3 win over Tennessee Saturday. The Tigers rushed for 339 yards in the victory, led by 114 yards from quarterback Maty Mauk. Missouri travels to two unranked SEC teams, Kentucky and Ole Miss, before welcoming Texas A&M to Columbia to end the season.
LSU (7-2, 3-2 SEC) appear only in newcomer USA Today’s projections this week. The Tigers sat idle this past weekend before traveling to top-ranked Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC). If the Tigers were to drop one of their three remaining conference games it would be the first time since 2009 that they finish the year with three or more SEC losses.