Expert Predictions for Big Ten Bowl and College Football Playoff Teams Post Conference Championships

The Big Ten has a rich history in bowl games, and we think it will continue in 2023.

Here at Buckeyes Wire, our tradition continues as we predict where all the teams in the conference will end up once the season has finished. We reevaluate after each week’s games and make our forecasting based on what appears to be the best holiday destinations for the teams

By the end of the regular season, nine conference teams will be bowl eligible: Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Iowa, Rutgers, Maryland, Northwestern, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The latter, thanks to its being the best of the five-win teams based on APR score and not enough Football Bowl Subdivision teams reaching six wins.

The big three in the East division are likely headed to very lucrative bowls, with Michigan most certainly headed to the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 ranked team.

Head over to Buckeyes Wire for a comprehensive look at where each team in the Big Ten will go bowling, and which four teams will join the Wolverines in the CFP on the eve of the final College Football Playoff rankings.

Also keep in mind that the scenarios are very complicated with bowl tie-ins and contractual preferences for teams that have not been involved in certain locations, so we do our best to track it all. And of course, don’t miss our extra College Football Playoff picks for good measure.

Find below our bowl predictions for Big Ten teams after the completion of all of the conference championship games:

1. SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl

What We Predict

Date: Saturday, Dec. 23

TV: ABC, 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Reliant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada

Bowl Tie-Ins: Big Ten vs. Pac-12

Bowl Prediction: Maryland vs. Utah

2. Quick Lane Bowl

What We Predict

Date: Tuesday, Dec. 26

TV: ESPN, 2 p.m. ET

Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Bowl Tie-Ins: Big Ten vs. MAC

Bowl Prediction: Minnesota vs. Miami (OH)

3. Guaranteed Rate Bowl

What We Predict

Date: Tuesday, Dec. 26

TV: ESPN, 10:15 p.m. ET

Venue: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona

Bowl Tie-Ins: Big Ten vs. Big 12

Bowl Prediction: Northwestern vs. Kansas

4. Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl

What We Predict

Date: Friday, Dec. 29

TV: ESPN, 2 p.m. ET

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.

Bowl Tie-Ins: Big Ten vs. ACC

Bowl Prediction: Rutgers vs. Georgia Tech

5. TransPerfect Music City Bowl

What We Predict

Date: Saturday, Dec. 30

TV: ESPN, 2 p.m. ET

Venue: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Bowl Tie-Ins: Big Ten vs. SEC

Bowl Prediction: Wisconsin vs. Auburn

6. ReliaQuest Bowl

What We Predict

Date: Monday, Jan. 1

TV: ESPN2, Noon ET

Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Bowl Tie-Ins: Big Ten vs. SEC

Bowl Prediction: Notre Dame* vs. LSU

7. Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

What We Predict

Date: Monday, Jan. 1

TV: ABC, 1 p.m. ET

Venue: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida

Bowl Tie-Ins: Big Ten vs. SEC

Bowl Prediction: Iowa vs. Ole Miss

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

What We Predict

Date: Saturday, Dec. 30

TV: ESPN, noon ET

Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Bowl Tie-Ins: CFP at-large

Bowl Prediction: Penn State vs. Georgia

Fiesta Bowl

What We Predict

Date: Monday, Jan. 1

TV: ESPN, 1 p.m. ET

Venue: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Bowl Tie-Ins: CFP at-large

Bowl Prediction: Ohio State vs. Oregon

CFP Semifinal Rose Bowl Game

What We Predict

Date: Monday, Jan. 1

TV: ESPN, 5 p.m. ET

Venue: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California

Bowl Tie-Ins: CFP at-large

Bowl Prediction: Michigan vs. Texas

CFP Semifinal Allstate Sugar Bowl

What We Predict

Date: Monday, Jan. 1

TV: ESPN, 8:45 p.m. ET

Venue: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Bowl Tie-Ins: CFP at-large

Bowl Prediction: Washington vs. Florida State

College Football Playoff National Championship game

What We Predict

Date: Monday, Jan. 8

TV: ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Bowl Tie-Ins: CFP semifinal winner vs. CFP semifinal winner

Bowl Prediction: Michigan vs. Washington

College Football Playoff national champion (much to my chagrin)

Texas probably has a better chance of beating Michigan than Washington does. This year, it might just be the best chance the Wolverines will have to break through and win a national title. The defense will play great against anyone, and the defense is balanced enough to match up with any team they play.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X. Story originally appeared on Buckeye Wire