Bowl projections (unless otherwise noted) are from Jerry Palm of CBS Sports, and Jason Kirk of SB*Nation.
Six or more wins (Bowl eligible)
Big Ten East
Ohio State (7-1, conference 5-0)
Next four weeks
Nov. 4 @ Iowa
Nov. 11 vs. Michigan State
Nov. 18 vs. Illinois
Nov. 25 @ Michigan
Iowa. Michigan State, and Michigan will not be pushover games for Ohio St.
Projected bowl and opponent
Palm: 2018 Rose Bowl Game vs. Clemson (Jan 1, 2018. Pasadena, CA. College Football Playoff semifinal no. 2 vs. no.3)
Kirk: 2018 Rose Bowl Game vs. Georgia
It would appear the dream of seeing a Rose Bowl sans both the Big Ten and the Pac-12 has faded for the season.
Penn State (7-1, conference 4-1)
Next four games
Nov. 4 @ Michigan St.
Nov. 11 vs. Rutgers
Nov. 18 vs. Nebraska
Nov. 25 @ Maryalnd
Michigan St. is the biggest stumbling block for Penn State's chances of getting back into contention for the College Football Playoff on its schedule.
Projected bowl and opponent
Palm: 2018 Sugar Bowl vs. Alabama (Jan. 1, 2018, New Orleans, LA. (CFP semifinal no. 1 vs no. 4)
Kirk: 2017 Cotton Bowl vs. Oklahoma (Dec. 29, Arlington, TX.)
Kirk's projection is the saner of the two bowl projections.
Michigan State (6-2, conference 4-1)
Next four games
Nov. 4 vs. Penn St.
Nov. 11 @ Ohio St.
Nov. 18 vs. Maryland
Nov. 25 @ Rutgers
The safe bet is that Michigan St. goes 2-2 in the last four games of the season. But, as many teams have learned, betting against Sparty is never a good idea.
Projected bowl and opponent
Palm: 2018 Citrus Bowl vs. Auburn (Jan 1, 2018, Orlando, Fl.
Kirk: 2018 Citrus Bowl vs. LSU
The Citrus Bowl sounds like the best place for Michigan St. this season.
Michigan (6-2, conference 3-2)
Next four games
Nov. 4 vs. Minnesota
Nov. 11 @ Maryland
Nov. 18 @ Wisconsin
Nov. 25 vs. Ohio St.
Minnesota, Maryland, and Wisconsin are the easiest games on the remainder of the Nittany Lions' schedule.
Projected bowl and opponent
Palm: 2018 Outback Bowl vs. LSU (Jan. 1, 2018, Tampa, FL.)
Kirk: 2018 Outback Bowl vs. Auburn
More agreement here, at least for the bowl Michigan may be headed for.
Big Ten West
Wisconsin (8-0, conference 5-0)
Next four games
Nov. 4 @ Indiana
Nov. 11 vs. Iowa
Nov. 18 vs. Michigan
Nov. 25 @ Minnesota
Wisconsin is getting overlooked for the CFP. Most logical reason is that the CFB media sees the Badgers being 2017's version of 2015 Iowa.
Projected bowl and opponent
Palm: 2017 Fiesta Bowl vs. USC (Dec. 30, Glendale, AZ.)
Kirk: 2018 Peach Bowl vs. Central Florida (Jan. 1, 2018, Atlanta, GA.)
The Fiesta Bowl is most definitely the more perforable projection here.
Five wins (Magic number: 1)
Big Ten East
None
Big Ten West
Northwestern (5-3, conference 3-2)
Next four weeks
Nov. 4 @ Nebraska
Nov. 11 vs, Purdue
Nov. 18 vs. Minnesota
Nov. 25 @ Illinois
While no one should ever feel too overconfident of a team's ability to get to six wins, of All of these games are winnable for Northwestern. Get the win, then it's all about avoiding the Quick Lane Bowl.
Projected bowl and opponent
Palm: 2017 Holliday Bowl vs. Arizona (Dec. 28, San Diego, CA.
Kirk: 2017 Forster Farms Bowl vs. Stanford (Dec. 27 @ Santa Clara, CA.)
Northwestern vs. Stanford...NERD BOWL1
Four games (Magic number: 2)
Big Ten East
Maryland (4-4, conference 2-3)
Next four games
Nov. 4 @ Rutgers
Nov. 11 vs. Michigan
Nov. 18 @ Michigan St.
Nov. 25 vs. Penn St.
The only easy game for Maryland is Rutgers.
Projected bowl and opponent
Eric Single, SI.com: 2017 Pinstripe Bowl vs. Syracuse (Dec. 27, New York City, NY)
Only one of five prognosticators surveyed had Maryland going to a bowl.
Big Ten West
Nebraska (4-4, conference 3-2)
Next four games
Nov. 4 vs. Northwestern
Nov. 11 @Minnesota
Nov. 18 @ Penn St.
Nov. 24 vs. Iowa
Northwestern and Minnesota are where the best chances for the Cornhuskers to earn the two wins they need to become bowl eligible.
Projected bowl and opponent
Palm: None
Kirk: 2017 Pinstripe bowl vs. Syracuse.
Mike Riley is probably toast when the season ends, if not sooner.
Minnesota (4-4, conference 1-4)
Next four games
Nov. 4 @ Michigan
Nov. 11 vs. Nebraska
Nov. 18 @ Northwestern
Nov. 25 vs. Wisconsin
Underperforming Nebraska and Northwestern teams may be the best places on Minnesota's upcoming schedule to earn two wins.
Projected bowl and opponent
Palm: 2017 Pinstripe Bowl vs. Boston College
Kirk: None
Disappointing projected end to P.J. Fleck's first season as head coach of the Golden Gophers
Three wins (Magic number: 3)
Big Ten East
Rutgers (3-5, conference 2-3)
Next four games
Nov. 4 vs. Maryland
Nov. 11 @ Penn St.
Nov. 18 @ Indiana
Nov. 25 vs. Michigan St.
With Rutgers we enter the "The impossible takes a little longer" territory.
Projected bowl and opponent
None
Indiana (3-5, conference 0-5)
Next four games
Nov. 4 vs. Wisconsin
Nov. 11 @ Illinois
Nov. 18 vs. Rutgers
Nov. 25 @ Purdue
The chances for Indiana to go to a bowl look to be higher than those of Rutgers.
Projected bowl and opponent
Palm: None
Kirk: 2017 Music City Bowl vs. Texas A&M (Dec. 29, Nashville, TN.)
There is a chance this could be a case of a 5-6 team getting a bowl bid through academics.
Big Ten West
Purdue (3-5, conference 1-4)
Next four games
Nov. 4 vs. Illinois
Nov. 11 @ Northwestern
Nov. 18 @ Iowa
Nov. 25 vs. Indiana
Purdue will need to beat Illinois and Indiana, and pull an upset of either Northwestern or Iowa for a the Boilermakers to earn a bowl bid.
Projected bowl and opponent
None
Maybe next season, Purdue.
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