INDIANAPOLIS – The bowl projections keep changing at the top, with Northern Illinois and Oklahoma State falling out of the BCS picture with losses in the past 17 hours.

The Gophers seem to be headed back to Houston for the Texas Bowl on Dec. 27, but they could wind up facing a Pac-12 team instead of a Big 12 team. Jerry Palm currently has the Gophers facing Oregon State, and Phil Steele has them playing Washington State. Stay tuned.

Tomorrow is Bowl Selection Day, and we'll have you covered.

BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

I'm really enjoying my first trip to the Big Ten Championship Game. I'm impressed by how functional Indianapolis is for an event like this. I'm staying about a half-mile from Lucas Oil Stadium, but the hotels all seemed connected to the Convention Center by skyway, and it's a short walk from there to several bars, restaurants and the stadium.

The streets are filled with fans yelling "O-H!" and "I-O!" or "Go Green!" and "Go White!"

I'm tempted to pick Michigan State in an upset. But I'm predicting a 34-30 win for Ohio State. I think the strength of Michigan State's defense can cancel out the strength of Ohio State's offense, and I think the Buckeyes' defense is better than the Spartans' offense.

That might sound blasphemous after Ohio State just gave up 600 yards to a sputtering Michigan team, but I'm chalking that up to a rivalry game where anything can happen. I think this one will be close, but Braxton Miller will make just enough plays to send Ohio State to the BCS title game.