We've reached the time of year when people who want to show off their college football expertise start putting together their projections for the 42 bowl games that will be played after the regular season ends. Basically, any team that wins six games will get a bid -- with some 5-7 teams going if there aren't enough willing six-victory teams to go around.
That's how the 5-7 Gophers got to the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit last year. Remember?
The Gophers should get a bowl upgrade this year. Of course, just about anything would be an upgrade from the Quick Lane Bow, right?
Obviously, the Gophers place in the bowl hierarchy will be determined greatly by what happens in their next three games -- tough ones against Nebraska, Northwestern and Wisconsin, with only the Wildcats game being at home. We'll remind you here that if the Gophers manage to win all three of those, they'll win the Big Ten West and play in the conference title game against Michigan or Ohio State.
Win that game -- however unlikely that seems -- and the mystery ends with the Gophers going to the Rose Bowl.
And we'll also remind you that finishing 7-5 will likely relegate Minnesota to a bowl that will be followed mainly by the fans of the participating schools.
With those disclaimers on the table, here's a look at where some of the experts have Minnesota going right now:
Jerry Palm, CBSsports.com: vs. Stanford in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego on Dec. 27.
