Both 247 and Action have Northwestern playing Kansas in the Phoenix Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Assuming that that becomes our destination there is another team that could well be our opponent there if they become bowl eligible tomorrow. That is BYU whose fan base is legion in the closer West and Southwest States to include Arizona. It would basically be a home game for BYU and certainly attractive to a bowl committee seeking to fill seats.
Today Nebraska was eliminated from bowl contention. If Wisconsin can defeat Minnesota tomorrow and Northwestern holds off Illinois the Cats are assured of not going to Detroit with Phoenix becoming the most likely landing spot. Even if Illinois becomes bowl eligible at least two sites (247 and Action) see Northwestern going to Phoenix.
So now returning to the question at hand, what is the likelihood of Northwestern's opponent being BYU?
Standing at 5-6, BYU needs to beat #21 Oklahoma State to get a bowl invite to one of the contracted Big 12 Bowls which include Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix. Last week BYU played #13 Oklahoma with a one score heartbreaking loss at 31-24. If against lesser Oklahoma state they can make up the difference for that one score loss we could well see BYU as our opponent in Phoenix.
Just like the Wildcats are not being predicted by practically anybody to beat Illinois tomorrow, their feline counterpart, the Cougars, are underdogs. One of the betting sites has the Oklahoma Cowboys scoring 37 and the BYU Cougars being held to 17. It is a home game for Oklahoma State where they are 5-1 at home and a road game for BYU which is 1-4 on the road.
So as to whether the Wildcats will be playing the Cougars in Phoenix on December 26th, it looks like it comes down to whether tomorrow is upset Saturday in Champaign and Stillwater.
Today Nebraska was eliminated from bowl contention. If Wisconsin can defeat Minnesota tomorrow and Northwestern holds off Illinois the Cats are assured of not going to Detroit with Phoenix becoming the most likely landing spot. Even if Illinois becomes bowl eligible at least two sites (247 and Action) see Northwestern going to Phoenix.
So now returning to the question at hand, what is the likelihood of Northwestern's opponent being BYU?
Standing at 5-6, BYU needs to beat #21 Oklahoma State to get a bowl invite to one of the contracted Big 12 Bowls which include Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix. Last week BYU played #13 Oklahoma with a one score heartbreaking loss at 31-24. If against lesser Oklahoma state they can make up the difference for that one score loss we could well see BYU as our opponent in Phoenix.
Just like the Wildcats are not being predicted by practically anybody to beat Illinois tomorrow, their feline counterpart, the Cougars, are underdogs. One of the betting sites has the Oklahoma Cowboys scoring 37 and the BYU Cougars being held to 17. It is a home game for Oklahoma State where they are 5-1 at home and a road game for BYU which is 1-4 on the road.
So as to whether the Wildcats will be playing the Cougars in Phoenix on December 26th, it looks like it comes down to whether tomorrow is upset Saturday in Champaign and Stillwater.
