Michigan football's win over Penn State this weekend all but assured that the Wolverines will make the postseason. But that wasn't clear after the losses to Iowa and Minnesota.
There are still difficult games remaining, starting against No. 6 Indiana this week. But there are winnable games remaining as well, with Rutgers and Michigan State coming at the end of October and early November. But with Indiana, Oregon, UCLA, and Ohio State thought to be far ahead of the currently 4-2 maize and blue, analysts don't have high hopes for the Wolverines' postseason fate.
Both ESPN and CBS Sports predicted where they believe Michigan football will end up after the regular season, and it's not exactly a coveted locale.
ESPN
Not always aligned, both Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach predicted that the Wolverines will be heading to the Cactus Bowl on December 26. The only difference is in the opponent -- UCF or Cincinnati.
Cactus BowlMountain America Stadium (Tempe, Arizona)7:30 p.m., ABCBonagura: Michigan vs. UCFSchlabach: Michigan vs. Cincinnati
CBS
Likewise, CBS Sports' Brad Crawford predicted a Michigan vs. Cincinnati Cactus Bowl.
Cactus
Projection: Cincinnati vs. Michigan
The Wolverines finally have a Big Ten win and may have a new quarterback, too. Tommy Carr led multiple touchdown drives in the second half of Michigan's victory over Penn State, delivering the final blow himself on a scoring scamper. He executed Jason Beck's offense with intention and moved ahead of the struggling Bryce Underwood in the process.
The Cactus Bowl may sound unfamiliar in the modern lexicon, and that's because that's the original name for the Arizona-based game. Connected with the Fiesta Bowl, it had been known as the Guaranteed Rate Bowl and then the Rate Bowl, and was played at Chase Field -- home of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the MLB -- until this season, when it was decided to be moved back to Tempe, which hosted the game from 2006-15. Mountain America Stadium is the rebranded Sun Devil Stadium, home to Arizona State.
Reaction and other Big Ten projections
As for other Big Ten postseason predictions, here is what the sites believe to be likely after Week 7, keeping in mind there are two separate votes for ESPN:
- Illinois: none
- Indiana: CFP quarterfinals (ESPN), semifinals (ESPN, CBS)
- Iowa: Citrus Bowl (CBS, ESPN)
- Maryland: none
- Michigan State: none
- Minnesota: Pinstripe Bowl (ESPN), First Responder Bowl (CBS)
- Nebraska: ReliaQuest Bowl (ESPN, CBS)
- Northwestern: Duke's Mayo Bowl (ESPN), Pinstripe Bowl (CBS), Music City Bowl (ESPN)
- Ohio State: CFP quarterfinals (ESPN), semifinals (ESPN, CBS)
- Oregon: Alamo Bowl (ESPN, CBS)
- Penn State: Duke's Mayo Bowl (ESPN, CBS)
- Purdue: none
- Rutgers: none
- UCLA: CFP first round (CBS), quarterfinals (ESPN)
- USC: Holiday Bowl (ESPN), Las Vegas Bowl (ESPN, CBS)
- Washington: Poinsettia Bowl (ESPN), Sun Bowl (ESPN, CBS)
- Wisconsin: Pinstripe Bowl (ESPN), Music City Bowl (ESPN, CBS)
If all things were equal (or close) in terms of record, it would be surprising if Michigan wasn't jumped ahead of some teams that are lesser draws. Of course, that would likely require not going 6-6 this season, but if the Wolverines can finish 7-5 or higher, it would be unlikely that they'll be in the Cactus Bowl the day after Christmas. However, if the newly-led offense with Tommy Carr at the helm doesn't produce, it could be worse than playing the day after Christmas.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: ESPN, CBS reveal Michigan football bowl projections after Penn State win