Monday, Nov 29, 2021 - 06:58 PM

Gophers bowl predictions: Projections all over the map

written by Dave Heller, Bally Sports North

Nov 27, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Gophers players and fans celebrate after winning the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports

For the third time under head coach P.J. Fleck, Minnesota is headed to a bowl game.

But where?

A win over Wisconsin on Saturday advanced the Gophers’ record to 8-4 and, in theory, set them up for a better postseason destination.

The projections for Minnesota, however, are all over the place. A Jan. 1 game? Yup, possible. A lower-tier game played in December on a Tuesday or Wednesday? Also in the realm, it seems.

The prognostications are all over the map, quite literally: From the East Coast (New York, Florida) to the West (Las Vegas, Arizona) and even in between (Nashville).

With the bowls set to be announced Sunday after all the conference championships, here’s how things are projected for Minnesota:

Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com: Music City Bowl (Dec. 30) vs. Tennessee

Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach of ESPN ($): Bonagura – Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 30) vs. Arizona State; Schlabach – Outback Bowl (Jan. 1) vs. Arkansas

Stewart Mandel of The Athletic ($): Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Dec. 28) vs. West Virginia

Richard Johnson of SI.com: Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 29) vs. Miami

Brett McMurphy of Action Network: Music City Bowl vs. Arkansas (and Gophers are listed a 5.5-point underdog)

Collegefootballnews.com: Outback Bowl vs. Arkansas

Steve Lassan of Athlon Sports: Las Vegas Bowl vs. UCLA

Jim Tomlin of Saturday Tradition: Outback Bowl vs. Arkansas

Cam Mellor of ProFootballNetwork.com: Music City Bowl vs. Tennessee

Brad Crawford of 247 Sports: Music City Bowl vs. Tennessee

FINAL TALLY

Guaranteed Rate – 1. Opponent: West Virginia (6-6, 4-5 Big 12)

Pinstripe – 1. Opponent: Miami (7-5, 5-3 ACC)

Music City – 4. Opponents: Arkansas (8-4, 4-4 SEC), Tennessee (7-5, 4-4)

Las Vegas: 2. Opponents: Arizona State (8-4, 6-3 Pac-12), UCLA (8-4, 6-3)

Outback: 3. Opponent: Arkansas

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