Gruen: Big Ten Bowl Predictions

By Seth Gruen--

(CBS) The bowl season has gotten so incredibly saturated with undeserving teams that I've never heard of some of the sponsors. BattleFrog? Who the heck are they?

But for Big Ten fans, it means a holiday season in which 10 of its 14 teams will get to play in bowl games. For the coaches, it's an opportunity to practice with their teams for another month. And for me, well, it means a chance to lay whit on the line and make some predictions on the outcome of the Big Ten's bowl season.

So here it goes…

New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Dec. 26: Duke 56, Indiana 48

Expect points, lots of them. Both of these teams have proved they do one thing consistently: play high-scoring games. Neither team plays much defense. Really, both Duke and Indiana (6-6) been brutal defensively, but I give the nod to experience. Duke is playing its fourth straight bowl game.

Indiana? They have played in the postseason twice in the last 22 years.

Foster Farms Bowl, Dec. 26: UCLA 35, Nebraska 10

I've been down on Nebraska since Week 3. Just read my column about Mike Riley and an experiment gone completely awry in Lincoln. The fact that Nebraska (5-7) and its sub-.500 record don't belong in the postseason aside, UCLA has much better talent, including the best player at the most important position.

Freshman quarterback Josh Rosen is already being projected as a first-round pick when he comes draft eligible. Expect him to tear apart the Huskers defense.

Quick Lane Bowl, Dec. 28: Minnesota 28, Central Michigan 17

The Gophers' 5-7 record is a little deceiving. They stayed within a score of TCU and nearly beat Michigan. Couple those losses with the unfortunate retirement of coach Jerry Kill due to epilepsy, and I'm confident they will finally play up to the potential that their talent dictates.

Mark this game as the beginning of the Tracy Claeys era in Minnesota. Also, be sure to watch Gophers senior cornerback Eric Murray, who wears No. 31 and could climb up NFL draft boards.

Holiday Bowl, Dec. 30: USC 28, Wisconsin 25

A shocking statistic: The Badgers (9-3) didn't beat a team with a winning record all season. Credit some of that to the loss of running back Corey Clement (sports hernia), who was expected to be every bit as good as Melvin Gordon.

Yes, the Badgers do have the top  scoring defense in the country, but much of that is a product of their easy schedule.

Outback Bowl, Jan. 1: Northwestern 21, Tennessee 20

When it comes to big games, Northwestern (10-2) is so difficult to figure out. Expect the Wildcats to win, they very well could disappoint. Criticize their big-game ability, and they'll make a statement.

But as big games and Northwestern are concerned, one thing is for certain: They are always close. The Wildcats have proved this season that they have playmakers on both sides of the ball to be the determining factor in those games. Expect Northwestern running back Justin Jackson, who's averaging 112 yards rushing per game, to have a big day.

Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl, Jan. 1: Michigan 17, Florida 14

The defensive front of Michigan (9-3) may not be the same as the Alabama front seven that Florida struggled against in the SEC championship game, but the Wolverines boast a defense that has been among the country's best all season, the final game against Ohio State withstanding.

Expect this game to be played close throughout, with Florida lacking the offensive firepower to break the game wide open and Michigan channeling its experience playing in close games this season.

BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl, Jan. 1: Notre Dame 28, Ohio State 24

Is Ohio State (11-1) more talented than Notre Dame? Of course. The Buckeyes have the most talented team in the country, regardless of their loss to Michigan State that kept them out of the College Football Playoff.

But with that talent come NFL aspirations. And with key players like defensive end Joey Bosa and running back Ezekiel Elliot a game away from becoming millionaires, it's hard to see the Fiesta Bowl being much of a focus.

Rose Bowl, Jan. 1: Iowa 28, Stanford 24

I'm excited to watch Iowa's defense take on Stanford do-it-all running back Christian McCaffrey. Few have been able to slow him down, but I believe the Hawkeyes have the talent to shut him down.

TaxSlayer Bowl, Jan. 2: Penn State 35, Georgia 21

With newly hired Georgia coach Kirby Smart finishing out the season with Alabama before officially taking over, Penn State (7-5) should be able to take advantage of the disarray in Athens.

It helps that quarterback Christian Hackenberg has something to prove, having underwhelmed since he arrived at Penn State.

College Football Playoff, Dec. 31: Michigan State 21, Alabama 17

I know Alabama's a double-digit favorite. I know the over-the-top praise being thrown at their defense. But the Spartans' Mark Dantonio might be the best big-game coach in the country.

Dantonio bested Iowa's Kirk Ferentz in the Big Ten championship and outwitted Ohio State's Urban Meyer in Columbus. Nick Saban? Well, we all know what he has done. But don't forget that last year everyone expected his Crimson Tide to roll over the Ohio State Buckeyes. The opposite happened.

Add in a talented group of offensive players, for the Spartans and I believe they win the game on a last-second drive.

Seth Gruen is columnist for CBSChicago.com, focusing on college sports. You can follow him on Twitter @SethGruen.