Big 10 Bowl Wrap

The Big 10 got two teams in BCS games for the fourth straight year and got pummeled again. After Ohio State's loss to Texas, the Big 10 finishes the bowl season with a 1-6 record. Here's a look at the games:

Insight Bowl: Kansas 42 Minnesota 21-Todd Reesing picked apart the Gophers secondary and Adam Weber and the Gophers offense couldn't keep up. After a promising 7-1 start, the Gophers lost their last five games and gave up 97 combined points against Iowa and Kansas.

Champs Sports Bowl: Florida State 42 Wisconsin 13-A disappointing season for Wisconsin ended with a frustrating loss to the Seminoles. Wisconsin started the season with legitamite BCS aspirations but couldn't find consistent quarterback play. The Badgers did some good things here with P.J. Hill running for 140 yards and the defense holding Florida State to 3.5 yards per carry. But two long Florida State fumble returns for touchdowns doomed the Badgers. Bret Bielma will be under pressure for better results next year. First step: get a quarterback.

Alamo Bowl: Missouri 30 Northwestern 23 (OT)-Possibly the Big Ten's best bowl showing, besides Iowa, in a bowl that Missouri was favored by 12 1/2, more than any other bowl game. Northwestern was the better team throughout the game and should have won. A Jeremy Maclin punt return for a touchdown late in the first half was a huge swing of momentum for a Missouri offense that had only mustered three points. Northwestern kicker Armando Villarreal missed an extra point and a field goal. These special teams miscues killed the Wildcats and the game went to overtime. Missouri started with a touchdown and Northwestern couldn't answer. Pat Fitzgerald led the Wildcats to a successful nine win season and a solid bowl game. The Wildcats have enough of their defense returning to go bowling next year.

Outack Bowl: Iowa 31 South Carlina 10-Iowa throughly dominated South Carolina as Shonn Greene racked up 121 yards and 3 touchdowns. Iowa led 31-0 before South Carolina got on the board in the fourth quarter. The Hawkeyes finished the season winning six of their last seven games and their four losses this season were by a combined 12 points. Shonn Greene will go to the NFL but Iowa's program is on solid gound after three sub par seasons.

Capital One Bowl: Georgia 24 Michigan State 12-The Spartans were competetive but Matthew Stafford was the difference in this game. The future first round NFL draft pick threw three perfect touchdown passes in the second. Sparty was up 6-3 at halftime, but Georgia stuffed Javon Ringer for 47 yards on 20 carries and that was it for Michigan State's offense. The Michigan State defense held Georgia star running back Knowshon Moreno to 62 yards on 23 carries, but Stafford made the the big throws and Brian Hoyer didn't. Despite a tough bowl loss, it was still a successfull season for the Spartans. Mark Dantonio has this program on solid ground and Michigan State should be in the bowl picture next year.

Fiesta Bowl: Texas 24 Ohio State 21-Another tough bowl loss for the the Big Ten. Much like in the Capital One Bowl, the opposing conference's quarterback was the difference. Colt McCoy led Texas on a game winning drive with under two minutes to play capped off by a Quan Cosby sixteen yard touchdown catch . While Terrelle Pryor had a good game with his running, receiving and mediocre throwing, Colt McCoy looked like the Heisman finalist he was. He and wide receiver Quan Cosby light up the veteran Buckeye secondary. Ohio State is always good but must replace running back Chris "Beanie" Wells and several standout defenders who will be playing on sundays next year. The USC game in september will give us an early indication of where the Buckeyes are.

Rose Bowl: USC 38 Penn State 24-The final score makes the game look closer than it was as USC led 31-7 at halftime. The Nittany Lions held USC's ground game in check but the airways were clear. Mark Sanchez threw for 414 yards and four touchdowns, 165 of them and one touchdown to Damian Williams. Penn State started putting up points in the fourth quarter when it was too late. USC easily handled the two best teams the Big Ten has to offer this year and has contributed to the Big Ten's sagging repuation. Hey, I've got an idea, we should with the ACC so we can play in the Orange Bowl against the Big East winner. Then we might actually win a BCS bowl game. Penn State will lose their widouts but Darryl Clark and Evan Royster's return make them a threat in the Big 10 next year.