Michigan Football: Checking on bowl projections after Week 4
After a 4-0 start for Michigan football, we check in on where the Wolverines are being projected for bowl games after Week 4.
The Michigan football team is off to a strong start in the 2021 season and one thing that means is that the Wolverines should be back in the postseason.
Michigan has four wins already and needs just two more to become bowl eligible. The Wolverines have a tough schedule but a number of winnable games.
So far, the bowl projections have been pretty realistic. Despite some promising analytics, it doesn’t seem that many view Michigan football as likely to win the Big Ten or advance to a New Year’s Six bowl game.
But, after a 2-4 season and missing out on the postseason, just getting back to a bowl game, especially one of the better games, would be a step in the right direction.
Bowl game projections after the first couple of weeks are a little insane. But now that conference play has begun and we are one-third of the way through the season, it’s worth paying more attention to although they are still likely to change dramatically.
Where Michigan could go bowling
According to the USA Today projections, Michigan football will take on Kentucky in the Outback Bowl. The Wolverines have a history of playing in that game but it has only been there once under Jim Harbaugh which was a loss to South Carolina.
If Michigan goes along its current path and wins 8-9 games, that game seems possible. Athlon Sports projects Michigan to the Citrus Bowl against Florida, which would probably require a nine-win season with all the good teams in the Big Ten.
While playing a third bowl game (out of six) in the Harbaugh era wouldn’t be that enticing, it would be a shot at high-level SEC program, which is always worthwhile in bowl season.
Jerry Palm of CBS Sports is projecting Michigan football to also play Kentucky, but instead of the Outback Bowl it would be in the Music City Bowl.
Next. 3 reasons Wolverines will beat Wisconsin. dark
Michigan has never played in that game in Nashville. It would be a little disappointing not to play on New Year’s Day, and Michigan football will need to win some of these 50/50 games against Wisconsin, Indiana, or Michigan State in order to make it happen.