With Northwestern's 50-14 (!) win over Illinois on Saturday, the 'Cats will very likely be headed to Florida for a Jan. 1 bowl game: either the Capital One Bowl, Outback Bowl or Gator Bowl. Brett Kurland of Lake the Posts has so kindly written a full breakdown (not updated to reflect this weekend's results), including the possibility of a non-Florida bowl destination.
The Capital One Bowl in Orlando is the most high-profile postseason possibility for the 'Cats. It would pit Northwestern against the best non-BCS SEC team, which basically means the third-best team in the SEC, the best college football conference in the country. The Capital One Bowl, like other college football bowl games, has some autonomy over which teams to select for each year's matchup. From the Big Ten, depending on next Saturday's results, it is possible that either Nebraska, Michigan or Northwestern will find itself in Orlando on New Year's Day.
But Northwestern fans scouring the internet for any hint of a Northwestern trip to Orlando for New Year's Day have probably come up more frustrated than ever, thanks in large part to the teasing tweets of the Capital One Bowl's official Twitter account. @CapitalOneBowl hasn't been doing anxious fans any favors, going so far as to live-tweet team selection meetings without saying which team the bowl's committee prefers. Let's break down some of @CapitalOneBowl's most teasing tweets:
Don't worry, 'Cats fans. Assuming the Capital One Bowl selection committee turned off this season's Michigan-Northwestern game with 18 seconds remaining, there's no chance the committee will pick the Wolverines over the Wildcats. Or maybe they blocked those final 18 seconds out of their memory like some Northwestern fans I know (read: me). Either way, we're good!Expected SEC debate to be our longest, but actually the Michigan/Northwestern conversation is getting the most traction
— Capital One Bowl (@CapitalOneBowl) November 25, 2012
Clearly this is what's wrong with Northwestern's football program: Coach Fitz hasn't taken the team to Disney World enough. Can't we agree seven or eight wins is enough for a trip to Magic Kingdom?Northwestern's only previous appearance in Orlando (1997) came off a nine-win season.
— Capital One Bowl (@CapitalOneBowl) November 24, 2012
Could @CapitalOneBowl make this any more agonizing? At this point, the Capital One Bowl might as well host a one-hour decision special on ESPN to announce which teams will be taking their talents to Florida. Oh, wait.Team Selection Committee meets tomorrow for first of two big meetings. It looks like it's going to be a looooong night.
— Capital One Bowl (@CapitalOneBowl) November 24, 2012
Please, continue to remind us of our shortcomings. STOP MESSING WITH OUR SELF-ESTEEM.And notable for Northwestern, they held a late lead in all of their losses, which came by a combined 20 points (incl late TD by Penn State)
— Capital One Bowl (@CapitalOneBowl) November 24, 2012
Of course. RT @purplemarshcat: you watching what's going down in Evanston?? #blowout#B1GCats
— Capital One Bowl (@CapitalOneBowl) November 24, 2012
We might be inclined to put some stock in this tweet if Illinois weren't so easily mistaken for a middle school team.
Lots of talk about Northwestern in the room at the moment, very complimentary of the 'Cats.
— Capital One Bowl (@CapitalOneBowl) November 25, 2012
No one can resist discussing that stifling (or not) fourth quarter 'Cats defense. If the Capital One Bowl wants an exciting finish, it should undoubtedly take Northwestern. Just ask Penn State/Nebraska/Michigan.
We see what you did there, coach. RT @coachfitz51: “If Nebraska wins the B1G, our choice is Northwestern #B1GCATS
— Capital One Bowl (@CapitalOneBowl) November 25, 2012
Tired of @CapitalOneBowl playing with your mind? Just follow Coach Fitz's lead and take things way out of context. @CapitalOneBowl's original tweet said "If Nebraska wins the B1G, our choice is Northwestern or Michigan." Looks like Fitz could afford to take a few introductory journalism classes.