Bowl Projections 2018: 9 Games Minnesota Gophers Could Play In

MINNEAPOLIS — It was a great sports weekend for Minnesotans, and a rough one for our neighbors to the east. On Saturday, the Golden Gophers soundly beat the Wisconsin Badgers, 37-15, reclaiming Paul Bunyan's Axe after 14 straight years of losing.

On Sunday, the axe was brought to U.S. Bank Stadium, where the Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers, 24-17.

The Gophers' win Saturday means the team is bowl eligible, and will play in a postseason game.

According to ESPN's current bowl projections, Minnesota could end up playing Duke in Detroit's Quick Lane Bowl. Another possibility is Minnesota plays Oregon in Santa Clara, California's Redbox Bowl.

Here are all nine bowl games the Gophers could potentially play in, according to GopherSports.com:

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

• Dallas, Texas (Cotton Bowl Stadium)
• Dec. 26

Quick Lane Bowl

• Detroit, Mich. (Ford Field)
• Dec. 26

New Era Pinstripe Bowl

• Bronx, N.Y. (Yankee Stadium)
• Dec. 27

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

• Nashville, Tenn. (Nissan Stadium)
• Dec. 28

Redbox Bowl

• Santa Clara, Calif. (Levi's Stadium)
• Dec. 31

San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl

• San Diego, Calif. (SDCCU Stadium)
• Dec. 31

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

• Jacksonville, Fla. (TIAA Bank Field)
• Dec. 31

Outback Bowl

• Tampa, Fla. (Raymond James Stadium)
• Jan. 1

Citrus Bowl

• Orlando, Fla. (Camping World Stadium)
• Jan. 1

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Photo: Head coach P.J. Fleck of the Minnesota Golden Gophers (center) celebrates with his team after beating the Wisconsin Badgers 37-15 at Camp Randall Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)