Michigan's 3 Most Likely Bowl Destinations This Year

The Michigan Wolverines won't be playing in the College Football Playoff this season, but they're going to a really good bowl game in Jim Harbaugh's first year at the helm after missing out on a bowl game last year. Here are Michigan's most likely bowl destinations this year:

TaxSlayer Bowl (ACC/ND or Big Ten vs. SEC)
Sat., Jan. 2, 12:00 p.m. ET
EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL

The most unlikely and least desireable of Michigan's bowl scenarios, the TaxSlayer Bowl would still provide Michigan with a chance to play a relatively good SEC team, though not on New Year's Day. For Michigan to play in this game, the loser of the Big Ten Championship would have to miss out on a New Year's Six bowl, and both the Outback Bowl and Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl would take them and Northwestern over Michigan. Not likely, but still possible.

Outback Bowl (Big Ten vs. SEC)
Fri., Jan. 1, 12:00 p.m. ET
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

One of the more prestigious bowl games outside of the New Year's Six, the Outback Bowl is a New Year's Day game against a solid (but beatable) SEC opponent that will probably be Tennessee or LSU. A New Year's Day game would be a great prize for this Michigan squad, but there's another game they have their eyes on:

Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl (Big Ten vs. SEC)
Fri., Jan. 1, 1:00 p.m. ET
Orlando Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL

Michigan is almost guaraneed to play in this game since the Citrus Bowl gets first pick over the Outback Bowl, and the Wolvernines are prime candidates given their strong performance this year and passionate fan base that travels extremely well. No one would turn down a trip to Florida for New Year's, especially for an expected matchup against the Florida Gators.