Yesterday the Wisconsin Badgers accepted an invitation to the Outback Bowl in Tampa Bay, Florida to face a TBD SEC opponent. Even though the SEC and Big 12 Conferences are still playing and very few bowls have set participants yet, the powers-that-be did know that:

1) UW would not be BCS bowl eligible.

2) UW has the third best record in the Big Ten, behind Ohio State and Illinois.

3) UW has a better overall record and better traveling fan base than Michigan, meaning UW would get a higher bowl than the Wolverines.

4) Very few Badger fans would want to shell out money for a third-straight Capitol One Bowl in Orlando.

Put all that together and you get the Outback Bowl in Tampa and a fourth consecutive New Year's Day bowl appearance for the Badgers. Here's to beaches and babes in place of family fun.