Bowl season kicks off Saturday with the much-anticipated New Mexico Bowl. OK, so even Albuquerqians don't care about Fresno State-Wyoming, and you probably don't either unless you're in a bowl pool (I've got Fresno State, with a confidence of 20).

But 7 Big Ten teams are playing this postseason, some in some pretty good matchups. Will the Big Ten finally put up a respectable showing nationally, or is the league headed for a repeat of last year's 1-6 record?

Here's a preview of the bowl games involving Big Ten teams.

Champs Sports Bowl
Wisconsin vs. Miami
When: 8 p.m., Dec. 29
TV: ESPN
Line: Miami minus-3
Preview: Miami's resurgence isn't complete, but the Hurricanes are on their way back to being a perennial top-10 team. Sophomore Jacory Harris is one of the country's top quarterbacks, though he threw an alarming 17 interceptions this year. 

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Wisconsin got manhandled by Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl last year, and will need a big day out of John Clay to avoid a repeat. The Hurricanes rank 28th in the country in rush defense and held a banged-up Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech) to 7 yards on 5 carries.

Insight Bowl
Minnesota vs. Iowa State
When: 6 p.m., Dec. 31
TV: NFL Network
Line: Minnesota minus-2 1/2
Preview: Really? The NFL Network is trying to attract viewers with this game? Minnesota is making its third appearance in the bowl in four years, and hasn't come away with a win yet. Eric Decker is still out for the Gophers, which means trouble for the Big Ten's lowest-scoring offense. Of course, Iowa State is even more inept with the football (102nd nationally in scoring) and the Cyclones enter the postseason having lost 3 of their last 4 games.

Outback Bowl
Northwestern vs. Auburn
When: 11 a.m., Jan. 1
TV: ESPN
Line: Auburn minus-7
Preview: It was a long time ago, I know, but Northwestern was playing as well as any team in the Big Ten at the end of the regular season. The Wildcats won 6 of their final 8 games after a 2-2 start, and Mike Kafka generated some conference MVP buzz with his play. Auburn finished its season heading in a different direction, though the Tigers nearly upset Alabama after running back Ben Tate proclaimed he was the best back in the state (better than Bama's Mark Ingram, the Heisman Trophy winner). Tate finished with 1,254 yards rushing this year.

Capital One Bowl
Penn State vs. LSU
When: 1 p.m., Jan. 1
TV: ABC
Line: Penn State minus-2 1/2
Preview: One of the most tantalizing matchups of bowl season and part of a great slate of New Year's day games, Penn State has a chance to get its first quality win all season. Daryll Clark and Co. shredded mediocre competition in the Big Ten, but lost to Iowa and Ohio State by a combined 45-17. LSU, with an array of offensive weapons that haven't always meshed, will test the Big Ten's top scoring defense, though running back Charles Scott is recovering from a broken collarbone. Stat of the day: LSU is 4-0 in bowl games under Les Miles, winning by an average of 28.5 points.

Rose Bowl
Ohio State vs. Oregon
When: 4:30 p.m., Jan. 1
TV: ABC
Line: Oregon minus-3 1/2
Preview: Oregon's a good team, probably better than Ohio State, but don't expect the Buckeyes to get much credit nationally for a win because the Ducks don't have quite the name value of USC, Texas or Florida. An at-large BCS selection, OSU lost at home to USC earlier this year, which lost to Oregon by 27. The transitive property doesn't necessarily hold, but Oregon can put up points like no team the Buckyes have faced. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli will be a leading Heisman candidate in 2010, and LaMichael James (1,476 yards) has had a great redshirt freshman season. As always, Terrelle Pryor is key for Ohio State, which lost 2 players to academic ineligibility.

Alamo Bowl
Michigan State vs. Texas Tech
When: 9 p.m., Jan. 2
TV: ESPN
Line: Texas Tech minus-8
Preview: The good news is Michigan State made a bowl. The bad is the Spartans barely have enough players left to play in it. MSU suspended 12 players for a dorm brawl and another off-field incident in the last month. Cornerback Chris L. Rucker and starting receivers Mark Dell and B.J. Cunningham are among those sidelined, meaning the Spartans will have trouble keeping up with and stopping the nation's second-rated passing offense. Star MSU linebacker Greg Jones could be playing in his last college game.

Orange Bowl
Iowa vs. Georgia Tech
When: 8 p.m., Jan. 5
TV: FOX
Line: Georgia Tech minus-4
Preview: It's not the sexiest Orange Bowl ever, but it should be a good one as Iowa's smothering defense tries to shut down Georgia Tech's high-powered rushing attack. The Hawkeyes were about the most fortunate team in America in their 9-0 start, winning 4 games by a field goal or less. Their luck ultimately ran out when quarterback Ricky Stanzi injured his ankle, but Stanzi is expected back for the bowl game. Georgia Tech, with 2 900-yard rushers in Jonathan Dwyer and quarterback Josh Nesbitt, won 11 games in Paul Johnson's second season.