The biggest problem the Big 10 has faced in recent bowl games has been bad matchups. Some teams overachieve during the course of a season and are placed in a more prestigious bowl against a better opponent (MSU). Other schools simply get leapfrogged by a team that the bowl thinks will bring more fans (Michigan over Iowa). The fact that the Big 10 regularly receives 2 BCS invitations also adds to the unbalanced matchups.
For argument's sake lets take a look at how the Big 10 Bowl matchups might've played out with Nebraska in the mix
Big Ten Standings:
Of course we don't know how Nebraska or anybody else would've faired record-wise in the Big 10 but I think we can agree that Nebraska probably would've ended up somewhere around the level of a MSU/WISC but above Iowa.
Big 10 Standings (Nebraska Big 12 Record included)
Ohio State 7-1 12-1
Michigan State 7-1 11-1
Wisconsin 7-1 11-1
(Nebraska 6-2 10-2)
Iowa 4-4 7-5
Illinois 4-4 6-6
Penn State 4-4 7-5
Michigan 3-5 7-5
Northwestern 3-5 7-5
Big 10 Bowls:
1. Rose/BCS vs. Pac-10/BCS
2. BCS vs. At-Large
3. Capital One vs. SEC
4. Outback vs. SEC
5/6. Gator vs. SEC
5/6. Insight vs. Big 12
7. Texas vs. Big 12
8. Ticket City vs. C-USA or Big 12
9. Little Caesers Bowl vs. MAC
2010 Hypothetical Match-Ups:
Rose: Wisconsin vs. TCU
Sugar: OSU vs. Arkansas
Capital One: MSU vs. Alabama
Outback: Nebraska vs. Florida
Gator: PSU vs. Miss. St
Insight: Michigan vs. Mizzou
Texas: Iowa vs. Baylor
Ticket City: Illinois vs. Texas Tech
Little Caesers Bowl: Northwestern vs. Toledo
Arguments can be made for/against PSU actually getting picked over Michigan and if Nebraska would've had a better record than MSU had they actually played etc.
At first glance I like the match-ups but the big question for me is how Nebraska would've done against Florida. I would like to think that they would be more motivated to play a SEC opponent in a New Year's Day bowl than playing a team they had already beaten in a throw-away bowl.
This isn't meant to be a comprehensive look....more of a talking point for discussion. What does everybody think?