Bowl game projections 2012: Minnesota projected to miss out on postseason

After losing a third consecutive game to begin conference play, the Minnesota Golden Gophers are no longer projected to play in a bowl game by SB Nation's Jason Kirk, who posted his most recent projections on Sunday. Minnesota is currently 4-3 this season after trading an early winning streak for its current losing skid.

A week ago, Kirk projected the Gophers to play the Northern Illinois Huskies in the Little Caesars Bowl, which matches up teams from the Big Ten and MAC. Now, Kirk is no longer confident in Minnesota's ability to become bowl-eligible.

In order to receive a bid for a bowl game, a team must win at least six games during the regular season, so Minnesota would need to win at least two of its remaining conference games.

With games against Purdue, Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska and Michigan State still on the schedule, possible wins will likely need to come against the Boilermakers and Fighitng Illini, two of the conference's weaker squads.