2012 bowl projections: West Virginia projected to play in Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl

A week ago, the West Virginia Mountaineers were projected to play in the National Championship game. Now, after suffering its first loss of the season, West Virginia is projected to drop to the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.

In his weekly bowl projections, Jerry Palm of CBS Sports slotted the Mountaineers into the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, which is the bowl for the No. 4 team in the Big 12. West Virginia is currently one of four one-loss teams in the Big 12, all of which trail undefeated Kansas State.

Still, at No. 13 in the country and with an opportunity coming up to hand the Wildcats their first loss of the season, the Mountaineers appear to have a golden opportunity to move back up in the projections. The No. 3 seed from the Big 12 plays in the Alamo Bowl while the No. 2 seed heads to the Cotton Bowl. The Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl is scheduled for Dec. 29 in Phoenix.

At 2-4, the Pittsburgh Panthers are not projected to make a bowl this season. The Penn State Nittany Lions are not eligible for postseason play this year, due to NCAA sanctions.