Saturday, November 8, 2008

This week's BCS bowl projections

I'm going to try and do these after every weekend of football for the rest of the season.

So here goes...

BCS Title: Texas Tech vs. Florida

I still think Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma, so even if Oklahoma beats Texas Tech, Texas Tech makes the Big 12 title game. And even though crazy things have been known to happen in the Big 12 title game, Texas Tech should win it. And just for general craziness, let's have the Red Raiders win the whole thing.

Rose Bowl: USC vs. Penn State

Even after getting upset by Iowa, you still have to think Penn State wins the Big Ten. And while Oregon State can win the Pac 10 by winning out, that's not likely. USC will win, because USC always beats Big Ten teams in the Rose Bowl.

Fiesta Bowl: Texas vs. Utah

If Texas or Oklahoma State is available, I think the Fiesta takes them instead of Oklahoma, who has lost two straight Fiesta Bowls. And Utah has a big enough fan base that the Fiesta can make the other bowls owe them a favor by taking the Utes when they don't have to. Texas probably wins; they don't have Oklahoma's big game jinx, and 2008 Utah is not 2004 Utah or 2006 Boise State.

Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Ohio State

This is probably the first appearance of an SEC title game loser in a BCS bowl, at least in a while. But the SEC teams after 'Bama and Florida just aren't attractive options this year, even if they'll end up BCS eligible (which they shouldn't). And with the choices of Ohio State, Boise State, and the Big East champion -- which probably won't be West Virginia, with Cinci's win -- expect the Sugar to snap up the Buckeyes without thinking twice. If this actually happens, figure on the Buckeyes to beat an SEC team in a BCS bowl for the first time.

Orange Bowl: North Carolina vs. Cincinnati

This game is probably setting an all-time low for BCS bowl TV rankings, but UNC seems to be the class of the ACC, such as it is, and the Pitt/Cinci game (which should decide the Big East title) is at Cinci. Cinci will of course, win if this actually happens; it's a Big East/ACC bowl game, after all.

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