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The 2008 college football season will be an exciting one. The SEC is the toughest conference in football, but balanced. Other conferences try to play catch up this season...

College Football 2008 Bowl Predictions

by Dan Boss (Analyst)

48

29029 reads

Preview/Prediction

August 05, 2008


The 2008 college football season will be an exciting one.  The SEC is the toughest conference in football, but balanced.  Other conferences try to play catch up this season.  Each BCS conference looks to send a team to the National Championship while a couple of non-BCS schools try to shake things up. 

Here is what the bowl schedule might look like at the end of the season:

 

Congressional Bowl (New)

Navy (Automatic Bid) vs. *UTEP (At-large)
*ACC loses bid with not enough teams, leaving the No. 9 spot vacant.  Nine teams are bowl eligible, but two of them are in BCS bowls.

 

St. Petersburg Bowl (New)

*Western Michigan (At-large) vs. East Carolina (C-USA No. 4)
*Big East loses bid with not enough teams.  Five bowl eligible teams already playing in other bowls.

 

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

Utah (Mountain West No. 2) vs. UCLA (Pac-10 No. 7)

 

R & L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Southern Miss (C-USA No. 5) vs. Florida Atlantic (Sun Belt Champ)

 

PapaJohns.com Bowl

*Nevada (At-large) vs. Troy (Sun Belt No. 2)
*SEC loses lowest bid with not enough teams.  Eight teams bowl eligible, but two of them are in BCS bowls.
Big East loses bid with not enough teams.  Sun Belt is bowl’s alternate conference affiliation.

 

New Mexico Bowl

Boise State (WAC No. 2) vs. New Mexico (Mountain West No. 4)

 

Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl

BYU (Mountain West Champ) vs. Washington (Pac-10 No. 6)

 

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl

Hawaii (Automatic Bid) vs. Arizona (Pac-10 No. 5)

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48 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Tyler Jones 11 months ago

    pretty decent selections considering how hard that is. Good write up. Should get more reads.

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    • Kyle Mack 11 months ago

      That writer is clueless.

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    • Trent Alderman 11 months ago

      Yeah these are mostly right but I mean come on man, Miami(FL) number 4 in the ACC? Where is UVa in this? You mean to tell me that UVa is gonna be 9th or lower in the ACC? They just came off of a 9-3 season and though they've suffered some losses, they're prepped to play. Contrary to popular belief Chris Long is not their only player. You should've researched a little more and you would've found that UVa has either the first or second ranked running back coming into this season. They have a promising offensive line and several promising wide recievers including kevin ogletree, one of the best wide outs in the ACC. And you mean to tell me they're gonna be behind the Maryland Twerps? Remember, they embarassed your supposed ACC No.4 48-7, handing the 'canes their worst ever loss in the Orange Bowl.

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    • Tyler Jones 11 months ago

      My point is, is that its all so subjective and random that no one can really bash or comend selections. It's pretty hard. Unless you're Phil Steele.

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  2. Keith Shelton 11 months ago

    I agree with Michigan in the Alamo Bowl. I predicted the same thing.

    The BCS title game will be shaped by the regular season game between Ohio State and USC. Either one could end up in the title game, but one team will certainly be eliminated after that reg. season matchup.

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    • Donald Fincher 11 months ago

      Ohio State will be eliminated if they lose because the pollster would put any two 1 loss teams in over Ohio State. But USC is very much alive with only 1 loss and that one being an early season loss.

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  3. Dan Boss 11 months ago

    Thanks for the comments.

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    • BabyTate 11 months ago

      I like this article, and you put a good bit of time and research into this work. Hope to see more articles from you soon. (Nic is correct that the Liberty Bowl is a much more prestigous bowl in the South than the Independence so if an SEC team had a choice they would take the Liberty Bowl. Be similiar to a Big10 team wishing to go to the Alamo Bowl over the Motor City Bowl.)

      Keep up the excellent effort.

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    • David Hedlind 11 months ago

      I dont think the prestige has anything to do with it. I think the bowls rotate selections through the years. So if the Music City had first selection last season the Liberty could be first of the thre this year and the Independnce next season.

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    • Dan Boss 11 months ago

      I did not know that about the Liberty Bowl being more prestigous in the South than the Independence Bowl. I'll keep that in mind in the future. Thanks for the comment.

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  4. Richie Lovell 11 months ago

    I like that national championship matchup. Fifth straight bowl loss for the Sooners right there.

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  5. Richie Lovell 11 months ago

    Sorry, fifth out of their last six.

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    • Jansyn Craig 11 months ago

      No, Sooners will win any Bowl game, even the NC. They have a really good QB-RB duo, and there defence will actually stop someone in a bowl game this year.

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  6. Dan Boss 11 months ago

    I'd like OSU to have the chance to prove they can beat an SEC team but I just don't see the SEC making it there after they beat each other up.

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  7. Ryan Staab 11 months ago

    There something I'm missing? Not that I'm complaining, but this is the second time the last few days I've seen Oklahoma-Ohio State predicted to meet each other in the big game.

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  8. Kyle Mack 11 months ago

    You have no idea what you are writing? The Big East has no tie in to the Texas Bowl so ND can't go there or any Big East team. The St. Pete Bowl is new for the Big East this year. Likewise for the Big East it is either the Sun or The Gator, NOT BOTH. The only way the Big East doesn't meet all bowl obligation is if there are 2 BCS Bowl eligible teams, such as WVU, USF or UC. UConn is going to a Bowl Game.

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  9. Nic Gulas 11 months ago

    I would find it hard that an SEC team would go to the Independence Bowl over the Liberty Bowl, especially since it is now moved to after Jan. 1. i

    O, and I am also a firm believer that Bama will begin and end its season in Atlanta.

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  10. Kyle Mack 11 months ago

    You have no idea what you are writing? The Big East has no tie in to the Texas Bowl so ND can't go there or any Big East team. The St. Pete Bowl is new for the Big East this year. Likewise for the Big East it is either the Sun or The Gator, NOT BOTH. The only way the Big East doesn't meet all bowl obligation is if there are 2 BCS Bowl eligible teams, such as WVU, USF or UC. UConn is going to a Bowl Game.

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  11. Nelson McGough 11 months ago

    You're joking about Kentucky right?

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  12. Chris Kelly 11 months ago

    Wisconsin underachieves every year so I don't see them as the second best team in the big ten, but I do see the Penn State players rallying around Paterno this year and suprising.

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    • Adam Rothlisberger 11 months ago

      wow.. I'm sorry but did you really just say that Wisconsin underachieves every year?!.. since 2004 they have gone 9-3, 10-3, 12-1, and 9-4... and they have competed very well and also won 2 out of 4 games against SEC opponents... meanwhile your Penn State team since 2004 has gone 4-7, 11-1, 9-4, 9-4... so it is obvious that you comment was your bias talking because Penn State is obviously the team underachieving every year. I too also can see Penn State competing but not being 2nd in the Big 10.. at best 3rd... i predict 4th.

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  13. Adam Rothlisberger 11 months ago

    Dan do you really believe that two ACC teams will make BCS bowls?... there are at least 3 better conferences with better teams.. not only that but if those are the two best ACC teams than one of them just lost in the conference championship game in the ACC a few weeks back and probably dropped in the polls a bit... I'd add either a sleeper team or probably an SEC team in there before I'd put two ACC teams in the BCS bowls.

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    • Dan Boss 11 months ago

      Each conference is allowed no more than two BCS teams. That means the only teams that can elimiate another ACC team would be another Big East team or Pac-10 team. I did consider Florida over Auburn and Wake Forest over Virginia Tech though.

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  14. C L 11 months ago

    Pretty Good....Although if FAU wins the Sun Belt and there is more than one team eligible (like Troy) then FAU would probably want to go to a higher payout bowl such as St Pete ($1M v. $325k) and let Troy beat up on CUSA in Nawlins...Plus I think it would help the Owls get a big turnout if we played in Tampa..especially with gas prices. I am surprised that you don't see a team from the non-BCS making it in as an at-large (BYU?).

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  15. RedRaider Red 11 months ago

    I don't get the "West Virginia auto-bid" part.

    As far as I understand:

    Rose Bowl: Pac-10 champ vs Big 10 champ
    Fiesta Bowl: Big 12 champ vs At-Large
    Sugar Bowl: SEC champ vs At-Large
    Orange Bowl: ACC champ vs At-Large

    Of course this ideally never happens since 2 of the above champs generally go to the national championship game leaving 2 slots open.

    I'm just saying that I don't think the the Big East has an automatic bid with any BCS bowl. Its tie-in with the Orange bowl ended in 2005.

    Corrent me if I'm wrong here.

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    • BabyTate 11 months ago

      Big East has an automatic bid to the BCS Bowls but is not locked in to any one BCS Bowl.

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    • David Hedlind 11 months ago

      As Baby Tate said the BE goes to the BCS no matter what just a matter of where. thats why they have been in the Fiesta, Orange, Sugar over the last couple years.

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    • Donald Fincher 11 months ago

      Red Raider,

      You said corrent you if you're wrong so I'm doing so. The BCS as currently constructed has 6 BCS auto-bid conferences and 2 at large selections. Then, there is an NC game as for 1 vs. 2. Since 1 vs. 2 will almost always come from those 6 conference champions, that allows 2 other at large to fill the spots unless a "BCS buster" from a non-automatic qualifier league (such as Hawaii last year) or Notre Dame finish above the thresholds established for them.

      For instance, last year 3 leagues had 2 teams in BCS bowls.

      SEC - LSU (NC game), Georgia (Sugar)
      Big Ten - Ohio State (NC game), Illinois (Rose)
      Big 12 - Oklahoma (Fiesta), Kansas (Orange)

      Then there were the automatic bids from conferences that only got one.

      ACC - Virginia Tech (Orange)
      Pac 10 - USC (Rose)
      Big East - West Virginia (Fiesta)

      That's a total of 9 teams. When you add Hawaii, you get the 10th.

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  1. Joe Bruin 11 months ago

    Sun Bowl : Oregon (Pac-10 No. 3) vs. Cincinnati (Big East No. 4)

    Emerald Bowl: Georgia Tech (ACC No. 7) vs. California (Pac-10 No. 4)

    What is with these disgraceful/embarassing tie-ins for the Pac-10??
    How is this possible, and whose head should roll?

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  2. Chris Moeller 11 months ago

    War Eagle man! I love this picks. I think it's Sooners vs. Trojans in championship though. Great picks.

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  3. Kyle Mack 11 months ago

    Hey Kristofer,
    ND is selected as a Big East Team for bowl games.

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    • Dan Boss 11 months ago

      ND isn't selected as a Big East team. The majority of the bowls select a specific team in the affiliated conference based on their ranking in the conference. For example the sixth team in the Big East. You aren't going to stick Notre Dame in as the sixth team and put the actual sixth team at number seven just because ND might have a better record. You can't do that because they don't play in the Big East. Also, if you read the BCS selection rules, ND is an automatic bid in a BCS bowl if it finishes in the top 8 of the BCS rankings while the Big East champion is guaranteed a BCS bid as well. That would make the Big East the only conference with two guranteed BCS bids. That isn't the case.

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  4. Dan Boss 11 months ago

    Here is the BCS Selection Policies and Procedures if anyone is interested:
    http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/eligibility

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  5. RedRaider Red 11 months ago

    To Donald, BabyTate, David:
    Inputs appreciated. Didn't know about the Big East thing.

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  6. Eric Pierce 11 months ago

    With the ACC having the worst BCS Bowl record of any conference that has participated even Non BCS Conferences at 1-9, maybe having two teams will give them a chance at actually winning a BCS Bowl.

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  7. Tyler Hill 11 months ago

    Dude, The Big East cannot go to the Gator and the Sun in the same year. It rotates. Some expert you are. Even more so, you are an idiot if you think that Gator, Sun or Meineke does not pick up UND.

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    • Dan Boss 11 months ago

      I never said I was an expert, they are merely predictions. I am not aware of the rotation. According to my research, this year's Gator Bowl will host Big East/Big12/ND vs. ACC #3. The Sun Bowl will host Big East/Big 12/ND vs. Pac-10 #3. I didn't read anywhere that they had to rotate. Let me know where I can read that at. Plus I feel that Notre Dame will barely make a bowl because they will only win six or seven games but we'll have to see.

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  8. Matt Scott 11 months ago

    And you have Colorado as 8th in the Big 12....its predictions across the board put CU 4th in the Big 12...maybe a little more research next time

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    • David Hedlind 11 months ago

      more like 4th in the north. Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Texas Tech, Nebraska are all expected to finish ahead of them. Also bowls dont pick based on place in conference, it is a matter of seletion turn. Where it says Big 12 8 it doesnt mean the 8th place team, it means that 7 other bowls get to select teams ahead of this one. thats why two teams with the same record may end up 1 in 1 out of bowls (Alabma and South Carolina).

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  9. The Dead Guy SEC 11 months ago

    so the SEC won't have enough slots to fill its bowl ties, but the ACC will have two teams in the BCS?

    gotcha.

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    • Dan Boss 11 months ago

      The SEC is too deep this year, your going to have more teams than usual with less than 6 wins, which restricts them from being bowl eligible. They also have two teams in the BCS, which takes one away from one of their other bowl ties. The only way there won't be two ACC teams is if another Big East or Pac-10 team makes it or a non-BCS school like BYU.

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  10. David Wunderlich 11 months ago

    Be careful about assuming that making a conference title game automatically means a team is going to the BCS. Losing on the last weekend makes a team seem less desirable, and that played a factor in Kansas getting to go over Missouri last year.

    In fact, the loser of the SEC title game has never gone to the BCS. Oklahoma in 2003 is the only Big 12 title game loser to go to the BCS, and it was #2 so there was no choice (though it's certain that someone would've taken the one-loss Sooners). The ACC has never had two BCS teams in a year, so its title game loser obviously hasn't gone either.

    That is partially the reason that I doubt the ACC will have two BCS teams, since the #2 in each division will not likely be eligible. It is also why, given your scenario, LSU and Florida (who I assume you have as the #2 in each division) are more likely to be in the BCS than Auburn is. It's also why the Big 12 South #2 team is more likely than Missouri to make it.

    Also, don't underestimate the Orange Bowl's desire to take an in-state team. The Orange Bowl will take Florida or South Florida (in that order) if they are eligible and not locked in elsewhere over just about anyone else. Miami and FSU almost certainly won't be BCS eligible, but if by some miracle they are they fall in that order between Florida and South Florida.

    In fact, it's a virtual lock that the Orange Bowl will take Florida if at all possible because of the large, local, and mostly affluent fan base (thanks engineering, law, med, and business schools!). It's like how the Sugar Bowl relishes the opportunity to take LSU whenever possible.

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  11. BabyTate 11 months ago

    Just a terrific article with equally outstanding comments. Totally enjoyable end-of-the week discussion.

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  12. carter andrews 8 months ago

    Common! These predictions STINK! How does Georgia make it to the Sugar Bowl? Get them in the BCS National Championship!

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