College Football 2012: Complete Bowl Projections for All 35 Bowl Games

It may only be April, but it's never too soon to start thinking about the most unique postseason in all of sports: college football bowl season. The number of bowls will again be 35 for the 2012 season, meaning 70 teams will qualify for a bowl.

From Albuquerque to Atlanta, and from Boise to the Bronx, late December and early January will once again be filled with college football on predominantly a daily basis. Who will be playing in each of those 35 holiday treats (we still miss you, International Bowl)?

With spring practices winding down across the nation, let's look at the current bowl projections.

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New Mexico Bowl (Date TBA): San Diego State vs. Arizona

The Mountain West has expanded to 10 teams for the 2012 season and should have enough bowl-eligible teams to send its No. 5 team to Albuquerque. Despite the loss of four-year starting quarterback Ryan Lindley, San Diego State should make its third straight trip to the postseason in a reconfigured conference.

Wildcats head coach Rich Rodriguez will take advantage of a soft Pac-12 South and guide Arizona to a bowl game in his first season in Tucson. QB Matt Scott is a much better fit for his spread offense than any quarterback that he inherited at Michigan. Luring defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel from West Virginia was a major coup.

With two teams from the Southwest, the bowl's annual chili cook-off between the two teams should be the best ever.

2011 Result: Temple 37, Wyoming 15

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Date TBA): Louisiana Tech vs. Northern Illinois

With the WAC losing Fresno State, Hawaii and Nevada to the Mountain West, defending champion Louisiana Tech should again be the class of a watered-down league. The Bulldogs are likely to make their first postseason trip to Boise since losing to Clemson in 2001.

MAC champion Northern Illinois may struggle to defend its title without quarterback Chandler Harnish, but second-year coach Dave Doeren should take the team bowling again. The Huskies upset Fresno State two years ago at Bronco Stadium and would be much more comfortable than Louisiana Tech in frigid Boise.

2011 Result: Ohio 24, Utah State 23

Beef O'Brady's Bowl (Date TBA): Cincinnati vs. Tulsa

The Bearcats are unlikely to match last year's 10 wins with the loss of QB Zach Collaros, RB Isaiah Pead and LB JK Schaeffer. They'll contend for the title in a watered-down Big East but will fall short of a BCS bowl bid. In addition, the Bearcat fans' "You got Pead on" chant will be missed.

Tulsa should be in the mix for its fourth C-USA West Division title in eight years but has to face both Houston and SMU on the road. Having to replace three-year starting QB G.J. Kinne won't help matters, but expect seven wins from a solid program.

2011 Result: Marshall 20, FIU 10

Poinsettia Bowl (Dec. 20): BYU vs. Wyoming

If BYU is bowl-eligible, they are contractually obligated to head to San Diego. The Cougars face a rigorous schedule in their second year as an independent but are more talented than the team that went 10-3 a year ago. The Cougars are 5-1 in their past six bowl games.

Wyoming has gone bowling in two of the past three seasons, and sophomore QB Brett Smith should get them back to the postseason again. Head coach Dave Christensen is another strong season or two away from landing a job in a BCS conference, unless of course Wyoming joins a BCS league.

2011 Result: TCU 31, Louisiana Tech 24

Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 22): Boise State vs. Washington

The Broncos in Sin City is becoming an annual pre-Christmas tradition after wins in both 2010 and 2011. An undefeated season and BCS bowl bid is not impossible, but Boise State figures to stumble once or twice after losing the winningest quarterback in NCAA history, Kellen Moore.

Washington's defense was so bad in the Alamo Bowl loss to Baylor that head coach Steve Sarkisian fired his defensive coordinator and long-time friend Nick Holt. While the loss of RB Chris Polk will hurt, QB Keith Price should have a big season. A tough schedule and having to play home games at the Seattle Seahawks' stadium while Husky Stadium is renovated likely means seven wins is the ceiling.

2011 Result: Boise State 56, Arizona State 24

New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 22): Southern Miss vs. Arkansas State

Two teams with first-year head coaches squared off in last year's New Orleans Bowl, and it could happen again in 2012. Southern Miss should again be a Conference USA heavyweight under new boss Ellis Johnson but will likely fall short of a second consecutive league crown.

Arkansas State surprisingly plucked Gus Malzahn from Auburn to replace Hugh Freeze. The Red Wolves won 10 games and the Sun Belt title last season before Freeze bolted for Ole Miss, and Malzahn figures to pick up where Freeze left off.

After Bobby Petrino's dismissal, Malzahn's four-month tenure in Jonesboro is the longest of any FBS head coach in the state of Arkansas.

2011 Result: Louisiana-Lafayette 32, San Diego State 30

Hawaii Bowl (Dec. 24): East Carolina vs. Colorado State

The Mountain West slot in the Hawaii Bowl is reserved for the host school, but Norm Chow's Warriors will fall short of a bowl in their first season in the league. Another first-year head coach, Colorado State's Jim McElwain, fresh off a national title as Alabama's offensive coordinator, will get his team to the postseason.

East Carolina slid back to 5-7 last year after a bowl appearance in Ruffin McNeill's first season. With three new coaches in Conference USA's East Division, the Pirates should capitalize and move back up the standings. They won't win the division, but a trip to the islands in December isn't a bad consolation prize.

2011 Result: Southern Miss 24, Nevada 17

Little Caesar's Bowl (Dec. 26): Illinois vs. Ohio

New coach Tim Beckman walks into a decent situation in Champaign, as Ron Zook left him plenty of talent, including QB Nathan Scheelhaase. Beckman also excels at the fine art of keeping track of the score. The Illini play in the weaker of the two Big Ten divisions, and should be able to put together six wins.

Ohio has been the class of the MAC recently but has yet to get over the hump and win the conference title. This will be the year that Frank Solich finally gets it done. Unfortunately, the reward is spending Christmas in chilly Detroit.

2011 Result: Purdue 37, Western Michigan 32

Belk Bowl (Dec. 27): Georgia Tech vs. USF

Georgia Tech came out of the gates flying last season but closed by losing five of seven. The schedule is tough this year with ACC road games at Clemson, North Carolina and Virginia Tech, plus non-conference dates with BYU and Georgia.

Despite the rough road, Paul Johnson should have a chance to get his first bowl win at Georgia Tech after four straight losses.

The days of USF faltering late in the season were assumed over once Jim Leavitt was fired, but Skip Holtz's Bulls had a relapse last season, dropping seven of eight following a 4-0 start. B.J. Daniels is back for a final season at quarterback. Despite bouts with inconsistency, he'll do enough to get his team to Charlotte for the second time in three years.

2011 Result: N.C. State 31, Louisville 24

Military Bowl (Date TBA): UAB vs. Vanderbilt

The Military Bowl should have an at-large selection, as Army will likely not reach six wins and will be unable to fill its slot. Vanderbilt will miss out on any of the SEC's tie-ins with the league expanding to 14 teams but will be an attractive candidate to come to Washington, D.C, as an at-large team.

UAB cut ties with Neil Callaway after another losing season in 2011 and brought in rising star Garrick McGee from Arkansas. The Blazers were always competitive but never could put six wins together under Callaway. 

McGee, a Bobby Petrino disciple (on the field, at least), will ride a manageable schedule to a surprising bowl berth.

2011 Result: Toledo 42, Air Force 41 (OT)

Holiday Bowl (Dec. 27): TCU vs. Utah

A pair of old Mountain West foes could restore their rivalry in San Diego. Utah should be the second-best team in the Pac-12 South, meaning a favorable bowl destination for the Utes. QB Jordan Wynn has been injury-plagued but is one of the league's better signal-callers when healthy. Utah was embarassed by TCU 47-7 in 2010 with ESPN's College Gameday in Salt Lake City.

TCU will struggle with some growing pains in its first year in the Big 12, but Gary Patterson is too good of a coach not to have the Horned Frogs in a bowl somewhere. After a Poinsettia Bowl victory, the Frogs will head back to Qualcomm Stadium, this time to play the more prestigious of the two bowls played there.

2011 Result: Texas 21, California 10

Independence Bowl (Dec. 28): Nevada vs. Wake Forest

Wake Forest was a quarter away from the ACC Championship Game last year before losing a 14-point lead at Clemson. Despite the loss of WR Chris Givens and most of their offensive line, the Deacons should match last year's six wins and get a chance to atone for last year's Music City Bowl loss.

Hall of Fame coach Chris Ault leads Nevada into the Mountain West this season. His trademark pistol offense will guide the Wolfpack in the top half of the league standings. A game with Grobe and Ault would match two of the most under-appreciated coaches in college football.

2011 Result: Missouri 41, North Carolina 24

Texas Bowl (Dec. 28): Iowa vs. Baylor

Baylor head coach Art Briles was a winner before he had Robert Griffin III, and while another 10-win season is unlikely, the Bears should get to their third straight bowl. The non-conference schedule is light, and a road game against Texas Tech is being played just an hour up I-35 at Cowboys Stadium. QB Nick Florence filled in admirably for an injured Griffin III last year against the Red Raiders.

Iowa never found its stride in a disappointing 7-6 season last year, but the Hawkeyes are the only Big Ten team with three bowl wins in the past four seasons. The combination of QB James Vandenberg and WR Keenan Davis along with a steady defense should get the Hawkeyes back to the postseason. The game would be a homecoming for new offensive coordinator Greg Davis, who led (or watched Vince Young lead) the Texas offense to a national title in 2005.

2011 Result: Texas A&M 33, Northwestern 22

Champs Sports Bowl (Date TBA): Rutgers vs. Miami (FL)

Rutgers was stunned in late January when 11-year head coach Greg Schiano bolted for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Interim coach Kyle Flood takes over a promising young team.

If the quarterback battle between Chas Dodd and Gary Nova can be settled, the Scarlet Knights should find themselves in Florida for the postseason, either here or in the Orange Bowl.

The Hurricanes are still under NCAA investigation for a scandal involving illegal benefits to numerous former players but are hopeful that declining a bowl bid last season should prevent them from facing further postseason restrictions. Miami could contend for the ACC Coastal title and an Orange Bowl berth, but a second trip in four years to Orlando is more likely for Miami and all 79 of their fans.

2011 Result: Florida State 18, Notre Dame 14

Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 29): Air Force vs. Houston

This matchup might ring a bell, as the Falcons and Cougars met in both the 2008 and 2009 Armed Forces Bowl, splitting the two matchups. Air Force is always an attractive selection for the bowl, and Troy Calhoun has yet to miss a bowl game (or a coaching search at a BCS program) in five seasons in Colorado Springs.

Houston says goodbye to head coach Kevin Sumlin, QB Case Keenum and WR Patrick Edwards, but is still a contender in Conference USA. While the losses are significant, new coach Tony Levine was promoted from within, so the transition should be fairly smooth.

2011 Result: BYU 24, Tulsa 21

Alamo Bowl (Date TBA): Kansas State vs. Stanford

We'll get what would have been an exceptional matchup last season one year too late. Kansas State could match last year's 10 wins but will again fall short of a BCS bowl with road trips to Oklahoma and West Virginia. However, don't think head coach Bill Snyder won't have the Wildcats back in a top second-tier bowl.

Stanford is a bit of an unknown with Andrew Luck gone, as well as offensive line stars Jonathan Martin and David DeCastro. The front seven should be fantastic with Chase Thomas and a healthy Shayne Skov, but there are concerns on offense. An Alamo Bowl berth in what is seemingly a rebuilding year will show just how far the program has come.

2011 Result: Baylor 67, Washington 56

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (Dec. 29): Navy vs. UCLA

Navy missed a bowl game for the first time in nine years last season. If they can return to the postseason in 2012, they'll be headed to San Francisco. Road trips to Penn State and Air Force make for a challenging schedule, but six wins is still feasible for the Midshipmen.

UCLA has been an enigma for a long time in college football. A beautiful campus in a recruiting hotbed that plays in the sport's most famous stadium should not be so mediocre. New coach Jim Mora will try and resurrect the Bruins. If they can get any sort of consistent play at quarterback, UCLA should be playing at AT&T Park for a second straight December.

2011 Result: Illinois 20, UCLA 14

Pinstripe Bowl (Date TBA): Texas A&M vs. Pittsburgh

With the Big 12 unable to fill its slot at Yankee Stadium, Texas A&M will gladly swoop in and fill the vacancy left by its former conference. It will be a struggle for the Aggies in their first year in the SEC, so it will likely take an at-large spot for Kevin Sumlin's first team in College Station to go bowling.

Like the Aggies, Pittsburgh also has a new head coach in 2012. Paul Chryst was the architect of a dominant Wisconsin running game the past few seasons and is a perfect fit in a city that loves power football (and pierogies) as much as any. These teams split a home-and-home in 2002 and 2003, with each team winning on the road.

2011 Result: Rutgers 27, Iowa State 13

Insight Bowl (Date TBA): Oklahoma State vs. Penn State

A dream season in Stillwater in 2011 will be impossible to match without QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon, but the Cowboys defense should be much better than it was a year ago. The Big 12 is stronger with West Virginia onboard and Texas looking like Texas again, so Oklahoma State will likely have to settle for the "other" bowl in Phoenix after last year's Fiesta Bowl victory.

Bill O'Brien takes over a Penn State program left in shambles by a tumultuous last six months. Despite all the adversity, the roster is still full of quality players. Forget matching last year's nine wins, but a light non-conference schedule and a weak Big Ten Leaders Division should allow for six wins. At that rate, O'Brien would top Joe Paterno's 409 wins in the year 2080.

2011 Result: Oklahoma 31, Iowa 14

Music City Bowl (Dec. 31): Virginia vs Tennessee

Two orange-clad programs appear headed in different directions headed into 2012. Mike London took Virginia to the brink of the ACC Championship Game in just his second season in Charlottesville, and has closed the gap in the Commonwealth with rival Virginia Tech. There are a lot of losses from last year, but the Cavaliers should still be a bowl team.

It will likely take more than just a bowl bid to save Derek Dooley's job in Knoxville. A short trip down I-40 to Nashville likely means only six or seven wins, so the Vols could be led by an interim coach. Although the states share a border, these teams haven't met since the 1991 Sugar Bowl.

2011 Result: Mississippi State 23, Wake Forest 17

Sun Bowl (Dec. 31): California vs. N.C. State

Despite being a perennial bowl team, Cal has yet to come to El Paso during the bowl's 17-year tie-in with the Pac-12. 2012 might be the year, as the Bears figure to churn out their usual seven or eight wins (and blowout loss to USC) under Jeff Tedford. After three straight bowl games in California, the Bears will return to the Lone Star State for the holidays.

Tom O'Brien's teams have historically played their best football at the end of the season, including an 8-1 record in O'Brien's last nine bowl games. The Wolfpack are a notch below Florida State and Clemson in the ACC Atlantic Division but should still find themselves in a good bowl game for a third straight year.

2011 Result: Utah 30, Georgia Tech 27 (OT)

Liberty Bowl (Dec. 31): Missouri vs. SMU

While the gauntlet for the Tigers is not as difficult as fellow SEC newcomer Texas A&M, Missouri will also struggle with the transition to the toughest conference in college football. A trip just down the road to the Liberty Bowl would not be a bad way to close out their first season in the SEC. New Year's Eve on Beale Street isn't so bad either.

The resurrection of SMU football needs only a conference title to be completed. The Mustangs get both Houston and Tulsa in Dallas, so this could finally be the year for head coach June Jones. If they can pull it off, they'll be headed to Memphis. The Mustangs hope to have quarterback Garrett Gilbert eligible in the fall after transferring from Texas.

2011 Result: Cincinnati 31, Vanderbilt 24

Chick-fil-A Bowl (Dec. 31): Georgia vs. Florida State

The Chick-fil-A Bowl has become a New Year's Eve staple, and the bowl would be overjoyed to match the Seminoles and Bulldogs. A trip to Atlanta would likely be seen as a disappointment for the Seminoles, as they'll enter the season as the ACC favorite simply because they're Florida State.

Expect them to again just fall short of their first BCS bowl in seven years.

Georgia received another gift from the SEC schedule makers, as Alabama, Arkansas and LSU are off of the schedule for the second year in a row. They're the favorite to repeat as SEC East champions but aren't quite strong enough to win the league. On talent alone, this matchup would rival almost any of the BCS bowls.

2011 Result: Auburn 43, Virginia 24

TicketCity Bowl (Jan. 1): Northwestern vs. Notre Dame

Despite numerous bowl appearances after its resurrection from the depths of college football, Northwestern has still gone 63 seasons without winning a bowl game. A tricky non-conference schedule that includes Boston College, Syracuse and Vanderbilt will challenge the Wildcats, but avoiding both Ohio State and Wisconsin should aid the goal of bowl eligibility.

Notre Dame could find itself in a bit of a conundrum with regards to bowl tie-ins. A BCS bowl seems unlikely with a brutal schedule and major question marks under center. The Irish can't return to the Champs Sports Bowl, so they are likely to take an at-large invitation. The Big 12 won't fill all of its slots, so expect Notre Dame to land in Dallas and play at the storied Cotton Bowl.

2012 Result: Houston 30, Penn State 14

Outback Bowl (Jan. 1): South Carolina vs. Michigan State

Expectations are sky-high in Columbia after the Gamecocks' first ever 11-win season in 2011. Along with Georgia, South Carolina should be a preseason favorite to win the SEC East. The return of RB Marcus Lattimore from a knee injury is vital. A second division title in three years is possible, but the Gamecocks won't come up with their first BCS bowl bid.

Michigan State has become a model of consistency under Mark Dantonio after four years of flakiness under John L. Smith. The skill position losses are severe, including QB Kirk Cousins, but this may be the best defense the Spartans have had since their dominant teams of the 1960's. The quarter-century Rose Bowl drought will continue, but Michigan State will be in a January bowl for the fourth straight year.

2012 Result: Michigan State 33, Georgia 30 (3OT)

Capital One Bowl (Jan. 1): Arkansas vs. Michigan

Arkansas has been in the news for all of the wrong reasons lately, but the Razorbacks still return a great team in the fall led by senior QB Tyler Wilson. Splitting home games with Alabama and LSU could get the Hogs to the BCS, but it will likely take 11 wins to earn a bid. An appearance in the marquee non-BCS bowl would still make for a fine season in Fayetteville unless the coaches screw it up.

Everything went right for Michigan in Brady Hoke's first season, going 11-2 and winning the Sugar Bowl. The Wolverines return most of their skill position talent but suffer some key losses in the trenches. Getting fellow Legends Division contenders Iowa and Michigan State at home should help, but getting to Pasadena might be a bit too much to ask. 

2012 Result: South Carolina 30, Nebraska 13

Gator Bowl (Jan. 1): Florida vs. Nebraska

Florida upgraded its offense this offseason by replacing coordinator Charlie Weis with younger, thinner Brent Pease, but questions remain with quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel. Speedy backs Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps are gone, but there is more experience on the offensive line. The Gators should top last year's 6-6 regular season, but it'll be a second straight trip to Jacksonville for Florida.

While Nebraska entered November ranked in the top 10 of the polls, the Cornhuskers dropped three of five to close the season in ugly fashion. The defense loses its best player from each unit with DT Jared Crick, LB Lavonte David and CB Alfonzo Dennard all off to the NFL.

Nebraska is always a great bowl draw, and the Gator Bowl should be thrilled with a rematch of the 1995 national championship game.

2012 Result: Florida 24, Ohio State 17

Rose Bowl (Jan. 1): Alabama vs. Oregon

Don't expect another three-loss season for the Crimson Tide like in 2010 after their last national title. The offense should be better than last year even without RB Trent Richardson, and the defense is young but extremely talented. Alabama will not win the SEC but should grab an at-large BCS berth and play in the sport's most famous bowl game for the first time in 67 years.

Oregon is once again a national title contender, and two meetings with USC this season seem about as certain as a Duck player failing a drug test this season. QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James are gone, but their replacements may be even better.

The call here is for the Trojans to reclaim Pac-12 supremacy, but the Ducks will be back in Pasadena for the third time in four years.

2012 Result: Oregon 45, Wisconsin 38

Orange Bowl (Jan. 1): Louisville vs. Virginia Tech

With the last selection of at-large teams this season, the Orange Bowl is almost certain to get a Big East vs. ACC matchup. Charlie Strong has quickly cleaned up the mess Steve Kragthorpe left at Louisville, and the Cardinals will start the season as the Big East favorite behind sophomore QB Teddy Bridgewater.

Injuries left the Virginia Tech defense in shambles last season, but the Hokies still won 11 games. QB Logan Thomas loses most of his weapons, but the defense should be one of the best in the Frank Beamer/Bud Foster era. Despite a schedule that includes Florida State and Clemson, the Hokies remain the safe pick to claim the ACC crown.

2012 Result: West Virginia 70, Clemson 33

Sugar Bowl (Jan. 2): Texas vs. LSU

After a 13-12 record the past two seasons, patience is wearing thin in Austin. Anything short of 10 wins this season will be seen as a disappointment. With David Ash emerging as a viable option at quarterback, the Longhorns could finish as high as second in the Big 12 and earn a trip just down the road to New Orleans.

If you haven't heard, Texas has a lot of talent. Seriously, they do.

LSU was in the discussion as one of the greatest teams of all time after a 13-0 start last season prior to being shut out by Alabama. The defense should be fantastic, so any increased production at quarterback from Zach Mettenberger might be all that's needed for the Bayou Bengals to defend their SEC title.

Road trips to Arkansas, Auburn, Florida and Texas A&M will squelch another perfect regular season, however.

2012 Result: Michigan 23, Virginia Tech 20 (OT)

Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 3): Clemson vs. Oklahoma

Oh, the storylines here. Clemson plucked Sooners defensive coordinator Brent Venables this past offseason after Mike Stoops returned to Norman. The bar for defensive performances in bowl games has been set low for Venables after the Tigers allowed 70 points to West Virginia last year. Clemson won't win the ACC again, but their rabid fanbase and elite talent make them very attractive as an at-large team.

When Oklahoma was bad last season, they were really bad. The home loss to a terrible Texas Tech team was the season's biggest head-scratcher, and the Sooners never showed up with the Big 12 title on the line at Oklahoma State. However, the defense should be better with Stoops' return, and the emergence of WR Trey Metoyer this spring should make up for the loss of Ryan Broyles.

2012 Result: Oklahoma State 41, Stanford 38 (OT)

Cotton Bowl (Jan. 4): Auburn vs. West Virginia

It wasn't hard to anticipate Auburn's struggles in 2011 after losing almost every key piece from its 2010 national title team. However, head coach Gene Chizik and staff have stockpiled plenty of talent on the Plains. They're still too young to win or even seriously contend in the SEC West, but the record should improve with more key games at home and the arrival of Brian VanGorder to lead the defense.

West Virginia appears to be an ideal fit for the Big 12 after Dana Holgorsen's team hung 70 points on Clemson in the Orange Bowl. There are concerns on defense with coordinator Jeff Casteel leaving for Arizona, but the offense should light up the scoreboard against some soft Big 12 defenses.

Mountaineer fans travel as well as any fanbase and would be sure to invade Cowboys Stadium.

2012 Result: Arkansas 29, Kansas State 16

BBVA Compass Bowl (Jan. 5): Mississippi State vs. Temple

After nine wins in 2010, Mississippi State slid back to 7-6 in 2011, dropping all three of its big home games with Alabama, LSU and South Carolina. While the Bulldogs are helped by Texas A&M and Tennessee replacing South Carolina and Georgia on the schedule, losing QB Chris Relf, RB Vick Ballard  and DT Fletcher Cox should derail a move up the SEC West standings.

Temple is back in the Big East after the conference gave it the boot just eight years ago. Second-year coach Steve Addazio has continued what Al Golden built in Philadelphia. The Owls likely aren't deep enough yet to win the Big East, but a third bowl trip in four years is within reach. A matchup with an SEC school would be a landmark moment for an improving program, and west Birmingham would seem like paradise compared to north Philadelphia.

2012 Result: SMU 28, Pittsburgh 6

GoDaddy.com Bowl (Jan. 6): Western Michigan vs. Louisiana-Lafayette

Bill Cubit has done a tremendous job since arriving in Kalamazoo in 2005. He's taken the Broncos to three bowl games and has only had two losing seasons. Toledo loses head coach Tim Beckman and Northern Illinois must replace QB Chandler Harnish, so this could be the year the Broncos break through and win their first MAC West title.

Louisiana-Lafayette was a bit overshadowed in the Sun Belt last year thanks to Arkansas State's 10-win season, but the Rajun Cajuns' success may have been even more shocking than the Red Wolves'. After a thrilling bowl win over San Diego State, head coach Mark Hudspeth should build on that momentum and have another strong season.

2012 Result: Northern Illinois 38, Arkansas State 20

BCS Championship Game (Jan. 7): Wisconsin vs. USC

It might be a two-game season for Wisconsin to get to their first BCS Championship Game. The Badgers don't lose in Madison, and the road schedule includes Indiana, Oregon State, Penn State and Purdue (Bret Bielema's card says go for two when up by 26). If Wisconsin can survive a trip to Nebraska in late September, they could be 12-0 heading to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship Game. RB Montee Ball is a preseason Heisman Trophy favorite.

USC got a major break when QB Matt Barkley decided to return for his senior season. The receiving duo of Robert Woods and Marqise Lee is the best in the country, and the schedule brings California, Notre Dame and Oregon to Los Angeles. It will likely take two wins over the Ducks, but the Trojans should play for all the marbles for the first time in seven years.

2012 Result: Alabama 21, LSU 0