Bowl Predictions 2012: Projecting BCS Bowl Matchups

We are getting down to the last few weeks of the 2012-13 college football campaign, with several big-time programs attempting to slide into the BCS bowl games.

Whether you are a fan of a historic SEC program or a Pac-12 offensive juggernaut, there figure to be some thrilling matchups in college football's postseason.

But who will land where?

Here are my BCS bowl projections through Week 10.

Rose Bowl: Nebraska vs. Oregon State

With Ohio State ineligible for a bowl game this season, Nebraska figures to capture the Big Ten championship.

The Cornhuskers face Penn State, Minnesota and Iowa to close out the regular season after back-to-back wins against Michigan and Michigan State.

Orange Bowl: Florida State vs. Louisville

I expect Florida State to take the ACC championship while Louisville wins the Big East with victories over Syracuse, Connecticut and No. 23 Rutgers to close out the season.

This would likely be a blowout for the Seminoles, but it beats Florida State playing Rutgers, in my mind.

Sugar Bowl: Florida vs. Oklahoma

With victories over Louisiana-Lafayette, Jacksonville State and Florida State to close out the season,  No. 6 Florida is my pick to be the SEC replacement after Alabama makes it to the BCS Championship Game.

Oklahoma would be a nice at-large selection, with its only losses coming to Kansas State and Notre Dame.

Fiesta Bowl: Kansas State vs. Notre Dame

It's hard for me to imagine Kansas State not winning the Big 12 at this point unless Collin Klein suffers aftereffects after getting taken out of the Oklahoma State game.

Notre Dame will be a great at-large selection to go up against the Wildcats' vaunted offense. Imagine Klein, the Heisman favorite, going up against Notre Dame's run defense, complete with Heisman contender Manti Te'o.

BCS Championship Game: Alabama vs. Oregon

Oregon may be No. 3 in the nation now, but with wins over Cal, Stanford and Oregon State, I expect the Ducks to jump ahead of Kansas State for a right to meet Alabama in the BCS Championship Game.

This is the championship matchup I personally want. Oregon is ranked first in the nation in yards per carry (6.29, via CFBStats.com), while Alabama is allowing 2.09 yards per carry, ranking second in the nation.

Watching Kenjon Barner, De'Anthony Thomas and dual-threat freshman Marcus Mariota try to do damage on Alabama's vaunted run defense would be a feast for the eyes.