Bowl Projections 2012: Thrilling Shootouts Fans Won't Want to Miss

While our national championship game, featuring Alabama and Notre Dame, isn’t looking to be an exciting, offensive-minded contest, there are plenty of bowl games that promise to light up the scoreboard this winter.

Let’s take a look at some projected bowl participants that seem to be ripe for a high-scoring, back-and-forth affair that leaves everyone a bit dazed and highly satisfied.

Fiesta Bowl: Oregon vs. Kansas State

This looked to be the potential BCS National Championship Game just a few short weeks ago, but a single loss by both programs has sent them spiraling into the Fiesta Bowl.

While the Fiesta is practically a third-place game for the championship runners-up, it often has the opportunity to showcase some explosive offenses—and that should certainly be the case in 2013.

We expect a full-on, record-setting assault when the Ducks (50.8 PPG) and Wildcats (40.7 PPG) meet on the field this January.

Projected Score: Oregon 57, Kansas State 50

Capital One Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Northwestern

While the Aggies were hoping to reach the Cotton Bowl, we’re projecting them in the Capital One Citrus Bowl down in Orlando, Florida.

A&M signal-caller Johnny Manziel will get a chance to remind voters and fans why he was honored with the Heisman trophy (if he wins, of course), and the rest of the Aggies will be eager to generate points against whomever their Big Ten opponent may be.

While the B1G had a down year, the Wildcats are a worthy opponent and should give TAMU a run for its money. We fully predict an even matchup—with a focus on offense—that will come down to the wire.

Projected Score: Texas A&M 40, Northwestern 37

 

Liberty Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs. Tulsa

When discussing offensive-minded bowl matchups, we cen't leave out the nation’s No. 1 point scorers, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.

The WAC program finished the year 9-3 and generated a ridiculous 51.5 points per contest—0.7 higher than the vaunted Oregon Ducks attack.

The Bulldogs were ranked earlier in the year, but back-to-back losses to Utah State and San Jose State hurt the team’s chances to make a legitimate bowl game.

We currently have the the Bulldogs in the Liberty Bowl—after word spread that the program turned down the Independence Bowl—held in their home state.

If LA-Tech ends up facing a mediocre—but high-scoring—bowl-eligible squad like Tulsa, it’s going to quickly get out of hand.

Projected Score: Louisiana Tech 63, Tulsa 50