Bowl Predictions 2013: Projecting the Most Exciting Showdowns

Predicting the most exciting 2013 bowl games is all about balanced explosion.

Baylor boasts the best offense in the nation, scoring 61.0 points per game, but it’s likely to be matched up with a mismatch like UCF this postseason. That doesn’t make for excitement unless one’s a Bears fan.

Here are three bowl showdowns that feature not just one, but a pair of stacked attacks.

National Championship: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 2 Florida State

The Crimson Tide and Seminoles each field top-four defenses in points allowed, almost guaranteeing that this game would be close. But they also field offenses that score over 40 points per game (52.0 for Florida State), almost guaranteeing that this game would be at least somewhat high scoring.

AJ McCarron’s arsenal is immensely talented once again with T.J. Yeldon and Kenyan Drake in the backfield and Kevin Norwood and Amari Cooper out wide. Florida State has too many key contributors to mention, but the trio of Heisman hopeful freshman quarterback Jameis Winston along with Devonta Freeman and Rashad Greene lead the way.

This showdown has too much talent not to be thrilling.

38-35 Alabama

Russell Athletic Bowl: No. 23 Miami vs. No. 20 Louisville

The Hurricanes and Cardinals each feature offenses that score over 35 points per game. Their attacks are generaled by two NFL prospects, the former by projected mid-round pick Stephen Morris and the latter by projected first-overall pick Teddy Bridgewater. But a quarterback duel and two high-powered offenses aren’t the only reasons why this would be a must-watch matchup.

Bridgewater played at Miami Northwestern High School and originally committed to play for the Hurricanes. He ultimately decommitted and signed with Louisville. His spurning of local Miami adds BCS intensity to this non-BCS bowl game.

35-31 Louisville

AT&T Cotton Bowl: No. 12 Oklahoma State vs. No. 11 Texas A&M

This matchup is all about pure, unadulterated offensive explosion. Like the BCS National Championship, the AT&T Cotton Bowl features two teams that score over 40 points per game. But unlike the BCS National Championship, neither team in the AT&T Cotton Bowl features a defense ranked higher than 20th in the nation in points allowed, let alone the top four.

Johnny Manziel, in what could be his last game at Texas A&M, is the headliner. He’s also a Heisman hopeful this year and enters Week 12 already with 3,924 yards from scrimmage and 39 total touchdowns. Oklahoma State will be fueled by the Aggies’ 89th ranked defense which is sure to keep the score close.

This could ultimately be the highest-scoring game of the bowl season.

45-41 Texas A&M

David Daniels is a breaking news writer at Bleacher Report and news editor at Wade-O Radio.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels