BCS Bowl Games 2013-14: Power Ranking Most Exciting Matchups

All BCS bowl games are not created equal. Entering the final year before we transition to the long-awaited playoff system, that fact is as apparent as ever. 

The five BCS games are going to produce wildly different products. Not all of these matchups are ones that promise to produce thrilling games. Of course, there are some that have me counting down the days until they are played. 

I'm going to rank all five of these highlighted games based on the amount of excitement they will produce. 

Bowl	Date	Location	Matchup
BCS Title Game	Jan. 6	Pasadena, Calif.	Florida State vs. Auburn
Orange	Jan. 3	Miami, Fla.	Clemson vs. Ohio State
Sugar	Jan. 2	New Orleans, La.	Alabama vs. Oklahoma
Fiesta	Jan. 1	Glendale, Ariz.	Baylor vs. UCF
Rose	Jan. 1	Pasadena, Calif.	Michigan State vs. Stanford

No. 5: Sugar Bowl

Matchup: No. 3 Alabama (11-1) vs. No. 11 Oklahoma (10-2) 

Understandably, Alabama is expected to cruise in this matchup. This team was dominant this season and looked to be headed for a third straight national championship. That was until Auburn's Chris Davis took a missed field goal to the house. With time expired and Alabama suddenly trailing, the Crimson Tide were knocked from the BCS title game picture. 

Now they are facing an Oklahoma team that, up until a season-ending 33-24 victory over Oklahoma State, didn't look like it had a chance to play in a BCS game. 

This is the same Sooners team that fell 41-12 to Baylor on Nov. 7 to drop to 7-2. 

On top of the fact that Alabama flashed more dominant form this season, this game figures to be one-sided due to the way the two teams match up. 

Oklahoma is 99th in passing yards per game but 18th in rushing yards per game. At 108.33 rushing yards allowed per game, Alabama is 11th in the nation. The Tide also allowed those yards at an average of just 3.37 per carry.

Oklahoma will struggle to run the ball in this game. That will leave Alabama to feast on Oklahoma's unsettled quarterback situation and create a lopsided and dull game.  

No. 4: Fiesta Bowl

Matchup: No. 6 Baylor (11-1) vs. No. 15 UCF (11-1)

UCF isn't rolling into this game with a lot of fanfare, but that doesn't mean this team is going to get blown out. UCF suffered just one loss this season. That loss came to South Carolina, and it was by just three points. 

The Knights have solid balance on offense, but the offense is led by quarterback Blake Bortles. He's thrown for 3,280 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. 

Of course, those passing numbers aren't going to scare Baylor. The Bears are fifth in the nation in passing at 359.3 yards per game. This led to them leading the nation in scoring at 59.3 points per game. That towers over the average of 33.2 points that the Knights turned in this season, and that ties into my reasoning why this game is so low on this list. 

UCF faced just two ranked teams this season. Although it acquitted itself nicely in both outings, this team hasn't been tested with the kind of speed it will face against Baylor, and I don't think it can handle it. 

Baylor can blow teams out in a hurry, and it will turn this into a lopsided matchup. 

No. 3: Rose Bowl 

Matchup: No. 4 Michigan State (12-1) vs. No. 5 Stanford (11-2)

This is a fantastic matchup. Although it will not produce the most explosive game, this game will feature sound and physical football.

Michigan State and Stanford are similar in that both have excellent defenses and tend to favor the run game. Both teams are also extremely physical.

This will be best on display when Stanford has the ball.

The Cardinal own the 23rd-ranked rushing attack in the nation, and that ranking doesn't do it justice.

Stanford's rush game may not be the most explosive, but behind a massive and talented offensive line, it is a consistent force.

In this game, that running game will be facing the nation's best rush defense. The Spartans allowed just 80.77 rushing yards allowed per game this year.

This game may not produce the most highlights, but it will be a competitive and hard-hitting affair. 

No. 2: Orange Bowl 

Matchup: No. 12 Clemson (10-2) vs. No. 7 Ohio State (12-1) 

Unlike the Rose Bowl, this one will present plenty of highlights.

Clemson and Ohio State both play more effective offense than defense. They also both have outstanding quarterbacks. 

Tajh Boyd and Braxton Miller both began the season with serious hopes for the Heisman Trophy. Their seasons did not live up to those hopes, but they were solid nonetheless.  

After all, those two quarterbacks combined to account for 70 touchdowns this season. 

Clemson likes to do its damage with an aerial attack that features the wide-receiving skills of Sammy Watkins. Ohio State prefers to move the ball on the ground with the dual-threat ability of Miller and the talent of Carlos Hyde in the backfield. 

Neither of these teams are well-equipped to stop the other, either. 

The Buckeyes allowed opposing quarterbacks a passer rating of 129.6. On the other hand, the Tigers allowed opponents to rush for 1,831 yards at an average of 3.7 yards per carry. 

Although those are passable numbers, it's not going to cut it in the face of the competition these teams will face in what will prove to be an exciting Orange Bowl. 

No. 1: BCS Title Game 

Matchup: Florida State (13-0) vs. Auburn (12-1)

Just because this game is for all the marbles, it doesn't mean it will be exciting. We need look no further than Alabama's thrashing of Notre Dame in last year's title game.

This year's game will be far more competitive.

The Seminoles' stats are insanely impressive. For instance, they are second in the nation in scoring and first in points allowed.  

Auburn can't match those numbers, but we can also throw the stats out the window. The Tigers played a far more challenging schedule than the Seminoles, and Auburn is vastly improved from the start of the season. 

One thing is for certain in this game: If Auburn is going to succeed, it will need to run the ball.

Florida State has a solid rush defense. It allowed just 1,515 rushing yards this season and an average of 3.14 yards per carry. 

That defense will be tasked with trying to stop the nation's most prodigious rushing attack. Auburn is going to run the ball as much as possible, and defenses have still been helpless to stop it. 

With quarterback Nick Marshall and running back Tre Mason, the Tigers have two outstanding rushing options behind an excellent offensive line. 

Of course, Florida State doesn't have to stop Auburn's rushing attack to win. The Seminoles offense has looked unstoppable. With likely Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston under center, the Seminoles scored at least 35 points in every game this season. 

This championship game promises to take this college football season out on a high note. 

 

Stats via CFBStats.com.