BCS Bowl Predictions for Week 14: LSU, Boise State Out and Stanford, Arkansas In

Over the weekend much clarity was provided in the hunt for the BCS, though in a couple of cases things didn't go down as most observers expected. 

Boise State losing to Nevada and dashing any chances of a BCS berth was one of the most unexpected occurrences of the season. LSU falling to Arkansas came as a bit of a surprise as well. 

But perhaps the most shocking of all was watching Auburn climb out of a 24-0 hole in the Iron Bowl and pull off one of the greatest comebacks in recent history to keep the Tigers' title hopes alive. 

We're nearing the very end of this college football regular season, and our BCS predictions this week should give us a great idea of exactly how the selections to the major bowls are going to play out.

The Sugar Bowl: Arkansas vs. Ohio State

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 01: Tim Tebow #15 of the Florida Gators throws a pass against the Cincinnati Bearcats during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisana Superdome on January 1, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

With Auburn expected to win the SEC and head to the BCS National Championship Game, the Sugar Bowl will get first choice at a replacement team but also has the first selection of one of the at-large teams this year.

LSU would have been a lock to be the replacement team should the Tigers have beaten Arkansas, but with the loss to the Razorbacks on Saturday, those hopes are dashed. 

You have to assume the Sugar Bowl is going to select Arkansas and Ohio State for the matchup in this one, as it would be the biggest draw of any of the teams available and still has that great SEC-Big Ten matchup people love to pay to see.

The Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Stanford

Doug Benc/Getty Images

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 05: The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets take the field to play against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the FedEx Orange Bowl at Land Shark Stadium on January 5, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

After Virginia Tech pummelled Miami a couple of weeks to claim the ACC Coastal Division, the Hokies look primed to take the ACC championship and secure the conference's automatic bid in the Orange Bowl should they take care of business in the ACC Championship Game. 

The Orange Bowl has the second selection of at-large teams after the Sugar Bowl and will have a hard time justifying selecting anyone over Stanford in this position, though LSU and Boise State are still BCS eligible.

As for Michigan State, the Spartans seem to be the odd man out in this one, as no more than two teams from any one conference may receive BCS berths, unless a nearly impossible loophole that just isn't happening takes place.

The Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma vs. West Virginia

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 04: (R-L) Brandyn Thompson #13 of the Boise State Broncos celebrates with teammate Billy Winn #90 after Thompson's 50-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs during the Tostitos Fi

Last week, it looked like Nebraska was the easy favorite to land here, but after the Cornhuskers' loss to Texas A&M, the talk turned to Oklahoma State.

Now that the Cowboys have lost to Oklahoma, we're back to a monster matchup in the Big 12 championship between the Cornhuskers and Sooners. But we have to give the hotter team the edge in this one, and Oklahoma looked really good on Saturday. 

With the Big East guaranteed a spot in one of the BCS bowls and the Fiesta Bowl having last pick of the bunch, West Virginia will be the second team in this one. After the Mountaineers dominated Pitt, all they need to do now is finish up their business against Rutgers and hope South Florida takes care of UConn, and they're in.

The Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs. TCU

Harry How/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Fans enter the 96th Rose Bowl game between the Oregon Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes on January 1, 2010 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Before Boise State's loss to Nevada, TCU wasn't guaranteed anything from the BCS, even as a team expected to finish the year ranked No. 4 in the nation.

Now that the Horned Frogs are assured of finishing the season as the top-ranked mid-major, TCU will earn the automatic berth the Rose Bowl is obliged to provide.

In the three-way tie at the top of the Big Ten, fifth-ranked Wisconsin will be the conference's representative in the BCS this year.

BCS National Championship Game: Auburn vs. Oregon

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 07: A detailed picture of the logo on a goal post before the Texas Longhorns take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Citi BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl on January 7, 2010 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephe

Auburn pulled off one of the most stunning victories in recent history against Alabama after being down 24-0 late in the second quarter.

The Tigers would win the game 28-27 to all but guarantee themselves a spot in the BCS National Championship Game granted they beat South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game.

Oregon was leapfrogged by Auburn as the No. 1 team in the nation, but after routinely dealing with Arizona on Friday the Ducks are still sitting pretty at No. 2 and only have lowly Oregon State to deal with to assure their place in the title game.

After the nation's top two teams successfully passed the biggest hurdles left on their schedules, the championship game is looking very close to a lock at this point.