BCS Bowl Projections: Game-By-Game Possibilities for Early January
The BCS Bowls are about to be determined. Several teams across the country are wondering where they stand in the eyes of the computer system and where it will place them come early January. Though many things still need to work themselves out, the BCS Bowl projections as is are pretty snug.
Auburn and Oregon headline the BCS competitors as of today. This could all change in the blink of an eye, however, as we've seen all season long in college football.
No one is safe—not even Cam Newton and his Tigers. In the midst of their "Iron Bowl" scare this past weekend, Auburn came out stronger and now looks to win the SEC this Saturday night.
The Oregon Ducks may be the most complete team in all of college football right now. This didn't save them from falling out of the No. 1 spot despite a dominant win over Arizona. After their own personal "Civil War" is over this weekend, we will know if Oregon is BCS Championship-worthy.
There are several other teams that are in BCS Bowls who will deliver. Though none shine as brightly as the two profiled, there is talent throughout the BCS Rankings. Also, there is much controversy surrounding the computerized system which puts a damper on its results. This is true year after year, though, and won't change unless there's some sort of playoff system. Everyone else has one, right? It just doesn't make sense.
Here are a look at some BCS Bowl Game Projections.
The Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma Sooners Vs. Stanford Cardinal
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The Stanford Cardinal are a feel-good story of the 2010 college football season. Coach Jim Harbaugh has suddenly become a household name and could be moving onto bigger things after this season. But as for now, there are still important matters to attend to for Harbaugh with Stanford—matters like a BCS bowl and bringing Stanford one of their best seasons in school history.
Standing in their way will be the Big 12 Champion. All signs point to that being Bob Stoops's Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners have re-emerged out of nowhere to become a powerhouse in the Big 12 once again. Despite several close calls this season, it's been a very successful year for Stoops and Oklahoma.
This would make for a very interesting BCS Bowl matchup. These teams boast two of the top QBs in college football. Stanford's Andrew Luck is a surefire NFL draft pick whose stock has risen with each week—a bowl game win could catapult him to the forefront. Oklahoma sophomore Landry Jones is well on his way to becoming one of the Sooners' best QBs of all time. Jones has willed his team to victory over the course of the season, even when it seemed rather difficult.
In an instant classic, the Cardinal will prove to be too much. This small-time football school will go mainstream and defeat one of the most prestigious football programs in the country.
The Pick: Stanford 28 Oklahoma 23
The Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech Hokies Vs. Connecticut Huskies
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Jordan Todman is one of the best backs in the country. His Huskies are in the national spotlight in football and are probably headed to a BCS bowl. Life is good up in the far north. The Huskies are coming out of the Big East and will face a hungry Virginia Tech Hokies team. The Hokies are the odds-on favorites to win the ACC over the Florida St. Seminoles this weekend.
Connecticut is the expected winner of a tough Big East in 2010. If they're able to defeat South Florida this weekend, they will clinch the conference since they already have all of the necessary tie-breakers. The quarterback play has been OK at best, as it has primarily been Todman who has taken the ball and run with it—LITERALLY!
After an 0-2 start, the Hokies have won 10 straight and are one of the nation's hottest teams. Frank Beamer again has them staring at a top bowl game and another ACC Title. The Hokies, with a victory on Saturday, will complete an improbable ACC Title run.
Virginia Tech's balanced offense has helped carry them this season. Running back Darren Evans has really come into his own in his junior season. Valuable, multi-talented QB Tyrod Taylor has burned teams with his arm and legs and helped the Hokies emerge from their poor start.
The Hokies will drop the Huskies like a bad habit and show why UCONN doesn't belong in this game to begin with.
The Pick: Virginia Tech Hokies 27 Connecticut Huskies 14
The Rose Bowl: Wisconsin Badgers Vs. TCU Horned Frogs
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The Wisconsin Badgers are among the most underrated teams in sports. So are the TCU Horned Frogs, though, which makes this matchup a very intriguing BCS bowl pairing. TCU is the BCS's "third wheel" this season, and despite being undefeated, they will not play in the BCS Championship Game. Smelling roses is never a bad thing, though. A date with the Badgers will make for a college football fan's heaven in what should be a high-scoring shootout.
The Badgers have one of the top offenses in college football. Their quick and powerful two-back system has worked to perfection and earned them the Big Ten Title despite a three-way tie. Their running game could gash the Horned Frog defense if they get the chance. James White and John Clay, while still young, will need to show their leadership skills if they are to carry the Badgers to victory.
On the other hand, don't forget that TCU has one of the top defenses in all of college football. They will likely get a more serious look in two years when they're playing in the Big East. They will need to work efficiently to keep the Badgers off the scoreboard—they definitely don't want to get into a shootout with Wisconsin. Though they are deep, it will be hard to stick with Wisconsin score for score. Quite frankly, this isn't TCU's game.
In what could be the best BCS bowl game of them all, the Badgers will have the edge in the early going. Though TCU is ranked a bit higher, the Badgers have done very little to hurt themselves along the way and have faced superior competition.
The Pick: Wisconsin Badgers 27 TCU Horned Frogs 24
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The Sugar Bowl: Arkansas Razorbacks Vs. Ohio St. Buckeyes
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Things are looking up for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Despite not playing in the SEC Title Game, they will likely still land among the stars. They dodged the SEC Championship Game because of Auburn's dominance in the West and still made out pretty well in the BCS. A date with the Ohio St. Buckeyes is highly likely. Thus, another chance for an SEC school to prove its might (speed) against a Big Ten foe.
Speed is the name of the game, and in most SEC-Big Ten bouts, the SEC teams run wild. Speed kills, right? Once again, a Big Ten team (Ohio St. in this case) will be faced with the challenge of stopping the speed. They failed miserably in the BCS Championship Game against Florida in 2007. Though they were "HEAVY" favorites, the Gators smashed the Buckeyes en route to their second title in school history.
The Buckeyes boast one of the most talented young players in all of college football, Terrelle Pryor. Pryor alone can't use his multi-dimensional prowess to lead his team to victory, though. Rather, it will take a total team effort to win. The Buckeye defense will be on-call as they face big-armed Ryan Mallett and his striking offense.
Expect the Razorbacks to make the SEC proud and show why it's still the superior conference.
The Pick: Arkansas Razorbacks 34 Ohio St. Buckeyes 24
BCS Championship: Auburn Tigers Vs. Oregon Ducks
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This is the one we've all been waiting for. If all falls into place, it will finally occur on January 10, 2011. The Oregon Ducks of the Pac-10 will battle the SEC's Auburn Tigers to determine who the best in the land truly is. Or will it? With another potential BCS gaffe and three undefeated teams, all are left pondering the BCS's legitimacy. I believe that the two best teams in the nation will play in this game one way or another, and they will most likely be Oregon and Auburn.
Cam Newton loves the big stage and will get his opportunity to shine on this night. The Tigers will be counting on their QB, probably the best player in the country, to deliver a title. Auburn can score with just about anyone in the country and will have to against Oregon if they are to win the title. A rematch with South Carolina comes first though, this one for the SEC crown.
Oregon's balance is sensational in all facets of the game. Many feel as if they are the most complete team in college football this season. Their strength of schedule (coming out of the Pac-10) might hurt them though in this game. Oregon was the consensus No. 1 until just this week when they fell to No. 2. Though a lot can still change, regardless of their opponent, the Ducks will be playing in the title with a victory in "The Civil War." LaMichael James, another Heisman candidate, will look to put his mark on this BCS Championship Game.
Again, the SEC's speed will kill, and the Pac-10 will still not prove its worth to the college football world. Auburn consistently faced elite opponents, and it will show on this night.
The Pick: Auburn Tigers 35 Oregon Ducks 24
Comments, Questions, Concerns, Suggestions For a Playoff System
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