Bowl Scenarios: Where Could Oklahoma End Up After Big 12 Title Game?
Time to take another look at some potential bowl scenarios for the 2010-2011 college football season.
Next on the agenda are the Oklahoma Sooners.
A season that started with national title hopes has been a slight disappointment. The Sooners went 10-2 with losses at Missouri and Texas A&M.
Still, the Sooners find themselves at a crossroads of the bowl landscape heading into Saturday's Big 12 championship game.
Win, and a Fiesta Bowl berth is assured. Lose, and they could go several different places.
To help you understand the bowl landscape as it stands right now, we're breaking down the three potential Fiesta Bowl matchups the Sooners would face should they beat Nebraska, as well as the three most likely landing places in the event of a loss.
Where will they land? Read on to find out!
Win Scenario 3: Fiesta Bowl vs Ohio State
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Why It Will Happen
If the Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl both have a complete mental meltdown and don't take the Buckeyes, the Fiesta Bowl would be happy to have them.
They're the co-Big Ten champs and have the talent and drawing power to be an attractive pick.
Why It Won’t
Because the Fiesta Bowl picks, it's at-large team after the Sugar Bowl who will, in all likelihood, take the Buckeyes.
Likelihood
50-to-1. No shot of the Buckeyes coming to Tempe this year.
Final Score
Ohio State 21, Oklahoma 20.
This one's going to be a thriller, if it happens. But Terrelle Pryor is the difference maker for the Buckeyes.
Loss Scenario 3: Insight Bowl vs. Michigan
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Why It Will Happen
If Oklahoma loses to Nebraska, that would give the Sooners more losses than Oklahoma State or Mizzou.
Meaning, in theory, they could be picked fourth out of the Big 12.
Why It Won’t
Because no bowl commissioner in his or her right mind would pick the middle-ticket Cowboys or Tigers over the jackpot-ticket Sooners.
Likelihood
40-to-1.
Unlike the Fiesta Bowl matchup, this one could conceivably happen. It won't, but it could.
Final Score
Oklahoma 35, Michigan 21.
This one's a bit of a mismatch, as the Wolverines are powerless to stop Oklahoma from scoring, while the Sooners' defense has the capacity to contain superhuman quarterback Denard Robinson.
Win Scenario 2: Fiesta Bowl vs. UConn
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Why It Will Happen
Because Stanford is an infinitely better team than the Huskies of UConn.
In terms of matchups, it makes more sense for the Cardinal to be the Orange Bowl's pick. That leaves the Fiesta Bowl with the Huskies, who may be biting off more than they can chew, should they wind up winning the Big East.
Why It Won’t
UConn's no lock to win the Big East yet. If they do, in terms of geography, it makes more sense for the Huskies to travel to Miami, rather than Glendale, Ariz.
Likelihood
10-to-1.
There's a good chance this could happen, but it's not the most plausible scenario.
Final Score
Oklahoma 38, UConn 14.
Like I said, the Huskies may be biting off more than they can chew with the Sooners.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Loss Scenario 2: Alamo Bowl vs. Arizona
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Why It Will Happen
Much like the Insight Bowl scenario, a loss would give Oklahoma more losses than either Oklahoma State or Mizzou.
Therefore, if a bowl decides they want the Tigers or Cowboys more than the Sooners, Oklahoma winds up here.
Why is it more likely than the Insight Bowl? Because only one bowl has to misinterpret the records, rather than two.
Why It Won’t
The jackpot-ticket vs. mid-range-ticket theory here again.
If the Sooners lose, no way do they drop to third choice in the Big 12. Unless there's no other option.
Likelihood
15-to-1.
It's possible, and would be a good matchup. But it's unlikely.
Final Score
Oklahoma 28, Arizona 21.
The battle of the Stoops' will be a good one. One of the better non-BCS bowls of the season.
But, in the end, DeMarco Murray and Landry Jones will be too much for the Wildcats to handle.
Win Scenario 1: Fiesta Bowl vs. Stanford
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Why It Will Happen
The Cardinal are guaranteed an at-large bid to a BCS game.
But the Cardinal don't travel well over long distances. Since the Rose Bowl can't take them, Stanford makes a logical choice for the Fiesta Bowl.
Plus, think of how great that matchup will be!
Why It Won’t
The Orange Bowl would sure like a bigger name than UConn to pair with Virginia Tech.
Since their pick comes before the Fiesta Bowl's, they might be tempted to grab the Cardinal. Ticket sales or no.
Likelihood
3-to-1.
This seems like a likely scenario; it makes sense in multiple ways. Of course, that might be why it doesn't happen.
Final Score
Stanford 35, Oklahoma 27.
The Cardinal are the best one-loss team in the country. Their offense will overrun a Sooner defense that hasn't traveled terribly well in 2010.
Loss Scenario 1: Cotton Bowl vs. LSU
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Why It Will Happen
LSU is a logical pick here.
They've got the SEC West pedigree that the Cotton Bowl looks for, and they'll give Oklahoma everything they can handle. This is also the logical place for the Sooners to land, as their place in the Big 12 title game does make them conference runners-up.
Why It Won’t
Obviously, if Oklahoma wins the Big 12 title, you can stick the Cornhuskers here in there, instead.
Likelihood
2-to-1.
If the Sooners fall in the Big 12 title tilt, you can bet they'll wind up here.
Final Score
Oklahoma 28, LSU 17.
The Hat's luck has to run out soon, and the Sooners are good enough to make sure it happens with them.
LSU's offense has not been able to produce in 2010. So expect Oklahoma to claim another Cotton Bowl.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
