College Football Bowl Projections: The Ten Best Potential Coaching Matchups
Sunday is the big day when we find out who plays where in the bowl season, especially in the BCS.
And while we don't quite know for sure who will play whom, we can only speculate on a few matchups, at least at the top.
After that, it's really anyone's guess.
But what we do know is that there are some matchups between coaches that most fans would enjoy seeing.
Here are 10 of the best potential coaching matchups in this bowl season.
10. Joe Paterno Vs. Urban Meyer (Penn State Vs. Florida)
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Although the coaches in this game could not be at further ends of the age spectrum, both Paterno and Meyer might have a shot to redeem their seasons with a big bowl win.
Paterno will be back for 2011, but his future is still in question, leaving much uncertainty still looming in Happy Valley.
Meyer, on the other hand, has been playing QB roulette all season, which has led to a shockingly stagnant Gator offense.
Whichever coach can muster up a great offensive effort will provide much more certainty to his future and give the fan base hope after each team's struggles.
9. Todd Graham Vs. Greg McMacklin (Houston Vs. Tulsa)
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If you love points, then this matchup might be right up your alley.
The matchup of Tulsa's Todd Graham and Hawaii's Greg McMacklin brings two offenses that combine to put up 77.6 points per game and are in the top 10 in total offense per game.
Hawaii brings the run-and-shoot attack that stuck around even when June Jones went to SMU, and Tulsa's QB G.J. Kinne is the total package, leading his team in both passing and running.
But this matchup may be a game in which the first team to get a defensive stop or a turnover could win.
8. Mark Dantonio Vs. Nick Saban (Michigan State Vs. Alabama)
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For Mark Dantonio, he could not have scripted a better season, going 11-1 and having a share of the Big Ten title when the Spartans were originally an afterthought.
And although they most likely will not play in the BCS, they will get a very good January bowl gate, possibly against a former coach in Nick Saban's Crimson Tide.
Alabama has struggled this season in its bid to repeat, with three losses, albeit against an unbelievably tough schedule.
But a win for Saban against his former team could be very satisfying, especially after failing to do so against LSU earlier this season.
This would, however, be the first time Saban gets to coach against Michigan State, his first head-coaching job at a BCS-AQ school.
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7. Paul Johnson Vs. Troy Calhoun (Georgia Tech Vs. Air Force)
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Bringing together GT's Paul Johnson and Air Force's Troy Calhoun may bring us flashbacks to the good old days of football when the forward pass was illegal.
Both of these coaches specialize in the triple option and have been very good at making it work for their respective schools.
Calhoun has turned Air Force into a consistent MWC contender and Johnson's team rode the option to the 2010 Orange Bowl.
While both of these teams pass more from the option than teams back in the early days did, throwback fans and traditionalists should get a kick out of this matchup.
6. Skip Holtz Vs. Ruffin McNeill (South Florida Vs. East Carolina)
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This was Skip Holtz' first season after he taking his coaching talents to South Florida and leaving an East Carolina program he built into a Conference-USA power.
But former Texas Tech assistant Ruffin McNeill has picked up where Holtz left off, even bringing some of the Mike Leach Air Raid attack from Lubbock, with QB Dominique Davis leading the No. 7 passing attack in the country.
However, the ECU defense needs serious work, currently ranked No. 118 in scoring defense.
And with Holtz's defense at USF staying solid, this presents a classic matchup of high-powered offense versus stout defense.
Don't forget that some of the ECU players might still be bitter about Holtz's departure, which might serve as some extra motivation.
5. Mike Stoops Vs. Mike Gundy (Arizona Vs. Oklahoma State)
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After falling to Bob Stoops in Bedlam, Mike Gundy might not want to see another Stoops on the other sidelines.
Unfortunately for him, Big Game Bob's brother fields an offense that is capable of making big plays from the arm of star QB Nick Foles.
And unlike the potential matchup of GT and Air Force's triple-option attacks, here is a matchup that would most likely be decided through the air, with two top-10 passing games on the field.
While Gundy has never been able to beat Bob Stoops, a bowl win over younger brother Mike would be almost as satisfying.
4. Jim Tressel Vs. Steve Spurrier (Ohio State Vs. South Carolina)
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This matchup is intriguing simply because of the personalities of the two men on the opposite sidelines.
Steve Spurrier has been known forever as the Ol' Ball Coach, never afraid to be too aggressive.
On the other hand, Jim Tressel is as conservative as his sweater-vest attire, usually looking to avoid mistakes rather than going for big plays.
While Ohio State's path to the BCS is almost guaranteed, South Carolina also controls its own destiny to New Orleans.
And should these teams meet, it will be exciting to see these two contrasting personalities clash in the Bayou.
3. Gary Patterson Vs. Bret Bielema (TCU Vs. Wisconsin)
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With these teams slated to face off in the Rose Bowl should Oregon and Auburn control their own destiny, it will be TCU's chance to prove it belongs on the national stage.
And, actually, the coaching personalities of Gary Patterson and Bret Bielema are fairly similar, both of whom rely on strong running attacks and punishing defenses.
Both teams are in the top six in scoring offense, but no team has been able to figure out Patterson's stifling 4-2-5 defense this season.
The formation could likely present a chess match between TCU's speed and Wisconsin's brute-force running game.
The chess match between these two coaches should be great theater in Pasadena.
2. Jimbo Fisher Vs. Jim Harbaugh (Florida State Vs. Stanford)
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Of all the bowl games, this one can be considered the game with the most coaching upside.
Florida State's Jimbo Fisher is one win away from taking the Seminoles back to the BCS after spinning its wheels in the final years of Bobby Bowden.
Meanwhile, Jim Harbaugh has done an unbelievable job at Stanford, taking it to 11-1 and clinching an at-large spot in the BCS.
Whether Harbaugh leaves Palo Alto for bigger challenges is anyone's guess, but it's tough to deny how incredible a job he has done in his tenure as Stanford coach.
But look out for Fisher, especially if his team wins this matchup, going into his second season in 2011.
1. Chip Kelly Vs. Gene Chizik (Oregon Vs. Auburn)
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How about a matchup between two second-year coaches who dictate games with overall speed and tempo on offense? Get the popcorn ready.
The title game we have expected for weeks is just one week away from finally happening.
In a game with two high-octane offenses, two possible Heisman finalists and close to 200 offensive snaps possible, what more could you want?
Regardless of the outcome, Chip Kelly and Gene Chizik are off to spectacular starts to head-coaching careers.
Whoever wins this game will only see their star grow that much more.
For more college football information, visit The BCS Blitz. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @bielik_tim.
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