Bowl Games 2011: 5 Games That Will Come Down To the Last Play

The bowl games are set. Now teams have about three weeks to prepare for whatever team they will be playing in their bowl game.

Though many, myself included, think the BCS isn't the best system for determining a national champion, the bowls are fun to watch, and a few of them always become instant classics.

With Cam Newton and LaMichael James facing off when the Oregon Ducks and Auburn Tigers meet, the BCS championship will certainly be one for the ages.

However, there are intriguing matchups across the board that will be interesting to watch.

Here are five bowl games that have the potential to be won on the last play of the game.

5. Outback Bowl

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 13: Head Coach Joe Paterno watches his team play the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

This year's Outback Bowl features two teams that have had very disappointing years by their standards.

The Penn State Nittany Lions will take on the Florida Gators in Tampa on January 1.

This game features two great college football coaches in Joe Paterno, who will return to the sidelines next year, and Urban Meyer.

With these two scheming against each other, this game is certain to come down to the wire.

4. Texas Bowl

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CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 02: Nathan Scheelhaase #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini runs against the Ohio State Buckeyes as teammate Graham Pocic #76 moves to block at Memorial Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Champaign, Illinois. Ohio State defeated Illinois

Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois' freshman quarterback, is one of the better running quarterbacks in college football. He leads a very potent Illinois rushing attack into the Texas Bowl to take on Robert Griffin and the Baylor Bears.

The Bears will have the home-field advantage, but Illinois has the potential for grinding out some very long drives on the ground and controlling the clock.

Don't be surprised if Illinois gets a lead in the fourth quarter and then is able to kill the clock with a seven- or eight-minute drive.

3. Hyundai Sun Bowl

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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Tommy Rees #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish throws a pass against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

With the leaders of the offense, Dayne Crist and Armando Allen, likely out for the bowl game, the Sun Bowl will be a tough task for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Lined up across the field will be Jacory Harris and a strong Miami offense.

However, freshman QB Tommy Rees was able to lead the Irish past USC, so don't expect Notre Dame to go down without a fight in the Sun Bowl.

2. Orange Bowl

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PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal in action against the Oregon State Beavers at Stanford Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

This year's Orange Bowl will feature Virginia Tech and Stanford, two of the hottest teams in college football right now.

It also features two of the best quarterbacks in the nation in Stanford's Andrew Luck and Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor.

This game will come down to which defense can force the opposing quarterback into the most mistakes.

Look for this game to be won on a late fourth quarter turnover.

1. BCS National Championship Game

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ATLANTA - DECEMBER 4: Quarterback Cam Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers is pursued by members of the South Carolina Gamecocks defense during the 2010 SEC Championship against the Auburn Tigers South Carolina Gamecocks at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in

This game will feature the likely Heisman winner (Auburn's Cam Newton) against the likely Heisman runner-up (Oregon's LaMichael James).

With the fast-paced, high-octane offenses that both of these teams feature, this game will be one for the ages. We'll be talking about this one for years to come.

The national champion will be the team that has the best-conditioned defense. With each offense trying to run 100 plays, the winner will be the team with a defense that steps up in the fourth quarter.

Look for over 100 points to be scored in this game with a victory margin of a touchdown or less.