College Football: Bowl Projections for Every Preseason Top 25 Team

Interleague baseball is enjoyable, but nothing beats predicting the upcoming college football season.

Will an SEC team finish undefeated?

Is Notre Dame actually for real this season?

Who will assert themselves in the wide open Big Ten and ACC?

At the end of all the anticipation and predictions lies the long awaited oasis of the football season, followed by the culmination of said season in a plethora of bowl games.

It is difficult trying to pass time by watching baseball and the Women's World Cup, so, as a public service to help you survive until the temperature drops and school is back in session, here are your bowl projections for next season.

25. Texas Longhorns: Valero Alamo Bowl

The 'Horns are going to be better than last season.

The problem for Mack Brown's squad is the anticipated level of competition within the conference in 2011.

The Longhorns have some tremendous talent, but unless they actually pull it together and demonstrate that on the playing field, they are in for a mediocre season.

Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas A&M are all going to battle it out for BCS berths, leaving Texas out in the cold.

24. Miami Hurricanes: Champs Sports Bowl

The ACC is about as wide open as a conference can be, but the 'Canes are not quite in a position to take advantage just yet.

While the speed and athleticism on both sides of the ball is impressive, without an effective quarterback, it will be tough for Miami to finish above fourth in the ACC.

New head coach Al Golden is just the guy to turn the program around, however, and Miami fans should be looking forward to the BCS in 2013.

23. Missouri Tigers: Fiesta Bowl

While Oklahoma State is the trendy pick to finish second behind OU in the Big 12, Missouri is being bypassed like a hitch-hiker on the freeway.

The Tigers lost Blaine Gabbert to the NFL, but have plenty of excellent receivers to help new QB James Franklin adjust quickly.

The one thing the Tigers have the neither Okie Lite or Texas A&M have is a very good defense.

The Tigers were very close to a BCS berth in 2011 and will get one in 2012.

22. TCU Horned Frogs: Advocare V100 Independence Bowl

Yes, it's quite a fall to this point from a Rose Bowl win, but the Frogs have a tough slate in 2011.

Air Force is going to be a tough out, and TCU has to travel to play Boise State and San Diego State, as well as the Falcons.

The loss of two All-American offensive linemen is going to be felt more than the loss of quarterback Andy Dalton, and while the defense is going to be solid, it will be tough to beat all three of those teams on the road.

The Frogs also travel to Baylor to open the season, which will be no picnic.

21. Georgia Bulldogs: Music City Bowl

For all the talk of the Bulldogs having a shot at the SEC East, they don't.

South Carolina is just too tough.

Aaron Murray is a great talent, but he will find it tough sledding without Kris Durham and A.J. Green, and the offensive line has some serious issues that need to be resolved.

Mark Richt might want to start working on his resume.

20. USC Trojans: Ineligible

Lane Kiffin and his Trojans will be doing what many of us do during bowl season.

Sitting on the couch.

While they have the talent and potential to finish as high as third in the Pac-12, the Trojans must face the sanctions handed down by the NCAA.

In other news, Notre Dame fans are partying harder than ever to celebrate.

19. West Virginia Mountaineers: Fiesta Bowl

Dana Holgorsen has the offensive schemes to make this team a national juggernaut.

They are still a few years away, but in a weak Big East, the Mountaineers are the clear cream of the crop in 2011.

Geno Smith has the talent to make a run at the Heisman, and defensively the 'Neers are going to be pretty stout.

Now that the coaching controversy is over, WVU can focus on winning the Big East and getting back into the BCS.

Too bad Owen Schmitt is gone.

18. Ohio State Buckeyes: Capital One Bowl

Even with all the crazy stuff going on at OSU, the Buckeyes still have a bevy of talented young men to step up.

While the lack of experience at certain positions is going to be hard to compensate for against the better conference teams, Coach Fickell and his squad should be able to put together a fairly decent season.

Braxton Miller is extremely talented and should get the starting quarterbcak job.

Dan Herron and DeVier Posey are both good skill position guys on the offense and once they return from their suspensions, will be major contributors.

Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State and Michigan will each present their own unique brand of challenges, and the Buckeyes will fall to at least two of these teams.

Unless the NCAA speeds up their ruling process, the Buckeyes will be in a decent bowl game.

17. Virginia Tech Hokies: Chick-Fil-A Bowl

It's tough to look at the Hokies' schedule and predict a loss, but it is almost bound to happen at some point.

That being said, don't be surprised if the Hokies escape ACC play with only one blemish, especially if David Wilson and Logan Thomas are effective out of the backfield.

Frank Beamer's teams are always solid on defense and special teams, and 2011 should be no exception.

While Florida State appears to be top dog in the conference, don't sleep on Virginia Tech.

16. Wisconsin Badgers: Rose Bowl

The Badgers lost a ton of talent last season, but appear to be ready to reload in 2011.

Head coach Bret Bielema has the Badgers poised on the edge of huge successes in the Big Ten.

The return of linebacker Chris Borland from injury will have a huge impact on the Badgers' defensive schemes and capabilities.

Wide receiver Nick Toon and running backs Montee Ball and James White figure to star in an offense that lost a very productive quarterback.

With all the controversy surrounding Ohio State, the Badgers have the perfect opportunity to try and seize control of the Big Ten.

15. Arizona State Sun Devils: Valero Alamo Bowl

Dennis Erickson has a good thing going in Tempe.

The Devils return some competent running backs, have a serviceable starting quarterback and boast speed at all the primary skill positions.

The real strength of this team lies in its defense.

Vontaze Burfict leads a unit that flies around the field making tackles and delivering huge hits.

Oregon will be top dog again, but ASU is nipping at their heels.

14. Michigan State Spartans: Outback Bowl

The Spartans are trying to recover from the New Year's Day spanking they received at the hands of Alabama.

Kirk Cousins leads a very capable offense, and even though the defense lost some talent along the front seven, guys like Jerel Worthy are more than capable of picking up the slack.

The most difficult part of the season includes Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Nebraska in four consecutive weeks.

The Spartans were so close last season but will slip further away this year in a competitive Big Ten.

13. Oklahoma State Cowboys: Cotton Bowl

Overrated.

The Cowboys are the most overrated thing since the invention of the snuggie.

The departure of Dan Holgorsen for WVU is going to have some lingering effects on this offense, even with the incredible talent of Justin Blackmon and Brandon Weeden.

As for defense...

OSU's defense resembles an invisible wall...it's not there.

Will they overwhelm teams with their offense?

Yes.

BCS material?

Emphatically, no.

12. South Carolina Gamecocks: Allstate Sugar Bowl

With the addition of Jadeveon Clowney, the Gamecocks may have the most talented defensive line in the country.

Devin Taylor (7.5 sacks in 2010), Melvin Ingram (nine sacks) and Travian Robertson are a force at the front of the Gamecocks defense.

Throw in the return of linebacker Shaq Wilson from injury, and you have a formidable group.

If Steve Spurrier can keep Stephen Garcia focused long enough to remain with the team, SC is going to be tough to beat in the SEC.

11. Texas A&M Aggies: Insight Bowl

Mike Sherman has a plethora of offensive weapons to use in the upcoming campaign.

QB Ryan Tannehill was coming on strong at the end of last season, and running back duo Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray are an imposing one-two punch out of the backfield.

The Aggies will lose at least four games, due to some holes on defense, leaving them in the middle of the Big 12 pack.

10. Arkansas Razorbacks: Cotton Bowl

The Razorbacks are legit.

Tyler Wilson is more than capable of taking over where Ryan Mallett left off at quarterback, and the Hogs return last season's SEC leading Rusher Knile Davis.

Some significant improvements are on the horizon for the defense, and with a deep pool of experienced receivers, the Razorbacks may have the most prolific offense in the conference.

Trips to Alabama and LSU are both going to be difficult but not unmanageable.

Unfortunately, Bobby Petrino and Co. will fall just short of the BCS, but a matchup against Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl wouldn't be a bad consolation prize.

9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Orange Bowl

You've heard it before...

The Irish are going back to the BCS.

Deal with it.

Manti Te'o leads a great defense that is going to give offensive coordinators fits, and Brian Kelly has a way of developing young quarterbacks into prolific college passers.

Throw in the emerging talent of running back Cierre Wood and one of the top receivers in the country, and you have a BCS team, in spite of a tough schedule.

8. Boise State Broncos: Las Vegas Bowl

Kellen Moore may be one of the best signal callers in the country, but Boise State is going to have a tougher time next season than they have in the past.

This is not a knock on Boise State, but rather a referendum on the difference in talent from the WAC to the MWC.

The top teams in the MWC, TCU, Air Force and San Diego State, are all better than the other top teams Boise left in the WAC.

While TCU and Air Force must travel to take on the Broncos on the "Smurf Turf," SDSU gets to host the Broncos and will prove the Waterloo to Moore's Napolean.

No BCS for BSU, yet again.

7. Nebraska Cornhuskers: Sugar Bowl

The Huskers have a tough schedule in their inaugural Big Ten season but nothing unmanageable for a team with that defense.

Jared Crick, Lavonte David and Alfonzo Dennard lead a tough defense, and the Big Ten has never seen anything like Bo Pelini getting angry on the sidelines.

Quarterback Taylor Martinez remains the question mark but should be productive enough in his second year to lead the Huskers to the Big Ten championship game, which will be their second loss to Wisconsin of the season.

6. Stanford Cardinal: Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl

Stanford has Andrew Luck.

They also have Shayne Skov.

While both of these guys are talented on each of their respective sides of the ball, the fact that the Cardinal must face Oregon and Notre Dame is going to be difficult to handle.

Throw in trips to Tucson to face Arizona and the Coliseum to tangle with the Trojans, and Stanford is going to be on the outside looking into the BCS.

5. Oregon Ducks: Rose Bowl

Arizona State will give the Ducks a scare at Autzen in the conference championship, but they should emerge as the once beaten Pac-12 champs.

Lamichael James and Darron Thomas are going to be productive, but the loss of three starters along the offensive line leaves some unanswered questions.

A trip to Stanford to face Andrew Luck may be the one they lose, but the Ducks will bounce right to te top of the Pac-12 pile.

By the way, you should check out Chip Kelly's visor collection.

Rumor has it he just bought one that says, "Honk if you have broken an NCAA rule."

4. LSU Tigers: Capital One Bowl

The Tigers appear to be on the cusp of greatness.

Jordan Jefferson is not the most consistent guy in the world, but he is an athlete that can make plays when needed.

The defense is scary, even without Patrick Peterson.

The only roadblock en route to the BCS is their schedule.

The Tigers face two teams that will win their respective conferences during non-conference play and must travel to Mississippi State and Alabama.

They will have a solid season, just not quite good enough to finish atop the SEC.

3. Florida State Seminoles: Orange Bowl

FSU has an early season spat with Oklahoma that will be a good measuring stick.

The 'Noles have more experience on offense than most teams in the country and after some stellar recruiting classes, have a very explosive defense.

Is it just hype?

Absolutely not.

E.J. Manuel and Nigel Bradham will lead the Seminoles back to the BCS promised land.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide: BCS Championship

While the Tide lost some very talented players with much experience, they are poised to reload and move back atop the college football universe.

Of course, that's what was predicted last season as well.

But when one looks at the overall picture in the college football landscape, one must go with one's gut.

The Tide are ranked so highly because they belong.

Who should replace them?

Tough call, huh?

1. Oklahoma Sooners: BCS Championship

The Sooners are not going to escaped a tough schedule unscathed but should have only one loss after the regular season.

That should be good enough to propel them to their second championship game in four years.

Landry Jones to Ryan Broyles is a potent game plan, and the Sooner defense has talent stacked all across the field.

Bob Stoops, for all we enjoy picking on him, has proven to be a great head coach, and he has the tools to craft into a championship caliber team.

Will the Sooners be the ones to unseat the SEC?