Pac-10 Bowl Breakdown Update

The following is an updated breakdown for the Pac-10 bowl season: the games yet to be played and all of the possible outcomes. We’ll start with each of the potential bowls and then go team-by-team for each scenario...

 

 

ROSE BOWL (Pasadena, CA)

 

Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 

 

Pac-10 Champion vs. Big Ten Champion, unless either champion is ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the final BCS rankings. This seems highly unlikely this year, as USC sits at No. 6 with just two to play. Penn State will be the opponent from the Big Ten.

 

 

 

HOLIDAY BOWL (San Diego, CA)

 

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008

 

The No. 2 or No. 3 Pac-10 team against the No. 3 or No. 4 Big 12 team, depending on if either conference has a second BCS Bowl representative. More than likely the Big 12 would. The Pac-10 would need OSU to get to the Rose Bowl and for USC to be chosen as an at-large.

 

The Holiday Bowl, as do the other bowls with Pac-10 affiliation, has the right to select between whichever teams are tied. Either Missouri or Oklahoma St. would fall here as possible opponents, provided Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma make the two BCS Bowls and the Cotton Bowl.

 

 

 

SUN BOWL (El Paso, TX)

 

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008

 

The No. 3 or No. 4 Pac-10 team against a Big 12, Big East, or Notre Dame team. Like the Holiday Bowl, they would have the right to select between whichever teams are tied for the No. 3 or No. 4 spot. The opponent was South Florida from the Big East last year, so, possibly Nebraska from the Big 12 or Notre Dame if the Gator Bowl does not select them.

 

 

 

LAS VEGAS BOWL (Las Vegas, NV)

 

Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008

 

The No. 4 Pac-10 team (they rotate fourth and fifth with the Emerald Bowl) against the Mountain West Champion. Unless one of them makes a BCS Bowl, the opponent appears to be Utah, BYU, or TCU.

 

 

 

EMERALD BOWL (San Francisco, CA)

 

Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008

 

The No. 5 Pac-10 team (they rotate fourth and fifth with the Las Vegas Bowl) against the No. 5, 6, or 7 team from the ACC. Take your pick of opponents. The ACC is staring at about a 10-way tie. It could be Georgia Tech, Clemson, or Wake Forest, or perhaps even Miami, Florida State, or Boston College.

 

 

 

HAWAII BOWL (Honolulu, HI)

 

Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008

 

The No. 6 Pac-10 team against Hawaii (if eligible) or other WAC team.  If Hawaii beats Idaho and Washington State, they’re in.  Otherwise it's Nevada, San Jose St., or maybe Fresno State.

 

 

 

POINSETTIA BOWL (San Diego, CA)

 

Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008

 

The No. 7 Pac-10 team would play here.  However, there will not be a seventh team that is bowl eligible for 2008.  

 

 

 

Possible Pac-10 Bowl Participants and Scenarios

 

USC Trojans (7-1, 9-1)

 

Remaining games against Notre Dame and at UCLA.

 

USC BCS BOWL SCENARIOS

 

USC and Oregon State finish in a tie at 8-1. The tiebreaker would go to Oregon State by virtue of their 27-21 victory over the Trojans back in September. USC would then have to be selected as an at-large BCS school, which seems probable.

 

USC ROSE BOWL SCENARIOS

 

USC and Oregon finish in a tie at 7-2. The tiebreaker would go to USC by virtue of their 44-10 victory over the Ducks back in October.

 

Oregon defeats Oregon State, and USC finishes alone in first.

 

USC HOLIDAY BOWL SCENARIOS

 

Oregon State to Rose Bowl, and USC not selected for other BCS Bowl.

 

 

 

Oregon State Beavers (6-1, 7-3)

 

Remaining game against Oregon.

 

OSU ROSE BOWL SCENARIOS

 

USC and Oregon State finish in a tie, either 8-1 or 7-2 in Pac-10. The tiebreaker would go to Oregon State by virtue of their 27-21 victory over the Trojans back in September.

 

OSU HOLIDAY BOWL SCENARIO

 

OSU loses to Oregon, leaving them tied at 7-2, and is selected over the Ducks.  This seems unlikely. 

 

OSU SUN BOWL SCENARIO

 

USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon to Holiday Bowl. Oregon State would be alone in third. 

 

 

 

Oregon Ducks (6-2, 8-3)

 

Remaining game at Oregon State.

 

UO HOLIDAY BOWL SCENARIOS

 

Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Cal loses to UW. Oregon (6-3) would be alone in second and go.

 

USC to Rose Bowl, OSU beats Arizona, loses to Oregon. Oregon (7-2) would be alone in second and go.

 

Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Cal wins out. The Holiday Bowl would choose between Oregon (6-3) and California (6-3). Cal was there in 2006 and Oregon in 2005, which may give it to the Ducks.

 

UO SUN BOWL SCENARIO

 

Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Cal chosen over Oregon for Holiday Bowl. Oregon would be slotted for the Sun Bowl. However, Ducks played there in 2007. Arizona could sneak in here.

 

UO LAS VEGAS BOWL SCENARIOS

 

Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Cal to Holiday Bowl, Arizona to Sun Bowl. Oregon would fall here.

 

USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon State to Holiday Bowl, Cal to Sun Bowl. Either Oregon or Arizona.

 

UO EMERALD BOWL SCENARIO

 

The Emerald Bowl simply gets whatever Pac-10 bowl eligible team is left.  From the looks of it, that will more than likely be Arizona or California.  It could be Oregon if they’re not selected to return to the Sun Bowl.  It could also potentially be ASU if they win out.

 

 

 

California Golden Bears (4-3, 6-4)

 

Remaining game against Washington.

 

CAL HOLIDAY BOWL SCENARIOS

 

Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Cal beats UW. The Holiday Bowl would choose between Oregon (6-3) and California (6-3). Cal was there in 2006 and Oregon in 2005, which may give it to the Ducks.

 

CAL SUN BOWL SCENARIOS

 

Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Oregon chosen over Cal for Holiday Bowl. Cal would get Sun Bowl.

 

USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon State to Holiday Bowl. Sun could have to choose between Oregon and Cal.

 

CAL LAS VEGAS BOWL SCENARIO

 

USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon to Holiday Bowl, Oregon State to Sun Bowl.  

 

CAL EMERALD BOWL SCENARIO

 

The Emerald Bowl simply gets whatever Pac-10 bowl eligible team is left. From the looks of it, that will more than likely be Arizona or California. It could be Oregon if they’re not selected to return to the Sun Bowl. It could also potentially be ASU if they win out.

 

 

 

Arizona Wildcats (4-3, 6-4)

 

Remaining game against Arizona State.

 

UA SUN BOWL SCENARIOS

 

Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Cal chosen over Oregon for Holiday Bowl.  Oregon would be slotted for the Sun Bowl. However, Ducks played there in 2007.  Arizona could sneak in here.

 

USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon State to Holiday Bowl. Sun could have to choose between Oregon, Cal, and Arizona.

 

UA LAS VEGAS BOWL SCENARIOS

 

Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Oregon to Holiday Bowl, Cal to Sun Bowl. More than likely Arizona would slide here.

 

USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon State to Holiday Bowl, Cal to Sun Bowl. Either Oregon or Arizona.

 

USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon to Holiday Bowl, Oregon State to Sun Bowl. Either California or potentially Arizona/Arizona State winner.

 

UA EMERALD BOWL SCENARIO

 

The Emerald Bowl simply gets whatever Pac-10 bowl eligible team is left. From the looks of it, that will more than likely be Arizona or California. It could be Oregon if they’re not selected to return to the Sun Bowl.  

 

UA HAWAII BOWL SCENARIO

 

The Hawaii Bowl would get the sixth eligible team from the Pac-10, which could be Arizona if they lose out, or ASU or UCLA if they win out.  

 

 

 

Arizona State Sun Devils (3-4, 4-6)

 

Remaining games against UCLA and at Arizona.

 

ASU LAS VEGAS BOWL SCENARIO

 

USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon to Holiday Bowl, Oregon State to Sun Bowl. Either California or potentially Arizona/Arizona State winner.

 

ASU EMERALD BOWL SCENARIO

 

The Emerald Bowl simply gets whatever Pac-10 bowl eligible team is left. From the looks of it, that will more than likely be Arizona or California. It could be Oregon if they’re not selected to return to the Sun Bowl. It could also potentially be ASU if they win out.

 

ASU HAWAII BOWL SCENARIO

 

The Hawaii Bowl would get the sixth eligible team from the Pac-10, which could be Arizona if they lose out, or ASU or UCLA if they win out.  

 

 

 

UCLA Bruins (3-4, 4-6)

 

Remaining games at Arizona State and against USC.

 

UCLA HAWAII BOWL SCENARIO

 

The Hawaii Bowl would get the sixth eligible team from the Pac-10, which could be Arizona if they lose out, or ASU or UCLA, if they win out. 

 

 

 

Paul’s Picks, as of November 23, 2008

 

Bowl	Pac-10 Team	Opponent
Rose	USC	Penn State
Holiday	Oregon	Missouri
Sun	Oregon State	Nebraska
Las Vegas	Arizona	BYU
Emerald	California	Wake Forest
Hawaii	Non Pac-10	Hawaii