College Football Week 9: Early BCS Bowl Game Projections

After a wild college football weekend, the BCS is shaken up, and so are we. Oklahoma is now a national championship long shot instead of a shoe-in. Wisconsin is not the only powerhouse team coming from the Big Ten.

A dramatic Week 9 of the college football season really shook up the BCS standings and left open many BCS bowl game matchup possibilities.

Will Michigan State play in a BCS bowl? Will Clemson keep their miraculous season intact? Check out the latest college football BCS bowl game projections to find out.

The Rose Bowl

So it seems that Holy Mary is a Michigan State Spartan fan. The "Hail Mary" prayers were answered last Saturday at Spartan Stadium against the Wisconsin Badgers. A desperation throw by quarterback Kirk Cousins launched the Spartans back into the national spotlight and propelled Wisconsin right out of the Top 10 in the BCS standings.

The Rose Bowl, being played on Jan. 2, pits the Big Ten victor against the Pac-12 winner.

Michigan State is now smelling roses and will controls its own destiny, with the opportunity to play in the "Grandaddy of them all."

My Rose bowl prediction: Michigan State vs. Stanford

The Fiesta Bowl

The winner of the Big 12 plays a BCS or an at-large team in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Jan. 2 in Glendale, AZ.

Following the amazing loss to Texas Tech last week, Oklahoma is no longer the front-running team in the Big 12. That title goes to Oklahoma State, a team who also controls their own respected destiny. As far as I'm concerned, if Oklahoma State wins out, they'll be in New Orleans for the national championship.

My Fiesta Bowl projection: Oklahoma vs. Oregon

The Sugar Bowl

The Allstate Sugar Bowl pits the winner of the SEC against an at-large BCS ranked team. Therefore, the loser of the SEC championship game will most likely be playing in this game.

It seems to me that LSU has a good team, but not a great team. They play rival Alabama in two weeks and will determine which team goes where during the bowl season. Although both teams are successful and highly talented, Alabama is far superior.

LSU will land their final game basically at home, in New Orleans, for the Allstate Sugar Bowl. But who will they play?

My Sugar Bowl prediction: LSU vs. Oklahoma State

The Orange Bowl

Clemson! Clemson! Clemson!

One of the national darlings of the season thus far, Clemson looks like an absolute lock to win the Atlantic Coast Conference and earn their first ever BCS bowl game berth. Head coach Dabo Swinney has his team completely believing that they can run the table the remainder of the season, and even be a dark horse team for the national championship game.

That being said, who will the Tigers play in Miami, FL in the FedEx Orange Bowl?

The Big East this season does not have an automatic bid in any BCS bowl game. Therefore, I expect the winner of the Big East to play Clemson in the Orange Bowl. Yet, I do not necessarily agree with this.

The Big East has been quite weak the entire season, with their best team, West Virginia, having two losses already. Honestly, if Houston can run the table, I'd love to see them play Clemson, but the BCS won't ever let that happen. Heaven forbid an undefeated mid-major conference team play in a BCS game, right?

My Orange bowl prediction: Clemson vs. Cincinnati

The National Championship Game

Knowing that LSU is predicted to play in the Sugar Bowl, Alabama must be playing for the national championship. Indeed they will be.

An absolute juggernaut of a team, Alabama will run the table for the remainder of the year and will play for their second title in three years. But, who will they play?

Well, if you haven't caught on as to what team I've left out until now, you obviously aren't a college football fan.

Going undefeated year after year (except last season) and having received the BCS shaft year after year, it's finally their turn to show their complete worth. Yes, the Boise State Broncos will finally be given the chance to play for a BCS National Championship.

My National Championship Game projection: Alabama vs. Boise State