Arizona State Football: Bowl Projections for the Sun Devils

Pending an epic collapse, the Arizona State Sun Devils are just one win away from automatically making a postseason bowl game. With the Pac-12 extremely tight, there is no for sure answer as to where the Sun Devils will land in the Pac-12 standings at season's end.

The Sun Devils are currently at 6-3 with the hardest part of their schedule out of the way. They are also No. 2 in the Pac-12 South, and they need some things to go their way in order to make their way into the inaugural Pac-12 championship game.

If the Sun Devils can win the rest of their games, they will be sitting at 9-3, and they will be in position to play in one of the higher bowls outside of the BCS bowls.

Here is a breakdown of where the Sun Devils could find themselves playing during championship week.

Valero Alamo Bowl

Who Plays: Big-12 No. 2/3 vs. Pac-12 No. 2

How the Arizona State Sun Devils End Up Here

In order for the Sun Devils to make the Alamo Bowl, they will need the UCLA Bruins to fall to the USC Trojans in the final week of the regular season. The Sun Devils will do their part by winning the rest of their games this season.

If things go as planned in the Pac-12, Arizona State will still be behind either the Stanford Cardinal or Oregon Ducks, resulting in the Sun Devils being still out of luck in a BCS bowl no matter what the result is in the Pac-12 championship game. The Sun Devils should be 9-3 at this point, and a 10-3 mark or 9-4 mark will not make any difference in the standings.

Odds They Play This Bowl: 70 percent

Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl

Who Plays: Big-12 No. 5 vs. Pac-12 No. 3

How the Arizona State Sun Devils End Up Here

The Sun Devils will end up in the Holiday Bowl if they win out, but if the UCLA Bruins manage to do so as well. If this were to happen, UCLA will be representing the Pac-12 South in the Pac-12 championship game. The Sun Devils cannot manage to drop a game during the rest of the regular season; otherwise they will perhaps not be able to make either the Alamo Bowl or Holiday Bowl.

Odds They Play This Bowl: 15 percent

Hyundai Sun Bowl

Who Plays: ACC No. 4 vs. Pac-12 No. 4

How the Arizona State Sun Devils End Up Here

The Washington Huskies are 4-2 in the Pac-12, and if they can get past the USC Trojans this week, they could overtake the Sun Devils if they manage to drop another one of their remaining games.

The Huskies would have to win out and the Sun Devils would have to lose a game. It is tough to imagine this happening, but anything is possible. The Sun Devils need to keep their composure high against teams like the Arizona Wildcats and California Golden Bears.

Odds They Play This Bowl: 8 percent

Maaco Las Vegas Bowl

Who Plays: MWC No. 1 vs. Pac-12 No. 5

How the Arizona State Sun Devils End Up Here

In the second-least likely of events to happen, the Sun Devils could end up in this spot pending an epic collapse. They would have to lose two of their next three games, while UCLA and Washington continue to win. This result doesn't seem likely, as the Sun Devils are a very good team. The Sun Devils do have two games remaining at home, where they remain perfect on the season. Don't expect the Sun Devils to fall this far.

Odds They Play This Bowl: 5 percent

Rose Bowl

Who Plays: Big-10 No. 1 vs. Pac-12 No. 1

How the Arizona State Sun Devils End Up Here

The least likely scenario, but also the most appealing.

In order for the Sun Devils to make the Rose Bowl, they will need the UCLA Bruins to lose to the USC Trojans and then for whoever loses the Pac-12 matchup between the Oregon Ducks and Stanford Cardinal to drop its remaining two games. The Sun Devils would then have to win the Pac-12 championship. As mentioned, this is incredibly difficult to imagine. With Stanford having Oregon, Cal and Notre Dame remaining on its schedule, it could happen. That's not as probable with Ducks since Oregon State is their last game at home. Keep those hopes alive Sun Devil fans!

Odds They Play This Bowl: 2 percent