Bowl Projections: Where Oklahoma State and Other Elite Week 12 Losers Will Land
Now that you should have enough time to pick your jaw up from the floor, it's time to analyze everything that happened in Week 12 and look ahead to potential bowl games. Here are updated destinations for the three top-five teams that were upset this week.
No. 2 Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State had no answer for Iowa State freshman quarterback Jared Barnett, who totaled 460 yards and three touchdowns in the double-overtime triumph. The Cowboys' offense was unable to overcome the defensive deficiencies like they had in previous weeks.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
They now have a week to rest up before taking on rival Oklahoma in a game that will likely be for the Big 12 crown. That extra week to prepare coupled with the Sooners' equally porous defense gives the Cowboys an edge.
Projected Bowl: Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
No. 4 Oregon Ducks
Oregon could have clinched the Pac-12 North Division on Saturday night but took it on the chin against USC. The combination of Matt Barkley, whose NFL draft stock continues to rise, and Marqise Lee was virtually unstoppable for the fourth straight week.
The Ducks still control their own destiny but will need to survive a rivalry game against Oregon State next weekend. While the Beavers are having a rough season, they did pick up a solid win against Washington to build some confidence before the big game.
Projected Bowl: Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio
No. 5 Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners live and die with their defense. In the team's eight wins, they haven't given up more than 28 points. In their two losses, they allowed at least 40 points both times. That becomes even more problematic without Ryan Broyles serving as Landry Jones' top target.
Oklahoma now faces games against Iowa State and their aforementioned foes from Stillwater in order to win the Big 12. While it's certainly with reason, winning a rivalry game on the road with so much on the line might be a little too much to ask from the Sooners.
Projected Bowl: AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
