BCS Preview

There's a saying for when something goes wrong in sports: don't hate the player, hate the game. If we applied that to the Bowl Championship Series, it would go "don't hate the bowls, hate the bowl system." I love the history and intrigue of each of the following bowls, but the system is clearly broken. But enough harping on that, let's preview the five BCS games.

You will notice that I included the uniform selections for each team. That is purely speculation on my part, based on what we know (i.e. the Orange Bowl making the ACC champ the home team, etc.). So don't take my word for it.

I did not include the conference officiating assignments, but speculation on a message board that I will not name reports them as follows: SEC working the Rose, Big 10 in Miami for the Orange, Big East at the Fiesta, Big 12 in New Orleans, and the ACC presiding over the national championship. But in no way is that official.

(Sidenote: Hopefully Jack Childress' association with the infamous 2003 Florida-Florida State contest, where Gator fans felt they were royally screwed by the officiating, does not preclude him from working the game. He is clearly the ACC's best ref. Florida fans, trust me: you want Childress instead of Ron Cherry.)

Onto the previews:

ROSE BOWL: #8 Penn State Nittany Lions vs. #5 USC Trojans
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA)
Thursday 1/1, 4:30 PM, ABC
TV Announcers: Brent Musberger, Kirk Herbstreit, Lisa Salters

Uniforms: Penn State-white, USC-cardinal red
Series: Tied 4-4; USC won the last meeting in 2000 Kickoff Classic at the Meadowlands, 29-5. The teams previously met in the 1923 Rose Bowl, with USC winning 14-3.

JoePa has to be happy: we've finally found something older than him in college football, the Rose Bowl!

All kidding aside, this game is serious business for a Penn State squad that dominated the Big 10 (outside of the Iowa game) on both sides of the ball. The entire league is depending on them to erase the bad rap the league received after Ohio State was defeated in the past two national title games.

Waiting for the Lions in Southern California will be Pete Carroll's defense, which quietly has put up some of the best numbers seen in recent years. They give up less than 210 yards and 8 points a game, but will face a challenge from the Spread HD offense. I bet Paterno is really glad he let his assistants open up the offense for Darryl Clark this year, because it at least gives Penn State a fighting chance in this game.

PICK: USC has depended on a strong offense behind the likes of Leinart, Bush, and Palmer this decade, but this year it has been about the defense. Penn State has a strong defense, but there is no questioning the Trojans' talent on both sides of the ball. They will be out to prove a point, namely that they should have received more consideration for the title game. USC 20, PENN STATE 17

ORANGE BOWL: #12 Cincinnati Bearcats vs. #19 Virginia Tech Hokies
Dolphin Stadium (Miami Gardens, FL)Thursday 1/1, 8:30 PM, FOX
TV Announcers: Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Chris Myers

Uniforms: Cincinnati-white, Virginia Tech-Chicago maroon
Series: Series tied at 4-4 dating back to 1947; Virginia Tech won the last meeting at Blacksburg, 29-13, in 2006.

This will be the biggest game in the history of Cincinnati football, which is somewhat shocking considering how long the program has been around. That goes to show the job Brian Kelly has done building on the work of Mark Dantonio and taking this program to the next level.

In past seasons, the Bearcats would try and outscore you. But this season, Kelly has toned down the offense, while relying more on a solid defense. That is what happens when you utilize five starting quarterbacks, I guess.

After all the Hokies went through this season, it is hard to fathom how they reached their second straight Orange Bowl. While they did manage to win the ACC, the offense does not put up great numbers, and will likely struggle to move the ball on the Cincinnati defense. They will need to rely on special teams, turnovers, and great play by their own defense to win. When does Frank Beamer's squad fall short on those fronts? Rarely.

PICK: Kansas upset Virginia Tech to get a breakthrough bowl win in Miami a year ago. Cincy turns New Year's Day into Groundhog's Day for the Hokies. CINCINNATI 16, VIRGINIA TECH 10

SUGAR BOWL: #6 Utah Utes vs. #4 Alabama Crimson Tide
Louisiana Superdome (New Orleans, LA)
Friday 1/2, 8 PM, FOX
TV Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Charissa Thompson, Chris Myers

Uniforms: Utah-white, Alabama-crimson
Series: First meeting

One of the hot debates surrounding this game has to be if Utah will be more 2006 Boise State, or more 2007 Hawaii. I think somewhere in-between. The Mountain West was a tough conference this season, and the Utes had to beat great TCU and BYU teams just to get the bid (and don't downplay their win at the Big House either). Any time you have as strong of a defense as Kyle Willingham's team possesses, you are going to have a chance. Talks of them being blown out are preposterous.

Alabama has to be disappointed that they did not take down Florida to finish a perfect regular season. But then again, how many of you said at the beginning of the year that they would be BCS material in 2008? The Crimson Tide are a physical team that first and foremost runs the ball, but John Parker Wilson does an effective job managing the game at quarterback for the SEC West champions.

PICK: Neither defense will give up much in terms of yards, first downs or points, but Alabama is the stronger, deeper, and faster team, and that will help them as the game wears down. This game will be even for three quarters before Bama asserts the upper hand in the fourth, which they failed to do against Florida. ALABAMA 24 UTAH 14

FIESTA BOWL: # 10 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. #3 Texas Longhorns
University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, AZ)
Monday 1/5, 8 PM, FOX
TV Announcers: Matt Vasgersian, Tim Ryan, Laura Okmin, Chris Myers

Uniforms: Ohio State-white, Texas-burnt orange
Series: Tied at 1-1; Texas won 25-22 at Columbus in 2005, Ohio State won 24-7 at Austin in 2006.

Ohio State has flown under the radar compared to the past two seasons, but had a strong season nonetheless. This is still a team built on playing staunch defense and running the ball. They have survived Terrelle Pryor's growing pains and injuries to Beanie Wells on offense, and will give a second-ranked Texas rush defense fits. Not too many teams in the Big 12 are run-first offenses, so that may have inflated Texas' rushing defense somewhat.

The Longhorns are obviously not pleased about being in Glendale instead of Miami, but do they use that as motivation, or come out flat? Knowing Mack Brown and Colt McCoy, the Horns will be ready to play. The Ohio State defense will challenge their execution and ability to move the football. Obviously, this is a game of contrasting styles, and it will come down to whomever has done the more effective job of formulating an altered gameplan.

PICK: Texas is out to prove they belong in the national championship game, while Ohio State is out to prove that they are better than their performances in that game the past two years. Something has to give, and it will be the Buckeyes. TEXAS 34 OHIO STATE 21

BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: #2 Florida Gators vs. #1 Oklahoma Sooners
Dolphin Stadium (Miami Gardens, FL)
Thursday 1/8, 8 PM, FOX
TV Announcers: Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Chris Myers?

Uniforms: Florida-white, Oklahoma-crimson
Series: First meeting

Urban Meyer's team has been on a roll ever since being upset by Ole Miss at home early in the season. In fact, the SEC championship game was their only true test. Their defense, which allowed 13 points a game and played an integral part in their run to the chance for a second title in three years, will face an extremely difficult test from the high-powered Oklahoma attack.

Tim Tebow and his weapons should have success moving the ball as well, and have just as good of a shot at winning should this turn into a shootout. I don't Dan Mullen's split duties as Florida offensive coordinator and Mississippi State head coach hire to produce any difficulties.

Oklahoma will be without running back DeMarco Murray, but with Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford and seemingly endless other weapons, the unit will still thrive. They should be more worried about the attacking Florida defense. Their own defensive unit has gone up against some great quarterbacks in 2008, and held up well for the most part. But Tebow plays the game completely different from guys like McCoy, Harrell, Daniel, or Robinson. The OU defense must be on their toes at all times. As a team and as a coaching staff, this team must forget their recent struggles in big games. Otherwise, they stand no chance of winning.

PICK: Ah, the moment you have all read this far for. We have seen two stinker title games since that great Texas-USC Rose Bowl showdown in 2006, but I think this game could live up to that contest. It will all depend on who gets the ball last and avoids mistakes. OKLAHOMA 38 FLORIDA 31