Bowl Projections: The Optimal Bowl Game for Every BCS Conference Team

The 2011 college football season is coming to a close, and you know what that means? Bowl games!

There are now 35 FBS Bowls, including the National Championship game, which means 70 teams will compete in the postseason. 

Let's take a look at the optimal bowl for every BCS automatic qualifying conference team, as well as key independents and mid-major contenders.

Clemson

Team: Clemson

Conference: ACC

Current Record: 9-2

Optimal Bowl Game: Orange Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Chick-fil-A 

Clemson has had a strange year. They started off strong, but faded. Which team will show up in the postseason? Hope the Tigers don't lay an egg in the Chik-fil-A bowl.  

Florida State

Team: Florida State

Conference: ACC

Current Record: 7-4

Optimal Bowl Game: Champs Sports Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Champs Sports Bowl 

Florida State is very fortunate to even be playing in a bowl after a few of the games this year. Will they play like champs or chumps in the Champs Sports Bowl?

Wake Forest

Team: Wake Forest

Conference: ACC

Current Record: 6-5

Optimal Bowl Game: Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl  

Most Likely Bowl Game:  Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

Wake Forest is correctly named. Somebody wake me up after this one.

North Carolina State

Team: North Carolina State

Conference: ACC

Current Record: 6-5

Optimal Bowl Game: Belk Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: AdvoCare V100 Independence

North Carolina State is going bowling. Does anyone advocare?

Virginia Tech

Team: Virginia Tech

Conference: ACC

Current Record: 10-1

Optimal Bowl Game: Orange Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Orange Bowl

Virginia Tech is a solid team. They will most likely beat their opponent from the Big East to a pulp in the Orange Bowl. 

Virginia

Team: Virginia

Conference: ACC

Current Record: 8-3

Optimal Bowl Game: Chick-fil-A

Most Likely Bowl Game: Hyundai Sun Bowl

Virginia will most likely end up in the sun. 

Georgia Tech

Team: Georgia Tech

Conference: ACC

Current Record: 8-3

Optimal Bowl Game: Franklin American Mortgage Music City

Most Likely Bowl Game: Belk Bowl

Georgia Tech has been up and down this year. Will they finish out on the upside? Let's hope they belk it for all it's worth. 

North Carolina

Team: North Carolina

Conference: ACC

Current Record: 6-5

Optimal Bowl Game: AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman

North Carolina probably wants their independence, but sorry to say they have been enlisted. 

Oklahoma State

Team: Oklahoma State

Conference: Big 12

Current Record: 10-1

Optimal Bowl Game: BCS National Championship

Most Likely Bowl Game: Fiesta Bowl

They want to go to the big party, but they will have to settle for a fiesta. 

Kansas State

Team: Kansas State

Conference: Big 12

Current Record: 9-2

Optimal Bowl Game: Fiesta Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Cotton Bowl  

A bowl of fiesta isn't on the menu, but a big bowl of cotton is. 

Oklahoma

Team: Oklahoma

Conference: Big 12

Current Record: 8-2

Optimal Bowl Game: Fiesta Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Valero Alamo Bowl

Wanna fiesta?  No, remember the Alamo!

Baylor

Team: Baylor

Conference: Big 12

Current Record: 7-3

Optimal Bowl Game: Alamo Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Pinstripe Bowl  

Staying in Texas is what Baylor wants to see, but pinstripes are in the future for R.G.III. 

Missouri

Team: Missouri

Conference: Big 12

Current Record: 6-5

Optimal Bowl Game: Meineke Car Care Bowl 

Most Likely Bowl Game: Meineke Car Care Bowl 

Fill your tank and start your engine, Missouri. 

Texas A&M

Team: Texas A&M

Conference: Big 12

Current Record: 6-6

Optimal Bowl Game: Meineke Car Care Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Insight Bowl

SEC-you later. Sincerely, Texas. 

Oh by the way, let's hope you get some new insight in a new conference.  

Texas

Team: Texas

Conference: Big 12

Current Record: 7-4

Optimal Bowl Game: Holiday Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Holiday Bowl

Defeating Texas A&M had to feel good. 

Since they had to waste a holiday to do it, a Holiday Bowl might make up for lost time.   

Iowa State

Team: Iowa State

Conference: Big 12

Current Record: 6-4

Optimal Bowl Game: Meineke Car Care Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

Iowa State is hungry for a bowl. Well, they are going to get one!

Texas Tech

Team: Texas Tech

Conference: Big 12

Current Record: 5-6

Optimal Bowl Game: Any

Most Likely Bowl Game: None 

Texas Tech, so many missed opportunities. 

Rutgers

Team: Rutgers

Conference: Big East

Current Record: 8-3

Optimal Bowl Game: Orange Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Pinstripe Bowl 

Orange Bowl? Orange Bowl?

You can't handle the Orange Bowl! 

Louisville

Team: Louisville

Conference: Big East

Current Record: 6-5

Optimal Bowl Game: Orange Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: BBVA Compass Bowl

The Orange Bowl got lost along the way, so get out your compass and go bowling. 

Cincinnati

Team: Cincinnati

Conference: Big East

Current Record: 7-3

Optimal Bowl Game: Orange Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Belk Bowl 

Cincinnati squeezed its way out of the Orange Bowl. 

West Virginia

Team: West Virginia

Conference: Big East

Current Record: 7-3

Optimal Bowl Game: Orange Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Orange Bowl 

A nice parting gift, a basket of oranges.  

Pittsburgh

Team: Pitt

Conference: Big East

Current Record: 5-5

Optimal Bowl Game: New Era Pinstripe Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: The Beef O'Brady's Bowl  

You would look good in pinstripes, but to do so, you have to lay off all that beef. 

South Florida

Team: South Florida

Conference: Big East

Current Record: 5-5

Optimal Bowl Game: Beef O'Brady's Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: None  

Bulls are made out of beef, but this year, there will be none on the menu.  

Syracuse

Team: Syracuse

Conference: Big East

Current Record: 5-5

Optimal Bowl Game: Any

Most Likely Bowl Game: None 

Oh Syracuse, Syracuse, wherefore art thou, Syracuse?  

Michigan State

Team: Michigan State

Conference: Big Ten

Current Record: 9-2

Optimal Bowl Game: Rose Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Capitol One  

Michigan State would love to stop and smell the roses, but for some reason, they have a knack of not capitalizing. 

Michigan

Team: Michigan

Conference: Big Ten

Current Record: 9-2

Optimal Bowl Game: Rose Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Sugar Bowl 

Michigan fans want roses, but they will have to settle for sugar. 

Maybe it will make them a bit sweeter...probably not. 

Nebraska

Team: Nebraska

Conference: Big Ten 

Current Record: 8-3

Optimal Bowl Game: Outback Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Insight Bowl 

Nebraska wants to take the game outback, but some prefer to fight insight.

Nebraska fans, that is just a play on words intended to be humorous.

Iowa

Team: Iowa

Conference: Big Ten 

Current Record: 7-4

Optimal Bowl Game: Insight Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Meineke Car Care Bowl 

Iowa is in a bowl game?

Northwestern

Team: Northwestern

Conference: Big Ten 

Current Record: 6-5

Optimal Bowl Game: Meineke Car Care Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Little Caesars Bowl

Northwester is happy to be anywhere in the postseason. Especially when there is free pizza!

Penn State

Team: Penn State

Conference: Big Ten 

Current Record: 9-2

Optimal Bowl Game: Rose Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Outback Bowl 

Any other year, and the Rose Bowl would be very excited about this possibility. However, this year is different. 

Wisconsin

Team: Wisconsin

Conference: Big Ten 

Current Record: 9-2

Optimal Bowl Game: Rose Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Rose Bowl  

Wisconsin is excited to lose back-to-back Rose Bowls. 

Ohio State

Team: Ohio State

Conference: Big Ten 

Current Record: 6-5

Optimal Bowl Game: Gator Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Gator Bowl  

Ohio State, you might have a new coach who was once the coach of the team you would probably play, but you ought to sit this one out. This decision to play a postseason game might come back to bite you. 

Purdue

Team: Purdue

Conference: Big Ten 

Current Record: 5-6

Optimal Bowl Game: Ticket City Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Ticket City Bowl  

Purdue is just happy to have a ticket to anywhere after their roller coaster season.  

Illinois

Team: Illinois

Conference: Big Ten

Current Record: 6-5

Optimal Bowl Game: R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Illinois, this bowl is the only real option for you. 

Stanford

Team: Stanford

Conference: Pac-12

Current Record: 10-1

Optimal Bowl Game: BCS National Championship

Most Likely Bowl Game: Fiesta Bowl  

Unless more luck runs out against the Irish, the Cardinal will have a fiesta. 

Oregon

Team: Oregon

Conference: Pac-12

Current Record: 9-2

Optimal Bowl Game: Rose Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Rose Bowl  

Someone duck in Pasadena; Oregon will be flying in. They will probably feast on badger. 

Washington

Team: Washington

Conference: Pac-12

Current Record: 6-5

Optimal Bowl Game: Alamo Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Alamo Bowl  

A long trip is in store for the Huskies, but it is the best bowl on their radar.

California

Team: Cal

Conference: Pac-12

Current Record: 6-5

Optimal Bowl Game: Maaco Las Vegas Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Hyundai Sun Bowl  

Vegas is close, but get in your Hyundai and head into the sun. 

UCLA

Team: UCLA

Conference: Pac-12

Current Record: 6-5

Optimal Bowl Game: Rose Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Maaco Las Vegas Bowl  

Too bad USC isn't bowl eligible this year. Oh sorry, was that said out loud?

Utah

Team: Utah

Conference: Pac-12

Current Record: 7-4

Optimal Bowl Game: Rose Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Holiday Bowl  

Utah could back into the rose bowl, but more likely, they will be off to a holiday. 

Arizona State

Team: Arizona State

Conference: Pac-12

Current Record: 6-5

Optimal Bowl Game: Holiday Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl  

ASU is playing like a team starving for a win. They will get their chance.  

Georgia

Team: Georgia

Conference: SEC

Current Record: 9-2

Optimal Bowl Game: Sugar Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Capitol One Bowl 

The SEC Championship Game will make all the difference.

South Carolina

Team: South Carolina

Conference: SEC

Current Record: 9-2

Optimal Bowl Game: Outback Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Outback Bowl 

It is a sad day when a 9-2 record gets you taken out back. 

Florida

Team: Florida

Conference: SEC

Current Record: 6-5

Optimal Bowl Game: Gator Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Gator Bowl  

Wonder why this is the best game for Florida? 

LSU

Team: LSU

Conference: SEC

Current Record: 11-0

Optimal Bowl Game: BCS National Championship

Most Likely Bowl Game:  BCS National Championship 

How do you spell rematch? B-O-R-I-N-G

Alabama

Team: Alabama

Conference: SEC

Current Record: 10-1

Optimal Bowl Game:  BCS National Championship

Most Likely Bowl Game:  BCS National Championship

Note: See previous slide

Arkansas

Team: Arkansas

Conference: SEC

Current Record: 10-1

Optimal Bowl Game:  BCS National Championship

Most Likely Bowl Game: Cotton Bowl  

Arkansas can dream all they want, but they better do it with cotton in their ears. 

Auburn

Team: Auburn

Conference: SEC

Current Record: 7-4

Optimal Bowl Game: Chik-fil-A Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Chik-fil-A Bowl

It is said tiger tastes like chicken. 

BYU

Team: BYU

Conference: Independent

Current Record: 8-3

Optimal Bowl Game: Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

Already Confirmed Bowl Game: Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl 

Only one question—is BYU asking for exclusive television rights to this bowl game?  

Notre Dame

Team: Notre Dame

Conference: Independent

Current Record: 8-3

Optimal Bowl Game: Fiesta Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Champs Sports Bowl  

Two losses early really hurt right now, don't they?

Houston

Team: Houston

Conference: C-USA

Current Record: 11-0

Optimal Bowl Game: Sugar Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: Sugar Bowl  

You will probably, finally, get to make your case in the Sugar Bowl.  

Boise State

Team: Boise State

Conference: MWC

Current Record: 9-1

Optimal Bowl Game: Fiesta Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: MAACO Las Vegas Bowl

One loss. No, one fumble. No, one kick. No, one point, kept you from playing for it all. 

TCU

Team: TCU

Conference: MWC

Current Record: 9-2

Optimal Bowl Game: Fiesta Bowl

Most Likely Bowl Game: AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl 

TCU is headed to the Big 12; it will be interesting if they make the Fiesta Bowl to play a future conference opponent. However, as it stands, the Independence Bowl looks like an option.