Bowl Projections: Oklahoma vs. Arkansas Will Be Most Exciting Non-BCS Game

With only one weekend of games left before bowl games are officially announced, it is time to look ahead to which teams will be occupying which games. Of all the scenarios that can play out, the best one for fans will be a Cotton Bowl featuring Oklahoma and Arkansas. 

The Sooners were the best team in the country at the start of the season, at least based on their poll ranking, and they have been a fixture in the Top 10 all year. Even though their BCS championship dreams went up in smoke, they still boast one of the complete teams in the country. 

The Razorbacks have been a surprise this season. After losing Ryan Mallett to the NFL, they were supposed to take a step back. Instead, they went 10-2, with their only losses coming against LSU and Alabama—the top two teams in the country. 

There is still some work to be taken care of before we get this matchup. If the Sooners win their showdown against Oklahoma State on Saturday, they will win the Big 12 and end up playing in the Fiesta Bowl. 

But that isn't fun for anyone because this potential Cotton Bowl matchup has all the intrigue of a BCS game without all the pomp and circumstance surrounding it, which I like because it slows down the games. 

Plus, this would be Oklahoma's way of validating itself. We all criticize them—and the Big 12 as a whole—for playing a soft style of football. So a game against the third-best team in the SEC would work wonders for their morale. 

The offensive fireworks would fly in this game. Even without Ryan Broyles, the Sooners have an impressive collection of talent at the skill positions, including quarterback Landry Jones, running back Dominique Whaley and wide receiver Kenny Stills. 

Arkansas isn't too bad itself in that department. Quarterback Tyler Wilson has been excellent against teams that are not LSU and Alabama, running back Dennis Johnson averages over six yards per carry and wide receiver Jarius Wright has 11 touchdowns and 1,029 yards. 

Oklahoma has more talent on defense, though, they are not exactly dominant. Combined, both these teams average 80 points per game, and there is no reason to think that they wouldn't fly right by that total in a matchup with each other. 

Again, it is going to take some solid work on Oklahoma State's part to make the game happen, but for the sake of the non-BCS games, here's hoping that it all works out for the best.