2012 BCS Bowl Projections: Predicting the 3 at-Large Bids

As it stands, it's likely the LSU Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide will have a rematch in the BCS National Championship Game.

After that, the winners from each of the big conferences will get automatic BCS bowl game bids.

Then it's up to at-large bids to fill the rest of the spots and—if my math is right—there should be three at-large bids.

Here's a quick look at who I think will fill those spots.

Stanford Cardinal

After Oregon takes care of UCLA in the Pac-12 Championship Game, the Ducks will secure a spot in the Rose Bowl. 

The Pac-12 will get two teams in BCS bowls, however, because the allure of Andrew Luck will be too strong to pass up. 

Luck is by far one of the most sought-after college players, and there's no doubt every bowl committee will be tripping over itself to invite Stanford.

The Cardinal are No. 4 in the BCS rankings, so it's not like putting them in the Fiesta Bowl would be a stretch.

Arkansas Razorbacks

With LSU and Alabama in the national title game, the SEC will need a replacement for its bowl game. Who else to replace them with, but another SEC team?

The SEC spot turns into an at-large bid, but it wouldn't be surprising to  see it filled by Arkansas.

The Razorbacks are No. 8 in the BCS, but with all the respect the SEC is getting this year, they should probably be propelled above Houston and Boise State.

Oklahoma Sooners

The same situation again. Oklahoma State will get the Big 12 spot for a BCS bowl game, but Oklahoma—even though it's below BSU and Houston in the BCS—will find a way in.

Whether it's what fans in Idaho want to see, the committee will likely judge that Oklahoma has more exciting players and a better chance at attracting a large viewership. 

This would give us 10 teams in the BCS bowls: LSU, Alabama, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Wisconsin and Oregon.