2011 Bowl Projections: Lower-Tier Bowls with Must-See Teams

In any given year, a few of the country’s most exciting teams suffer enough losses to slide into bowls that fans would rarely have reason to care about. This trio of lesser postseason games will become must-see TV if their projected matchups come true:

Maaco Bowl (Boise State vs. Arizona State)

The one-loss Broncos are likely to get the short end of the BCS stick yet again, meaning they’ll tumble into the bowl-invitation ether. The Las Vegas-based Maaco Bowl would be a reasonable landing spot.

Arizona State, another darling of preseason pundits that failed to live up to its billing, probably won’t offer too much of a challenge to seasoned Boise. Watch this one to see the brilliant Kellen Moore (3,194 yards, 38 TDs) dismantle his last collegiate defense.

Sun Bowl (Georgia Tech vs. Utah)

Any fans who haven’t yet seen Georgia Tech’s game-breaking triple-option attack are in for a treat in this New Year’s Eve matchup. Utah, one of many overmatched Pac-12 teams headed for an ugly bowl defeat, will provide the canvas for QB Tevin Washington’s artistry.

Washington’s 890 yards lead the nation’s third-ranked ground attack, but he’s just one of three 600-yard rushers on the Yellow Jacket roster. Expect plenty of big plays from an offense that’s totaled 44 rushing TDs (including a 95-yarder) on the season.

Holiday Bowl (Cal vs. Baylor)

Despite a strong finish with wins over Oklahoma and Texas, the Bears look likely to be the odd team out in the Big 12 bowl calculations. That means, in all probability, a trip to San Diego for the Holiday Bowl.

The 7-5 Golden Bears aren’t the Pac-12’s worst team, but Isi Sofele and the Cal offense are no match for Heisman candidate Robert Griffin III. RG3 has posted 3,998 yards passing and another 644 rushing with a combined 45 TDs, and should be in for another monster performance here.