2011 Bowl Predictions: 3 Teams That Will Sneak into BCS Bowl Games

There's nothing like sneaking into a BCS bowl game by the hair of your chinny-chin-chin.

That's what three teams will do this season in college football.

Whether it be barely squeaking by their conference foes, or coming away with some scary close wins in the final weeks, these teams will have accomplished just enough to capture a BCS bid.

3. Stanford (11-1)

It may seem unfair to peg an 11-1 team as sneaking in, but the blowout loss against then-No. 7 Oregon on Nov. 12 undoubtedly hurt the Stanford Cardinal.

Plus, quarterback Andrew Luck continued to struggle by his standards against unranked Cal as the Cardinal barely defeated the Golden Bears, 31-28.

Nonetheless, it's hard to see the Cardinal being held out of the Fiesta Bowl this season.

2. West Virginia (9-3)

Once again, a Big East team that isn't fit for a BCS bowl game.

The Mountaineers, via a Cincinnati win over Connecticut, won a three-way tie for the Big East. That means they will receive the conference's automatic qualifying bid.

The Mountaineers have lost to Syracuse and Louisville, and squeaked by with close wins over Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and South Florida.

Yet, they seem destined for the Orange Bowl.

1. TCU (10-2)

Well, look here.

After being ranked No. 14 to start the season, the TCU Horned Frogs, minus Andy Dalton, dropped in the rankings when they lost to then-unranked Baylor and unranked SMU.

Now, via a win over UNLV and No. 6 Houston's shocking loss to Southern Miss on Saturday, TCU is widely projected to end up in the Sugar Bowl against Michigan.

Hey, who needs Dalton?