2011 Bowl Predictions: Where Are Week 14's Big Winners Heading?

As one of the biggest weeks in college football, this past couple of days has given us every conference champion and where each one will be heading come bowl season. There were a couple surprises and certainly a bunch of great games, but some of them were a little bit more important than others.

Although the BCS bowl picture may still be a little jumbled at some junctures, we look forward to figuring that all out come Sunday evening. On the other hand, most pieces of this ever-changing puzzle are already carved into the stone, and preparing for those big-time matchups will be more than enjoyable.

The end of this weekend will set everything in motion for the following month and into the new year, but where will this week's biggest champions look to now?

We take a look at five squads that are right where they should be and where they are heading next.

West Virginia

In perhaps the lamest BCS AQ conference, the Mountaineers are the seemingly obvious lock for the BCS bowl bid the Big East is required to have. Having defeated USF 30-27 on a last-second field goal, West Virginia claims a share of the Big East Title. 

Considering the Big East has no championship game, it comes down to whoever has the best conference record. Well, this season, three teams take that cake and interlock themselves in a triangle of hate.

WVU, however, should get the bid over conference foes Louisville and Cincinnati because they easily have the better BCS ranking. Its USF win secured that, and the Mountaineers knew it.

Their most likely destination is the Orange Bowl to take on the ACC champion, but don't be counting out the Fiesta or Sugar Bowls just yet. 

Oregon

Oregon easily secured the Pac-12 title with a 49-31 win over UCLA. RB LaMichael James and QB Darron Thomas look forward to their second consecutive BCS bowl game together as Chip Kelly and the Ducks celebrate the inaugural Pac-12 Championship.

With no real chance at the BCS title game, the Ducks will be left with the Pac-12 classic matchup against the Big Ten champion. The Rose Bowl, probably the most recognizable BCS bowl game, will host a great matchup this season with Oregon taking on Wisconsin. 

Clemson

Clemson was having a Cinderella season until Georgia Tech had to ruin that for them just three games away from the ACC championship.

After that, the Tigers seemingly fell apart, barely beating Wake Forest and losing to both North Carolina State and South Carolina. 

However, as the Tigers matched up in the ACC championship against Virginia Tech in a rematch they had won handily earlier in the year, Clemson must of had some really strong nostalgia. This win over the Hokies was simple as well, as Clemson took the game 38-10 to give the Tigers an ACC championship they'd been craving for years.

Now the Orange Bowl awaits them. Miami beckons to the orange and white in what could be one of the best bowl matchups in the postseason. West Virginia is their likely opponent, pitting two explosive offenses on the big stage.  

Oklahoma State

While every other team on this list has a pretty secure destination, Oklahoma State is the only one without a home yet. Their solid 44-10 win over Oklahoma in the Battle of Bedlam stirred up some seemingly gone feelings in the BCS, possibly giving the Pokes the opportunity to face LSU in the national title game. 

Oklahoma State's win was more than just solid, it was resounding. The Cowboys have certainly proven that their ISU loss was just a fluke in what could have been a perfect year, but now they await a final verdict on where they will be heading come January. If they remain at No. 3, to the Fiesta Bowl they go—but if they jump 'Bama to No. 2, the Cowboys will face off against LSU in the BCS championship.

Personally, I'm all for the Cowboys heading to New Orleans. Voters got heavy doubts after watching OSU fall to Iowa State, but a huge win over a tough opponent like OU is exactly what the rest of the college football world needed to convince them that the Cowboys are worthy of a shot at the title. 

Wisconsin

Wisconsin earned a lot of things they desperately needed in the Big Ten Championship.

First, they earned national respect as they, after rolling through the punches, came out on top in one of the toughest conferences in the nation.

Secondly, after two tough losses, including one to Michigan State on a tipped pass in the final seconds, the Badgers earned some revenge on the Spartans for killing not only their perfect season opportunity but their national title hopes as well. 

Third, Wisconsin earned its spot in history as not only repeat Big Ten title-holders but as the first Big Ten squad to win the inaugural Big Ten Conference Championship Game. 

Least, but not last, the Badgers have earned their shot at redemption. Last year's loss to TCU in the Rose Bowl was extremely disappointing, but now Wisconsin has another shot to emerge from California as BCS victors.

Redemption will be theirs if they can take down Oregon in what will possibly be the most-watched BCS bowl this postseason.