2011 Bowl Projections: Predicting Most Epic Non-BCS Bowl Games

College football fans love BCS bowl games because they usually pair two very good teams, but that doesn't mean that non-BCS games won't be exciting.

In fact, this bowl season should boast quite a few non-BCS games that will be pretty epic, as they will most likely match up two teams that were just on the cusp of getting into the BCS.

Not only that, but sometimes the matchups of the two teams are just better suited, which leads to a much better played football game.

The BCS games are going to get all the hype, but the non-BCS should deliver just as much action. 

Now that the season is played out, we can determine where these teams match up and what bids they look to be in place for.

CBSSports.com's Jerry Palm has a very good breakdown of the likely matchups, so let's take a look at the predictions and figure out which of these non-BCS games are going to be the most epic:

Outback Bowl Predicted Matchup—Michigan State vs. Georgia

This game is going to feature two teams that could have been on the verge of being great, but when all was said and done couldn't get the job done in their conferences' championship games.

I expect this game will be rather intense, as both schools have a lot to prove.

Defense is going to be the name of the game for both teams. While the Spartans offense can be dangerous, specifically because of their running game that averages 142.9 yards per game, this team is built around the defense

Michigan State's defense only surrendered 17.5 points per game, which was good for ninth in the nation.

The Georgia Bulldogs are also a very defensive-minded team, giving up an average of 19.6 points per game.

Both defenses will have their hands full though, as both sidelines are filled with some offensive studs.

Michigan State boasts 1,555 yards and 16 touchdowns combined between running backs Le'Veon Bell and Edwin Baker, and senior wide receiver B.J. Cunningham, who finished the year with 72 catches, 1,240 yards and 12 touchdowns.

On the other hand, the Bulldogs are led by sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray, who put up 2,861 yards and 33 touchdowns on the year, and has plenty of weapons around him.

Freshman wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell looks to be a budding star with 38 catches and four touchdowns, and fellow freshman Isaiah Crowell ran for 847 yards and five touchdowns on 182 attempts this season.

Smash-mouth football will be featured, so if your a fan of that type of football this game is sure to be incredibly exciting.

Cotton Bowl Predicted Matchup—Baylor vs. Arkansas

Anybody who has seen Baylor and Heisman Trophy-candidate Robert Griffin III play this season knows the Bears can be one of the most exciting teams in the nation when they are on top of their game.

Led by Griffin's 3,998 yards and 36 passing touchdowns, and 644 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground, the Bears are sixth in the nation with 43.5 points per game.

On the other side of the field would be the Arkansas Razorbacks, who found themselves in the national title hunt before a 41-17 loss to LSU ended the season.

The Razorbacks averaged 37.4 points per game and 22.8 against, which makes them a very dangerous team.

Quarterback Tyler Wilson is the leader of the offense with 3,422 yards and 22 touchdowns, but it's receiver Jarius Wright that makes this team dangerous with his total of 1,029 yards and 11 touchdowns on the year.

This game will feature explosive offensive playmakers, but also defenses that are opportunistic and can set their already dangerous offenses up with good field position.

All in all, this game will have the feel of a BCS game, even though it technically won't be.