BCS Bowl Games 2012: Power Ranking Every Matchup

The BCS Bowls were announced on Sunday, and to be honest with you, they were quite disappointing.

Some of the matchups just aren’t exciting, and some solid teams got passed up in favor of bigger name programs that simply don’t deserve to be playing in one of the top five postseason games in college football.

I think a better job could have been done, and the BCS system in general needs to be scrapped or reworked, but that is a debate for another time.

Let’s take a look at what we are working with this year and rank the five BCS matchups in order from worst to first.

5. Orange Bowl—West Virginia vs. Clemson

It’s bad when there are a number of second-tier bowl games that have higher ranked and more exciting teams playing in them over the Orange Bowl.

West Virginia won the atrocious Big East, but only finished No. 23 in the final standings. If that isn’t a wake-up call to abolish the conference’s automatic qualifying status, I don’t know what is.

Clemson also had a subpar year after a hot start and lost three of their last five games, finishing at No. 15.

I’m much more excited for the Cotton Bowl featuring No. 6 Arkansas and No. 8 Kansas State and the Outback Bowl between No. 16 Georgia and 17 Michigan State.

Prediction: Clemson 35-WVU 31

4. Sugar Bowl—Michigan vs. Virginia Tech

No.13 Michigan really got selected here over No. 12 Baylor? And what about No. 11 Virginia Tech over No. 7 Boise State or No. 8 K-State?

Just another ludicrous selection of teams that have a “history” but haven’t proved they deserve to be in a BCS bowl.

This matchup stinks, and it continues to show that the system and selection committee need to be scrapped.

There are so many more teams that actually earned a spot in one of the major bowls that got overlooked because they aren’t ripe with tradition. Perhaps they should be given a chance to start a legacy?

Prediction: Virginia Tech 30-Michigan 28

3. BCS Championship Game—Alabama vs. LSU

LSU is without a doubt the best team in the nation and should be playing for the national championship. They haven’t lost and handily overcame any opponent that stepped up to play them.

However, is Alabama really the No. 2 team in the nation? That is highly debatable, and this All-SEC championship game just confirms that there is bias in the BCS.

Also, what happens if the Crimson Tide win? Are they even worthy of sole ownership of the national title? They already lost to LSU this season, and the series would be split.

And if the Tigers win, it just proves that ‘Bama didn’t deserve the rematch.

This selection is going to continue to cause drama no matter what the outcome.

Prediction: Alabama 6-LSU 3

2. Rose Bowl—Wisconsin vs. Oregon

These are easily the two best two-loss teams in the country. It’s a great matchup between Big Ten power running, with Heisman candidate Montee Ball leading the charge. and Pac-12 speed, highlighted by LaMichael James.

Both teams were in contention for a national championship appearance, but disappointing losses derailed those dreams. A Rose Bowl victory would certainly ease the pain.

This should be one of the better BCS contests this year, and the teams' contrasting styles will make for an exciting game. 

Prediction: Oregon 42-Wisconsin 35

1. Fiesta Bowl—Stanford vs. Oklahoma State

This Fiesta “Consolation” Bowl features the Pokes and Cardinal, two teams that had every right to play for a national championship against LSU and make the biggest case for a playoff system to be implemented into CFB.

Regardless, this is going to be an amazing game between programs that score a ton of points and would have actually made a matchup against the Tigers defense exciting to watch.

The focus will be on two of the best QBs in the nation, and both Brandon Weeden and Andrew Luck are a threat to throw for a touchdown on every single possession. It will be a shootout in Glendale, Arizona, and the winner is going to be clamoring that they deserve to be the No. 1 team in the nation if LSU loses.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 55-Stanford 42