2011 Bowl Games: Marquee Matchups That Won't Live Up To Hype

The BCS National Championship Game between the No. 1 LSU Tigers and the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide isn't the only marquee bowl matchup guaranteed to disappoint this winter.

Boise State was wronged out of a BCS bowl berth after finishing the year with one loss and in the top 10 of the BCS rankings. Their absence in one of the year's biggest bowls will result in an underwhelming Allstate Sugar Bowl matchup between Virginia Tech and Michigan

But it doesn't stop there, here are several big games on the schedule that will promise to fall short of our expectations:

Valero Alamo Bowl: Washington vs. Baylor (Dec. 29, 9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III will take the stage for the final time this season against the unworthy Washington Huskies. 

Washington lost three out of it's last four games to end the regular season and boasts an average offensive unit and below average defense, which allows more than 33 points per game.

Griffin III and Baylor's prolific passing attack, ranked fifth in the nation, will easily blowout the ragged Huskies D in San Antonio. 

Baylor averages more than 43 points per game, which ranks their scoring offense at No. 7 in the country. There is simply too much firepower for Washington in this one, and a much-anticipated Pac-12 vs. Big 12 matchup will turn into a blowout.

Allstate Sugar Bowl: Michigan vs. Virginia Tech (Jan. 3, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

This matchup is as about as frustrating as it gets for college football fans who don't understand the BCS. 

Michigan and Virginia Tech have had nice seasons, but to say that they are more deserving for this stage than a team like Boise State, who blew out Arizona State in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas on Thursday night, is simply ridiculous.

Virginia Tech proved in both losses to Clemson this season that they are far from a national title contender, and also that experience and a little more talent is necessary to get them there. 

Michigan's D was just as fierce as the Hokies' in 2011, but the Wolverines rushing attack, led by 1,000-plus yard rushers Denard Robinson and Fitzgerald Toussaint, will be the brutal difference.

Blue will roll to the finish line on prime time, destroying Logan Thomas and the Hokies offense early on to take command.

AT&T Cotton Bowl: Kansas State vs. Arkansas (Jan. 6, 8:00 p.m. ET, FOX)

Kansas State notched narrow wins over Baylor, Texas A&M and Texas to get to 10 wins on the year, but the Wildcats offense isn't predicated on doing one thing particularly well.

They rely heavily on junior quarterback Collin Klein in the passing game as well as the running game. Klein has rushed for more than 1,000 yards this season to lead the Wildcats in that category, while throwing for just over 1,700 yards.

Arkansas' dynamic passing offense, which was only slowed by Alabama and LSU this season, ranks 13th in the country in yards per game, and has their scoring offense ranked 15th in the nation.

The Razorbacks are battle-tested, having survived a brutal SEC schedule, and will no doubt turn this 2012 bowl matchup into a yawner.

This marquee matchup between two 10-2 squads will fall flat, leaving fans hungry for a down-to-the-wire battle in New Orleans for the title on Jan. 9.