Week Two Bowl Projections

Every week I will be putting up an updated bowl prediction out there. It will include all the BCS and Big Ten bowls. Every few weeks I will include all of the bowls. The selection order for the BCS is:


1) National Championship
2) National Championship
3) Bowl that lost a representative to the first NC pick
4) Bowl that lost a representative to the second NC pick
5) Fiesta Bowl
6) Sugar Bowl
7) Orange Bowl

BCS National Championship Game: Alabama v. Virginia Tech
VT is sitting here until I am proven otherwise, which might be until the ACC Championship game.  Alabama looked like a steamroller in Happy Valley and I am starting to believe that they might be able to handle the SEC grind.  LSU is still a formidable opponent, but I am going with the Tide right now because, at the end of the day, the coaching is just better.

Rose Bowl: Wisconsin v. Oregon
The Badgers are the only Big Ten team which has looked capable of dominating so far so they are the de facto champ in my predictions.  Oregon might have problems this season as their defense continues to look very beatable but until someone in the conference proves they can stop the Duck's offense I am going to keep them here.

 
Sugar Bowl: LSU v. Boise State
The Tigers continue to just run through people but they are still a wild card in SEC play.  We will get a better picture when they go to Starkville next week to play Dan Mullen's Bulldogs.   Boise can pretty much take this season in cruise control.  They won't go to the NC (since even if they are the only undefeated team the best team they will have played was a TCU squad who lost to Baylor) but a date with the Tigers in the Sugar Bowl is not a gad consolation prize.

Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma v. NebraskaI have a feeling Oklahoma will be in for a dog fight in conference and, even though they win it, I don't see them coming out unscathed.  Nebraska is really the only other Big Ten team who, at this point, looks like they have the ability to get here.  Despite edging past a rebuilding Fresno at home last night I think the Huskers do just enough to get here.

Orange Bowl: South Florida v. Florida State
Don't sleep on West Virginia but I am sticking with the Bulls as my Big East Champ.  Skip Holtz proved in South Bend that this team could compete and I think they will be a force for the remainder of the season.  The Seminoles stick here but could move up based on their showing next week against Oklahoma in prime time.

Capital One Bowl: Michigan v. South Carolina
This might be a little premature but last night was a major statement for the Wolverines.  No the offense and defense are not perfect, but they can execute enough to get to nine wins on this schedule with a little luck.  I am latching on to the Brady Hoke train this week but if drops one of the remaining non conference matches this might be short lived.  South Carolina did what I expected them to do and beat Georgia on the road.  The Gamecocks looked scary at times and could sneak up further if LSU or Alabama starts loosing. 

Outback Bowl: Ohio State v. Florida
You have to wonder how much of a fluke the Toledo game was but I am being cautious with the Buckeyes and moving them down here for a while.  Florida continues to beat up on nobodies so they are hard to judge but I still think Georgia is collapsing so the Gators will stick in this spot.

Insight Bowl: Penn State v. Oklahoma State
This one stays the same as Penn State looks to have found a quarterback in Robert Bolden.  I think the Nittany Lions could still make some noise but I am hesitant to move them up after a loss.  Oklahoma State dominated Arizona Thursday and that keeps them locked in here for another week.

Gator Bowl: Michigan State v. Georgia
MSU sits tight here after a blowout over Florida Atlantic.  Until Sparty wins a game against a legitimate team there is no basis for moving them up or down so I will stick with my modest expectations for them.  Georgia has the talent to be higher than this but things just look ugly in Athens right now.  I still am resisting the temptation to put Tennessee in this slot but if the Vols win in the Swamp this weekend I will probably cave on that urge. 

Texas Bowl: Northwestern v. Baylor
In most situations I would pick Iowa to jump Northwestern but unless Iowa manages a huge upset late in the season to get the fans excited I don't think bowl execs will pick the Hawkeyes to turn out in normal numbers.  That leaves Northwestern who might actually be getting the short end of the stick as this matchup against Art Briles squad may prolong their bowl winless streak.  The Bears had a bye last week but they need to go 4-0 in their next four games for me to keep them here.

Ticket City Bowl: Iowa v. SMU
Could Iowa go higher than this?  Sure.  For right now though it is tough to move this team up solely on potential.  If Iowa looks good against Pittsburgh (and gets the W) they will at least jump Northwestern.  SMU remains my Conference USA selectionfor now.

Little Caeser's Pizza Pizza Bowl: Illinois v. Ohio

6-6 Illinois is the last Big Ten bowl team.  The Illini haven't really done anything wrong yet this season but I just can't shake the feeling that this team is going to fall hard.  If they beat Arizona State at home this weekend then they have the potential to start out 6-0 and will rocket up this board.