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Projected 2012 BCS Bowls – September 25th
Plenty of things to learn from this weekend’s slate of games, especially when it comes to just who is the “favorite” in each conference. Losses from Florida State and Texas A&M certainly knocked both off the BCS race for a bit, but there is still definitely time to recover.
For Oklahoma and LSU, on the other hand, both showed strength in topping tough opponents. Could they already be on their way to distancing themselves from the field (with Alabama tagging along)?
For reference, the at-large selection order for the 2012 bowl slate (after hosting contracts have been filled and the NCG is filled) is: Fiesta, Sugar, Orange.
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BCS National Championship Game: LSU Tigers (BCS No. 1) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (BCS No. 2)
Comment: Dominating victories over strong opponents will do wonders for your BCS chances in the college football season, and stocking up on those early have helped both LSU and Oklahoma get to the strong position they’re already in.
Rose Bowl: Stanford Cardinal (Pac-12 Champion) vs. Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten Champion)
Comment: No surprises here, both keep looking like the teams to beat in their conferences, although Oregon is starting to look like the scary offensive machine they were last year, when they topped the Cardinal for the Pac-10 crown.
Sugar Bowl: Alabama Crimson Tide (At-large selection) vs. Boise State Broncos (At-large selection)
Comment: Alabama and Boise State rolled by their opponents on the weekend, leaving no doubt the two have more than what is needed to complete the season at the top of the college football landscape. Standing in Alabama’s way, of course, is the SEC schedule and LSU specifically, but they looked very strong against a dangerous Arkansas team.
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech Hokies (ACC Champion) vs. South Florida Bulls (Big East Champion)
Comment: Two straight losses by Florida State have left the Seminoles as shaky at best to tap as the presumed ACC champs. For now, at least, the always dangerous Virginia Tech Hokies take the spot in the Orange Bowl from the Seminoles as ACC champs once again.
South Florida rolled all over UTEP on Saturday and continue to be, in my mind at least, the Big East favorites, especially after LSU made West Virginia look silly at home.
Fiesta Bowl: Oregon Ducks (At-large selection) vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys (At-large selection)
Comment: Down early, Oklahoma State showed just why they’re among the favorites to make it to a BCS bowl this season when Brandon Wheedon and Justin Blackmon helped lead the Cowboys past top-10 Texas A&M. With Texas and Baylor on the docket over the next month, however, the Cowboys road to the BCS will not be an easy one.
Oregon is starting to look just like they did last year, and after a huge performance against Pac-12 foe Arizona, the Ducks are definitely back. Could they bring home another Pac-12 title? Maybe, but even if they don’t, the Ducks would still be in prime position for an at-large BCS bid.
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