BCS BOWLS
Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO
January 2, 2012 Pasadena, CA, 5:00 pm ESPN
Payout: $36 million
Big Ten No. 1 vs. Pac-12 No. 1
Projection:
Wisconsin vs. Oregon
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Rationale: Cut and dry. The Wisconsin-Michigan State winner will play Oregon.
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
January 2, 2012 Glendale, AZ, 8:30 pm ESPN
Big 12 No. 1 vs. BCS
Projection:
Oklahoma State vs. Stanford
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Rationale: The Oklahoma State - Oklahoma winner is the automatic bid, but there's a tiny chance the Cowboys could play for the BCS championship with a blowout over the Sooners. Stanford is a mortal lock with a likely top four final BCS ranking and the draw of Andrew Luck.
Allstate Sugar Bowl
January 3, 2012 New Orleans, LA, 8:30 pm ESPN
SEC No. 1 vs. BCS at-large
Projection:
Kansas State vs. Michigan
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Rationale: If Michigan can slip into the top 14 - not a given - it'll be the most attractive at-large team on the lot and would be the Sugar's first pick. If Houston beats Southern Miss in the Conference USA championship, it'll be in New Orleans. If it loses, then Kansas State or Oklahoma State - if the Cowboys lose to Oklahoma - will be here.
Discover Orange Bowl
January 4, 2012 Miami Gardens, FL, 8:00 pm ESPN
ACC No. 1 vs. BCS at-large
Projection:
Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia
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Rationale: There's a mess at the top for the Big East championship, but West Virginia has the best shot - needing to beat South Florida and needing Cincinnati to beat UConn. The ACC championship winner goes here; Virginia Tech is playing far better than Clemson right now.
BCS Championship
January 9, 2012 New Orleans, LA, 9:00 pm ESPN
BCS No. 1 vs. BCS No. 2
Projection:
LSU vs. Alabama
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Rationale: LSU took care of business with a dominant performance against Arkansas, and Alabama thumped Auburn to flex its muscle a little bit. LSU has beaten three teams this year ranked in the top three - Oregon, Alabama, and Arkansas - and has so much respect that it won't matter what happens against Georgia in the SEC championship. Oklahoma State could make this interesting if it blows away Oklahoma, but Alabama can feel safe at the BCS No. 2 slot.