[NU Sports] Latest B(C)S Guess (& Big Ten Bowls) ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

OK ... I think we've all seen enough of SC pushing around the Quackers tonight to cringe at the thought of big bully LSU with their home crowd beating up the Ducks. Oregon's gimmick offense works in the Pac 12 with their speed edge, but they're just not big or tough enough for big league ball. The Buckeyes and Tigers have shown it in recent years, and Stanford might too if they could find a defense.

So that leaves the following bowl scenario ...

TITLE: Louisiana State vs. Alabama - The rematch nobody wants. Zzzzzzz. I'll root for Bama just to see the outrage of a team that didn't even win its league and lost at home to LSU now beats LSU to win the title. Maybe that would prompt some sort of "only conference champs in the title game" clause?

ROSE: Wisconsin vs. Oregon - Good matchup of speed vs. power and two coaches whose egos know no bounds - if the Smug Smirk sticks with the game plan, Bucky should wear 'em down.

SUGAR: Michigan vs. Houston - Here's where it gets tricky ... the Sugar would get the first choice as their champ (SEC) was taken and without another SEC team to pick, they would have a choice between Stanford (no fans), Houston/TCU (no fans), the Bedlam loser (Okie State?) and Michigan. They could go for the Pickens' payday, but how can you pass up a traditional power like Michigan with fans itching to return to a big-time game and a full house and big ratings? For the second pick, it's between Houston and the Big Least survivor. I think the Cougars/Wolverines would be a fun shootout to see.

ORANGE: Clemson vs. Rutgers - The Tigers' inexplicable loss today should end any threat of two ACC B(C)S teams or title game talk - but they do know how to beat the Hokies. For their opponent, the Orange gets stuck with the Big Least champ this year, winner TBA by a slam dunk contest perhaps?

FIESTA: Oklahoma vs. Stanford - The Fiesta will take the Bedlam winner, meaning they won't take the loser as well. If the Sugar passes on Michigan, you'd have to think they'd love them over the Cardinal, but instead settle for a matchup of quarterbacks in the desert.

CITRUS: Nebraska vs. Georgia - The Huskers probably get Orlando despite some bad losses (two by bad margins, one looks bad being at home to NU) because Sparty was there last year and UNL brings more fans and intrigue. Pair up the Huskers with the Dawgs and you continue the tradition of the Citrus having better matchups than half the B(C)S bowls.

OUTBACK: Michigan State vs. South Carolina - Sparty falls here with no B(C)S bid or return trip to Orlando ... could be against the Gators or Auburn if SC goes to the Peach Bowl.

INSIGHT: Ohio State vs. Kansas State - With no double bid for the Little XII, KSU drops here and we get a rematch of that Fiesta Bowl from about a decade ago.

GATOR: Penn State vs. Florida - PSU falls a bit, but the Gator needs to fill seats and could have a crowd for these two big names that outdraws all of the Jaguars games this year combined.

TEXAS: Iowa vs. Missouri - Border battle in Houston? Iowa gets here becuase of their draw over the other candidates for selling tickets (and the Illini were here last year).

DALLAS: Purdue vs. Baylor - The Cats went to Dallas last year, and the Illini are on a collapse, so the folks here go with the Boilers and Bears for a wild shootout.

MOTOR CITY: Illinois vs. Northern Illinois - State rivals collide in Motown.

I think we're still the odd team out unless we can win next week and move ahead of the 6-6 teams. We don't have the following of Iowa, the mythical Chicago ratings ties of Ill-noise and we were in Dallas last year.
But, as these bowl predictions have shown, that could be good news - with Hawaii, San Francisco and NYC among the possible sites in need of teams to fill their bowls. Of course, it also could mean Boise. :)

GO CATS!!! BEAT SPARTY!!!
-SjT
 
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STEPHEN J.
 TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
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