BCS Picks and Ratings

Finally, we are to the bowls that really matter, the Bowl Championship Series. Actually, the only one that matters is the BCS National Championship game, now rotated among the sites of the four BCS bowls. These bowls offer the highest pay, the biggest amount of prestige, and mucho television exposure. These are the biggies.

Rose Bowl presented by Citi at Pasadena, California: USC vs. Michigan. Both teams had a chance at the national championship game, but now find themselves here. USC lost two late conference games at Oregon State and UCLA. Michigan rolled through the Big Ten until losing their season-ending game at Ohio State. Michigan is a better team. Pick: Michigan.
The countdown is on, as ESPN has been counting down to this game for three days. To watch ESPN, you would think this is the biggest game out there. This is the only BCS game remaining on ABC, as the rest of the BCS has moved over to Fox. As someone who grew up in Big 8 country, this game was always filler, and meant time to eat and to get ready for the Really Big Game later that evening in the Orange Bowl. I always thought this game was overrated. I finally “got it”, when I first visited California five years ago, and saw the stadium and setting. Later, my Sooners were invited there to play Washington State, and became the first Big XII team to win that bowl. As an event, this is a really big deal. The game is often overrated. This bowl, as the Grandaddy of them all, wouldn’t complain about leaving the BCS, and really would be ok if there were only 21 Division 1 schools: those from the Big Ten and Pac 10. They were kicked dragging and screaming into the BCS. There is a level of arrogance that comes from being the oldest bowl game. Rating: 5
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at Glendale, Arizona: Oklahoma vs. Boise State. The Sooners overcame player suspensions, injuries, questionable officiating, and a loss to its archrival to win their last eight games and the Big XII championship. Boise State is 12-0, and is the first non-BCS school to qualify for a BCS bowl under the new rules of qualification. This will not be a cake walk, and Boise will be competitive. However, OU wins the game. Pick: Oklahoma
This bowl grew with the Phoenix area. Originally created as a bowl for Arizona State and the old WAC, this bowl really splashed onto the scene in 1986, when it secured Sunkist as a title sponsor and snared Penn State and Miami for a matchup of #1 vs. #2. It has taken the Cotton Bowl’s place as one of the four major bowls. Until this year, it was played in Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. It moves this year to the new University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. It will also host the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 8. The only thing this bowl lacks is tradition relative to its sister BCS bowls. That is only because the bowl was created in 1971. Rating: 4.8
Allstate Sugar Bowl at New Orleans: LSU vs. Notre Dame. Notre Dame has lost eight bowl games in a row. According to Rece Davis on ESPN, 87 Division 1 programs have won bowl games since Notre Dame. Notre Dame has a name, but do they have game? LSU is as good as anyone in the country, but were victims of the SEC schedule maker, being sent on the road to Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, and Arkansas. The Oakland Raiders would have a hard time with that schedule. They lost to Auburn and Florida, but won the rest of their games. This game might not be close, as LSU has too much speed for Notre Dame. Pick: LSU
The Sugar Bowl returns to New Orleans, after a one-year stay in Atlanta due to damage from Hurricane Katrina. This bowl has everything: good matchups, fun city, nice stadium, big payout, good TV contract. The Sugar Bowl has had legendary coaches and national championship games. Rating: 5
Fedex Orange Bowl at Miami: Louisville vs. Wake Forest. Just a few years ago, this matchup would not have been on TV, and would not sell out either stadium. Now, these teams are playing each other in a major bowl game. Louisville is a penalty away from the national championship game, as a missed field goal by Rutgers was waved off due to a penalty, and Rutgers subsequently won the game. Wake Forest has had a Cinderella season, winning the ACC championship. Louisville is really strong, and should have their way with the Demon Deacons. This has the potential to be a dud game. Pick: Louisville
The Orange Bowl may have suffered the most with the evolution of the BCS, as they had national championship games more often under the old system. Big 8 schools Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Colorado won national championships here, as have Miami and Florida State. This has always been a prime bowl in a prime location. The bowl secured its major status by moving up the road to Dolphin Stadium ten years ago, and leaving the decrepit Orange Bowl stadium. Rating: 5
Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at Glendale, Arizona: Ohio State vs. Florida: Ohio State likes the desert, as they won their last national championship here in 2002, and have won two other Fiesta Bowls since. The Gators have not been here since being pounded by Nebraska, 63-14, in the 1995 national championship game. Today’s players were little boys then. The Gators deserve to be here, but Ohio State is a better team. Pick: Ohio State
This is the national championship game. Enough said. Rating: 5