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Predicting all 35 college bowl matchups
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By Stewart Mandel
August 30, 2010
In compiling this year's preseason edition of college bowl predictions, I wound up with exactly 70 eligible teams for 70 spots. That's doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room. Could we be looking at our first 5-7 bowl team? We've already got one ineligible team (USC) and, with all the NCAA activity right now, who knows whether more will follow.
Speaking of, the hardest team to place was North Carolina. If you'd asked me two months ago, I would have predicted that the Tar Heels would win nine or 10 games and play in one of the ACC's top bowls. But with half the starting lineup reportedly under investigation for potential academic fraud, things aren't looking promising. I projected them as a 6-6 team.
Remember, bowls are NOT obligated to choose their teams in exact order of conference standings. For instance, "ACC No. 3" means "third choice of ACC teams" -- not "the ACC's third-place team." In certain instances, a team was moved higher or lower to avoid a regular-season rematch or repeat trip to the same bowl. Also, while most conferences have a defined selection order, others (Conference USA, WAC) work more flexibly with their bowl partners.
Also, this year only, if the Rose Bowl loses either the Big Ten or Pac-10 champ, it must select the highest-ranked non-AQ champion if eligible. Hence how Boise State came to replace Ohio State in my lineup.
BCS Bowls
Jan. 1
Rose Bowl: Oregon (BCS Pac-10) vs. Boise State (BCS at-large)
Jan. 1
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma (BCS Big 12) vs. Connecticut (BCS Big East)
Jan. 3
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech (BCS ACC) vs. Wisconsin (BCS at-large)
Jan. 4
Sugar Bowl: Georgia (BCS at-large) vs. Texas (BCS at-large)
Jan. 10
BCS Championship Bowl: Alabama (BCS No. 1) vs. Ohio State (BCS No. 2)
Other Bowls
Dec. 18
New Mexico Bowl: Kent State (MWC No. 5*) vs. Utah State (WAC)
Dec. 18
Humanitarian Bowl: Nevada (WAC) vs. Ohio (MAC No. 3)
Dec. 18
New Orleans Bowl: Troy (Sun Belt No. 1) vs. UCF (C-USA No. 5)
Dec. 21
Beef 'O'Brady's Bowl: Southern Miss (C-USA) vs. Cincinnati (Big East)
Dec. 22
MAACO Bowl: TCU (MWC No. 1) vs. Stanford (Pac-10 No. 5)
Dec. 23
Poinsettia Bowl: Utah (MWC No. 2) vs. Navy
Dec. 24
Hawaii Bowl: East Carolina (C-USA) vs. Idaho (WAC)
Dec. 26
Little Caesars Bowl: Temple (MAC No. 1) vs. Rutgers (Big Ten No. 8*)
Dec. 27
Independence Bowl: BYU (MWC No. 3) vs. North Carolina (ACC No. 7)
Dec. 28
Champs Sports Bowl: Notre Dame (Big East No. 2**) vs. Miami (ACC No. 3)
Dec. 28
Insight Bowl: Michigan (Big Ten No. 4/5) vs. Missouri (Big 12 No. 4)
Dec. 29
EagleBank Bowl: Marshall (C-USA) vs. N.C. State (ACC No. 8)
Dec. 29
Texas Bowl: Kansas State (Big 12 No. 6) vs. Northwestern (Big Ten No. 6)
Dec. 29
Alamo Bowl: Oregon State (Pac-10 No. 2) vs. Texas A&M (Big 12 No. 3)
Dec. 30
Armed Forces Bowl: SMU (C-USA) v. Air Force (MWC No. 4)
Dec. 30
Pinstripe Bowl: Pittsburgh (Big East No. 4) vs. Iowa State (Big 12 No. 7)
Dec. 30
Music City Bowl: Boston College (ACC No. 6) vs. South Carolina (SEC)
Dec. 30
Holiday Bowl: Washington (Pac-10 No. 3) vs. Texas Tech (Big 12 No. 5)
Dec. 31
Meineke Bowl: West Virginia (Big East No. 3) vs. Clemson (ACC No. 5)
Dec. 31
Sun Bowl: Georgia Tech (ACC No. 4) vs. Arizona (Pac-10 No. 4)
Dec. 31
Liberty Bowl: Houston (C-USA No. 1) vs. Ole Miss (SEC)
Dec. 31
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Florida State (ACC No. 2) vs. Auburn (SEC No. 5)
Jan. 1
Dallas Classic Bowl: Purdue (Big Ten No. 7) vs. UTEP (Big 12 No. 8*)
Jan. 1
Capital One Bowl: Florida (SEC No. 2) vs. Iowa (Big Ten No. 2)
Jan. 1
Outback Bowl: Penn State (Big Ten No. 3) vs. Kentucky (SEC)
Jan. 1
Gator Bowl: Michigan State (Big Ten No. 4/5) vs. LSU (SEC No. 6)
Jan. 6
GMAC Bowl: Middle Tennessee (Sun Belt No. 2) vs. Northern Illinois (MAC No. 2)
Jan. 7
Cotton Bowl: Nebraska (Big 12 No. 2) vs. Arkansas (SEC)
Jan. 8
Birmingham Bowl: USF (Big East) vs. Toledo (SEC No. 9*)
Jan. 9
Kraft Hunger Bowl: Fresno State (WAC) vs. Cal (Pac-10 No. 6)
• NCAA Football News Archive Index:
2010, 2009
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