Here are my predictions for the biggest bowls in college football:
BCS National Title: Alabama vs. Oregon
These are the two best teams in the country. Alabama will play some tough games, but the SEC (particularly the bottom of it) is much weaker than in the past, and their schedule has become slightly watered down. They will go 12-0. Oregon plays a deeper league, but only 1 other top ten team (for now). I like Oregon (and I hate to say this as an Oregon St. alum) to run the table and appear in another national title game.
Rose Bowl: Northwestern vs. Stanford
I expect Stanford to still gain a berth to the Rose Bowl, and Northwestern (yes! Northwestern) will upset Ohio State along their way- not in a perfect season- and win the conference championship to go to the Rose Bowl. Northwestern is very underrated, and it would not surprise me to see them rise to a top 15 team throughout the course of the season. Stanford could find theirselves in the title game by beating Oregon. I think that game will be the only blemish on their schedule, and Kevin Hogan is among the most underrated QBs in the nation.
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Louisville
This would be an intriguing matchup between the two QBs I expect (at this point) to be drafted highest come May, in Teddy Bridgewater (LOU) and Tajh Boyd (CLEM). Bridgewater could lead Louisville to an 11-1 season in a sub-par Big East. He will be the #1 pick in the draft- at least that is my prediction for now. Boyd has an elite WR in Watkins who will also be a first round pick if he can stay out of trouble. The ACC is deeper than the Big East, and Clemson will have to get by Florida State to earn a spot here- and they will.
Sugar Bowl: Texas vs. South Carolina
South Carolina has, perhaps, the best defense in the country outside of the state of Alabama. Clowney is a top 3 pick, and will be a menace at the next level. Underrated is the development of Connor Shaw, who will be a solid game manager, and lead South Carolina to a ten win season. Texas is playing in a weak Big 12, and returns enough starters to make the rest of the league cringe. Mack Brown's squads have not performed to "Texas standards" the last few years, but I expect a return to a marquee bowl this year.
Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State vs. Fresno State
WHOAAAAA! Fresno State??? Yeah. I like Fresno's chances to be in the top 15 as a division champion, thus earning a berth to a BCS bowl game. Derek Carr is this year's Case Keenum (HOU), and will put up offensive numbers that will break many Fresno State records. If they can get past Boise- and I think they will- look for Fresno State to appear in a big bowl. I think Ohio State will have a better record than Northwestern- but lose the title game in the conference. They will still earn a berth to the Fiesta Bowl, but Urban Meyer's squad should not be as highly ranked (#2!) as they are.
Week one picks:
1 Alabama 24 Virginia Tech 17
2 Ohio State 55 Buffalo 7
3 Oregon 70 Nicholls State 0
8 Clemson 31 5 Georgia 28
7 Texas A&M 35 Rice 10
9 Louisville 24 Ohio 6
10 Florida 21 Toledo 18
11 Florida State 28 Pittsburgh 15
12 LSU 15 20 TCU 14
13 Oklahoma State 35 Mississippi State 31
14 Notre Dame 21 Temple 20
15 Texas 35 New Mexico State 3
UL Monroe 31 16 Oklahoma 30
17 Michigan 24 Central Michigan 7
18 Nebraska 42 Wyoming 20
19 Boise State 21 Washington 17
21 UCLA 35 Nevada 18
22 N'Western 35 California 21
23 Wisconsin 28 Massachusetts 3
25 Oregon State 45 Eastern Washington 6
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