BCS Bowl Predictions 2013(plus Cotton Bowl and Hesiman prediction)

Okay, so we the opener of the Michigan vs Alabama game is almost here, and after this offseason I have pegged on who will play in the BCS Bowl games(plus Cotton Bowl). Feel free to comment and make your own standings and what not:

Rose Bowl:
Oregon(10-2) vs Michigan State(10-2). Chip goes 2-2 in BCS games, winning 31-27. Oregons only season loses are to USC and MSU to Wisconsin and Ohio State.
Notes:
The Oregon offense reloads for next season for a run at the national title alongside Alabama. The defense loses a lot of talent, but nothing recruiting can't fix, especially with the several classes. MSU's Andrew Maxwell proves he can take his team to a BCS game, he and Mark Dantonio just need to close out, and the Spartans are now in the BCS scene, but tOSU will be a thorn next year.

Sugar Bowl:
LSU(9-3) vs Oklahoma(10-2). Les Miles redeems himself in New Orleans and shutting down Sooner Nation and Landry Jones to win 30-21.
Notes:
Both teams lose alot of talent on both sides of the ball to the draft, but LSU won't be as hit hard as the Sooners.

Fiesta Bowl:
WVU(11-1) vs Wisconsin(10-2). Brett gets denied from a BCS victory again as the Mountaineers win their division and their bowl game, 55-42.
Notes:
WVU will be rebuilding, as they lose their starting offensive corps(Smith, Alston, Smith, etc). Still, 2 consecutive BCS victories is a worthy achievement for Dana Holgorsen. Wisconsin has proved that they can reload on the offensive line, but replacing Montee Ball will be no easy task.

Orange Bowl:
Florida State(11-2) vs Louisville(12-0). Lousville proves that they could compete with the best in the nation, defeating the Seminoles 24-20. Every time a BCS buster has entered the scene, except for Hawaii(they played Georgia), they have beaten their opponent and proved that the Have-Nots can be as good as the Have's.
Notes:
Lousville is incredibly young, and as long as Teddy Bridgewater is under center Louisville will have success. If most of their team returns for next year, this is a team prime for a National Title run. Florida State chokes up again(shocker) and to a non-AQ team to boot, but this is a team that can reload. Maybe next year...or not

Cotton Bowl:
Alabama(8-4) vs TCU(9-3)
I'm not buying into the Texas hype, but despite a disappointing season for the Tide, they wack the Horned Frogs 30-17, their defense now fully matured.
Notes:
I am picking Alabama to tie with AUBURN in the SEC west for second, but still manage to make the Cotton Bowl(Arkansas lost too much talent despite Wilson being a beast). TCU would finish 3rd overall in the Big12 and it shows how good a coach Patterson is and how phenomenal Casey Pachall is. But the Tide's defense, despite a lot of bumps in the road, end out their above average season with a win to a decent Big12 team.

BCS Title Game:
USC(13-0) vs Georgia(13-0) The Trojans dethrone the SEC and many a Georgia fan drive up north from Miami sullen, knowing that it was their team that dropped the ball for their entire conference and making Slive shake his head. Barkley and Murrary duel, but it is the number 1 overall pick with the more weapons that can grind away at Georgia's defense 37-27. Jarvis Jones wish he'd stayed with his old team rather than transfer and people begin to question Mark Richt.
Notes:
Yes, I am picking USC to pick Oregon twice(all contests within 7 points mind you, and it's in LA) but USC is going to be like Auburn. They are going to need to rebuild from the ground now that the Pete Carrol recruits are off to the NFL. Kiffin is going to need to build his own legacy and aim for success for the future to come, such as starting many of his legendary recruiting class as True Freshman, most notably Max Browne. They won't have the same amount of success for at least two years, but they ended on a high note. Georgia will have all the momentum in the world, winning the SEC and beating LSU in the title game(I'm thinking by less than 7 points), but now will face the ridicule of having to drop the ball for their entire conference and their streak of championships broken. They may loose their starting QB to the draft as well as many of the defensive starters, but getting a 10 win season isn't impossible.

Ending Notes:
Next year's National Title race is gonna be huge. Alabama, Oregon, Louisville, TCU(Pachall has a lot to prove) and Ohio State should be in the top 8 of the BCS standings. Although the SEC streak of winning national titles is broken, their appearances in the title games is not, and now the other conferences will need to break that in the final year of the BCS before playoffs arrive.

Heisman Trophy Winner: Who Knows? Who saw RG3 win it? Not me.

 

Hard to see Alabama with 4 losses and Georgia with 0. As to my beloved Ducks, I always think we're going to win.

 

Georgia's schedule is cake, hence I pick them to be undefeated(their only big contests are against SCAR and the SEC West winner, I'm picking LSU). As for Alabama it's elementary. Look back at history: 2010, they stomp all over Texas in the Natty Rose Bowl. The next year, they take a step back losing some games due to losing ALOT of talent to grad/NFL. The year after that? Hiccup to LSU but stomp all over them again in the Natty. The same formula will occur this year(despite so many people riding on Alabama to win it all AGAIN). You just can't replace Trent Richardson, Dont'a Hightower, Dre Kirkpatrick, Courtney Upshaw, Mark Barron, that one D-Tacke. Yes, Bama's O-line is the best in the nation...

I'm picking Eddie Lacy to be injured in the Michigan matchup(he's quite prone), TJ Yeldon will have to pick up the slack, but it will be AJ McCarron and their D's inexperience that costs them the SEC West. McCarron won the Natty by being a Game Manager. He was no Matt Barkley, or Tyler Wilson or Cam Newton. He just simply had to make short safe plays and not turnover. They got Washington's ole Offensive Coordinator and people are clamoring how AJ is gonna be "elite". I think not due to that the biggest void on the Tide is at Wide Receiver. AJ is gonna have to throw it more with Lacy injured(Yeldon may get Freshman of the year. I'm thinking he's gonna do THAT good of a job) but he's gonna get interecepted or overthrow his receivers. Michigan's secondary is one of the best in the nation and I see them picking AJ twice, one for a Pick 6(which is what keeps them in the game) or maybe even two if the Wolverines are lucky. Simply put, Alabama is a Ground-And-Pound team, the type of team Rex Ryan dreams his team was like at night. Trying to change AJ from a decent Game Manager(Darron Thomas was one, and he had success) to a NFL-like QB in the similar vein of Keith Price or Logan Thomas or Barkley is simply too high an obstacle.

Besides, you can't be on your A-Game all the time(Oregon and USC learnt this well thanks to LSU and Arizona State respectively). You gotta have a B-Game or even a C-Game to remind you that you ain't all that(LSU had an F-Game in the Natty). Sometimes, you gotta have a B-Season. The only exception is the Shula Dolphins :V

But hey, Bama knows how to reload, and come the Cotton Bowl, they will have matured and ready to shut down the TCU offense and TJ Yeldon will storm past the royal violet and black many a time. I am picking Alabama and Oregon to be in the top 3 for next year's BCS poll.

And of course I'm picking Oregon to win that contest. It's in Pasadena and the final BCS game before the playoffs set in. Super Mario for Heisman that year? Only time will tell.

So, what are all of your predictions? Any quetions about some of the teams(I pretty much answered Alabama)

 

And make that 3 loses for Alabama. I pegged Tennessee to upset them, but now that Da'Rick Rogers is gone, make that 3 loses and a VERY close horse race for the SEC West crown.

I had LSU to lose to: Washington(BCS Buster. Who saw Iowa State upset the Cowboys last year? Not me!), Texas A&M(another upset) and Arkansas on the final game of the regular season.

For Alabama: Michigan(by either a safety or a field goal), LSU, and Auburn.

I would have added Tennessee up there, but I already mentioned why Bama will now win that game.

 

I don't most of this happening.. Bama won't lose 4 games and LSU won't lose 3 either. Also.. If oregon was going to a bsc game they'd be 11-2 not 10-2.

 

I did say 3. And I am picking LSU to be upset down the road.

Oh my bad, I do mean 10-2.

 

I find it very hard to think that Oregon would lose to USC 3 times in a row from last year to twice this year with the defense we have and the playmakers we have and Chip at the helm..... USC's not that good and Lamo is not smart enough as a coach!

I don't think there will be an undefeated team going into the national championship game this year.... if there is? it's from a conference that wont be considered a major factor like the ACC or WAC.....

the national championship will either be a 1 loss Oregon team vs a 1 loss Sec school or a one loss USC team vs a 1 loss SEC school.... Nov.3 will decide half that arguement!

 

USC is off their bowl ban and have the tools needed, they are going to be hungry and aiming to get back on top.

I'm still picking with Georgia and USC with USC winning along with Oregon winning the Rose Bowl(no shame in that) against Michigan State. I like both teams, but I think that USC has the edge this year(they're getting Nelson Alghor and Silas Redd).

 

USC is very thin on their lines, injuries or one good shot to Barkley without Kalil protecting him could end them up in the Holiday Bowl....... They live and die by that kid because their RB's are average and Lee and Woods need him to make them happen. Every defensive coordinator knows that... USC really is a one trick pony and Barkleys big mouth will put one hell of a target on his head for many defenses!

 

I was talking today with a guy from Wisconsin and he thinks they have such a favorable schedule (like us, they start with a few tomato cans) they may be undefeated when they play the conference title game. They have only 1 tough road game (Nebraska) and any other is at home.

 

Hey who knows, maybe USC will trip up(to Oregon and or/Utah) and Kiffin will never hear the end of it. Most predictions like these don't come true after all.

As for Wisconsin, I do see them in a Fiesta Bowl, just not winning it(WVU has more firepower). Still, 3 consecutive BCS appearances is nothing to be ashamed of for Wisconsin.

 

Updated after Week 1!

Rose Bowl:
USC(10-2) vs Michigan State(10-2). Barkley and the Trojans, angry at their two loses to the Ducks, take it out on a very capable Michigan State Defense. Unfortunately for the Spartans, Le'Veon Bell can't do everything and fall 30-21.
Notes:
The USC offense is one the nation's best and prepares to at least end their season on a good note at a win in the Grand daddy of them all(and Lane Kiffin will never hear the end of it). MSU's Andrew Maxwell proves he can take his team to a BCS game, he and Mark Dantonio just need to close out, and the Spartans are now in the BCS scene, but tOSU will be a thorn next year.

Sugar Bowl:
Georgia(9-3) vs Brigham Young(11-0). The Bulldogs try to end their season by trying to win their first BCS bowl game in a while(last time they played Hawaii and throttled them). But get upset by a capable BYU team 24-21.
Notes:
Georgia has a lot of youth on the RBs, and BYU, if they can get into November undefeated, can easily make it to the top 10 with their schedule they have.

Fiesta Bowl:
WVU(11-1) vs Wisconsin(10-2). Brett gets denied from a BCS victory again as the Mountaineers win their division and their bowl game, 69-42.
Notes:
WVU will be rebuilding, as they lose their starting offensive corps(Smith, Alston, Bailey, Smith, etc). Still, 2 consecutive BCS victories is a worthy achievement for Dana Holgorsen. Wisconsin has proved that they can reload on the offensive line, but replacing Montee Ball will be no easy task, and Wisconsin's defense cannot close games which could prove fatal to the Badgers..

Orange Bowl:
Florida State(11-2) vs Louisville(12-0). Lousville proves that they could compete with the best in the nation, defeating the Seminoles 24-20. Every time a BCS buster has entered the scene, except for Hawaii(they played Georgia), they have beaten their opponent and proved that the Have-Nots can be as good as the Have's.
Notes:
Lousville is incredibly young, and as long as Teddy Bridgewater is under center Louisville will have success. If most of their team returns for next year, this is a team prime for a National Title run. Florida State chokes up again(shocker) and to a non-AQ team to boot, but this is a team that can reload. Maybe next year...or not

Cotton Bowl:
LSU(9-2) vs TCU(9-3)
I'm not buying into the Texas hype, but despite a disappointing season for the Tigers, they wack the Horned Frogs 37-17, their defense on a roll.
Notes:
I am picking LSU to finish second in the SEC west and many a Tiger fan will be groaning knowing that their #2 rings are with them FOR GOOD and that Georgia leapfrogged them into the Sugar Bowl. TCU would finish 3rd overall in the Big12 and it shows how good a coach Patterson is and how phenomenal Casey Pachall is. But the Tiger's defense, despite a lot of bumps in the road, end out their decent season with a win to a decent Big12 team.

BCS Title Game:
Oregon(13-0) vs Alabama(13-0) Alabama Roll over the entire competition, as does Oregon, beating USC single handly TWICE.
Notes:Alabama goes with 7-8 blitz packages, disrespecting Mariota's ability to run the ball and aiming to repeat as National champs. Except they have never played against players like Mariota and De'Anthony Thomas, as Mariota passes his best game for over 300 yards and upsets the Tide 30-21, the two teams tied at the half 14-14, but 2 punt returns by DAT result in a TD and a field goal. The streak is broken for the SEC and the raving Bama fans try to throw trash at the Oregon players, who just don't give a Duck.

Thoughts? I'll be updated this on a weekly basis.

 

Rose Bowl:
USC(10-2) vs Michigan State(10-2). Barkley and the Trojans, angry at their two loses to the Ducks, take it out on a very capable Michigan State Defense. Unfortunately for the Spartans, Le'Veon Bell can't do everything and fall 30-21.
Notes:
The USC offense is one the nation's best and prepares to at least end their season on a good note at a win in the Grand daddy of them all(and Lane Kiffin will never hear the end of it). MSU's Andrew Maxwell proves he can take his team to a BCS game, he and Mark Dantonio just need to close out, and the Spartans are now in the BCS scene, but tOSU will be a thorn next year. I'm picking USC to lose to the Ducks in Nov. 3 and once again to either Utah or UCLA.

Sugar Bowl:
Alabama (11-1) vs Virginia Tech(9-3). The Tide roll into New Orleans with one loss(Tennessee) and are out of the Natty due to that single loss. Angry, they try to take their frustration out on Logan Thomas and the Hokies, and Beamer get thrashed 28-12(all field goals on the Hokie side).
Notes:
Not much, other than Tide gonna Tide. TJ Yeldon will probably win the Freshman of the Year award.

Fiesta Bowl:
K-State(11-1) vs Oregon(11-1). Chip Kelly goes 2-2 with a win over the Wildcats, but it's a wild win: 61-45.
Notes:
I am picking Oregon and USC to beat each other once, but USC winning the PAC-12 altogether. Klein ends his year on a postive note, but Manhattan Kansas won't get another player like Klein in a long time...

Orange Bowl:
Clemson(11-2) vs Louisville(12-0). Lousville proves that they could compete with the best in the nation, defeating the Tigers 28-27. That stout Charlie Strong defense gives Dabo Swinney another headache in south beach.
Notes:
Lousville is incredibly young, and as long as Teddy Bridgewater is under center Louisville will have success. If most of their team returns for next year, this is a team prime for a National Title run. Clemson Clemsons it up AGAIN(shocker) and to a non-AQ team to boot, but this is a team that can reload. Maybe next year...or not

Cotton Bowl:
LSU(9-2) vs TCU(9-3)
I'm not buying into the Texas hype, but despite a disappointing season for the Tigers, they wack the Horned Frogs 37-17, their defense on a roll.
Notes:
I am picking LSU to finish second in the SEC west and many a Tiger fan will be groaning knowing that their #2 rings are with them FOR GOOD and that Alabama leapfrogged them into the Sugar Bowl. TCU would finish 3rd overall in the Big12 and it shows how good a coach Patterson is and how phenomenal Casey Pachall is. But the Tiger's defense, despite a lot of bumps in the road, end out their decent season with a win to a decent Big12 team.

BCS Title Game:
WVU(13-0) vs Florida State(13-0) Geno Smith wins the Heisman and Florida State rolls the ACC. They cheer when Tennessee beats Alabama and when USC beats Oregon in Autzen and the matchup of "what could have been" becomes "will be". The Defense wins championships cliche comes apart in this game, as Geno Smith goes 2-0 in Miami beating the Seminoles 30-24.

Notes: Geno Smith will be in competition with Matt Barkley for 1st QB taken, and he'll show it in this game.

These predictions are on a weekly basis.

 

Payback for the respective loses. Oregon gets payback from last year, USC gets payback for this year(but still loses to either Utah or UCLA, the former being a Thursday night game). And Oregon is off the high of whipping Stanford and Oregon State down

 

Rose Bowl:
Stanford(10-1) vs Michigan(9-3). The Cardinal manage to progress fine, and up against a decent Wolverines team, they win the Rose Bowl thanks to Stephan Taylor and their hard nose defense 27-21
Notes:
Stanford shocked the world beating USC, and now they are ranked in the top 10 for their efforts. Michigan, despite some loses, will rebound to win the B1G, but a 3 lose champion will show that the conference has gotten weaker over all. Taylor will make himself a late first-round pick at this point.

Sugar Bowl:
LSU(10-2) vs USC(9-3). The Tigers(lost to Bama and Florida) head back to New Orleans to redeem themselves after losing to Bama(also went 10-2, lost to LSU and upset loss) but manage to win the SEC by thrashing an undefeated Georgia in Atlanta. USC manages to redeem themselves with a win over a good Notre Dame squad to get themselves a Sugar Bowl berth, becoming the first PAC-12 team to play in the Sugar Bowl. Tigers win 35-21.

Notes:
Oh Barkley, things looked so great for you but it all came tumbling down...and it will again against the Tigers and Les Miles, while not winning a National title, will go on to redeem himself at home. At least the rings have good bling.

Fiesta Bowl:
Georgia(11-1) vs West Virginia(11-1). One of the greatest offenses in the country goes up against one of the best defenses. People of course pick Georgia because SECSpeed and once again, the nation picks the wrong team. WVU wins 55-35.
Notes:
I am picking WVU to be upset at one point but still make a BCS game, in this case their conference bowl. Georgia gets the at large bid thanks to their one loss in the SEC title game(thus preventing the SEC from going to South beach). Geno Smith does win the Heisman and may become the first QB picked off the board.

Orange Bowl:
Clemson(11-2) vs Louisville(12-0). Lousville proves that they could compete with the best in the nation, defeating the Tigers 28-27. That stout Charlie Strong defense gives Dabo Swinney another headache in south beach.
Notes:
Lousville is incredibly young, and as long as Teddy Bridgewater is under center Louisville will have success. If most of their team returns for next year, this is a team prime for a National Title run. Clemson Clemsons it up AGAIN(shocker) and to a non-AQ team to boot, but this is a team that can reload. Maybe next year...or not

Cotton Bowl:
Alabama(9-2) vs TCU(9-3)
I'm not buying into the Texas hype, but despite a disappointing season for the Tide, they wack the Horned Frogs 37-17, their defense on a roll.
Notes:
I know Alabama is #1 right now, but hey, so was Choklahoma. I am picking them to lose to LSU and be upset against one of their division rivals(LSU only lost to Bama and Florida, from the east). TCU gets a taste what the SEC is all about, and they will need the film in order to compete with LSU in the Cowboy Classic next September.

BCS Title Game:
Oregon(13-0) vs Florida State(13-0) Ducks gonna Duck and Florida State rolls the ACC. One of the fastest and potent offenses against a stalwart defense. The Defense wins championships cliche comes apart in this game, as Super Mario-ta outshines EJ Manuel, beating the Seminoles 30-24.

Notes: I hope Kelly gets a $20million 6 year contract $12million guaranteed. It's the only way the Ducks can keep Kelly in Eugene.

 

Rose Bowl:
Oregon State(10-1) vs Northwestern(10-1). Riley manages to get the At-Large over 8-3 USC and ASU and goes to Pasadena against a decent Northwestern team. Beavers pull away 30-27.


Sugar Bowl:
Alabama(11-2) vs TCU(10-1). Saban drops 2 but still gets a good At-Large bid against the Big 12 runner up TCU. Roll Tide roll, 30-17.


Fiesta Bowl:
WVU(10-1) vs Notre Dame(9-2). The Irish make their first BCS Bowl game, but lose out to that high powered offense, 55-37.


Orange Bowl:
Clemson(10-1) vs Louisville(12-0). Lousville proves that they could compete with the best in the nation, defeating the Tigers 24-20. Every time a BCS buster has entered the scene, except for Hawaii(they played Georgia), they have beaten their opponent and proved that the Have-Nots can be as good as the Have's.


Cotton Bowl:
Georgia(9-2) vs Texas(9-2)
I'm not buying into the Texas hype, and the Dawgs whip the Longhorns 36-21.


BCS Title Game:
Oregon vs Florida State. Both undefeated.
Winner: Oregon. 40-37

 

Rose Bowl:
Oregon State(10-1) vs Notre Dame(9-2). Riley manages to get the At-Large over 8-3 USC and ASU and goes to Pasadena against a poweful Irish team. Beavers pull away 14-7 in a defensive struggle.


Sugar Bowl:
Alabama(10-2) vs Kansas State(10-1). Saban drops 2 but still gets a good At-Large bid against the Big 12 runner up K-State. Roll Tide roll, 30-17.


Fiesta Bowl:
WVU(10-1) vs Clemson(9-2). Oh hey, a rematch of last year's orange bowl? Different place, same result: Mountaineers 70-41.


Orange Bowl:
Florida State(11-1) vs Louisville(12-0). Lousville proves that they could compete with the best in the nation, defeating the Seminoles 24-20. Every time a BCS buster has entered the scene, except for Hawaii(they played Georgia), they have beaten their opponent and proved that the Have-Nots can be as good as the Have's.


Cotton Bowl:
Georgia(9-2) vs Texas(9-2)
I'm not buying into the Texas hype, and the Dawgs whip the Longhorns 36-21.


BCS Title Game:
Oregon vs South Carolina. Both undefeated.
Battle of the Birds, SCAR faces an offense the likes of which they have never seen. Ducks with the win: 35-24.

 

If we somehow end up back in the Natty, and we face SC, I really like our chances.

 

Yeah. they got good DEs, but no good interior linemen like Bama. And if Shaw gets decked, he's gone