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Here's an idea, what if Bowl Projections were done by song? Sounds stupid fun enough to me. Here we go:
Ohio State: We Are the Champions by Queen
This song is played out...sort of like Ohio State's BCS Championship hopes. Florida State is going full steamroll right now and Alabama is continuing to be Alabama. Looks like another Rose Bowl appearance for the Buckeyes.
Michigan State: Sugar, Sugar by The Archies
Michigan State wins out and loses the Big Ten Championship game. Despite their loss, they'll still be in the top 14 of the BCS standings (they're currently 17) and be selected for the Sugar Bowl and become one of the few teams that loses the conference title game and makes the BCS.
Wisconsin: Unwell by Matchbox 20
Still only 22nd in the BCS polls at 6-2. Moves into position to make the top 14, loses to someone like Minnesota and has to settle for the Capital One. Unwell.
Michigan: Loser by Beck
It's not that making the Outback Bowl is a bad thing...it's just that Michigan was supposed to be better than the Outback Bowl. Of all the supposed contenders for the Big Ten title I think Michigan was the biggest loser this season. They gotta be getting fed up with Hoke, right?
Nebraska: Price is Right Losing Horn
Nebraska needed a miracle to beat Northwestern (or what is left of Northwestern) and now has to play at Michigan, Michigan State and at Penn State. The next three weeks are going to be brutal. Buffalo Wild Wings for you.
Iowa: Good Feeling by Flo Rida
Get it? Flo Rida? Gator Bowl? Florida? Good feeling about playing in the Gator Bowl? LOL.
Minnesota: Started From the Bottom by Drake
Minnesota went from not being in a bowl and facing another sad Minnesota-type season to playing being bowl eligible by week 10. Unfortunately, they have to finish the season with Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan State...so I'm not optimistic they're going to finish out the season on a high note. But hey, Texas Bowl!
Penn State, Indiana, Illinois, Purdue:
Northwestern:
Sorry, I had to.
The actual projections are below.
The Rules:
- Bowl Eligible Teams: Michigan State, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Wisconsin.
- The best teams don't always go to the best games. In the end, butts in the seat and eyes to the television are the biggest factors. Some bowl games also have the "two loss-rule."
- The order of BCS selection is 1) Replacement for #1 Team; 2) Replacement for #2 Team; 3) Orange Bowl; 4) Sugar Bowl; 5) Fiesta Bowl. If a Big Ten or Pac-10 team qualifies for the BCS Championship Game, the Rose Bowl will not be required to take a non-automatic qualifier.
- The Outback Bowl only takes teams from the SEC East and Auburn.
- Penn State is not bowl eligible until 2016.
- I base these projections upon what I believe will be the final conference standings. The game by game method is rather unscientific: who would win the matchup 9 times out of 10? Naturally, that means I can't predict insane upsets.
- It's very rare for a conference championship game loser to make a BCS Bowl. In the history of the BCS only three conference championship game losers have made BCS games: 2003 Oklahoma, 2008 Alabama and 2009 Florida. Thanks to user Incipient_Senescence for doing the research on this one.
The Projections:
Pick |
Bowl |
Matchup |
Projection |
0 |
BCS Championship Pasadena, CA |
vs. No. 2 |
Alabama vs. Florida State |
1 |
Rose Pasadena, CA |
vs. Pac-12/BCS |
Ohio State vs. Oregon |
1 |
Sugar NOLA |
Vs. SEC |
Michigan State vs. Auburn |
2 |
Capital One Orlando, FL |
vs. SEC No. 2 |
Wisconsin vs. South Carolina |
3 |
Outback Tampa, FL |
vs. SEC No. 4 |
Michigan vs. Missouri |
4 |
Buffalo Wild Wings Tempe, AZ |
vs. Big 12 No. 4 |
Nebraska vs. Texas |
5 |
Gator Jacksonville, FL |
vs. SEC No. 6 |
Iowa vs. Georgia |
6 |
Texas Houston, TX |
vs. Big 12 No. 6 |
Minnesota vs. Kansas State |
7 |
Heart of Dallas Dallas, TX |
vs. C-USA |
Texas State vs. Tulane |
8 |
Little Caesars Detroit, MI |
vs. MAC |
Boston College vs. Ball State |
Disagree? I understand.