Celebrating the final year of the BCS

Adam Mancini
Staff Writer

Adam Mancini

BCS Bowls

The end of the college football season is in sight, and its conclusion will also mark the end of the highly controversial Bowl Championship Series. Through the BCS, a computer and poll based selection system creates five bowl match-ups between the top ten teams in the country, allowing the top two to compete in the BCS Championship Game. This year’s BCS games will be played out from January 1 to January 6, with the championship falling on the sixth. All five games are previewed below, along with this writer’s predictions for the winner of each game.

January 1, Rose Bowl, Michigan State vs. Stanford

Stanford will be playing in its second consecutive Rose Bowl, after defeating Wisconsin last season. The game will mark Michigan State’s first ever appearance in a BCS bowl, after the team had one of its finest seasons in history behind a 12-1 record. Both teams both stifling defenses and strong running games, so we will likely end up seeing a low-scoring, hard fought game of football.

Prediction: Michigan State 20, Stanford 13

January 1, Fiesta Bowl, Baylor vs. University of Central Florida

Both teams will be participating in their first ever BCS bowl games, and it may be the highest scoring match-up of the week. Both Baylor and UCF boast incredible offenses, but Baylor’s numbers have been simply unbelievable. They are putting up 681.3 yards of total offense per game and scoring 55.4 point per game in the process, both tops in college football. While the game should be exciting, UCF simply will not be able to keep up with Baylor

Prediction: Baylor 59, UCF 38

January 2, Sugar Bowl, Alabama vs. Oklahoma

These two storied teams are both accustomed to the big stage, but Oklahoma is facing big problems at quarterback. They may be down to their third-stringer, if Trevor Knight is unable to go. Alabama’s legendary defense will likely have a field day against a questionable Oklahoma offense.

Prediction: Alabama 34, Oklahoma 13

January 3, Orange Bowl, Ohio State vs. Clemson

Ohio State and Clemson are actually two very similar teams, and it should lead to an intriguing match-up in Miami. Braxton Miller of Ohio State and Tajh Boyd of Clemson are both dual-threat quarterbacks who can gash defenses through the air or on the ground. However, Ohio State has the advantage on the defensive side of the ball, and it should be enough to push them past feisty Clemson.

Prediction: Ohio State 28, Clemson 20

January 6, BCS National Championship Game, Florida State vs. Auburn

Florida State boasts Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston as well as an imposing defense, while Auburn will try to counter with the nation’s best running attack led by quarterback Nick Marshall and running back Tre Mason. If Florida State’s defense can find a way to slow down the two-headed monster of Marshall and Mason, then Winston and the rest of the offense should have no problem putting up enough points to end Auburn’s improbable run to the National Championship.

Prediction: Florida State 51, Auburn 42