Orange Bowl 

#19 Virginia Tech vs. #12 Cincinnati

Ok, so this is definitely the red-headed stepchild of the BCS bowl games. It’s David vs. David. It’s the Lions vs. the Bengals, the Thunder vs. the Wizards, a match-up between the 2 teams that emerged from the piles of manure that are the Big East and the ACC. In fact, a google search for Virginia Tech football yielded only one image of a player that still plays for them (the rest were the Vicks and Branden Ore), and it’s not even from this year. A similar search for Cincinnati football yielded no results.

As for the game, I hate going against Cincinnati (although I don’t know why), but I have to take Va Tech. They have defense, special teams, and… and… well, they have defense and special teams. Also, I tried to think of who could chase down Tyrod Taylor, but I couldn’t think of a single player from Cincinnati.

Prediction: VT- 23 Cincy- 13

Rose Bowl

#8 PennState vs. #5 USC

Anyone else think OhioState tried to lose to PennState so they wouldn’t have to be embarrassed by USC again? If not, then you’re probably a PennState fan. You know, everyone out there is giving Penn State no chance, saying USC is going to blow them out and show once again why the Big 10 should just save us some time and play in the Division II playoffs (I know there’s an Appalachian State joke here, I just can’t think of it). You know what? They’re absolutely right. USC’s defense is scary good and their offense isn’t spectacular, but certainly fast enough to outrun PennState’s defense.

 By the way, the following prediction accounts for the fact that USC will play all their seniors and back-ups (redundant, right?) after taking a commanding lead and allow PSU to make it look semi-respectable.

Prediction: USC- 31 Penn State- 10

Sugar Bowl

#6 Utah vs. #4 Alabama

Does anyone outside Utah really think they’re the 6^th best team in the nation? They’re one spot behind USC? I mean, their quality wins are over Michigan and TCU. Although Bama is not a bad match-up for them, they’re still going to get stomped. Saban’s team is just too physical and will bully Utah around. In fact, this could end up being a high-scoring game by SEC standards, meaning someone might break 20 points.

Latest rumor: if Alabama wins, Saban plans on turning his success into a 5-year contract with the Browns, but will eventually leave them for the Arkansas job that will inevitably be left open after Petrino screws them over. If Alabama loses, Saban will do the same thing, except he’ll probably have to take the Lions job.  

Prediction: Alabama- 27 Utah- 13

Fiesta Bowl

#3 Texas vs. #10 OhioState

My hatred for Texas is well-documented, but so is my lack of confidence in OhioState. Either way, you can bet I’ll be pulling for OSU, but I know Texas will probably win. According to Colt McCoy, God has a plan for his team, and I can’t bet against that. Or maybe God will become sick of Texas’s arrogance, Mack Brown will be exposed for the evil and conniving low-life that he is, and Terrelle Pryor will show Mack how everyone else felt when they had to play Vince Young.

Of course, my absolute dream match-up would be Texas and Alabama. I would just watch and hope for bad things to happen. No matter who comes out on top, you know one of the worst guys in college football will lose an important game, although I’d still want that person to be Brown. So, I’m going against all logic and picking this game with my heart. Take that Mack Brown!

 Side note- my disdain for Mack Brown is rooted in his shameless pleas for Texas to make a BCS bowl game over a one-loss Cal team that was more deserving but refused to stoop to his level and lost the bid. Now, with Texas in the same position, they whine about not being in the championship game, while a Cal team with the same case didn’t even make a BCS game because of Mack! I hope he leaves for the Cowboys so I can have another reason to dislike him.

Prediction: OSU- 41 Texas- 28

National Championship Game

#2 Florida vs. #1 Oklahoma

Here’s the game we’ve all been waiting for. I thought USC and Florida were the best teams coming into the season, and I stand by that. Oklahoma is good, but have yet to play a defense with a pulse. Florida’s defense is great, and Tebow is just too good to allow his team to lose this game. If Colt was good enough to carry his team to a win over OU, Tebow will do it and make them look silly. He’s like the football version of Chuck Norris. As a 49ers fan, I hope they draft him, then play him at QB, FB, TE, LB, and DE. I would also make him the quarterbacks coach- “If no one’s open, just juke the d-lineman, run over the linebacker, and beat the safety to the corner of the endzone!”

As likeable as Sam Bradford is, I just can’t see anyone beating Florida right now if they’re healthy. Remember what Meyer did a couple years ago in the title game- no one is better at game-planning when given this much time. I don’t think this will be a blowout because OU doesn’t play in the Big 10, but it will be convincing. On a side note, when Tim Tebow does a push-up, he isn’t lifting himself up- he’s pushing the earth down.

Prediction: Florida- 38 Oklahoma- 21