2010-2011 Bowl Projections

Projecting all 35 bowl matchups
Si.com predicts the bowl games
In compiling this year's preseason edition of bowl projections, I wound up with exactly 70 eligible teams for 70 spots. That's doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room. Could we be looking at our first 5-7 bowl team? We've already got one ineligible team (USC) and, with all the NCAA activity right now, who knows whether more will follow.
Speaking of, the hardest team to place was North Carolina. If you'd asked me two months ago, I would have predicted that the Tar Heels would win nine or 10 games and play in one of the ACC's top bowls. But with half the starting lineup reportedly under investigation for potential academic fraud, things aren't looking promising. I projected them as a 6-6 team.
Remember, bowls are NOT obligated to choose their teams in exact order of conference standings. For instance, "ACC No. 3" means "third choice of ACC teams" -- not "the ACC's third-place team." In certain instances, a team was moved higher or lower to avoid a regular-season rematch or repeat trip to the same bowl. Also, while most conferences have a defined selection order, others (Conference USA, WAC) work more flexibly with their bowl partners.
Also, this year only, if the Rose Bowl loses either the Big Ten or Pac-10 champ, it must select the highest-ranked non-AQ champion if eligible. Hence how Boise State came to replace Ohio State in my lineup.

BCS Bowls
Date Predicted matchup
Jan. 1 Rose: Oregon (BCS Pac-10) vs. Boise State (BCS at-large)
Jan. 1 Fiesta: Oklahoma (BCS Big 12) vs. Connecticut (BCS Big East)
Jan. 3 Orange: Virginia Tech (BCS ACC) vs. Wisconsin (BCS at-large)
Jan. 4 Sugar: Georgia (BCS at-large) vs. Texas (BCS at-large)
Jan. 10 BCS Championship: Alabama (BCS No. 1) vs. Ohio State (BCS No. 2)

Other Bowls
Date Predicted matchup
Dec. 18 New Mexico: Kent State (MWC No. 5*) vs. Utah State (WAC)
Dec. 18 Humanitarian: Nevada (WAC) vs. Ohio (MAC No. 3)
Dec. 18 New Orleans: Troy (Sun Belt No. 1) vs. UCF (C-USA No. 5)
Dec. 21 Beef 'O'Brady's: Southern Miss (C-USA) vs. Cincinnati (Big East)
Dec. 22 MAACO: TCU (MWC No. 1) vs. Stanford (Pac-10 No. 5)
Dec. 23 Poinsettia: Utah (MWC No. 2) vs. Navy
Dec. 24 Hawaii: East Carolina (C-USA) vs. Idaho (WAC)
Dec. 26 Little Caesars: Temple (MAC No. 1) vs. Rutgers (Big Ten No. 8*)
Dec. 27 Independence: BYU (MWC No. 3) vs. North Carolina (ACC No. 7)
Dec. 28 Champs Sports: Notre Dame (Big East No. 2**) vs. Miami (ACC No. 3)
Dec. 28 Insight: Michigan (Big Ten No. 4/5) vs. Missouri (Big 12 No. 4)
Dec. 29 EagleBank: Marshall (C-USA) vs. N.C. State (ACC No. 8)
Dec. 29 Texas: Kansas State (Big 12 No. 6) vs. Northwestern (Big Ten No. 6)
Dec. 29 Alamo: Oregon State (Pac-10 No. 2) vs. Texas A&M (Big 12 No. 3)
Dec. 30 Armed Forces: SMU (C-USA) v. Air Force (MWC No. 4)
Dec. 30 Pinstripe: Pittsburgh (Big East No. 4) vs. Iowa State (Big 12 No. 7)
Dec. 30 Music City: Boston College (ACC No. 6) vs. South Carolina (SEC)
Dec. 30 Holiday: Washington (Pac-10 No. 3) vs. Texas Tech (Big 12 No. 5)
Dec. 31 Meineke: West Virginia (Big East No. 3) vs. Clemson (ACC No. 5)
Dec. 31 Sun: Georgia Tech (ACC No. 4) vs. Arizona (Pac-10 No. 4)
Dec. 31 Liberty: Houston (C-USA No. 1) vs. Ole Miss (SEC)
Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A: Florida State (ACC No. 2) vs. Auburn (SEC No. 5)
Jan. 1 Dallas Classic: Purdue (Big Ten No. 7) vs. UTEP (Big 12 No. 8*)
Jan. 1 Capital One: Florida (SEC No. 2) vs. Iowa (Big Ten No. 2)
Jan. 1 Outback: Penn State (Big Ten No. 3) vs. Kentucky (SEC)
Jan. 1 Gator: Michigan State (Big Ten No. 4/5) vs. LSU (SEC No. 6)
Jan. 6 GMAC: Middle Tennessee (Sun Belt No. 2) vs. Northern Illinois (MAC No. 2)
Jan. 7 Cotton: Nebraska (Big 12 No. 2) vs. Arkansas (SEC)
Jan. 8 Birmingham: USF (Big East) vs. Toledo (SEC No. 9*)
Jan. 9 Kraft Hunger: Fresno State (WAC) vs. Cal (Pac-10 No. 6)



SI.com's 2010 Preseason All-Americas OFFENSE DEFENSE
No Buckeyes????? What?
QB Kellen Moore
Jr., Boise St.
Moore is 27-1 as Boise's starter and amassed a staggering 39-to-3 TD-to-INT ratio in 2009.

DE Adrian Clayborn
Sr., Iowa
Orange Bowl MVP performance capped a dominant season (11.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss).

RB Mark Ingram
Jr., Alabama
The reigning Heisman winner scored two TDs in 'Bama's BCS title-game victory over Texas.

DT Jared Crick
Jr., Nebraska
Overshadowed by Ndamukong Suh, Crick still earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in '09.

RB Jacquizz Rodgers
Jr., Oregon State
The shifty workhorse has 2,653 yards rushing and 769 yards receiving in two seasons.

DT Stephen Paea
Sr., Oregon St.
Paea has wreaked havoc the past two seasons, notching 19.5 TFLs and eight sacks.

WR A.J. Green
Jr., Georgia
The 6-4 Green often evokes comparisons to Randy Moss with his ability to haul in jump balls.

DE Jeremy Beal
Sr., Oklahoma
The two-time All-Big 12 selection racked up 11 sacks and 19 tackles for loss last season.

WR Ryan Broyles
Jr., Oklahoma
The elusive playmaker burned Stanford for 156 yards and three scores in the Sun Bowl.

LB Greg Jones
Sr., Michigan St.
A consensus All-America last season, Jones ranked third nationally with 154 tackles.

TE D.J. Williams
Sr., Arkansas
A vet with superior receiving ability, Williams has 98 career receptions for 1,228 yards.

LB Von Miller
Sr., Texas A&M
The hybrid rush end/linebacker had a monstrous junior year, leading the nation in sacks (17).

T Gabe Carimi
Sr., Wisconsin
The four-year starter is the key blocker for one of the nation's most powerful rushing offenses.

LB Lawrence Wilson
Sr., Connecticut
The '09 All-Big East selection notched double-digit tackles in eight games, finishing with 140.

G Stefen Wisniewski
Sr., Penn St.
After shifting from guard to center, the four-year starter will return to his natural position.

CB Prince Amukamara
Sr., Nebraska
He picked off five passes in his first season starting, emerging as a potential first-round draft pick.

C Jake Kirkpatrick
Sr., TCU
The 2009 Rimington Trophy finalist helped TCU produce the nation's No. 7 offense.

S Rahim Moore
Jr., UCLA
The reigning All-America became the first player in six years to notch 10 INTs in a season.

G Rodney Hudson
Sr., Florida St.
Hudson earned the Jacobs Blocking Award as the ACC's top offensive lineman in '09.

S DeAndre McDaniel
Sr., Clemson
He made the most of his move from LB to safety, notching 182 return yards on eight INTs.

T Anthony Castonzo
Sr., Boston College
The 41-game starter helps open holes for star Eagles tailback Montel Harris.

CB Brandon Harris
Jr., Miami
As a sophomore, the Thorpe Award semifinalist tied for second nationally with 15 pass breakups.

SPECIAL TEAMS K Kai Forbath
Sr., UCLA
The Lou Groza Award winner was 28-of-31 in '09, making five kicks from 50 yards or longer.

KR Chris Owusu
Jr., Stanford
In '09, Owusu became the third player in Pac-10 history to return three kickoffs for TDs in a season.

P Drew Butler
Jr., Georgia
Butler led the nation by averaging 48.1 yards per kick as a sophomore last season.

PR Greg Reid
So., Florida St.
As a true freshman, the 5-8, 174-pound speedster led the nation in yards per return (18.43).