Out of 34 bowl matchups, 31 were correct in ACC Now's Saturday projections.
The three I got wrong — Hawaii, Independence and Texas — were contingent on Notre Dame, which ended up choosing Hawaii over Texas (good call).
This was the only site that correctly predicted the GMAC and Motor City matchups (yes, monumentally important games, but uncanny accuracy nonetheless), in addition to breaking the news about Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State and UNC on Tuesday or N.C. State's destination on Friday.
On with the superlatives:
Best game: BCS title game
Texas will disagree, but Florida-Oklahoma's the best 1-2 matchup since Texas-USC in '05, and potentially could be the highest-scoring BCS game since its inception in 1998.
Best game with an ACC team: Papajohns.com Bowl
The Scarlet Knights have won six in a row. N.C. State has won four straight. Given the other ACC matchups, this is actually no contest.
Best game outside the BCS: GMAC Bowl
Nevermind the losses in their respective championship games, Ball State averages 36 points and Tulsa puts up 47. Defense is definitely optional.
Best New Year's game: Rose Bowl
There's only five but the Grandaddy's the best BCS undercard, with USC and Penn State, thanks to the "anchor" system. The Trojans should be jacked but nobody's got a better bowl record than JoePa.
Best sponsor: Retired
USF&G still holds the title for all-time best. What did the "G" ever do to the "US" to warrant such vulgarity?
Worst game: Motor City Bowl
That's Central Michigan vs. Florida Atlantic, as in "Why a playoff system trimming the fat of the bowl system wouldn't be such a bad thing."
Worst game with an ACC team: Music City Bowl
The median SAT score will be the tie-breaker, no overtime for Vandy and BC. At least the Eagles have an odds-on shot at extending the nation's longest bowl winning streak to nine.
Worst BCS game: Fiesta Bowl
Yes, I realize Virginia Tech-Cincinnati is on the board, but Texas deserved better than Ohio State. Utah or Boise State would have been more interesting than The Ohio State.
Worst sponsor: Rose Bowl
"presented by ..." Look, you're either in or out, none of this qualifier nonsense.
• • • •
The schedule:
• Dec. 20, EagleBank Bowl @ Washington, 11 a.m. (ESPN)
Navy vs. Wake Forest (ACC)
• Dec. 20, New Mexico Bowl, 2:30 (ESPN)
Fresno State (WAC) vs. Colorado State (Mountain West)
• Dec. 20, St. Petersburg Bowl, 6:30 (ESPN2)
South Florida (Big East) vs. Memphis (C-USA)
• Dec. 20, Las Vegas Bowl, 8 (ESPN)
BYU (Mountain West) vs. Arizona (Pac-10)
• Dec. 21, New Orleans Bowl, 8 (ESPN)
Southern Miss (C-USA) vs. Troy (Sun Belt)
• Dec. 23, Poinsettia Bowl @ San Diego, 8 (ESPN)
TCU (Mountain West) vs. Boise State (WAC)
• Dec. 24, Hawaii Bowl, 8 (ESPN)
Hawaii (WAC) vs. Notre Dame (at-large)
• Dec. 26, Motor City Bowl @ Detroit, 7:30 (ESPN)
Central Michigan (MAC) vs. Florida Atlantic (at-large)
• Dec. 27, Meineke Car Care Bowl @ Charlotte, 1 (ESPN)
UNC (ACC) vs. West Virginia (Big East)
• Dec. 27, Champs Bowl @ Orlando, Fla., 4:30 (ESPN)
Florida State (ACC) vs. Wisconsin (Big Ten)
• Dec. 27, Emerald Bowl @ San Francisco, 8 (ESPN)
Cal (Pac-10) vs. Miami (ACC)
• Dec. 28, Independence Bowl @ Shreveport, La. 8 (ESPN)
Louisiana Tech (WAC) vs. Northern Illinois (at-large)
• Dec. 29, Papajohns.com Bowl @ Birmingham, Ala. 3 (ESPN)
Rutgers (Big East) vs. N.C. State (at-large)
• Dec. 29, Alamo Bowl @ San Antonio, 8 (ESPN)
Northwestern (Big Ten) vs. Missouri (Big 12)
• Dec. 30, Humanitarian Bowl @ Boise, Idaho, 4:30 (ESPN)
Nevada (WAC) vs. Maryland (ACC)
• Dec. 30, Holiday Bowl @ San Diego, 8 (ESPN)
Oregon (Pac-10) vs. Oklahoma State (Big 12)
• Dec. 30, Texas Bowl @ Houston, 8 (NFL)
Rice (C-USA) vs. Western Michigan (at-large)
• Dec. 31, Armed Forces Bowl @ Fort Worth, noon (ESPN)
Air Force (Mountain West) vs. Houston (C-USA)
• Dec. 31, Sun Bowl @ El Paso, Texas, 2 (CBS)
Pitt (Big East) vs. Oregon State (Pac-10)
• Dec. 31, Music City Bowl @ Nashville, 3:30 (ESPN)
Boston College (ACC) vs. Vanderbilt (SEC)
• Dec. 31, Insight Bowl @ Phoenix, 6 (NFL)
Minnesota (Big Ten) vs. Kansas (Big 12)
• Dec. 31, Chick-fil-A Bowl @ Atlanta, 7:30 (ESPN)
Georgia Tech (ACC) vs. LSU (SEC)
• Jan. 1, Outback Bowl @ Tampa, Fla., 11 a.m. (ESPN)
Iowa (Big Ten) vs. South Carolina (SEC)
• Jan. 1, Gator Bowl @ Jacksonville, Fla., 1 (CBS)
Clemson (ACC) vs. Nebraska (Big 12)
• Jan. 1, Capital One Bowl @ Orlando, Fla., 1 (ABC)
Georgia (SEC) vs. Michigan State (Big Ten)
• Jan. 1, Rose Bowl @ Pasadena, Cal., 5 (ABC)
Penn State (Big Ten) vs. USC (Pac-10)
• Jan. 1, Orange Bowl @ Miami, 8 (FOX)
Cincinnati (Big East) vs. Virginia Tech (ACC)
• Jan. 2, Cotton Bowl @ Dallas, 2 (FOX)
Texas Tech (Big 12) vs. Ole Miss (SEC)
• Jan. 2, Liberty Bowl @ Memphis, 5 (ESPN)
Kentucky (SEC) vs. ECU (C-USA)
• Jan. 2, Sugar Bowl @ New Orleans, 8 (FOX)
Alabama (at-large) vs. Utah (at-large)
• Jan. 3, International Bowl @ Toronto, noon (ESPN2)
Buffalo (MAC) vs. UConn (Big East)
• Jan. 5, Fiesta Bowl @ Glendale, Ariz., 8 (FOX)
Texas (at-large) vs. Ohio State (at-large)
• Jan. 6, GMAC Bowl @ Mobile, Ala., 8 (ESPN)
Tulsa (C-USA) vs. Ball State (MAC)
• Jan. 8, BCS Championship Game @ Miami, 8 (FOX)
Florida (SEC) vs. Oklahoma (Big 12)
Comments
fiesta bowl
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 17:18 — leernealwow, i'm surprised that you figured out my allegiance. i'll check you again on january 6th and i really dont care what you were referring to, you wouldnt know a good football team if you tripped over it. if you knew anything about the bcs process like you think you do you would have known that texas wasnt going to play anyone from the sec.
get a clue
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 19:43 — jpg (author)http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow/bcs-strikes-again-plus-acc-update
This was from Wednesday. And yes, if your idea of a good team is tOSU, than, you're right, I wouldn't.
— JPG
that's funny, they seem to
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 20:26 — leernealthat's funny, they seem to be going to a bcs every year pal, stick to explaining why the acc will never win an orange bowl game, ok?
the one brave soul
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 23:15 — gvillegatrdude, your fan base has been in hibernation on the radio shows and the internet for some time now.
trust me when I say, the USA is a better place b/c of that. please go back. your team is an embarrassment to big time college football. you haven't won a meaningful game since Spot was a pup and Moby Dick was a minnow.
the only thing your state has is osu. thats why it is soooo faithfully followed. please go wash your car now so you can get the salt off of it ... anything but hang out here.
yo dud, er dude, my team is
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 03:55 — leernealyo dud, er dude, my team is there EVERY year and the last attack of the uninformed is to go after their fan base. oh and keep getting your info from talk radio, all the smart people reside there, dont they? and the ONLY thing i need is osu, dud.
idiot.
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 11:29 — gvillegatrlike i said, acorn, the only thing your state has is osu ... the reason it is The Only Stinking Ugly thing you need. go into your room, close your eyes, again, and think about "dotting" something. lol.
that is so cute, thinking
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 13:03 — leernealthat is so cute, thinking you're trashing me while identifying the traditions that make ohio state great! you only wish you could dot the i. just be content in what you are, a hayseed wanna be.
This has gone too far.
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 12:34 — JPDOhioI've got no problem with bashing Ohio State. It has its supporters and detractors and good arguments both ways. I like Jim Tressel, but his handling of the QB situation this year has not been his best work.
That said, lay off the state of Ohio. Besides OSU, we have:
- The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- The MLS Champion Columbus Crew.
- The Indians, Cavs, Browns and Bengals (OK skip the last two)
Just to name a few.
So let's stay focused and not get too carried away on broad generalizations.
I'll agree with JP
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 21:05 — UNC1998tOSU shouldn't be there, IMO. It's because they have all those fans, and NFL teams in Ohio are no good.
most appealing game outside the BCS
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 10:18 — gvillegatris TCU and Boise St. You got a team who was snubbed b/c they are not in a BCS conference with a great offense going up against another great mid major who plays great defense and who can score as well. hands down, this is the most appealing game out there.
I honestly think NCSU will beat RU by a good margain unless the NCSU defense who played against BC shows up. then it will be a shoot out and has the making of a decent game.
If UNC can muster some sort of offense, the Meinke Bowl will be very interesting as well.
best match up
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 08:51 — JPMajorI would have to disagree with the best game with an ACC team in it. Maybe your going by how teams are playing now. But as a fan, i wouldn't find NC State vs Rutgers very appealing. If i was going to watch an ACC game, it would probably be ethier the Georgia Tech vs LSU or Florida St. vs Wisconsin. True, LSU isnt the power it's been in the past years, but it's still a very appealing game. Although i believe NC State vs Rutgers will be a good game. it's not a game i wouldnt sit down and watch fully. It's one of those "tune in with 5mins left in 4th Q and watch the rest".
1. Georgia Tech vs LSU
2. Florida State vs Wisconsin
3. Clemson vs Nebraska
4. Virginia Tech vs Cincinnati
5T. UNC vs West Virginia / NC State vs Rutgers
7. Miami vs California
8. Navy vs Wake Forest
9. Boston College vs Vanderbilt
10. Maryland vs Nevada
True
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 08:56 — jpg (author)On name-brand value, not much of a matchup outside this area but it's two teams that are hot.
LSU's got the name but they're just not very good and Wisconsin is awful (ask Cal Poly).
The second-best game is UNC-WVU. Given what UNC did to GT's option offense, I suspect the Neers are in for a long day.
— JPG
I understand what your
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 09:12 — JPMajorI understand what your saying. I was simply going by Appeal by team names such as lsu and wisconsin that would get people to tune in and watch. But as area match ups, yeah i believe UNC's NC State's games are 1 ,2. going ethier way... You prolly give NC State and Rutgers 1 because of their strong finishes. You have to deduct points from UNC's game cause of thier bad finish to the regular season and WVU.
Anyone left out?
Sun, 12/07/2008 - 23:53 — MarvinSchwartzWith all this bowl craziness and who needed to go where with 6 or 7 wins, at large and what not, were there any bowl-eligible teams in America that did not get a bowl slot?
Serious question - were there exactly 68 (or however many) bowl-eligible teams?
Yes
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 08:46 — jpg (author)Four 6-6 teams: Bowling Green, San Jose State, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette
72 total bowl eligble-teams
— JPG
bowl games
Sun, 12/07/2008 - 23:15 — leernealas far as your critique goes regarding the Fiesta Bowl, who asked for your opinion anyway, bozo? i'm sure both tv sets in utah or idaho would have been tuned to the game if either had been invited but NO ONE ELSE WOULD HAVE CARED. get it? good. have fun at the papa john's bowl.
ah
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 08:44 — jpg (author)The intelligent retort of a Buckeye fan.
For the record, I was advocating Texas to play the SEC loser but given the system, yes, I would rather see Texas play the highest-ranked team, which would be Utah.
Enjoy another lopsided BCS loss.
— JPG
"Enjoy another lopsided BCS loss."
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 10:10 — gvillegatrI absolutely love it!!
big surprise.
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 09:45 — JPDOhioThere is no doubt that Boise State got screwed by the BCS. What does it matter that they are undefeated and have proven themselves to be a competitive team that also is fun to watch? What matters is which teams bring in the most money.
Given that Ohio State football is a religion (or a Satanic cult depending on your point of view), it is clear that its fans will make the pilgrimage to the desert. The powers that be just couldn't pass up another Clash of Titans. Pitting Colt McCoy against child prodigy Pryor had to have the BCS committee whipped into a spiritual frenzy.
For me, seeing Boise State's David take its shot against Texas' Goliath would have been a better choice.