Normally, we would be picking the BCS bowl games and the MSU bowl game, but we can't because nothing has been decided yet.
The wonderful system known as the BCS has created a mess, leaving bowls like the Alamo and Outback waiting for the BCS to select teams. So, we wait … but only until Monday, when the final BCS standings come out and tell us who will go to the BCS and who will not.
Or can we look into the future and project what will happen?
Let's start with what we know. There are a few interesting games already slated.
Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.
Thursday, Jan. 1
No. 24 Maryland (9-3) vs. No. 21 West Virginia (8-4)
J. Ry - West Virginia has the edge here, considering they should be in the BCS. The Mountaineers are one play against Miami from an undefeated Big East record and a chance at the $14 to $17 million payoff BCS teams receive. Maryland closed out its season well, but momentum has nothing to do with bowl games - it all comes down to who is the better team.
West Virginia 34, Maryland 24
P. Day - My partner in crime is right on in picking West Virginia. The Mountaineers have proved all season long they have the moxie to face the NCAA big boys. Remember Miami tight end Kellen Winslow Jr.'s catch across the middle that seemed to be just over his fingertips? It was Winslow's grab that served as momentum for the Miami charge and eventual win. Maryland seems an even battle for the Mountaineers, but the Terrapins won't waltz away with a Gator Bowl trophy.
West Virginia 28, Maryland 17
GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
Thursday, Dec. 18
Louisville (9-3) vs. No. 14 Miami (Ohio) (11-1)
J. Ry - This is not an easy one to pick. John L. Smith's former team did just as well without him as they did with him and Miami (Ohio) has been good all season long. In fact, the RedHawks haven't lost since their season opener against Iowa. Look for Miami to continue to roll, but don't count out a tough Louisville squad.
Miami (Ohio) 38, Louisville 31
P. Day - Louisville, John L. Smith is yours no more and the GMAC Bowl will not be yours either. Miami's (Ohio) record-setting quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, will be the MVP of the game. The Cardinals are a tough team to beat and still embody the spirit Smith left there, but their fourth-quarter hopes will slip, as the RedHawks edge them out.
Miami (Ohio) 24, Louisville 21
Continental Tire Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.
Saturday, Dec. 27
Pittsburgh (8-4) vs. Virginia (7-5)
J. Ry - Many think Pittsburgh wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is the best player in the country. Whether he wins the Heisman or not, he always gives his team a chance to win, and they should over a Virginia team that could possibly be the best 7-5 team in the country. Quarterback Matt Schaub leads the Cavaliers into battle every game and Virginia has a chance to pull off the upset. Watch this one if you want to see an exciting game before New Year's Day.
Pittsburgh 27, Virginia 24
P. Day - Pitt wideout Larry Fitzgerald will play the best game of his career. "Fitz" wants to leave his mark because his fate as an NFL pick could come sooner than many expected. Only a sophomore, Fitzgerald attended an academy, placing him in grade school for 13 years. If a technicality passes, the receiver could be in the 2004 NFL Draft. Virginia will leave with some bowl revenue for their university, that's it.
Pittsburgh 31, Virginia 14
Liberty Bowl at Memphis, Tenn.
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Utah (9-2) vs. Southern Miss. (9-3)
J. Ry - First-year head coach Urban Meyer has Utah off and running, leading them to the Mountain West Conference Championship. The Utes have plenty of skill players, especially at wide receiver and quarterback. Utah has three wins over bowl teams: Colorado State, Oregon and California. Southern Mississippi is the undisputed champ from Conference USA after beating TCU in its final game of the season. They will be the favorite, but the Utes are just more skilled.
Utah 31, Southern Miss. 20
P. Day - Skill, schmill. Southern Miss. defeated wannabe BCS Cinderella TCU en route to the Conference USA title. Get ready for another championship because the Golden Eagles will again trump what looks to be a better team in Utah. Urban Meyer has done a solid job, but his team will be handed its third loss of the year.
Southern Miss. 28, Utah 24
There are plenty of teams with bowl bids waiting for an opponent. Here is a breakdown of the rest of the bowl bids:
If everything holds, we could be looking at No. 16 Florida vs. No. 12 Iowa as a possible matchup in the Outback Bowl. Wisconsin is the only Big Ten team to receive a bid, to the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl, as the other seven eligible teams wait for their bids.
Look for the Big Ten to get two BCS bids, thus sending No. 11 Purdue to the Capital One Bowl to face the loser of the SEC Championship between No. 5 Georgia and No. 3 LSU.
Other Big Ten teams in bowls should be Northwestern vs. No. 20 Bowling Green in the Motor City Bowl; No. 25 Minnesota vs. No. 23 Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl; MSU vs. Oregon in the Sun Bowl; and Wisconsin vs. Auburn in the Music City Bowl.
Here are the rest of The State News sports desk picks: No. 7 Tennessee vs. Clemson in the Peach Bowl; Missouri vs. Arkansas in the Main Stay Independence Bowl; No. 15 Washington State vs. No. 22 Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl; Navy vs. Texas Tech in the Houston Bowl; No. 17 Ole Miss vs. No. 13 Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl; No. 18 Boise State vs. No. 19 Texas Christian in the Fort Worth Bowl; and Georgia Tech vs. Tulsa in the Humanitarian Bowl.
Now for the BCS bowls. The only things set in stone are No. 4 Michigan in the Rose Bowl and No. 1 Oklahoma in the national championship game.
Even if they lose to Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship on Saturday, they will still make it to the title game. The Sooners will play No. 2 Southern Cal in the title game at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, but only after the Trojans dispose of Oregon St. on Saturday.
If that happens, it will open up a spot in the Rose Bowl for a non Pac-10 team to play U-M. Eligible teams right now are No. 6 Texas, No. 8 Ohio State, No. 9 Florida State and No. 10 Miami. The Rose Bowl will want an FSU-U-M showdown in Pasadena, Calif. on New Year's Day.
The Fiesta Bowl will take the winner of the Georgia-LSU game. We will take Georgia to avenge an earlier loss to the Tigers and then will pick Texas for a dandy in the desert out in Arizona. LSU will drop from No. 3 in the BCS to at least No. 7, forcing the committee to take Texas as one of the top six ranked BCS teams.
The Orange Bowl is the only one left, and fans will get a chance to see last year's title game all over again, when Ohio State travels to play Miami at their home stadium.
No matter where the teams go, or who they play, this has been one of the more exciting seasons of college football. Even the mighty Sooners, however, won't be able to survive this crazy season without a blemish.
Southern Cal 34, Oklahoma 31
