Updated BCS Predictions

Here is a down and dirty (yes, THAT kind of dirty Jack) explanation of the BCS rules:

1. Top 2 teams go to the Championship Game (NCG).

2. Unless they are in the NCG, the conferences are locked in as follows:
Atlantic Coast Conference-Orange Bowl
Big Ten Conference-Rose Bowl
Big 12 Conference-Fiesta Bowl
Pac-10 Conference-Rose Bowl
Southeastern Conference-Sugar Bowl

3. If a bowl loses a host team to the NCG, then that bowl shall choose from the at-large candidates to fill it's slot first. If two bowls lose their host teams, the bowl losing the #1 team in the country chooses first.

4. After all of that, the bowls pick in the order (in 2009) of Fiesta, Sugar and Orange.

So here are my picks for the BCS:

National Championship: TEXAS TECH vs. FLORIDA
I think Tech's defense slows down OU enough to win in Norman, cause OU isn't going to slow down Tech. They then take care of Missou and it's onto the title game. If Florida wins out and beats Alabama, I would be shocked if they didn't end up #2 in the BCS. (much to my chagrin as a UT fan)

Fiesta: TEXAS vs. OHIO ST.
Choosing first, the Fiesta will snap up Texas, provided they win out, will get chosen over Oklahoma. With Penn St., USC and Alabama locked into other bowls, the Fiesta won't take the best team, but will instead take the best draw left - Ohio St. Then after a UT beatdown, the Big Ten goes back home with its tail between its legs.

Orange: FLORIDA ST. vs. CINCINNATI
Welcome to the worst BCS matchup. I'm guessing Florida St. somehow makes it out of the quagmire that is the ACC, but who knows. North Carolina and Wake are better coached, but they may not even make it out of their side of the Conference. I think Florida St. has a clearer path to the ACC title game, thus I'm going with them. The Orange also gets stuck with the last required BCS team available - the Big East champion. Can you feel the excitement??

Rose: USC vs. PENN ST.
Thanks to Penn St. stumbling in Ames (Thank you Iowa! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!), not only will the NCG be watchable this year, but we'll get a Big-10/Pac 10 matchup in Pasadena. I think Oregon St. will stumble in one of its last 3 games, giving USC the title. If they don't...well, these predictions will be quite different top to bottom. Enjoy scoring 7 points or less Penn St.

Sugar: ALABAMA vs. UTAH
Sugar will snap Alabama up after losing Florida, and Tide fans will pour into Florida. After Ohio St. has been picked by the Fiesta, they will take the best available left between Utah and Cincinnati, and take the undefeated Utes. Thanks for coming Utah.