What kind of idiot would do a bowl projection in May?
Cough, cough.
Let's call this: "The way too early and probably too optimistic Pac-10 bowl projection."
Too optimistic? Well, we've got two conference teams in BCS bowl games AND eight teams earning bowl berths. That's a huge long shot. Not to mention that a potential bowl ban for USC when the NCAA makes its ruling public -- this week, perhaps? -- isn't factored in.
Ah, but what the heck!
See a list of the bowl games here.
Dallas Football Classic
Arizona vs. Iowa State : The Kraft Fight Hunger bowl picks UCLA over Arizona, but Dallas is a decent place to mend hurt feelings.
[Note: This one was changed from Arizona against SMU in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl because that bowl has a tie-in with the Sun Belt Champion. My bad.]
Kraft Fight Hunger
UCLA vs. Nevada: The Bruins go 6-6 against a brutal schedule, with every game decided by a touchdown or less. The big news, however, is the series of round-off back handsprings coach Rick Neuheisel does down winding Lombard Street when linebacker Akeem Ayers, defensive end Datone Jones and safety Rahim Moore each announce they will return for the senior season.
MAACO Las Vegas
Washington vs. TCU: Jake Locker vs. a Gary Patterson defense. Great fun. Interesting twist, however, is how thrilled the Huskies are to be in Vegas, while the Horned Frogs, ranked 10th, are grumpy because they failed to reach grander visions.
Brut Sun Bowl
California vs. Clemson: A nice matchup of two ranked teams as second-team All-Pac-10 quarterback Kevin Riley tries to cap his up-and-down-and-up career with a win.
Bridgepoint Education Holiday
Stanford vs. Missouri: An intriguing matchup of top-20 teams, and a particularly strong matchup of quarterbacks with Stanford's Andrew Luck and the Tigers Blaine Gabbert.
Valero Alamo
Oregon State vs. Oklahoma: Most see this showdown as David vs. Goliath. Curiously, not the Beavers. Game showcases a pair of talented sophomore quarterbacks in Oklahoma's Landry Jones and Oregon State's Ryan Katz.
Tostitos Fiesta
Oregon vs. Nebraska: Ducks lose tiebreaker to USC for the Rose Bowl berth but end up earning an at-large selection here against the Cornhuskers. Oregon starting quarterback [inaudible] leads the Pac-10's highest scoring offense against one of the nation's best defenses.
Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi
USC vs. Iowa: Ohio State plays Texas for the national title, but the Rose Bowl still maintains the traditional Pac-10-Big Ten matchup. During bowl preparations, Lane Kiffin shoots down rumors he's headed to the NFL and becomes media darling.