2014 College Football Picks and Predictions: Potential Major Bowl Matchups

2014 College Football Picks and Predictions: Potential Major Bowl Matchups: The BCS system is no more, and as the college football world prepares for a four-team playoff to decide the national champion in 2014, the impact of the change on the bowl system reaches even further. While the Rose, Orange, Fiesta and Sugar Bowls remain among the major bowls, the Cotton Bowl and Peach Bowl will also join the mix, meaning 12 teams will be selected to major bowls. The winners of the five major conferences still earn automatic bids, and there is also a spot reserved for the highest-ranking team from a non-major conference. With that in mind, here is a look at how the major bowls could play out when all is said and done.

Peach Bowl: LSU Tigers vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

With the new playoff system, it is almost a guarantee that a team with two losses from a power conference will play in a major bowl, and LSU do just that. The Tigers have a ridiculous schedule, and while they may only split their big games, the resume of a two-loss LSU team will outshine just about every one-loss team around. The Fighting Irish will also take advantage of the expanded field to grab a spot in a major bowl. Yes, Notre Dame’s schedule is tough, but it’s not impossible, especially with Everett Golson back under center. As long as the Fighting Irish emerge from games against Florida State, Stanford, Arizona State and USC with two wins, double-digit wins will be enough to earn them an at-large bid. After all, few teams draw a crowd like the Fighting Irish.

Cotton Bowl: Baylor Bears vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

With Bryce Petty back under center, the Bears seem destined to obliterate most opponents with the country’s most powerful offense. However, I think Oklahoma will be a stumbling block, keeping the Bears from running the table and forcing them to settle for an at-large bid to a major bowl instead of earning a playoff spot with an unblemished record. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes suffered a huge blow to their national title chances when they lost Braxton Miller, and while winning in East Lansing with a backup quarterback seems impossible, the rest of Ohio State’s schedule is tissue paper soft. Armed with one of the country’s best defensive lines and plenty of speedy playmakers to run Urban Meyer’s system, the Buckeyes should still secure a spot in a major bowl as a one-loss or two-loss team.

Fiesta Bowl: UCLA Bruins vs. Cincinnati Bearcats

Led by dual-threat quarterback Brett Hundley, the Bruins have all the pieces in place to contend for a Pac-12 title and more in 2014. In the past, Oregon and Stanford have been the main hurdles, and while I still like the Ducks to ultimately win the conference, the Bears should be able to handle everyone else on their schedule and punch an at-large bid to a major bowl. As for Cincinnati, the new playoff format guarantees that a team outside of the five power conferences will be selected for a major bowl, and with basically everyone back from a team that went 9-4 last year, the Bearcats should be the best of the rest and grab the bid.

Orange Bowl: Michigan State Spartans vs. Auburn Tigers

Michigan State is now the clear frontrunner in the Big Ten thanks to Ohio State losing quarterback Braxton Miller, and the Spartans shouldn’t lose a conference game on their way to a major bowl bid. If Michigan State can somehow win its out-of-conference matchup against Oregon, the Spartans should be in the four-team playoff, but I don’t see the Spartans having enough offense to keep pace in that one. On the other hand, Auburn should have plenty of offense with Nick Marshall leading a deadly rushing attack, and while the Tigers will have a hard time running the table thanks to a brutal schedule, one loss won’t keep them out of a major bowl.

Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma Sooners vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

I don’t think Oklahoma is the best team in the country this year, but with Trevor Knight solidifying the quarterback spot and the defense nine starters, the Sooners steamroll one of the softest schedules among the power programs. As a result, I expect the Sooners to be undefeated at the end of the year and secure a playoff spot. Alabama enters the year with a loaded roster, and although uncertainty at the quarterback spot could cause some offensive issues early on, I don’t see the Crimson Tide slipping up more than once. As was the case a year ago, the SEC could be decided in the Iron Bowl, and I see Alabama flipping the script in 2014, winning its division and conference and making it into the playoff.

Rose Bowl: Oregon Ducks vs. Florida State Seminoles

Although I could actually see the Seminoles slipping up once during the year as the championship hangover gets the better of an otherwise loaded roster, I expect Jameis Winston and company to be so dominant that there is no way that the committee keeps the defending champs out of the playoff with just a single loss. Meanwhile, the Ducks look primed for a title run thanks to the decision of quarterback Marcus Mariota to return to school. Oregon didn’t lose a game with a healthy Mariota last year, and he and the Ducks high-powered offense will power their way to a Pac-12 title and a playoff spot.