2010 BCS Projections: July Edition

The BCS National Championship moves back to Glendale, the site of Urban Meyer's 1st title with Florida. Before we get into our projections here's a quick rundown of how the selection process will work for next season:

-The top 2 ranked teams in the BCS standings will play in Glendale for the national championship.
-The winners of the Pac Ten and Big Ten conferences will meet in the Rose Bowl, pending neither is ranked in the top 2 of the BCS standings.
-The winner of the SEC will play in the Sugar Bowl, pending they are not ranked in the top 2 of the BCS standings.
-The winner of the Big XII conference will play in the Fiesta Bowl, pending they are not ranked in the top 2 of the BCS standings.
-The winner of the ACC will play in the Orange Bowl, pending they are not ranked in the top 2 of the BCS standings.
-Perennial Pac Ten power USC is banned from bowl play.
-The BCS bowl losing the #1 ranked team in the BCS standings will get the first at-large selection while the BCS bowl losing the #2 ranked team in the BCS standings will get the second at-large selection. Please note that the bowl losing the #1 ranked team is NOT allowed to select an at-large from the same conference as the #2 ranked team per BCS selection rules. For example, if Texas had been ranked #1 and Alabama #2 in this past seasons BCS standings, the Fiesta Bowl would not be allowed to select Florida to replace Texas because Florida is in the same conference as the #2 ranked team.
-Starting next season, the first time either the Pac Ten or Big Ten champion is ranked in the top 2 of the BCS standings, a non-automatic qualifier will play in the Rose Bowl. IE, if an at-large non-conference winner is ranked #3, or Notre Dame is ranked in the top 8, or a mid major is ranked in the top 12, they will automatically be placed in the Rose Bowl to replace the Big Ten or Pac Ten champion who is in the NC game.
-The remaining at-large selection order is: Sugar, Orange, and Fiesta.


The Rose Bowl
(8-4) Oregon State vs Ohio State (11-1)
-Projected Oregon State losses: vs TCU, at Boise State, at Arizona, vs Southern Cal
-Projected Ohio State loss: at Iowa

Despite USC going 12-0, Oregon State will go to the Rose Bowl as USC is banned from post-season play. The Beavers will lose 3 of their first 5 games but rebound nicely and cap off the season with a beating of Oregon in the Civil War.
Many have Ohio State going undefeated and playing for the national championship. Based on what? A win over overmatched Oregon? The same team Stanford and Boise State whipped up and down the field? Ohio State will be upset in Iowa City.


The Fiesta Bowl
(10-2) Texas vs Connecticut (10-2)
-Projected Texas losses: vs Oklahoma, at Nebraska
-Projected UConn losses: at Michigan, at Rutgers

Texas will need 1 year to reload before contending for another title. Garrett Gilbert will make some great strides but the offense will struggle in moving the ball against OU and Nebraska.
No one lost more close games than UConn last year. Expect last years experience to carry over as those close games should turn into more wins this season.


The Orange Bowl
(11-2) Virginia Tech vs Alabama (12-1)
-Projected Virginia Tech losses: vs Boise State, at North Carolina
-Projected Alabama loss: vs Florida (SECCG)

Virginia Tech has a much more favorable schedule this year and should bounce back and win their 3rd ACC title in 4 seasons. Boise State and UNC will both be close losses.
2010 Alabama will be 2009 Florida. They'll look terrible at times but still get the #1 hype with some close calls. Just like last years Gators, they'll be blown out in the SECCG by a team that just wants it more.

The Sugar Bowl
(12-1) Florida vs Wisconsin (11-1)
-Projected Florida loss: at Alabama
-Projected Wisconsin loss: vs Ohio State

The Gators offense will be unstoppable in 2010. John Brantley will be the strongest Heisman contender in the SEC as the Gators avenge a close loss in Tuscaloosa by knocking off Bama in the SECCG.
Wisconsin will be this years Iowa. They'll give Ohio State fits in Madison before bowing to the superior team and will exact revenge on the Hawkeyes by knocking them off in Kinnick.


2010 BCS National Championship Game
(13-0) Oklahoma vs Boise State (12-0)

In what will be one of the most anticipated rematches between two programs in a long time, I project the Sooners and Broncos to meet in Glendale for the 2nd time in 4 years. Both programs will roll through their schedules with relative ease led by strong play at the QB position. Landry Jones will rely on a strong running game and have one of the nations best, Ryan Broyles, to throw to. Kellen Moore will be the Heisman front runner as he leads what will be one of the nations top offenses.