A quick post today, as I've been running busy this week with work and early holiday visitors, but bowl projections are updated. Whether Florida or Alabama wins the SEC shouldn't have any ripple effect on other bowls (winner to the title game, loser to the Sugar Bowl), but if Missouri upsets Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game, this will have enormous implications on the title race. The choice would come down to Texas or USC, and the way the standings are right now, the odds would favor the Longhorns. Penn State would get short shrift in such a discussion, as they deserve to be on at least an even keel with the Trojans in any debate, and both Penn State & USC would deserve to go in over a non-conference champ like Texas. Penn State's loss was by only one point, they beat the one team who beat Southern Cal, and for all the bashing the Big Ten took in the press this year, the Pac-10 was even more hideous in non-league play, including pulling an 0-for-5 against the Mountain West on one memorable Saturday back in September.
But whether Missouri wins or not won't affect Ohio State's at-large hopes. The Big 12 can only get one at-large bid, and they're going to get that no matter what. Right now, they are on track to get Oklahoma (as projected champ) and Texas. A Tiger win just makes it a choice between the Sooners or Longhorns for the at-large. Ohio State's needs, as discussed below, are for USC to lock up the Pac-10 against UCLA, and then to be chosen over Boise State.
In hoops, the Big Ten-ACC challenge is underway and we're competitive this year. The six games are evenly split as we head into tonight. The signature game is North Carolina-Michigan State at Ford Field. After the event is over, we'll be back with a more complete breakdown of the games.
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