College Football BCS and Bowl Preview: Ranking All 35 Games From Top To Bottom

No. 5 Discover Orange Bowl – January 3rd on ESPN at 5:30pm PT

Dec 7, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller (5) throws a pass during the third quarter of the 2013 Big 10 Championship game against the Michigan State Spartans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

No. 7 Ohio State (12-1) payed the price for a down year in terms of competition in conference when they wound up on the wrong side of the scoreboard in the BigTen Championship game. The Buckeyes weren’t big game, battle tested through no fault of their own. The same might be said for No. 12 Clemson (10-2) who lost two of three games on their schedule against ranked teams. Everything else about both of these teams is positive stuff. OSU quarterback Braxton Miller is one heckuva football player. The other guy in the OSU backfield, Carlos Hyde is impressive as well. These two players have driven defensive coordinators crazy all year. Then again, Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd isn’t chopped liver. He’s thrown for 3,473-yards and 29-touchdowns running a passing attack that averages 329-yards a game. Defensively, the Buckeyes only allowed one player to rush for 100+ yards all year. Therein is the key to this game. If Clemson becomes one-dimensional on offense…well, game over. In their two losses, the Tigers turned the ball over 10-times. Give Braxton and Hyde and extra possession or two and you’ll hear the OSU band playing “Buckeye Battle Cry”. However, with so much talent on both teams, experience may be what wins the day. If that ends up being the case, look for Boyd to end his collegiate career with a win.

No. 4 AT&T Cotton Bowl – January 3rd on FOX at 4:30pm PT

Nov 16, 2013; Austin, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Clint Chelf (10) scores a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns during the first quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

No. 8 Missouri (11-2) left the Big-12 at the end of last season only to find themselves matched up against No. 13 Oklahoma State (10-2). Both of these ball clubs came within a few snaps of playing in a BCS bowl game, finishing their respective seasons with a loss. Most people think of high-scoring offense at the mention of Cowboy football. OSU had the No. 1 scoring defense in the Big 12, a conference loaded with teams that light up the scoreboard. Make no mistake, their ‘D’ will face a big test against Missouri’s balanced attack which averages 39-points a game, the same as Oklahoma State’s offensive unit. The Cowboys defeated four of the six ranked opponents they played this season, matching the performance of Missouri. This game promises to go down to the wire and likely will swing on a turnover in the fourth quarter.

No. 3 Allstate Sugar Bowl – January 2nd on ESPN at 5:30pm PT

Nov 16, 2013; Starkville, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron (10) calls a play at the line during the game at Davis Wade Stadium. Alabama Crimson Tide defeat the Mississippi State Bulldogs with a score of 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

The good news for No. 11 Oklahoma (10-2) is their date in a BCS bowl game came thanks in large part to their big win over Oklahoma State to end the season. The bad news comes in the form of an embittered No. 3 Alabama (11-1) wanting to get on any field and beat up anybody willing to risk feeling their wrath. OK, the Crimson Tide were tripped up by special team play against No. 2 Auburn. Stuff can happen on any given Saturday in the world of college football. You’ll be hard pressed for me to believe the case you might make that both Auburn and Florida State are better teams. As if avenging the loss to Auburn wasn’t enough, rest assured this team will play their hearts out for AJ McCarron in his final college game. This could be a blowout with fans screaming “Roll Tide!” from now till spring camp.