The Pac-12 slots were hurt by USC's bowl ban, to be sure, but I don't think Washington is a terrible opponent. Keith Price might be an under the radar Heisman candidate for next year and Chris Polk is a solid running back.
True. They also seem to be good with time to prepare, judging by their beatdown of a decent Nebraska team in the Holiday Bowl last year.
Isn't the national title game running 2nd to last on the ESPN "what is the most interesting BCS matchup" poll?
Something like that. I've never seen such a polarizing national title game, but I guess that's what happens when you get a regular season rematch. Half seem to not be interested at all and the other half seem to be looking forward to what should be a close, hard-fought game. Now the BCS supporters (a group that is down to basically Bill Hancock and no one else at this point) will point to the heated debate about the game and use it as evidence that the BCS is good for college football.
It's just that no one outside the SEC is really interested. When you have Pac10 vs. SEC, all the Pac10 fans are excited as are SEC fans to show which conference is better. And then all your anti-SEC fans are excited, rooting for the Pac10. You often get two very different styles of play, and spread people want to beat the great defense, or fans of defense want to prove some offense can't work against them, etc. With SEC vs SEC, no one cares because outside of SEC country, no one really cares if it's LSU or Alabama - they are sort of the same thing. And even beyond just being great SEC teams, they are identical in style: terrible QBs, good running games, great defenses. So there's nothing to see there either.
Bowl games starting today with Gildan New Mexico Temple vs. Wyoming Albuquerque, N.M. University Stadium Dec. 17 2 p.m. ESPN Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Ohio vs. Utah State Boise, Idaho Bronco Stadium Dec. 17 5:30 p.m. ESPN R+L Carriers New Orleans San Diego State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette New Orleans Mercedes-Benz Superdome Dec. 17 9 p.m. ESPN
