Tomorrow is September 1st. Does that mean I will wake up and belt out Neil Diamond's "September Morn"? Probably. But also it means it is time for the first college football games of 2011 AD. The key games that will start to define my college football tournament will be LSU-Oregon and Boise State-Georgia, but who knows what other game we will look back at in December as one that kick started the road to Number One.
So based on BCSguru.com's pre-season BCS estimate, let's look at the first projection of 2011's post season college football tournament. Truthfully, the committee would not like this result. The guideline to avoid First Round and Quarterfinal Bowls match-ups that are re-matches of regular season games provides some complexity because Oregon-Stanford and Oklahoma's games against Florida State and Oklahoma State. We hope the real pairings by the time December rolls around will be less complicated!
First Round:
Jacksonville FL:
#7 Florida State (ACC champ) versus #10 West Virginia (Big East Champ) - Not since 2005 has Florida State been in the tournament and many are predicting a return. Some even envision FSU as a top four team. West Virginia is the consensus Big East favorite, although some like Pitt and South Florida to gain the spot, a likely #10 seed no matter who predicts.
Green Bay WI:
#8 Oklahoma State (at-large) versus #9 Wisconsin (Big Ten champ) - Green Bay wanted to host the Big Ten championship game, but this would be a nice consolation prize. OSU just hopes the tundra would only be partially frozen.
Bowl Quarterfinals:
Sugar Bowl:
#1 Alabama (SEC champ) versus Florida State (if Florida State and Wisconsin win) or the Oklahoma State-Wisconsin winner (otherwise) - Alabama may have been the best team not in the tournament last year, and they hope to return to top seed this season.
Orange Bowl:
#4 Louisiana State (at-large) versus #5 Boise State (non-BCS conference AQ)(if Florida State and Oklahoma State win) or #6 Stanford (at-large)(otherwise)
Fiesta:
#2 Oklahoma (Big XII winner) versus Stanford (if Florida State and Oklahoma State win) or Wisconsin (if Florida State and Wisconsin win) or West Virginia (otherwise)
Rose:
#3 Oregon (Pac-12 champ) versus Florida State (if Florida State and Oklahoma State win) or Boise State (otherwise)
Semi-Finals (Football's Final Four) in St. Louis
National Championship in New Orleans
