Bowl season is just around the corner.
For the Mountaineers, reaching a bowl game would be a perfect cap on a tough season. After an upset win over Oklahoma State, West Virginia was "smacked in the mouth" by the Baylor Bears. With that said, will the Mountaineers reach a bowl, and if so, which one?
The Big 12 Conference has 10 teams, and 8 available bowls.
The conference champion will get an automatic bid to a BCS bowl, more than likely the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The conference race is far from over though. Oklahoma, Baylor, and Oklahoma State are expected to be the teams competing for a conference championship. Out of the three teams, Baylor has my pick. Shaq Rowell, Mountaineer defensive lineman, says the Bears are by far the best team.
"Those guys are great," said Rowell. "Nobody will beat them."
Prediction: Baylor vs. BCS At-Large (Tostitos Fiesta Bowl)
The race will be close, and could potentially come down to games in November. The Bears will travel to Stillwater on Nov. 23 to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys. If the Cowboys reach this game without losing again, and are able to pull the upset, they have a chance at the conference title. Don't sleep on the Sooners either, as they are always in the race for a conference crown. So, Oklahoma State or Oklahoma as runner up?
Prediction: Oklahoma vs. Florida State (Discover Orange Bowl)
Two bowls down, six to go. Next up on the list is the AT&T Cotton Bowl. The third place finisher in the Big 12 will lock up this game. An early season loss for the Cowboys against the Mountaineers proves costly late in the season, and Oklahoma State ends up playing in Dallas.
Prediction: Oklahoma State vs. Johnny Football and Texas A&M (AT&T Cotton Bowl)
Texas Tech ended the season with heartbreak in 2012, as Head Coach Tommy Tuberville bolted for Cincinnati while eating dinner with a potential Red Raider. Kliff Kingsbury gives Texas Tech fans a reason to be excited about the future.
Prediction: Texas Tech vs. Washington (Valero Alamo Bowl)
Fifth place is wide open at this point. The Horned Frogs looked good early on this season, but are currently 0-2 in the conference. My pick for fifth place will surprise most, but this program has too much pride on the line to finish any worse than fifth.
Prediction: Texas vs. Wisconsin (Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl)
The Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl may be low on the list, but a sunny San Diego during a cold winter in Big 12 country doesn't sound so bad.
Prediction: TCU vs. UCLA (Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl)
Four teams remain along with three bowl games. Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, and West Virginia will fight for the final three spots.
Next up is the Texas Bowl. At this point in the season, it's hard to make a selection. Mountaineer fans, make your reservations, you're headed to Texas.
Prediction: West Virginia vs. Iowa (Texas Bowl)
The New Era Pinstripe Bowl belongs to the Kansas State Wildcats.
Prediction: Kansas State vs. Rutgers (New Era Pinstripe Bowl)
The Heart of Dallas Bowl has a bid available for a Big 12 team, but this season the conference will fall short of having enough eligible teams.
It should be an entertaining rest of the season. Stay tuned for further predictions in the coming weeks.
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