We're Talkin' Bowls

A dash of sugar would make Michigan's 2011 season that much sweeter.

Well sports fans, Michigan's chances of getting into a BCS bowl got a nice shot in the arm yesterday. I'll preface this post by saying that, yes, the BCS is a horribly flawed system. But, at the moment, it's all we got. This is me, making lemonade. The rankings as they appeared this week:

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma State
4. Stanford
5. Virginia Tech
6. Houston
7. Boise State
8. Arkansas
9. Oregon
10. Oklahoma
11. Kansas State
12. South Carolina
13. Michigan State
14. Georgia
15. Wisconsin
16. Michigan
17. Baylor
18. TCU
19. Nebraska
20. Clemson

A few things conspired yesterday to get Michigan where they needed to be (top 14 overall in the final BCS standings due out tonight at 8:15 live on ESPN). Those events, in no particular order, were...

• Michigan State losing. We needed Sparty or Wiscy to lose, and the Spartans did...in pure Spartanfreude fashion. #SpartyNo!

Gus Johnson, FTW.


• LSU beat Georgia. I'll admit, when the Bulldogs shot out to an early 10-0 lead, I was thinking this  would be the beginning of The BCS Meltdown, 2011 Edition – but the Tigers made my Maize & Blue heart smile with a thorough beatdown of Georgia 42-10. This was the biggest key for Michigan's BCS hopes and dreams.

• Houston was upset by Southern Miss. Many had us pegged to play Houston in the Sugar Bowl. But  Case Keenum's 41 for 67, 373-yard 2 touchdown and 2 INT performance was not enough as Houston's defense simply forgot to show up.

• Clemson beat Virginia Tech. While I doubt this helps us that much, it's interesting to note. Also interesting, is if Oklahoma State was somehow able to jump Alabama for a shot at LSU in the title game, that could have a ripple effect for other BCS at-large teams (like us).

And then today...
• The coaches poll, just released, has Michigan ranked #12 and Michigan State ranked #13. The AP poll has us flipped, but that's less important as the coaches poll is 1/3 of the BCS formula, the AP poll is not.

Soooo, how should the BCS mess sort out tonight? I see it like this...

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma State
4. Stanford
5. Oregon
6. Arkansas
7. Boise State
8. Kansas State
9. South Carolina
10. Wisconsin
11. Virginia Tech
12. Michigan
13. Baylor
14. Geogia
15. Michigan State
16. Oklahoma
17. Houston
18. TCU
19. Clemson
20. Nebraska

And the BCS bowl projections?

BCS Championship: LSU vs. Alabama
Rose: Wisconsin vs. Oregon
Sugar: Michigan vs. Kansas State
Fiesta: Oklahoma State vs. Stanford
Orange: Clemson vs. West Virginia

How right will I be? We'll find out tonight at 8:15. Follow me on Twitter, that's where you'll find me during the broadcast.