Chick Fil A Bowl Predictions, Week 13: N.C. State Wolfpack Vs. South Carolina Gamecocks

The Chick Fil A Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia will get first choice among all ACC teams that don’t make the Orange Bowl and fourth pick among non-BCS SEC teams. Let’s presume the Virginia Tech Hokies and Auburn Tigers win their conferences. Who might show up in the Dome on New Year’s Eve? Besides Houston Nutt?

The N.C. State Wolfpack only need to beat the Maryland Terrapins to earn a spot in the ACC Championship Game. A competitive showing by the Pack in Charlotte could convince the Chick Fil A to take them over the Florida St. Seminoles. The Miami Hurricanes could also be considered, but their shaky quarterback situation should make any bowl committee uneasy.

The Wolfpack have some playmakers, so they’ve got a chance at gaining VIP fans in the next two weeks.

Which team will rep the SEC? Actually, this seems like a clearer choice. If Auburn beats the South Carolina Gamecocks in the SEC Championship Game to earn a BCS bid, we’d see three SEC teams taken by bowls before the Chick Fil A got to pick (the Alabama Crimson Tide and LSU Tigers would be obvious, and the Arkansas Razorbacks aren’t making it past the Cotton Bowl in alum Jerry Jones’ house). That would leave the Gamecocks, Florida Gators, Mississippi St. Bulldogs, and Kentucky Wildcats, and possibly the Georgia Bulldogs or Tennessee Volunteers.

UGA would certainly sell some seats. But with Steve Spurrier holding more big-time college football wins in the Georgia Dome than anybody else, who wouldn’t want to see him again a few weeks after the SECCG? Who knows how many more times we’ll get to welcome OBC to Atlanta?

Bowl Predictions, Week 13: Georgia Vs. Clemson, UCF, Or SMU?

Locked in at eighth in the SEC, the Georgia Bulldogs are in line for the Dec. 31 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. The game also takes Conference USA’s winner — at the moment, the Central Florida Knights and Southern Methodist Mustangs are winning their divisions, but the East Carolina Pirates, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulsa Golden Hurricane, and Houston Cougars are still in the very wide-berthed running.

But let’s cross the state to Nashville. If the Dec. 30 Music City Bowl can pull it off, it can pair the Dawgs with the Clemson Tigers. As foreseen and hoped for by Dawg Sports about two weeks ago, the first-ever December matchup between the two old rivals could be in the works. They’ve played 62 times, but have only met off-and-on for the last couple decades. For very much more on the great but dormant rivalry, click here.

To increase our chances of seeing this one, let’s root for the Maryland Terrapins. A strong finish by the Terps could lure the Meineke Car Care bowl to pick them over Clemson, leaving the Tigers to likely play Georgia.

Bowl Predictions, Week 13: Georgia Tech Vs. Utah, Air Force, Or BYU?

With a win over the Duke Blue Devils, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are bowl eligible and should be able to extend their 13-year bowl streak. With the Clemson Tigers winning today, Tech might technically be ranked eighth in the ACC when today's done, but bowls can pick whoever they want to an extent. The Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana gets seventh dibs, and Tech is a more attractive option for a Southern bowl than the Boston College Eagles.

The Independence also gets third pick from the Mountain West Conference. That doesn't count BCS teams, so if the TCU Horned Frogs make a BCS game then Tech might get to face the Air Force Falcons, San Diego St. Aztecs, or BYU Cougars. If TCU can't make it in, the Utah Utes could also be in play, as they have tough games left against SDSU and BYU.

A game against Air Force would be a matchup of running option teams. It would likely last about 90 minutes of real time. Tech and BYU are scheduled to kick off a four-game series in 2012, and last played in 2002 and 2003. Utah would be the most baffling get, as the Utes were a top-five team just 14 days ago.