BCS Projection # 1

My first set of BCS matchups is based on a Alabama victory against Florida in the SEC Championship Game and a Oklahoma victory in the Big 12 Championship Game.

National Championship Game: Alabama (SEC champion) vs. Oklahoma (Big 12 champion)
Rose Bowl: USC (Pac-10 champion) vs. Penn St. (Big Ten champion)
Sugar Bowl: Florida (at-large) vs. Cincinnati (Big East champion)
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech (ACC champion) vs. Ohio State (at-large)
Fiesta Bowl: Texas (at-large) vs. Utah (MWC champion; automatic bid)

NASCAR: 2008 Year in Review

Since 2008 was the first NASCAR season I've followed very closely, this is the first time I can comment with some detailed knowledge of the sport.

Driver of the Year: Kyle Busch

• He did not win the Sprint Cup championship, nor the most Sprint Cup races, but if we're talking about the best pure driver in the entire NASCAR series there no doubt that Kyle Busch is best in the business.
• 21 total wins: 8 Sprint Cup, 10 Nationwide, 3 Craftsman Truck
• He won on every kind of track there is: road course (3); short track, 1.5 mile, superspeedway

Most Improved Driver: David Ragan

• Finished just outside the Chase
• His performance probably solidifies his place at Roush-Fenway in favor of Jamie McMurray - Roush has to get rid of one team in 2010.

Most Disappointing Driver: Tie - Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon

• When you consider that these guys should have the same equipment as Jimmie Johnson, there's no good reason that they should each have multiple victories

Best Race: Spring Richmond race

• This race solidified Kyle Busch's place as the most-hated driver in the sport
• Also, nothing beats a night race at Richmond (ok, maybe a night race at Bristol)

Worst Race: Allstate at the Brickyard

• Nothing's worse than short green-flag runs and numerous cautions - this race had both
  

BCS Scenarios

As we approach the end of the college football regular season, there are many unknowns when it comes to the teams that will participate in the BCS bowl games. Probably the only sure thing we know is that Utah is in. As I currently see it, eight teams have a realistic shot of playing in the championship game. These teams are: Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, Penn State, USC, Utah. Here's how each team can get there:

1. Alabama: beat Auburn, beat Florida in the SEC championship game
2. Florida: beat Florida St., beat Alabama in the SEC championship game
3. Oklahoma: beat Oklahoma St; pray for a Texas loss to Texas A&M or hope the voters keep them ahead of Texas
4. Texas: beat Texas A&M, Oklahoma beats Okla St, voters rank them ahead of Oklahoma; or Texas Tech loses to Baylor
5. Texas Tech: beat Baylor, Oklahoma loses to Okla. St
6. Penn State: Alabama loses to Auburn; Florida loses to Florida St or Alabama; Big 12 South champion loses to Missouri in the Big 12 championship game or TX, TX Tech, OU each lose to their final regular season opponents
7. USC: beat UCLA and Notre Dame and Oregon St. loses to Oregon see Penn State's scenario
8. Utah: at least six of the seven teams ranked ahead of them finish with two losses (this still might not be enough)

Teams that definitely will not play in the national championship game
1. The loser of the SEC championship game
2. A Big 12 South champion that loses to Missouri

The most likely matchup in the title game will feature the SEC champion and the Big 12 South Champion (assuming they beat Missouri)
The SEC and the Big 12 are without a doubt the two best conferences in college football.

Chaos will ensue if both Florida and Alabama lose before the SEC championship game or if the Big 12 South contenders (TX, Tech, OU) all lose their final regular season games. The latter scenario is not likely to happen.