Going Bowling? (Part II)

One weekend of football is in the books since the last edition of "Going Bowling?" so it's time t o step back and take another look. None of the teams on the bowl bubble did anything last weekend to help their causes, as Kansas State, Colorado, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma State all took it on the chin.

The Big XII still stands to have no fewer than 8 teams in bowl games, which could be altered if the Conference is in some way able to take two teams to the BCS. The number could also be increased if another Conference is unable to fill their own allotment of bowl teams, which is looking to be a real possibility. If Oregon makes the MNC Game, the Pac 10 will have an additional bowl slot open, and a few other Conferences will be in similar scenarios. But, as it stands right now, the Big XII is still looking at the following options:

BCS
Cotton
Holiday
Gator
Alamo
Sun (if Gator does not select a Big XII team)
Insight
Independence
Texas

Things could get really interesting, however, as possibly two bowl eligible teams from the Conference (UNL, A&M) may be sans coach immediately after the regular season. I don't know enough to be sure if that would impact a bowl committee's decision to select either team, or even if either of those schools would accept a bowl invitation dure to their coaching searches.

Now then, let's take a look at the teams with a chance at becoming bowl eligible, their remaining schedules, and their chances of not only making bowls, but what bowls they will make. Keep in mind that these are all predicated on the Big XII placing only one team in the BCS. If there are two, which could happen with multiple scenarios, then simply move each team up a slot:

Kansas, 10-0 (6-0)
The remaining schedule: Iowa State, Missouri (@KC)
Predicted finish: 11-1 (7-1)
Thoughts: I've been calling Kansas a fraud all year, and while they still haven't played a top 25 team, they have been able to show up every week and play good football. I still see them losing to a Missouri team with more talent and experience, but that is looking more and more like a very good matchup. Iowa State could be the all too common "trap game" if they are looking towards Arrowhead. For now, I am still predicting a loss to Missouri, although things could definitely change over the next 96 hours. That would likely land them in sunny San Diego, which is actually German for a Whale's Vagina.
Buhl's Bowl Pick: Holiday

Oklahoma, 9-1 (5-1)
The remaining schedule: @ Texas Tech, Oklahoma State
Predicted finish: 12-1 (7-1); Big XII Champion
Thoughts: Nothing has changes since last week. They should win every remaining game. Potential stumbling blocks lie ahead with Tech and the Bedlam game. That said, I still see the Sooners winning out and then beatin a North team in the Big XII Championship game. The possibility also exists that by running the table they could play for a National Championship.
Buhl's Bowl Pick: BCS/MNC Game

Missouri, 9-1 (4-1)
The remaining schedule: @ Kansas State, Kansas (@KC)
Predicted finish: 11-2 (7-1); Big XII Runner-Up
Thoughts: Missouri is a real wildcard here. They are running into a one of those potential "trap games" that I mentioned this weekend against Kansas State. It is Senior Day in a stadium where teh Tigers haven't been victorious since 1989. And they could very easily be looking ahead to the Border War with Kansas. However, smart money is likely still on the Tigers in this weekend's game, setting up next weekend's matchup which I also see them winning. I have already predicted Missouri to beat Kansas in that game, although it is becoming more and more difficult to predict. If that happens, they will find themselves in a rematch with Oklahoma for the Big XII Championship. I honestly don't see Oklahoma losing that game, but with a solid showing Missouri could still find themselves in the BCS with a loss particularly is Oklahoma lands in the MNC Game.
Buhl's Bowl Pick: Cotton/BCS

Texas, 9-2 (5-2)
The remaining schedule: @ Texas A&M
Predicted finish: 10-2 (5-2) Thoughts: This is where things start getting interesting. Last week I predicted Texas to lose on of their remaining two, with the Texas Tech game in mind. Well, they did away with Tech and now I don't see any real way that they will lose to Texas A&M. Here is what's interesting: would the Holiday Bowl take a two loss Texas team over a one loss Kansas team? I honestly think they could, but at this point I'm not ready to predict anything too wacky.
Buhl's Bowl Pick: Gator

Texas Tech, 7-4 (3-4)
The remaining schedule: Oklahoma
Predicted finish: 7-5 (3-5)
Thoughts: I predicated a win at home last week against Texas. That didn't happen, but with everyone below them basically losing, it really didn't have any bearing on their bowl destination. I don't see them beating Oklahoma, although that could be a very interesting game to watch. As of right now, they're still heading to San Antonio in my book.
Buhl's Bowl Pick: Alamo

Texas A&M, 6-5 (3-4)
The remaining schedule: Texas
Predicted finish: 6-6 (3-5)
Thoughts: The Aggies put up a fair fight last weekend in Columbia, but it just wasn't enough. As predicted before, and I'll stand by this, Texas A&M will finish the season on a four game losing streak, losing 5 of their last 6, and looking for a new coach. Again, you have to wonder how attractive this would be to a bowl right now, or even how attractive a bowl would be to this program.
Buhl's Bowl Pick: Staying Home

Oklahoma State, 5-5 (3-3)
The remaining schedule: @ Baylor, @ Oklahoma
Predicted finish: 6-6 (4-4)
Thoughts: The Baylor game still looms large, because if they aren't able to knock off unbeaten Kansas at home this weekend, it will likely be their last legitimate shot at bowl eligibility. The Bedlam game is Oklahoma is always competitive, but Oklahoma will have too much riding on that home game for the Cowboys to expect anything less than their best effort. The Cowboys finish the season with an even record, and are a bit uneasy as they watch the bowl selection shows.
Buhl's Bowl Pick: Texas

Kansas State, 5-5 (3-4)
The remaining schedule: @ Nebraska, Missouri, @ Fresno State
Predicted finish: 6-6 (3-5)
Thoughts: Can this team rebound from last weekend's thumping in Lincoln? Yes. Will they? That's the million dollar question right now. While the Missouri game is exactly the type of game the Coach Prince and the Cats have won, and can win, it's a risky proposition right now. I still have to believe that this team will be able to muster up enough for one more win this season, and for right now the game at Fresno State is the most likely option.
Buhl's Bowl Pick: Insight

Colorado, 5-6 (3-4)
The remaining schedule: Nebraska
Predicted finish: 6-6 (4-4)
Thoughts: And then there were two. Colorado and Nebraska square off on Thanksgiving weekend. The winner will become bowl eligible, and the loser will be staying home. After what Nebraska did to Kansas State over the weekend, it will certainly be difficult to pick against them. Was that game, perhaps, just what the doctor ordered for the Huskers? Maybe, but I've been led to believe that there is further decension among the Nebraska coaching staff and administration, and Colorado has played well in big games at home this season. I think Colorado wins, but they might be the least attractive of all Big XII bowl eligible teams due to their abyssmal fan support. That said, I am going to predict right now that they still get picked ahead of Texas A&M, or maybe moreso that A&M declines a bowl game...I don't know, we'll just go with this for now and figure something else out later.
Bowl Pick: Independence

Nebraska, 5-6 (2-5)
The remaining schedule: @ Colorado
Predicted finish: 5-7 (2-6)
Thoughts: Again, it was touch to pick that game in Boulder already, but I decided to go with the Buffaloes for the reasons stated above. That leaves Nebraska home for the Holidays, and looking for a new coach.
Buhl's Bowl Pick: Staying Home

Keep in mind that these predictions are as of this week. With any luck, I should be able to make this a weekly feature up until the end of the season. Should be fun. Keep checking back.