BCS Preview and Predictions

College football has always been known for being somewhat unpredictable, a sport in which upsets are expected and no game can be taken for granted. That said, 2007 has been one of the wildest years ever for NCAA football, culminating in a final weekend that saw the bowl picture turned on its head.

Now that the Bowl Championship Series matchups have been released, the top teams in the nation will prepare to face each other - in about a month. Still, it's never too early to preview the BCS and predict how these games might turn out.

Orange Bowl: Kansas (11-1, #8 in the BCS rankings) vs. Virginia Tech (11-2, #3)

Virginia Tech qualified for a BCS bid by defeating Boston College to win the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. The Hokies narrowly missed a chance at the national title game, finishing 3rd according to the final BCS standings. Meanwhile, Kansas - a school more accustomed to postseason success in basketball - received an at-large bid after a surprising season that once had the Jayhawks thinking about a national title. Those hopes were dashed last week when Kansas lost 36-28 to Missouri, ending their prefect season.

This game should be a tight one, but Kansas has yet to defeat a team of Virginia Tech's caliber - and this may prove to be the difference late.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 28, Kansas 24.

Sugar Bowl: Hawaii (12-0, #10) vs. Georgia (10-2, #5)

In 2006, there was Boise State. In 2007, Hawaii is the undefeated mid-major squad who will look to upset a traditional powerhouse on the national stage. The Warriors have proven themselves to be deadly on offense, led by QB Colt Brennan. They'll face off against the Georgia Bulldogs, who are on a six-game winning streak and narrowly missed a shot at the SEC championship - and, perhaps, a chance to play for a national title.