It isn't too hard to figure out what you're going to get in this year's Rose Bowl between Ohio State and Oregon. We know what each team stands for. Ohio State is beyond conservative on offense but stifling on defense. Oregon is loosey-goosey on both sides of the ball but knows how to make plays. The Big Ten's recent run of Rose Bowl futility (their last win was in 2000, by Wisconsin) suggests that Ohio State may be overmatched in this game, but how true is that?

I don't know, but we'll find out early if this is the Big Ten's year.

As far as mysteries go, this wasn't the sort you needed to dial up House to solve. Heck, Barney Fife might've wrapped it up by lunch.

For the last two months, the SEC champion and Texas have been on the road to the BCS national championship game. Even Texas' Colt McCoy taking the scenic route in the Longhorns' narrow win over Nebraska in the Big 12 title game couldn't derail the matchup with Alabama.

Meanwhile, a handful of secondary teams have jockeyed for positions in the other BCS bowls, with at-large teams Iowa, Boise State and TCU joining consolation-prize recipient Florida in the remaining berths.

So, now that the part of the season your mother-in-law could've predicted is over, where do we go from here?

Check out FanHouse writers' first reaction to the BCS bowl pairings.

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Oregon

Rose Bowl Jan. 1, 5PM ET Pasadena, Calif.

Ohio State

This is a much more intriguing matchup than some might believe. Ohio State's notorious conservatism and mistake avoidance masks the fact that they are a very opportunistic football team. Just look at the box score from this year's Wisconsin game. The Badgers kicked OSU's butt five ways from Sunday and still lost by almost twenty points. Why? Because OSU made them pay for every single one of their mistakes. Oregon can't just rely on firepower alone to beat the Buckeyes. Jim Tressel has a way of making you play Tresselball whether you want to or not.

-- Mark Hasty

This is a dream matchup for Oregon, facing a change-of-pace opponent in Ohio State, a team more talented and defensive-minded than most Pac-10 foes. Oregon is better defensively than gets let on, and, just the same, Ohio State has a better offense than observers realize. But the real star for Oregon is their offense. The Ducks' bread-and-butter is their ground attack which has 36 touchdowns on the year and can beat you with power (quarterback Jeremiah Masoli), speed (back LaMichael James) or both (LeGarrette Blount). Ohio State will almost certainly sell out to stop it and on the year the Buckeyes have been tremendous against the run. Its the classic unstoppable force meets immovable object showdown that showcases the Rose Bowl at its finest, pitting Pac-10 against
Big 10.

-- Brian Grummell

Cincinnati

Sugar Bowl Jan. 1, 8:30PM ET New Orleans, La.

Florida

Undefeated. Back-to-back Big East champions. The Cincinnati Bearcats have won 18 consecutive regular season contests. They finished No. 3 in the final BCS standings and if not for a last second Texas field goal, the Bearcats would be playing for the BCS national title.

So how much respect is the Bearcats getting entering their Sugar Bowl date with Florida? Not much. Cincinnati is a whopping 10½-point underdog to the Gators. And the odds could go up greatly if/when Brian Kelly bolts for the Notre Dame job.

With senior WR Mardy Gilyard, who was one of the nation's most underrated players until Saturday's one-man show at Pittsburgh, and senior QB Tony Pike, the Bearcats can put up half-a-hundred, if needed. And they need to with a defense that has been exposed the past few weeks. Cincinnati and Florida should be an entertaining game – but will Kelly or Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, who met with Louisville Sunday, be around for the Jan. 1 kickoff?

-- Brett McMurphy

Will the Gators be interested in finishing their season in the Sugar Bowl? Particularly given the number of seniors and underclassmen who are likely to declare early for the NFL draft? If you doubt this, one only has to look to last year's Sugar Bowl game between Alabama and Utah for a referendum on how little this game is likely to matter to the Gators now that their two greatest goals of the season--SEC championship and national title--are gone.

Given Carlos Dunlap's off-field implosion last week, you also have to wonder if there is another Andre Smith-esque incident lurking off the field for the Gators talented underclassmen.

Finally, will Cincinnati's defense return to early season form? In their last four games, the Bearcats have allowed 45, 36, and 44 points. None of the offenses that have scored that many points have been as statisically proficient as the Gators. With a month to prepare will Brian Kelly be able to staunch the defensive bleeding?

Also hanging out there as a wildcard, will Kelly even be around to coach this game?

-- Clay Travis

Boise State

Fiesta Bowl Jan. 4, 8PM ET Glendale, Ariz.

TCU

For some years now, TCU and Boise State have consistently been among the best of the non-BCS programs in the country.

Now they will get a chance to see which is most supreme when the Horned Frogs meet the Broncos in the BCS Fiesta Bowl, marking the first time two non-BCS at-large teams are meeting in one of the mega bowl games.

Interestingly, these two went it at last season during the Poinsettia Bowl and TCU put the only blemish on the Broncos undefeated record by rallying to a 17-16 win. The Frogs are the only team to defeat Boise State in the last two seasons.

And with the nation's top defense and one of the country's best defensive linemen in Jerry Hughes, look for TCU to hand the Broncos their second defeat in as many seasons.

While it does seem like a slight that that these two undefeated BCS busters aren't getting a chance to knock off one of the automatic BCS qualifiers fans should enjoy the chess match that will take place between TCU's Gary Patterson and Boise State's Chris Petersen, who rank among the best coaches in the nation at any level.

-- Terrance Harris

Iowa

Orange Bowl Jan. 5, 8PM ET Miami, Fla.

Georgia Tech

Here's a one-play snapshot of what you need to know about Georgia Tech. Leading Clemson 39-34 with just over a minute remaining in the ACC title game, the Yellow Jackets opted to for the two-point conversion. A false start penalty pushed Tech back five yards, so, when they lined up for a two-point conversion at the 8-yard line, what did they do? Run it. The conversion failed, but most Tech runs don't. The Yellow Jackets ran the ball more than any team in the nation and finished second in yardage. Coach Paul Johnson's triple-option attack has already produced one ACC offensive player of the year, Jonathan Dwyer, and returned the Yellow Jackets to the Orange Bowl for the first time since 1966. But it can be stopped with preparation time. Facing the triple-option is pure assignment football and the teams that have had time to prepare for the attack have been successful against it. Three of the last four teams to beat Georgia Tech (dating back to North Carolina in early November last year) have had at least a bye week to prepare. With the better part of a month to prepare, LSU routed Tech 38-3.

But be careful, quarterback Josh Nesbitt has an arm, and when not using it to pitch, can surprise a team with a deep ball to Demaryius Thomas. Thomas finished 16h in the nation in receiving yards per game. But no other Jacket caught more than eight passes.

Defensively, ACC defensive player of the year Derrick Morgan is as disruptive a force as there is at defensive end. He averaged just under a sack a game and will have to be accounted for on every play.

Iowa, meanwhile, turned in a season that was something like walking a tight rope made of dental floss. It was only a matter of time until the Hawkeyes came crashing to Earth. After pulling escape act after escape act, Iowa finally fell to Northwestern and followed it up with an overtime loss to Ohio State to miss out on the Rose Bowl.

Like most Cinderella teams thatcouldn't quite hang on, depth became a problem for the Hawkeyes. Quarterback Ricky Stanzi went down in the loss against Northwestern and backup James Vandenburg proved he wasn't quite ready for primetime. Meanwhile, Iowa suffered a spate of injuries at running back, losing Jewell Hampton in the preseason, Adam Robinson in late October and eventually turning the position over to hyped freshman Brandon Wegher. The good news for the Hawkeyes is that both Stanzi and Robinson are expected to return to the Orange Bowl since its only appearance in 2003.

But Iowa's road to victory is defense. The Hawks have thrived all year with solid, and opportunistic, defense. The Hawkeyes created 29 turnovers this season and finished 10th in the nation in scoring defense. Pass defense has been the team's strength -- the Haweyes are fourth in the nation in pass efficiency defense, and safety Tyler Sash seemed to lock up every pivotal interception this year -- but they'll need to be even better against Dwyer and the Jackets' ground game.

Texas

BCS National Championship Jan. 7, 8PM ET Pasadena, Calif.

Alabama

Early lines out of Las Vegas favor Alabama by four points, but any Longhorns fan who watched Nebraska's defensive line completely dominate Texas's offensive line has to be incredibly scared by the prospect of facing the Crimson Tide. That's because Alabama's Terrence Cody and crew have the potential to collapse the pocket all night long and make Texas's offense very one-dimensional.

On offense for Alabama, look for the continuing emergence of Greg McElroy at quarterback to open up the explosiveness of the Crimson Tide offense as McElroy takes aim at the nation's No. 23 pass defense.

Also, if Lane Kiffin called Urban Meyer vs. Nick Saban a coaching mismatch, what is Mack Brown vs. Nick Saban going to look schematically?

-- Clay Travis

While much of the nation might have been skeptical about sending Texas to the national championship game following Saturday night's lackluster Big 12 Championship Game win over Nebraska, Longhorns coach Mack Brown never blinked.

He knew his undefeated Longhorns had done enough to warrant a matchup with Alabama in this season BCS national title game at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 7.

But now it will be interesting to see if the Longhorns can maintain that resolve against a strong Alabama team that resembles Nebraska with one major exception: The Crimson Tide has fire power in their offense to go along with the second-best defense in the country.

If the Longhorns hope to have any success against Alabama they will have to find a way to get redshirt freshman running back Tre' Newton more involved to take some of the pressure off Colt McCoy and the passing game.

--Terrance Harris

EUGENE, Ore. -- Before they get to the Rose Bowl, the Oregon Ducks had to find a way off their own field.

After the final seconds ticked down Thursday night at Autzen Stadium, Ducks fans rushed out of the stands. Oregon coach Chip Kelly needed four burly security guards to escort him through a tunnel and to safety.

As for Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, where were his offensive linemen to lead the way when he needed them? A key fourth down Masoli converted late in the game was nothing compared to getting off the field.

"It was too crazy,'' Masoli said of the Ducks fans jumping all over him and throwing red roses around. "I had too many people around me. I couldn't even see for about half the time ... Some guys were just punching me in the stomach. I don't know why. Fans. Like just too excited or something.''

Masoli and the rest of the Ducks escaped their own fans without injury. Now, after defeating Oregon State 37-33 in the 113th Civil War, they really can start thinking about their Jan. 1 date with Ohio State in Pasadena, Calif.

It might've been the first time in months LeGarrette Blount had fun.

It was certainly the first time anyone outside of his teammates had seen him do it.

For the first time since sucker-punching Byron Hout after the Ducks' Week 1 loss against the Broncos, Blount carried the football in game.

When he finally made his way onto the field, Blount haad to quiet the roaring Autzen Stadium crowd, but the senior running back would make noise of his own once he finally got the ball in his hands midway through the third quarter. On his third carry, the 240-pounder bowled over heavy-hitting Beaver linebacker Keaton Kristick for a five-yard gain and a first down. On his next carry he bounced off a tackle at the line of scrimmage and rumbled 12 yards left for a touchdown to pull the Ducks within two points, 30-28.

After the scored, Blount leapt in to the air celebrating with teammates. It was a relief 12 weeks in the making.

Blount was originally suspended indefinitely for the punch, but was reinstated by head coach Chip Kelly Nov. 9. Since then, he has served as the team's No. 3 tailback and had yet to receive a carry.

Blount rushed four times for 21 yards and a touchdown on his first series back.

The winner of Thurdsay night's "Civil War" battle between Oregon and Oregon State will take the Pac-10 title and berth in the Rose Bowl.

Oregon led 34-33 at the end of the third quarter.

So it's come to this, in an unlikely year in the Pac-10, Oregon and Oregon State take their niche-y little Civil War national. At stake is no less than a trip to the Rose Bowl -- the first such time in Civil War history the winner will claim such a prize -- to play Big Ten champion Ohio State. Noisy Autzen Stadium is the setting, with underdog Oregon State looking for a piece of revenge after last year's 65-38 humiliation.

Both offenses come in smoking -- Oregon's scored no fewer than 43 points in each of its last five games while Oregon State's averaged almost 37 in its last five. The similarities don't stop there, as both programs feature diminutive -- smurfy, even -- tailbacks driving the dynamic offenses. Oregon State's sophomore Jacquizz Rodgers has 1,313 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns, Oregon's LaMichael James 1310 and 11 touchdowns of his own. Both have no problem doing the dirty work between the tackles but are masterful once they find some real estate. Fireworks are clearly in order.

Late in Saturday's game against Vanderbilt, Tennessee's Dennis Rogan appeared to intercept a pass in the end zone. Only a questionable pass interference call was made. Vanderbilt received a first and goal and eventually kicked a field goal on the series. Lane Kiffin commented on the call in his post-game by telling Commissioner Slive he appreciated the call. Not content with that statement, the next morning Kiffin appeared on the Lane Kiffin Show alongside Vol announcer Bob Kesling and this was the transcript of their discussion of that play:


Kesling: This is third and goal.

Kiffin: [Heavy Sigh]

Kesling: The ball looks like it's intercepted.

Kiffin: The ball is intercepted. I thought that was a great call by the ref throwing the pass interference there. I'm sure that we were at fault.

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Here's hoping SEC fans stayed up to watch Oregon beat Arizona Saturday night. They got to see a few things their league hasn't had enough of this season.

Drama, bedlam, theatrics, tension, hilarity and near-riotous fun. And that just begins to describe the Ducks' 44-41 double overtime win.

It finally ended as the clock struck midnight back East. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli slithered into the end zone to crash what would have been the biggest football party Tucson ever threw.

All of which settled one thing. The Pac-10 is the best conference in America.

Oregon delivered the knockout blow to Arizona, but the Wildcats gave themselves a black eye Saturday night when a bottle thrown by someone in the crowd sent Ducks cheerleader Katelynn Johnson to the hospital in the chaotic aftermath of Oregon's 44-41 double-overtime win.

It was arguably the game of the year in college football. It was certainly further evidence that the Pac-10 is back as a national conference.

After two overtimes and a touchdown with six seconds left in regulation, the Oregon Ducks outlasted Arizona 44-41 to take control of the Pac-10.

For a while, the stars seemed to align for Arizona. California upset Stanford during the the third quarter of the Wildcats' game, bumping one Pac-10 peer from Rose Bowl contention. Meanwhile, Arizona shrugged off a 14-0 deficit to take a 24-14 lead early in the fourth quarter.

However, Oregon then rallied with 17 points in the final frame, including a highlight-worthy touchdown pass from Jeremiah Masoli to Ed Dickson with six seconds left that deflated the home crowd and dispersed the students, who had emerged nearby to storm the field.

TUCSON, Ariz.(AP) -- Jeremiah Masoli tied it with a touchdown pass to Ed Dickson with six seconds left, then won it with a 1-yard run in the second overtime as No. 11 Oregon defeated Arizona 44-41 on Saturday night and took a big step toward the Pac-10 title.

Masoli threw for three scores and ran for three more as the Ducks rallied from a 24-14 deficit early in the fourth quarter.

The Ducks (9-2, 7-1 Pac-10) will earn a Pac-10 title and Rose Bowl berth with a victory over No. 20 Oregon State in a winner-take-all Civil War on Dec. 3 in Eugene.