No. 1 Tennessee (85%) vs. No. 8 Tulane (15%)
This meeting of the nation's only unbeaten was really no contest. Tennessee
dominated the voting and wiped out Tulane, one of this season's Cinderella
stories.
Possible game summary: Tulane's Shaun King hadn't seen a defense
like Tennessee's all season and it showed. The nation's top-rated
quarterback was picked off three times and sacked four times as the Vols
routed the Green Wave 38-8. Tee Martin passed for 257 yards and two TDs to
lead the Tennessee offense.
Their next real games: Tennessee takes on Florida State (11-1) in the Fiesta
Bowl for the national championship on January 4. Tulane, left out of the Bowl Championship
Series bowls despite its perfect regular season, plays in the Liberty Bowl against Brigham
Young (9-4) on December 31.
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No. 2 Florida State (76%) vs. No. 7 Florida (24%)
Unlike most battles in this rivalry, the voting for this game was not even
close. Most people remember the dominating defensive performance by the
Seminoles a month ago and voted accordingly.
Possible game summary: The rematch from the November 21 game proved
to be an even more lopsided affair than before. Peter Warrick proved to be
the star again, catching two TD passes and returning a punt 62 yards for a
score as the Seminoles rolled to a 37-15 victory. Florida was held to just
195 yards of offense and was intercepted three times by the FSU defense.
Their next real games : Florida State plays Tennessee (12-0) in the national championship
game at the Fiesta Bowl on January 4. Florida, which squeaked into the BCS at the expense of Kansas
State, plays Syracuse (8-3) in the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.
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No. 3 Kansas State (70%) vs. No. 6 Arizona (30%)
Most voters believed Kansas State would be very motivated to be playing in a playoff game as opposed to a relatively minor bowl. K-State's reputation throughout the year, save the Big 12 title game propelled the Wildcats to the next round.
Possible game summary: Michael Bishop redeemed himself plenty from his errors in the Big 12 title game and accounted for four TDs as K-State knocked off upstart Arizona 35-17. The fierce Kansas State defense sacked Arizona QBs Keith Smith and Ortege Jenkins six times.
Their next real games : In the biggest ripoff of Year 1 of the BCS, Kansas State has been relegated to the Alamo Bowl to play Purdue (8-4) on December 29. This after an overtime loss to a Top 10 team. Arizona, which was headed to the Rose before UCLA's loss to Miami, instead will face Nebraska (9-3) in the Holiday Bowl on December 30.
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No. 5 Ohio State (77%) vs. No. 4 UCLA (23%)
If this game were to have been for the national championship, it would have looked like any old Super Bowl as Ohio State completely dominated the voting. Most fans must have remembered the Bruins' defensive collapse in the final game of the season against Miami.
Possible game summary: Ohio State RB Michael Wiley ran through the UCLA defense to the tune of 221 yards and 3 TDs as the Buckeyes torched the Bruins 48-21.
Their next real games : Ohio State squeezed out Kansas State in the BCS, slipping into the Sugar Bowl against K-State beater Texas A&M (11-2) on January 1. UCLA is in the Rose Bowl on January 1 against Big Ten champion Wisconsin (10-1).
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Second Round
No. 2 Florida State (61%) vs. No. 3 Kansas State (39%)
Kansas State may have had a great season, but it wasn't close to enough to topple the mighty Seminoles, according the fans. Florida State raced out to a quick lead and trounced the Wildcats. The Seminoles now move on to the fans national championship game, following the same line as the BCS.
Possible game summary: The Florida State defense held Heisman runner-up Michael Bishop in check, while Travis Minor scored the only TDs of the game as the 'Noles stopped the Wildcats 26-9. FSU's Sebastian Janikowski and K-State's Martin Gramatica ruled the scoring, combinging for seven field goals.
Their next real games: Florida State battles for the national championship game against Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl on January 4. Kansas State has to settle for the Alamo Bowl against Purdue on December 29.
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No. 1 Tennessee (38%) vs. No. 5 Ohio State (62%)
Tennessee may be No. 1 in the country and playing in the Fiesta Bowl for
the national title, but CNN/SI users don't think the Vols are good even to
play for their championship. Fifth-seeded Ohio State pulled off a mild
upset by beating top-seeded Tennessee.
Possible game summary: Ohio State QB Joe Germaine lit up the
Tennessee defense to the tune of 322 yards and 4 TD passes, three to David
Boston, as the Buckeyes routed the previously undefeated Vols 38-14.
Their next real games : Tennessee battles for the national championship in the Fiesta Bowl against Florida State on January 4. Ohio State also plays in a BCS bowl, taking on Texas A&M in the Sugar Bowl on January 1.
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Championship game
No. 2 Florida State (42%) vs. No. 5 Ohio State (58%)
The CNN/SI fans' choice for the national champion isn't even playing in the actual title game.
Ohio State raced out to an early lead and held on to a very comfortable win over Florida State.
Most fans must have excused the Buckeyes' mid-season loss to Michigan State and considered Ohio State to be the best team in the nation.
Possible game summary: Ohio State sacked Florida State QB Marcus Outzen four times while his counterpart Joe Germaine passed for three TDs as the Buckeyes knocked off the 'Noles 28-14 to capture the national championship.
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