Bowl projections: History not on Bama's side?

Four times in the last 10 years a team was so dominant in the regular season that it seemed preposterous that it had to even had to play an opponent for the national title.

In 2003, Oklahoma was the unanimous No. 1 entering the Big 12 championship game. In Big 12 country, the Sooners were regarded as one of history's best teams with Heisman Trophy quarterback Jason White. Oklahoma averaged 51.5 points a game -- this was way before the Big 12 played basketball on fake grass -- and destroyed Texas 65-13 and Texas A&M 77-0. The Sooners never scored below 34 points in league play and only once did it fail to win a Big 12 game by at least 21 points. Its defense was stout in allowing 11 points per game.

In 2005, USC was the two-time defending national champion armed with back-to-back Heisman winners Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush and a 34-game winning streak. USC smashed its opponents that year by a combined score of 600-256. ESPN incorporated a daily countdown ranking the Trojans against other great teams from history. Their coronation seemed a foregone conclusion.

In 2006, Ohio State smashed its first 11 opponents by a combined score of 36-8. Only once did the Buckeyes allow more than 10 points in a game or win by less than 17 before outlasting arch-rival and No. 2 -ranked Michigan 42-39 in the season finale.

Last year LSU beat eight ranked teams en route to a 13-0 record and an SEC championship. Among the victories include the Pac-12 and Big East champions, as well as top No. 12 SEC teams Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia. LSU's average margin of victory was 39-11.

All four teams were undisputed and top-ranked entering their bowl games. And all four lost their bid for a national title. Three of the teams lost their BCS championships decisively -- Oklahoma also was routed by Kansas State in the Big 12 title game -- while USC fell 41-38 to fellow unbeaten Texas. That shows you anything in possible going into bowl season, including improbable upsets.

Defending BCS champion Alabama looks virtually invincible thus far, like the above teams. The Crimson Tide have rolled their five opponents 201-35, and dispatched perceived contenders Michigan 41-14 and Arkansas 52-0. Despite losing half its defense and the nation's best running back to the NFL, Alabama continues its chew up its opponents.

Today it seems unlikely the Crimson Tide will lose any game this year, but history shows us that it's certainly possible.

Here are this week's bowl projections:

• BCS CHAMPIONSHIP -- Alabama vs. Oregon

The offense vs. defense debate will have a renewed discussion for this match-up

• ROSE -- Nebraska vs. USC

Cornhuskers are the Big Ten's best bet this week

• FIESTA -- Kansas State vs. Notre Dame

Would rather see Nebraska here against long-time rival Kansas State

• SUGAR -- Georgia vs. Oklahoma

Schools boast long-term coaches where fan bases are fatigued by, well, not winning quite enough

• ORANGE -- Florida State vs. Louisville

The Orange Bowl has been saddled with worse match-ups in recent years than this one 

• CAPITAL ONE -- Michigan State vs. LSU

Would anybody score in this game?

• OUTBACK -- Michigan vs. South Carolina

A little different tone transitioning from Brady Hoke to Steve Spurrier

• GATOR -- Purdue vs. Tennessee

They could save some gas money and just play in Louisville

• BUFFALO WILD WINGS -- Northwestern vs. West Virginia

Lot of speed in this game, despite neither team playing in the SEC

• MEINEKE CAR CARE -- Wisconsin vs. TCU

A little lower than either team expected but not a bad landing spot

• "DALLAS" -- Iowa vs. SMU

Maybe Ewing Oil/Energy will sponsor the game in time for Iowa to participate

• LITTLE CAESAR'S -- Minnesota vs. Northern Illinois

Just name this one "The Jerry Kill Classic"

• COTTON -- Texas vs. Texas A&M

No bowl would match this intensity of this game, not even the BCS championship

• ALAMO -- Texas Tech vs. Stanford

To make this more interesting, make sure the fans mingle together before, during and after the game

• HOLIDAY -- Baylor  vs. UCLA

Dream match-up for Holiday Bowl -- Finally an L.A. team against a high-powered offense

• PINSTRIPE -- Oklahoma State vs. UConn

Last year's weather pattern was unusual; this year will be a blizzard

• MILITARY -- *Iowa State vs. *Marshall

Iowa State will have its pick of the fill-in bowls, and the Military pays the most

• CHICK-FIL-A -- Clemson vs. Florida
• SUN -- Virginia Tech vs. Arizona
• RUSSELL -- Miami vs. Rutgers
• MUSIC CITY -- North Carolina State vs. Missouri
• LIBERTY -- Tulsa vs. Mississippi State
• INDEPENDENCE -- *Utah vs. Vanderbilt
• BELK -- Georgia Tech vs. Cincinnati
• MAACO/LAS VEGAS -- Boise State vs. Oregon State
• COMPASS -- Auburn vs. South Florida

• BEEF O'BRADY'S -- Pittsburgh vs. Central Florida
• POINSETTIA -- BYU vs. Nevada
• POTATO -- Utah State vs. Kent State
• HAWAII -- Fresno State vs. Houston
• NEW MEXICO -- Arizona State vs. San Diego State
• GODADDY -- Ohio vs. Western Kentucky
• KRAFT -- Washington vs. *San Jose State
• ARMED FORCES -- Air Force vs. UTEP
• NEW ORLEANS -- Middle Tennessee State vs. *Louisiana Tech

* Denotes replacement teams. Iowa State replaces Army in Military Bowl.  San Jose State replaces Navy in Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. Utah replaces seventh ACC team in Independence Bowl. Marshall vacates New Orleans Bowl and replaces eighth ACC team in Military Bowl. Louisiana Tech replaces Marshall in New Orleans Bowl.