The college football season doesn’t kick off until later this month, but that hasn’t prevented ESPN.com from predicting bowl matchups. Writers Mark Schlabach and Bruce Feldman are in agreement that LSU will play Illinois in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1. If the prediction comes to pass, it would be the Tigers’ first appearance in the Tampa, Fla., game since a 23-10 loss to Syracuse in what was then called the Hall of Fame Bowl in 1989.
Schlabach and Feldman agree that Florida and Texas will meet in the BCS championship game on Jan. 8 in Pasadena, Calif. In other postseason picks involving SEC teams, Schlabach likes Ole Miss and Pittsburgh in the Sugar Bowl, Alabama and Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl, and Georgia and Iowa in the Capital One Bowl. Feldman picks Ole Miss and Brigham Young in the Sugar Bowl, Alabama and Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl, and Georgia and Ohio State in the Capital One Bowl.
