So it’s come time for us to turn our attention to the two undefeated teams playing at the kid’s table of the BCS bowls. Boise State and TCU own some of the best overall records in college football over the past five seasons and all they got was a matchup against each other, instead of a chance to show that they belong with the big, bad Automatic Qualifiers. It’s bullshit, if you ask me.

The BCS is treating two undefeated teams like also-rans and it stinks. Not just for Boise State and TCU fans, but for college football fans in general. Part of the joy of college football is seeing a plucky underdog team, outmatched and outgunned, take down a powerhouse. Well, both of these programs have quietly built themselves up to powerhouse status in their respective divisions and they’re feeling the crush of the glass ceiling that the BCS is imposing on them, for no other reason than their names aren’t Texas or Alabama.

For those of you who are quick to point out the strength of schedule that Boise State and TCU faced this year, I’ll counter with last year’s Utah/Alabama matchup in the Fiesta bowl, where an undefeated Utah team bludgeoned a juggernaut Alabama team for 60 minutes. Or how about Boise State’s takedown of Oklahoma in 2007? This year, TCU’s Mountain West Conference is 4-0 in bowls and TCU itself was 6-0 during the season against teams that went on to play in bowls.

In the end, you play the schedule that you have. Boise State has tried to set up home and home series with a number of AQ teams, all of which turned them down. You might even say that big programs are scurred to face Boise on the Smurf Turf.

But we are where we are. Boise State will be taking on TCU tonight in the Fiesta Bowl and the winner will be able to argue that they should be either #2 or #3 in the final polls, marking the second straight year that a non-AQ team can do so.

Boise has been explosive all year on offense, whether they’re running or passing. Their defense has swung from dominant to simply aggressive and willing. Teams have been able to score on Boise State this year more than in the past and that could end up being a problem.

TCU, on the other hand, has been explosive offensively and utterly dominant defensively. Only two teams scored more than 20 points against the Horned Frogs all year, and most of those points came once the games were decided.

TCU is fast everywhere and would be a nightmare matchup for anyone. Boise is more savvy than overwhelmingly talented. They have swagger and some brilliant playcalling to lean on. Because of this, I think that Boise State is the definite underdog in this game. They have an uphill climb to overcome TCU’s athleticism and talent, but they have shown time and time again that, when confronted with that sort of challenge, they’re up to the task. Still, TCU has been demolishing people all year and Boise State has made their living this year outscoring teams more than dominating them. I think TCU wins this game and makes a case for a few #1 votes in the process.

TCU wins, 24-13.

Another busy day running around and accomplishing little with the in-laws means that I’m posting this last-minute pick for the Utah-Cal matchup in the Pointsettia Bowl from the backseat of a rental car somewhere in the exurbs of Omaha.

Anyway, both of these teams were very over-hyped to start the season. Utah lost a ton of major contributors from last year’s team. Cal had Jahvid Best and that was about it. Somehow, both of them managed to finished the season with winning records.

Cal was blown out multiple times by conference foes this year, including a season-ending 42-10 loss to Washington.

Utah lost badly to BYU and barely beat laughably bad Utah State.

That said, this matchup of misfits might just be entertaining. Both teams can score. Cal has a capable Shane Vereen to turn to with the dynamic Best out for the rest of the season. Utah still has quality WRs to throw to, if their freshman QB has time to find it.

In the end, though, Cal has the better athletes and more depth, which, if last year’s Sugar Bowl has taught us anything, means that Utah will blow them out of the water.

Utes win, 34-17