Bowl Championship Series games
Rose	Jan. 3 Pasadena	Matchup: BCS #1 vs. BCS #2 Projection: Florida vs. Oregon
SEC champions invade the Rose Bowl, with "home team" Pac-10 waiting. Gators and Ducks have the best combination of big-play talent, coaching and schedule to get here.
Orange	Jan. 2 Miami	Matchup: *ACC/*Big East vs. At-large Projection: Miami vs. Oklahoma
Great pairing of Big East champion and Big 12 South Division runner-up.
Fiesta	Jan. 1 Phoenix	Matchup: Big 12* vs. Pac-10* Projection: Texas vs. Northwestern
With Oregon going to the Rose Bowl, Pac-10 spot opens up -- and Big Ten champ hops in.
Sugar	Jan. 1 New Orleans	Matchup: *SEC vs. At-large Projection: Tennessee vs. Florida State
National title matchup of 1997 could be preview for 2002.
*If league champ is #1 or #2 and goes to Rose Bowl, bowl gets to replace them with at-large selection. Big Ten has no anchor bowl this season.
Non-BCS bowl games
New Orleans	Dec. 18 New Orleans	Matchup: Sun Belt #1 vs. MWC #3 Projection: Middle Tennessee vs. BYU
Bourbon Street establishments won't like the visitors, but it'll work.
Mobile, Ala.	Dec. 19 Mobile	Matchup: C-USA #2 vs. MAC #1-2 Projection: East Carolina vs. Marshall
Herd's first bowl trip other than Motor City.
Las Vegas	Dec. 25 Las Vegas	Matchup: MWC #2 vs. Pac-10 #5 Projection: Colorado State vs. USC
Even if CSU wins league title, a deal might be made to send Rams here.
Independence	Dec. 27 Shreveport	Matchup: Big 12 #6 vs. SEC #6 Projection: Missouri vs. Georgia
Two first-year coaches will be happy to have the extra practices.
Seattle	Dec. 27 Seattle	Matchup: Pac-10 #4 vs. ACC #4 Projection: Washington vs. N.C. State
Huskies get "home game" in Safeco Field -- at least there's a roof.
Galleryfurniture	Dec. 28 Houston	Matchup: C-USA #3 vs. Big 12 #7 Projection: Southern Miss vs. Texas Tech
Good regional matchup (midway between the schools).
Holiday	Dec. 28 San Diego	Matchup: Pac-10 #2 vs. Big 12 #3 Projection: UCLA vs. Kansas State
Bruins have never been to Holiday; K-State will be making third trip in 7 years.
Music City	Dec. 28 Nashville	Matchup: Big East #4 vs. SEC #7 Projection: Pittsburgh vs. Ole Miss
Pitt looking for second consecutive bowl for first time since 1977-83.
Alamo	Dec. 29 San Antonio	Matchup: Big 12 #4 vs. Big 10 #4 Projection: Texas A&M vs. Ohio State
Another dreamy matchup for bowl game that's getting used to them.
Insight.com	Dec. 29 Phoenix	Matchup: Big East #3 vs. Big 12 #6 Projection: Notre Dame vs. Colorado
Irish (part of Big East bowl group) bring TV viewers and fans; CU brings great young talent.
Motor City	Dec. 29 Detroit	Matchup: MAC #1-2 vs. C-USA #4 Projection: Toledo vs. Cincinnati
Ohioans take over the Pontiac Silverdome for a night, as bowl moves to avoid Marshall.
Humanitarian	Dec. 31 Boise	Matchup: WAC #1-2 vs. at-large Projection: Fresno State vs. Stanford
This appears to be the only way the Bulldogs can get on Stanford's schedule.
Liberty	Dec. 31 Memphis	Matchup: C-USA #1 vs. MWC #1-2 Projection: Louisville vs. UNLV
Cards face CSU in season; bowl avoids double-rematch (Lou-CSU met in 2000 Liberty).
Peach	Dec. 31 Atlanta	Matchup: ACC #3 vs. SEC #5 Projection: Clemson vs. Mississippi State
Few bowls will have a better QB showdown than Woody Dantzler-Wayne Madkin.
Silicon Valley	Dec. 31 San Jose	Matchup: WAC #1-2 vs. at-large Projection: San Jose State vs. Illinois
Spartans might have to beat Fresno to get this extra home game; Illini best of at-larges.
Sun	Dec. 31 El Paso	Matchup: Pac-10 #3 vs. Big Ten #5 Projection: Oregon State vs. Purdue
Last year's glory teams come close again, but land in El Paso this time.
Citrus	Jan. 1 Orlando	Matchup: Big Ten #2 vs. SEC #2 Projection: Michigan vs. South Carolina
Third Citrus Bowl in four years for Wolverines ... Gamecocks would love that consistency.
Outback	Jan. 1 Tampa	Matchup: Big Ten #3 vs. SEC #3 Projection: Wisconsin vs. Alabama
We're presuming at this point that Alabama will be eligible for a bowl.
Cotton	Jan. 1 Dallas	Matchup: Big 12 #2 vs. SEC #3 Projection: Nebraska vs. LSU
Cornhuskers finally settle into Cotton; Tigers haven't been here since 1966.
Gator	Jan. 1 Jacksonville	Matchup: Big East #2 vs. ACC #2 Projection: Virginia Tech vs. Georgia Tech
Miami's return to power gets Hokies accustomed to this.
General notes -Sunshine Football Classic (formerly Micronpc.com Bowl) and the Jeep San Francisco (formerly Aloha Bowl) are unsettled, and at this point look like they will be non-starters for the 2001 season. -Some conference order of picks are arranged by geography and other factors, not strictly by picking order, or by standings.