As good as Tim Tebow was this season, he couldn’t get Florida into the BCS.
That’s too bad for the Gators, but great for the Capital One Bowl, which has a Heisman Trophy winner and a bowl matchup any game would love.
Tebow and Florida take on Michigan, which is hoping to send coach Lloyd Carr into retirement with a victory.
Tebow is the first Heisman winner to miss out on the Bowl Championship Series since Ricky Williams and Texas played in the Cotton Bowl after he won the award in 1998.
The previous four Heisman winners, and six of the eight since Williams won, played in the national title game. The other two were Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne, who played in the 2000 Rose Bowl, and Southern California’s Carson Palmer, who played in the ’03 Orange Bowl.
The Gators (9-3) couldn’t defend their national title, but it certainly wasn’t Tebow’s fault. He became the first player in major college history to reach 20 touchdowns passes and 20 rushing touchdowns in the same season, then became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy.
Michigan began its season with two ugly losses, the infamous Appalachian State game and rout at the hands of Oregon.
The Wolverines recovered and were in the Big Ten race until the end. Michigan lost to Ohio State for the fourth straight season and two days later Carr announced he was calling it quits after his 13th season. Carr has won 75 percent of his games and a national title with the Wolverines, but he’s lost his last four bowl games.
The Heisman runner-up will also be playing in a non-BCS game. Arkansas and running back Darren McFadden take on Missouri and quarterback Chase Daniel, who finished fourth in the Heisman voting, in the Cotton Bowl.
The picks:
Tuesday, Jan. 1
Outback Bowl
Wisconsin (plus 2) vs. Tennessee
Badgers have faced SEC in last four bowl games (2-2) … WISCONSIN 30-28.
Cotton Bowl
Missouri (minus 3) vs. Arkansas
Tigers are seventh in nation in passing; Razorbacks third-best running team … MISSOURI 45-30.
Capital One Bowl
Michigan (plus 10 1/2) vs. Florida
Wolverines won only bowl meeting, 38-30 in 2003 Outback … FLORIDA 37-33.
Gator Bowl
Virginia (plus 6) vs. Texas Tech
Virginia is 0-5 in Florida bowls … TEXAS TECH 37-27.
Rose Bowl
Southern California (minus 13 1/2) vs. Illinois
Illini making fifth Rose Bowl appearance; USC is on No. 32 … USC 31-12.
Sugar Bowl
Hawaii (plus 7 1/2) vs. Georgia
Last time Bulldogs faced unbeaten bowl opponent, they beat Texas in ’84 Cotton Bowl … GEORGIA 44-33.
Wednesday, Jan. 2
Fiesta Bowl
West Virginia (plus 7 1/2) vs. Oklahoma
Mountaineers last played Big 12 in ’98 Insight Bowl loss to Missouri … OKLAHOMA 41-28.
Thursday, Jan. 3
Orange Bowl
Kansas (plus 3 1/2) vs. Virginia Tech
Jayhawks are tops in nation in turnover margin … VIRGINIA TECH 27-24.
Saturday, Jan. 5
International Bowl
Rutgers (minus 10) vs. Ball State
Cardinals are 0-4-1 in bowl games … RUTGERS 39-33.
Sunday, Jan. 6
GMAC Bowl
Tulsa (minus 4 1/2) vs. Bowling Green
Tulsa QB Paul Smith second in nation in yards passing and TD passes … TULSA 50-42.
Monday, Jan. 7
BCS National Championship
Ohio State (plus 4) vs. LSU
Winner becomes first school with two BCS titles … LSU 27-24.
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