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2013 Pre-Season Pac-12 Bowl Projections: Another Rose Bowl run likely for the Ducks

Pac-12 could send only one team to the BCS for the first time in a long time.

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Rose Bowl - Oregon vs. Ohio State

Had Chip Kelly stayed in Eugene, I probably would have predicted the Ducks to get back to the BCS National Championship Game, as there roster is loaded with talent, experience and their offense only seems to get more and more unstoppable every year. However, I just don't see them running the table with a coach in his first year as a head coach, so I think they will slip up just once and end up just outside of the title game again, but will still win the conference.

Alamo Bowl - Stanford vs. TCU

I think the Cardinal, though very talented in good, will finally fall out of the BCS bracket and lose a couple of games in 2013, they just don't score enough I think to keep only losing a game a season. Still, the Cardinal will still be far and away the top team in the conference after Oregon and will get the top non-BCS bowl or maybe sneak back into the Rose Bowl if enough top teams lose.

Holiday Bowl - USC vs. Oklahoma State

The Holiday Bowl will get its pick of a team from a great pack of upper-middle level Pac-12 teams and I think USC will be the most attractive option with their nearby locale, prestige and the fact that I think they will have a better season in 2013 than many are anticipating.

Sun Bowl - UCLA vs. North Carolina

I think the Bruins might be a bit overvalued going into 2013, especially since they face one of the tougher schedules in the Pac-12 but I still think they will either win, or tie for the Pac-12 South championship and be an attractive option once the three big powers are off the board.

Las Vegas Bowl - Oregon State vs. Boise State

This would be tough as I feel this bowl might want a very well traveling Washington fan base, but wouldn't want a rematch and the Beavers will probably have a better record than the Huskies.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl - Washington vs. BYU

I think the Sun Devils would be a better team record wise, but I think the Huskies would get chosen over them to avoid getting the Sun Devils two years in a row and because of their fan base. This would be a very good Washington team to end up in such a lower-level bowl.

New Mexico Bowl - Arizona State vs. San Diego State

This would be an incredibly depressing destination for a really good Pac-12 like Arizona State or whichever team could end up here if the Pac-12 doesn't get two teams into the BCS.

Poinsettia Bowl - Arizona vs. Fresno State

I think the Wildcats will win enough games to become bowl eligible, but won't get an automatic slot and will be one of the most attractive non-automatic qualifiers out there. I think the San Diego-based bowl, will scoop up the Wildcats as soon as they can.