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BCS Bowl Projections: Stanford Most Likely Headed to Orange or Fiesta

Please feel free to drop additional projections in the comments.

The Stanford Daily breaks down Stanford's bowl options in fine fashion. This is worth your time if you want a really good handle on how next week's games will affect the Cardinal's travel plans.

ESPN's Mark Schlabach projects Stanford vs. Oklahoma in the FIESTA BOWL.

ESPN's Andrea Adelson projects Stanford vs. Virginia Tech in the ORANGE BOWL.

NBC's John Tamahana projects Stanford vs. Oklahoma in the FIESTA BOWL.

On the field, this is a great matchup (and a rematch of last year's Sun Bowl).  In the stands and around town, not so much.  Hopefully Stanford’s fans rally to the cause.  The Cardinal (11-1) only drew 38,775 to last Saturday’s 38-0 whipping of Oregon State.  The Rose Bowl would love to trade its matchup for this one.

CBS Sports projects Stanford vs. Oklahoma in the FIESTA BOWL.

SB Nation's Andy Hutchins projects Stanford vs. Virginia Tech in the ORANGE BOWL.

Go Mighty Card projects Stanford vs. Oklahoma in the FIESTA BOWL.

Pre-Snap Read projects Stanford vs. Virginia Tech in the ORANGE BOWL.

All of the projections above are based on an Auburn-Oregon National Championship Game, which is why no one projects Stanford in the Rose Bowl. As you know by now, TCU is guaranteed to fill the Pac-10's spot in Pasadena if the Ducks are in the title game and the Horned Frogs are not. If Auburn loses to South Carolina, TCU could move into the title game, and Stanford would smell the roses.

As much as I would prefer to see Stanford in the Rose Bowl or Fiesta Bowl, I'm leaning toward the Orange Bowl selecting Stanford over UConn, which can clinch the Big East with a win against South Florida on Saturday. Would a "Stanford Fans Won't Travel to the Orange Bowl" Facebook petition help get the Cardinal to Glendale? (I kid. I think Stanford would bring a healthy contingent to South Beach for a Jan. 3 game, but more fans would make the trip to Glendale on Jan. 1.)

Finally, the New York Times' Pete Thamel asked BCS analyst Jerry Palm what might happen if the Tigers and Ducks both lose next weekend.

I can’t even give you a straight answer. There’s too many variables to that. It really does depend on how they lose.

There's plenty more speculation to come.