The following is an attempt to rank the 30 remaining bowl games in terms of entertainment value. That implies, of course, that one could reasonably predict what is going to happen. As Appalachian State, Stanford and Colorado have taught us, this may not be the right season to employ reason.

1. BCS Championship

Ohio State (11-1) vs. LSU (11-2)

New Orleans, Jan. 7, 7 p.m. (Fox)

This may not be the best matchup, but it’s the game with the highest stakes. The funny thing is LSU was supposed to maybe have the best defense in the country this season. As it turns out, it may not have the best defense in this game.

2. Cotton Bowl

Missouri (11-2) vs. Arkansas (8-4)

Dallas, Jan. 1, 10:30 a.m. (Fox)

No, this is not a BCS game, but it does feature Heisman Trophy finalists Darren McFadden and Chase Daniel facing off. Since McFadden is expected to turn pro after the game, will it prompt new Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino to interview for the UCLA job?

3. Sugar Bowl

Hawaii (12-0) vs. Georgia (10-2)

New Orleans, Jan. 1, 7:30 p.m. (Fox)

Can the Warriors repeat what fellow WAC power Boise State did to Oklahoma last season? Maybe, but there will be no Statue of Liberty plays because that would imply quarterback Colt Brennan has to hand off to somebody.

4. Fiesta Bowl

West Virginia (10-2) vs. Oklahoma (11-2)

Glendale, Ariz., Jan. 2, 7 p.m. (Fox)

Will the Sooners break out into a cold sweat when they return to the scene of last year’s crime?

5. Orange Bowl

Kansas (11-1) vs. Virginia Tech (11-2)

Miami, Jan. 3, 7 p.m. (Fox)

Gasp! The Jayhawks have to play another ranked team? That’s just unfair. If they win, they can shut up all those critics back in Missouri who think head-to-head matchups should be good for something.

6. Capital One Bowl

Michigan (8-4) vs. Florida (9-3)

Orlando, Fla., Jan. 1, noon (ABC)

New Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez will be watching on TV and see there is a perfect quarterback for his spread offense. Unfortunately, it’s Florida’s quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.

7. Holiday Bowl

Arizona State (10-2) vs. Texas (9-3)

San Diego Dec. 27, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

The Longhorns may want to invest in some San Diego condos. This is their third trip to the Holiday Bowl in four years.

8. Rose Bowl

USC (10-2) vs. Illinois (9-3)

Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 1, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

It’s a good thing the Rose Bowl went traditional and took Illinois, because we would have hated to see higher-ranked Florida or Missouri play the Trojans.

9. Outback Bowl

Wisconsin (9-3) vs. Tennessee (9-4)

Tampa, Fla., Jan. 1, 10 a.m. (ESPN)

Remember when Tennessee couldn’t even beat Cal? The Vols finished strong and almost knocked off LSU in the SEC title game.

10. Sun Bowl

South Florida (9-3) vs. Oregon (8-4)

El Paso, Texas, Dec. 31, 1 p.m. (CBS)

Beware of becoming the No. 2 team in the nation, like each of these teams did. You may be cursed into spending New Year’s Eve in El Paso, Texas.

11. Independence Bowl

Colorado (6-6) vs. Alabama (6-6)

Shreveport, La., Dec. 30, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Alabama could have spent a lot less than $4 million a year to lose to Louisiana-Monroe. A few more losses like that and Tide fans might start echoing Colorado coach Dan Hawkins’ famous decree – “Go play intramurals, brother.”

12. Alamo Bowl

Penn State (8-4) vs. Texas A&M (7-5)

San Antonio, Dec. 29, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

After falling short of his 500th career win, Joe Paterno will say he can’t remember his first career win because it was too long ago. Aggies coach Gary Darnell won’t have nearly as much trouble. He’s coaching his first game – and last – in place of resigned coach Dennis Franchione.

13. Liberty Bowl

Mississippi State (7-5) vs. Central Florida (10-3)

Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 29, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Who needs McFadden or Michigan’s Mike Hart when you can have Central Florida’s Kevin Smith, the country’s leading rusher (2,448 yards)?

14. Champs Sports Bowl

Boston College (10-3) vs. Michigan State (7-5)

Orlando, Fla., Dec. 28, 4 p.m. (ESPN)

Boston College, once a national title contender, may not be wowed at the chance to play the eighth- place team in the Big Ten.

15. Chick-fil-A Bowl

Clemson (9-3) vs. Auburn (8-4)

Atlanta, Dec. 31, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Auburn’s early-season losses to South Florida and Mississippi State don’t look as bad as they did initially. But the Tigers clearly aren’t as good as some thought.

16. Music City Bowl

Florida State (7-5) vs. Kentucky (7-5)

Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 31, 3 p.m. (ESPN)

The Seminoles may be tired after going through an all-night study session. … ahem.

17. International Bowl

Rutgers (7-4) vs. Ball State (7-5)

Toronto, Jan. 5, 11 a.m. (ESPN2)

At least the good folks of Toronto will be treated to sometimes-forgotten Ray Rice of Rutgers, who is on par with McFadden and Hart among the country’s best running backs.

18. Meineke Bowl

Connecticut (9-3) vs. Wake Forest (8-4)

Charlotte, N.C., Dec. 29, noon (ESPN)

Connecticut isn’t quite on the same level as Kansas, but if Jim Calhoun doesn’t watch out, the Huskies might soon be known as a football school. Meanwhile, Wake Forest’s Jim Grobe is one of the nation’s most underappreciated coaches. In fact, these are two of the country’s most underappreciated teams.

19. GMAC Bowl

Tulsa (9-4) vs. Bowling Green (8-4)

Mobile, Ala., Jan. 6, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Here’s a good idea: Take two mid-major teams and play them in a bowl game on the same day as the NFL playoffs, and the day before the BCS title game. Will anyone pay attention?

20. Armed Forces Bowl

Cal (6-6) vs. Air Force (9-3)

Fort Worth, Texas, Dec. 31, 11:30 a.m. (ESPN)

Like the Bears don’t have enough problems. Who is Cal’s opponent in the Armed Forces Bowl? None other than one of the Armed Forces.

21. Emerald Bowl

Maryland (6-6) vs. Oregon State (8-4)

San Francisco, Dec. 28, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

No truth to the rumor that Emerald Bowl executive director Gary Cavalli is still having nightmares about not getting Cal in this game. The Bears were pushed down the Pac-10 hierarchy after Arizona State missed out on a BCS game.

22. Gator Bowl

Virginia (9-3) vs. Texas Tech (8-4)

Jacksonville, Fla., Jan. 1, noon (ESPN)

Virginia has a top-20 defense nationally but hasn’t faced anyone like quarterback Graham Harrell and receiver Michael Crabtree.

23. Hawaii Bowl

East Carolina (7-5) vs. Boise State (10-2)

Honolulu, Dec. 23, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Thanks for rubbing it in. After Boise State lost at Hawaii in the most important game of the season, the Broncos have to return for their bowl game.

24. Las Vegas Bowl

BYU (10-2) vs. UCLA (6-6)

Dec. 22, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

There’s something about BYU Nation invading Las Vegas that makes you chuckle.

25. Papajohns.com Bowl

Cincinnati (9-3) vs. Southern Mississippi (7-5)

Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 22, noon (ESPN2)

This is a game about coaches. Jeff Bowers resigned as Southern Mississippi’s coach at the end of the regular season. Cincinnati’s Brian Kelly is rumored to be taking a new job every week. He should still be on the Bearcats sideline at kickoff.

26. Insight Bowl

Indiana (7-5) vs. Oklahoma State (6-6)

Tempe, Ariz., Dec. 31, 3 p.m. (NFL Network)

The last time Indiana was in a bowl game, Bob Knight was still bossing people around the Bloomington campus and Bill Clinton had just started his first term as president. It’s a poignant story for the Hoosiers, who lost former coach Terry Hoeppner to cancer last summer.

27. Humanitarian Bowl

Fresno State (8-4) vs. Georgia Tech (7-5)

Boise, Idaho, Dec. 31, 1 p.m. (ESPN2)

New Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson will watch this one before taking over the program.

28. Motor City Bowl

Central Michigan (8-5) vs. Purdue (7-5)

Detroit, Dec. 26, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Purdue beat Central Michigan during the regular season. Nobody was interested then, and nobody is interested now.

29. Texas Bowl

Houston (8-4) vs. TCU (7-5)

Houston, Dec. 28, 7 p.m. (NFL Network)

Some fans thought if TCU could get by Texas early in the season, it would have a chance to go to a BCS game. Apparently, that meant getting by Air Force, Wyoming, Utah and BYU as well.

30. New Mexico Bowl

New Mexico (8-4) vs. Nevada (6-6)

Albuquerque, Dec. 22, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

It’s a good thing this game isn’t competing with anything else going on in sports.