College football has come to this: You have the two best teams playing for the national championship.

What's the fun in that?

Sports columnists and talk-show callers aren't ripping or ridiculing the Bowl Championship Series. There's no controversy or indignation. Screams for a college playoff have been reduced to a whine.

Finally, the BCS has provided a Hollywood ending to the college football season.

You have two undefeated teams, No. 1 Southern Cal and No. 2 Texas. You have the two most exciting players, running back Reggie Bush of USC and quarterback Vince Young of Texas.

And you don't have anyone talking about the importance of the kicking game.

The opening over-under line for the Rose Bowl was 75 points. But would anyone be shocked if the Trojans and Longhorns combined for 85?

USC won the 1962 national championship after beating Wisconsin 42-37 in the Rose Bowl. It might need that many or more to beat the Longhorns.

What's 42 points for the Trojans?

Answer: Below average.

The Trojans are averaging 50 points and 580.3 yards per game. The Longhorns are averaging 50.9 points and 508.4 yards.

Football purists might have a problem with those numbers, but they can appreciate the stakes. USC is trying to become the first school to win three consecutive national titles in football.

Who said this was the era of parity? Who said defense wins championships?

And who said the BCS is a mess?

Whoa! Let's not get carried away.

So maybe the BCS has worked out beautifully this time, but the beauty of one game shouldn't blind you to the problem. College football still needs a playoff.

A playoff system couldn't guarantee you a matchup as attractive as this one. But it could prevent what happened last year when an unbeaten Auburn team didn't have a chance to play for a national title. And it could prevent what happened the year before when USC and LSU were co-national champions.

The BCS has finally given us a game that evokes more anticipation than debate. But don't forget about what it didn't give you last year and the year before that.

USC 41, Texas 34: A couple of years ago, some media-types were touting Oklahoma as one of the best college football teams of all-time. That was before they got blown out by Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game, then handled by LSU in the national championship game.

Last year, the Oklahoma-USC championship game was supposed to be a tossup. Instead, it was a 55-19 mismatch won by USC.

So excuse me if I'm leery of the latest Big 12 juggernaut, especially when it's playing a team that's at its best when it matters most.

Capital One Bowl

Auburn 34, Wisconsin 20: Suppose Auburn had figured out in preseason that Kenny Irons was its best running back. Then, maybe it wouldn't have lost the season opener against Georgia Tech.

Suppose Auburn kicker John Vaughn would have missed only four field goals, instead of five, against LSU. Then, maybe Auburn would have beaten LSU and later won a rematch against Georgia in the SEC championship game.

And then, the Tigers would have been unbeaten and left out of the national title game for the second consecutive year.

Fiesta Bowl

Notre Dame 35, Ohio State 34: Ohio State has a much better defense. It also has the speed at receiver to capitalize on the Irish's coverage deficiencies.

So why am I picking Notre Dame?

Answer: It's a hangover effect from covering all those Patriots Super Bowls. Give Charlie Weis extra time to prepare for a defense and he'll find a way to exploit it.

Orange Bowl

Paterno 24, Bowden 17: It's also Penn State vs. Florida State, but nobody has noticed. For example, try naming two players each from the Nittany Lions and Seminoles.

By the time this game is played, you will think Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno are 170 years old. Imagine all the South Florida retirees thinking, "I should have worked another 10 or 15 years."

Sugar Bowl

Georgia 27, West Virginia 24: What you won't hear from Bulldogs recruiters: "Come to Georgia and see the world." Instead, it's come to Georgia and stay in Georgia. Either that, or go to some "Ville."

This will be the Bulldogs' ninth game in the state of Georgia. Its long road trip this football season was to Starkville, Miss. Its other road trips were to Knoxville, Nashville and Jacksonville.

Cotton Bowl

Alabama 23, Texas Tech 20: No matter who wins this bowl, there's as much cause for trepidation as celebration.

Last year, Tennessee beat Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl. Both teams went 5-6 this season. Two years ago, Ole Miss beat Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl. Ole Miss coach David Cutcliffe was fired after the next season.

Outback Bowl

Florida 24, Iowa 23: Another opportunity for Florida coach Urban Meyer to prove he's no Ron Zook. Two years ago, Iowa overwhelmed Zook's Gators 37-17 in the Outback Bowl.

One year in the SEC already has Meyer wondering about the merits of his spread-option offense. Look for little option and plenty of throwing against an Iowa pass defense that ranked 94th nationally.

Gator Bowl

Virginia Tech 30, Louisville 17: You have to wonder how the Hokies will bounce back from an upset loss to Florida State in the ACC championship game. But you have to wonder even more how Louisville will struggle against the Hokies' defense without injured quarterback Brian Brohm.

Record: 200-65 (.758) overall, 133-121 (.525) against the spread.