But what if form holds and the teams at the top keep winning? The national championship game would be set, with the winner of the Southeastern Conference championship game — Florida or Alabama — meeting Texas for the title.

The Rose Bowl would pair Big Ten champion Ohio State against Pacific-10 winner Oregon. Its contract creates a matchup of Big Ten and Pac-10 champs unless one of those teams is chosen for the title game.

Georgia Tech would fill an Orange Bowl spot as kingpin of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Who would fill the remaining five slots in the FedEx Orange, Tostitos Fiesta and Allstate Sugar?

The selection order begins with bowls that lose their anchor teams to the title game. Under this scenario, the Sugar would lose the highest-ranked anchor team — the winner of BCS No. 1 Florida vs. BCS No. 2 Alabama — and almost certainly would choose the loser of that game, based on the history of its ties with the SEC. The Fiesta, losing its Big 12 champ to the title game, would replace its anchor team next.

And that leaves the Fiesta controlling the fall of the dominos. Will it go for unbeaten TCU, projected Big East champ Cincinnati or Boise State? Or would it start with a runner-up team from the Big 12 or Big Ten?

"A range of factors go into our decision, but the first thing we look at is the quality of the matchup overall," Fiesta Bowl President and CEO John Junker said. "What interests fans around the country? It's an inexact science, but we strive to find a compelling story."

But does an exciting matchup trump putting bodies in the seats?

"This year is one where I think most bowls will look at schools that will bring large numbers of enthusiastic fans," Junker said. "The economy is driving that and making it a bigger factor."

One scenario, based on a combination of economics, tradition and no upsets the final three weeks:

Fiesta: Oklahoma State (10-2) vs. TCU (12-0)

Why this works: The Fiesta is tied into the Big 12 Conference and nurtures that connection by taking Oklahoma State after Texas is lost to the title game. The Cowboys arrive off a win in the Bedlam game against Oklahoma and will bring busloads of fans.

TCU can make a case that it's the best team not playing in the championship game. The Horned Frogs are explosive, balanced and pumped to have a chance to strengthen the Mountain West Conference's argument that it deserves an automatic spot in the BCS lineup.

Orange: Georgia Tech (12-1) vs. Iowa (10-2)

Why this works: Tech is blessed with a high-scoring option offense, but its fan base isn't known for traveling well. After the attendance-starved Virginia Tech-Cincinnati pairing last year, the Orange selection committee needs to match the Yellow Jackets against a big draw.

The Orange wants to avoid bringing back Cincinnati, even though these Bearcats are undefeated. That leads to Iowa, which had its two losses by a total of 10 points to miss a shot at the Rose Bowl but has an enviable track record for selling tickets to major bowls.

By selecting Iowa, the Orange would eliminate Boise State from BCS contention. Though unbeaten, the Broncos are behind TCU in the BCS standings, and TCU would grab the spot reserved for a team outside the top six conferences (assuming it meets qualifying criteria).

Cincinnati would still have to be placed in a bowl as an automatic qualifier for winning the Big East.

Sugar: SEC runner-up vs. Cincinnati (12-0)

Why this works: The SEC has been the Sugar's standard-bearer for almost 60 years, and the Gators or Crimson Tide will have enough talent and fan support to offset the disappointment of having lost a shot at the national title.

The Sugar must take Cincinnati as the only automatic qualifier left. As it was in 2008, Boise State, in this scenario, is the odd team out despite a second consecutive unbeaten regular season. If Oklahoma State loses to Oklahoma, then a Boise State-Iowa Fiesta Bowl could take shape.

Enlarge By Ronald Martinez, Getty Images If form holds, wide receiver Jeremy Kerley, left, quarterback Andy Dalton and undefeated TCU could play Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl.