2012 bowl projections: USC predicted for Alamo Bowl

The USC Trojans are projected as the Pac-12 No. 2 and would face Big 12 No. 3 West Virginia in the Alamo Bowl, according to CBS Sports. USC kept hope alive for a Pac-12 South championship on Saturday by defeating the Arizona State Sun Devils at home. CBS projects them to make it to the conference title game, but lose in a rematch with Oregon.

Much like USC, West Virginia looked like a national contender early in the 2012 campaign. CBS actually makes a bold prediction here in putting the Mountaineers at No. 3 in the Big 12. If KSU and Oklahoma were both in BCS games, that would move the bowl slots down, but WVU is currently 2-4 in conference play and two games back of the current fourth-pace team, Oklahoma State.

USC can still get a much better bowl with a much stronger opponent if it beats the rival Bruins on Saturday. The winner of the crosstown battle will clinch a spot in the Pac-12 championship game.