That's not true. Just going by conference record, there are 6 teams that did better than Cuse. They own the tie-breaker over one of them (BC) and the other one (UNC) wasn't on their schedule. That means they're tied for 7th with UNC.
Those numbers after the conference for bowl games isn't the rank in the conference. It's their place in the pecking order of when they get to take a team.
For instance, the Capital One: Big 10 #3 VS SEC #4. They get to choose from the Big 10 third and the SEC fourth. If this was all set by ranks in conference, teams wouldn't be allowed to get past over and there wouldn't be a selection committee for each bowl game. They would all be tied to whatever teams were ranked in the conference whether they liked it or not.
That's what I always thought.
Stampede is also correct, that Bowls want particular teams that will assure the biggest number of fans in attendance and in their hotel rooms. The Cotton could have taken South Carolina, but Missouri fans are closer and would probably turn out better for that game. Carolina fans travel well, but there's going to be a lot more of them in central florida than there would be in Dallas.
Those numbers after the conference for bowl games isn't the rank in the conference. It's their place in the pecking order of when they get to take a team.
For instance, the Capital One: Big 10 #3 VS SEC #4. They get to choose from the Big 10 third and the SEC fourth. If this was all set by ranks in conference, teams wouldn't be allowed to get past over and there wouldn't be a selection committee for each bowl game. They would all be tied to whatever teams were ranked in the conference whether they liked it or not.
I realize that, but they want the best available and the best travelers.
Capital One obviously felt S. Carolina fans would travel better than Missouri fans.
Buffalo Wild Wings took the 6th ranked Big 10 team (Michigan) over #4 Nebraska and # 5 Minnesota.
They want a desirable match-up for ratings (future tv contracts), but they probably figured that the turmoil in the Nebraska fan base wouldn't travel as good as Michigan's.
You've got to admit, it pretty much laid out like would be expected.
Taking the BCS At Large bids out of the picture, it lays out like this.
Cotton Bowl: SEC #3 Missouri (11-2) VS Big XII #3 Oklahoma St (10-2) both 2 losses
Capital One: Big 10 #3 Wisconsin (9.8-2.2) VS SEC #4 South Carolina (10-2) 2.2 loss VS 2 loss
Outback:..... Big 10 #4 Iowa (8-4) VS SEC #5 LSU (9-3) 4 loss VS 3 loss
Gator:.........Big 10 #5 Nebraska (8-4) VS SEC #6 Georgia (8-4) both 4 losses
They do want as many fans as possible in seats and hotel rooms for their local economy, but they also want potential close match-ups so people will tune-in and they have viewer data for future tv and sponsorship contracts.
Syracuse is tied for 7th in the ACC, not 9th.
Cue all of the SEC fans to say how their #4 is playing our #3, etc. Ignoring the fact that the SEC has more teams.
Not that it matters much, but believe you have the TT, KSU and UT conference rankings wrong. UT, OU and OSU were 7-2. Baylor 8-1.
KSU and TT were both at least 5-3, TT was at least 4-4.
**EDIT** Okay, I saw the clarification. Disregard this post.