2019 bowl projections: Oklahoma State’s destination becoming murkier

With the No. 21 Oklahoma State’s 20-13 win over West Virginia on Saturday, the Cowboys locked up their eighth victory, and pretty much locks down no worse than a trip to the Texas Bowl this December.

The bowl game in Houston has been the most popular pick, but another one is starting the gain steam.

Let’s look at what the experts are starting to project.

Bleacher Report: Camping World Bowl vs. Notre Dame (Dec. 28)
ESPN: Camping World Bowl vs. Notre Dame (Dec. 28)
CBS: Texas Bowl vs. Texas A&M (Dec. 27)
247: Alamo Bowl vs. Oregon (Dec. 31)
Sporting News: Alamo Bowl vs. Oregon (Dec. 31)
College Football News: Camping World Bowl vs. Notre Dame (Dec. 28)
Banner Society: Camping World Bowl vs. Notre Dame (Dec. 28)

The Camping World Bowl in Orlando has now become the favorite. Don’t get me wrong, playing Notre Dame would be awesome! But it’s a meh bowl game, and I’d rather see the Cowboys play closer to home.

The Alamo Bowl is in play if OSU beats Oklahoma, because the Cowboys would lock up third place. The problem after that though, would be if the Big 12 got both OU and Baylor in New Years Six bowls. If not, OSU is dropping to the Camping World Bowl.

The Camping World Bowl is in play if the above scenario plays out. It’s also possible if OSU loses to Oklahoma, Kansas State beats Iowa State and Texas losses to Texas Tech.

The Texas Bowl remains the strongest candidate. I don’t see a trip to the Camping World Bowl being what either OSU or that bowl game wants in part because the Cowboys played there just two years ago.

The other part in all of this is what the bowl game wants. Yes, they’re supposed to take a team that finishes in a certain position, but some of that is negotiable. For instance, if there’s a four-way tie of OSU, KSU, Texas and ISU all at 5-4 in conference play. At that point it becomes something of “who wants who” sort of thing.

A bowl game in Texas makes the most sense for OSU, which hasn’t played in one since the 2016 Alamo Bowl. Plus, OSU fans always show up to bowl games in Texas. Whether that’s in the Texas or Alamo Bowl is still up in the air, but I’m leaning on OSU ending up enjoying a large crowd of orange when they find out their bowl destination.