2012 bowl projections: Kent State could be a BCS-buster

In the latest 2012 bowl projections from SB Nation's Jason Kirk, several Ohio-based teams are included, including Cincinnati and potential BCS-buster Kent State. Ohio, Toledo and Bowling Green also will be participating in a postseason bowl game this year.

Kent State is No. 17 in the latest BCS standings, and a win over Northern Illinois in its season finale could send the Golden Flashes to a BCS bowl. SB Nation is projecting a loss to NIU, though, which could put Kent State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

The Ohio State Buckeyes finished the regular season undefeated and would be in contention for both a Big Ten title and a BCS bowl game were it not for NCAA sanctions. Those sanctions prevent the Buckeyes from participating in the postseason.

The Bearcats are projected by Kirk to play in the Belk Bowl against the Duke Blue Devils. Cincinnati is 8-3 on the year and concludes its regular season against UConn on Saturday.

Ohio is projected to play in the Military Bowl, while Bowling Green could end up in the Beef O'Brady's Bowl. Toledo may end up in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, where it would face Utah State.