I’m not allowed to assume much in the newspaper. That’s a place for facts and mild speculation.In Sawin’ Wood, the blogger makes the rules. And I’m proud to say that assumptions, rampant speculation and wild guessing is an integral part of making Sawin’ Wood what it is. Highly questionable in terms of credibility, but a hell of a lot of fun nonetheless.Here’s what I’ve got to guess as I try to untie the Big 12 bowl knot with two or three games left: The flippin’ Gator Bowl.The Gator Bowl is in the Big 12 mix this season, unless it doesn’t want to be. Under its contract, the Gator must pick a Big 12 team in two of the next three seasons. When it passes, it will take a Big East opponent.We’ll assumed it wants a piece of the top-heavy Big 12 this season. Lock it in.Also, the Gator Bowl can pick above the Holiday and Cotton if and only if the BCS takes just one Big 12 team. If the BCS takes two Big 12 teams, the Gator stays behind the Cotton and Holiday bowls in line. That means the Gator may have the second pick and may have the fifth (though these bowls always work together).We’ll assume the Big 12 will get two BCS bids, because it’s certainly likely with three teams [ in the top five][1] of the standings at this point.Lock in that guess, too. Gator picks a Big 12 team and goes fifth.With that speculation out of the way, let’s examine what bowl possibilities are out there for Kansas, now 10-0 with games against Iowa State and Missouri left on the regular-season schedule, and possibly a Big 12 championship date with Oklahoma:**BCS National Championship Game (Jan. 7, New Orleans):** Kansas beats Iowa State, beats Missouri and beats Oklahoma to win the Big 12. And then crosses its fingers, hoping it’s enough to leap frog either Oregon or LSU in the BCS standings to get in the top two (It probably will be).**Fiesta Bowl as the Big 12 champion (Jan. 2, Glendale, Ariz.):** Could happen under two scenarios. The first, Kansas wins out to go to 13-0 but remains stuck at No. 3 in the BCS standings. The second, Kansas loses to Iowa State, beats Missouri to win the North anyway and then beats Oklahoma to win the Big 12. Or, if Mizzou loses at Kansas State, then KU wins at Iowa State, loses to Mizzou and beats Oklahoma (thanks plasticJhawk!)**BCS at-large bid (Fiesta, Sugar, Orange, Rose?):** If KU beats Iowa State, beats Missouri to take the North but loses to Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship, a 12-1 mark would make them a candidate for an at-large selection. No guarantee, though.**Cotton Bowl (Jan. 1, Dallas):** A strong possibility if Kansas beats Iowa State and loses to Missouri, going 11-1. If the BCS takes two Big 12 teams like we’re guessing, the Cotton Bowl essentially will have the third pick. If Missouri wins the North, OU and MU are strong possibilties for BCS berths, meaning the Cotton probably will ponder either Texas or Kansas.**Holiday Bowl (Dec. 27, San Diego):** The only December bowl game that remains a possibility for KU, in our eyes. The Holiday Bowl technically picks fourth, but workings between the Cotton, Holiday and Gator could come up with a deal that doesn’t quite make perfect sense. Still, Kansas is a strong candidate for this bowl, particularly if it doesn’t go 12-0 in the regular season.**Gator Bowl (Jan. 1, Jacksonville, Fla.):** The question then is, which Big 12 team rounds out the top five? Outside of Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas, no one else in the league will finish better than 7-5 unless Texas Tech knocks off Oklahoma. We’ll put Texas Tech in the mix here, but Kansas is a possibility for Jacksonville depending on what these bowl directors are looking for.As for my guess? If Kansas beats Missouri on Nov. 24, I’ll guess Kansas in the Fiesta Bowl as an at-large. If it loses to Missouri on Nov. 24, I’ll guess Cotton Bowl.But don’t quote me.**Elsewhere, KU junior Aqib Talib** was named Big 12 defensive player of the week, with a resume against Oklahoma State that was far and away better than any defender in the league last week.Nebraska QB Joe Ganz (510 yards, 7 TD’s) and Oklahoma KR DeMarco Murray (Awesome 91-yard return for a TD) won the other awards. I voted for all three of them, with an honorable mention that means nothing going to KU receiver Marcus Henry (8 catches, 199 yards, three TDs).See you tomorrow with press conference musings. [1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2007/nov/12/lsu_oregon_ku_big_three_bcs/?football