2013 CIF Southern California Regional Bowl Games projections, preview package

Updated Dec. 7 at 11:30 p.m.

The 2013 California Interscholastic Federation State Football Championship Bowl Games are fast approaching, and we've got you covered with all the information you could possibly need.

Before we get into predicting which teams are most likely going to make it to the regional bowls, check out all the pertinent links to brackets and rankings, plus important dates. Scroll down for our predictions and click here for the Northern California edition.

Information about The 2013 CIF Regional Football Championship Bowl Games Presented by Farmers.

CIF State Divisions

South
Division I   
Central - I
LA City - I
San Diego - Open
San Diego - I
Southern - Pac 5
Southern - Inland

Division II
Central – II
Central - III
LA City – II
San Diego – II
San Diego - III
Southern – Northern
Southern - Central
Southern - Southwest
Southern - Western
Southern - Eastern
Southern - Southeast
   
Division III
Central - IV
Central - V
Central - VI
LA City - III
San Diego - IV
San Diego - V
Southern - Mid Valley
Southern - Southern
Southern - East Valley
Southern - Northeast
Southern - Northwest 
   
Division IV   
* Schools with enrollment 1-500

Dates:
Friday, Dec. 13
Division IV
Division I
 
Saturday, Dec. 14
Division III
Division II
Open Division*

* Open Division: The top two teams selected from each region will play each other, regardless of school enrollment.

Note: If a D-III section champion is within the D-IV enrollment parameters of 1-500, they will be moved to that division for Bowl Game consideration. If there are no schools available for selection in D-IV, the two smallest remaining D-III schools will become the D-IV representatives. If only one school is available for selection in D-IV, the smallest remaining D-III school will become the other D-IV representative.

Only section champions will be eligible.

Selection Guidelines
* Won-loss record (Preseason – League – Section Playoffs)
* Strength of schedule (Preseason – League – Section Playoffs) 
* Head-to-head competition
* Common opponents
* Suitability to represent the state in a Bowl Championship with regards to Pursuing Victory with Honor and acceptable standards of sportsmanship.

Information provided by CIFState.org


OPEN DIVISION
St. John Bosco (Bellflower) (14-0) vs. Centennial (Corona) (12-2)

St. John Bosco beat Mater Dei in the Pac-5 final, 34-7. Centennial, meanwhile, knocked off Vista Murrieta 26-12 in the Inland Division final and has the upper hand on other teams looking for an Open Division nod. Centennial made it here last year and beat Narbonne, so the Huskies certainly won't shy away from the pressure. Their losses were to Alemany and Long Beach Poly - each Pac-5 semifinalists. St. John Bosco hasn't lost to anybody, and is in the running for a national title.

DIVISION I
Mission Hills (San Marcos) (12-1) vs. Bakersfield (11-2)

Mission Hills is in after winning the San Diego Section Open Division title a while back. The Grizzlies beat Oceanside 36-14 for their second win over the Pirates this year. Their only loss was to SDS Division I finalist San Pasqual (13-10 in overtime). Bakersfield, meanwhile, obliterated Clovis North 60-21 for the Central Section Division I title. With Chaminade beating Serra, that moves Centennial to the Open Division, and that opens a spot for Bakersfield or Cathedral Catholic. We're going with the Drillers, who lost to Long Beach Poly and Oaks Christian - both Pac-5 playoff teams. But it is a very close race between Bakersfield and Cathedral Catholic for the right to play Mission Hills.

Likely Contender:
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) (11-2) - The Dons beat Inland Division finalist Vista Murrieta earlier this season. They won the Division I bracket in the SDS. And it still might not be enough. Their league loss to St. Augustine (the SDS Division II champion) hurts a little, and they also lost to Helix earlier in the season. This is not a slam dunk either way.

DIVISION II
Hart (Newhall) (12-2) vs. Chaminade (West Hills) (12-2)

Chaminade's 38-35 victory over Serra in the Southern Section Western Division title game hurts St. Augustine. Now the Saints need to hope that Chaminade gets chosen for the Open Division - not a likely scenario. This predicted matchup would be a rematch of an amazing game that happened on Sept. 6, when Hart beat Chaminade 55-54 in overtime. The Eagles went for a 2-point conversion and came up short in overtime. Hart avenged a regular-season loss to Valencia by winning 28-21 in the Southern Section Northern Division final to become bowl eligible. Norwalk's game Saturday could throw a wrench in here if it wins, and if one team had to get the boot in Norwalk's favor it would be Hart, which was third in its league.

Likely Contenders:
St. Augustine (San Diego) (11-2) - The Saints were hurt big-time by Serra's loss to Chaminade. They are the San Diego Section Division II champions and own a win over SDS Division I champion Cathedral Catholic. Their losses are to SDS Open Division teams Oceanside and Eastlake.
La Serna (Whittier) (12-2) - The Lancers are a very good football team, and they also have guts. They showed that Saturday in a 41-38 triumph over Norwalk in double overtime. They have two losses to Norco and Los Osos, but beat Pac-5 team Westlake. When compared with all the other teams' schedules, will it stand up?

DIVISION III
Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) (14-0) vs. Nordhoff (Ojai) (13-1)

The Sea Kings of Corona del Mar beat an undefeated Garden Grove team, 42-21, to win their section title and make themselves a virtual lock. That's three section titles in a row. On the other side, Nordhoff has won the Northwest Division and has toppled a great list of foes, including a Pac-5 Division squad (Thousand Oaks) and two triumphs over Bishop Diego (Santa Barbara).

Likely Contender:
Salesian (Los Angeles) (12-2) - This team is interesting. Its losses are to Venice and Muir, quality schools from larger divisions. One of their wins was a forfeit, but in the playoffs they beat Rio Hondo Prep (last year's D-IV selection) and beat Mission Prep (San Luis Obispo), another quality school.

DIVISION IV
Bakersfield Christian (13-1) vs. View Park (Los Angeles) (13-0)

If we are talking just football here, then it's Bakersfield Christian and View Park. Mission Prep and St. Margaret's lost in their respective section title games, so these are the teams left. But, there is a lawsuit pending with Christian (El Cajon) of the San Diego Section. The Patriots won the Division III title in the SDS, putting them in state Division II, but their enrollment is less than 500 - which would mean Division IV status. Stay tuned on that. If Christian's claim is rejected, then this is the matchup.