USC and LSU are probably the two best teams. Ohio State is probably going to get the nod for number 1; I’m guessing Ohio State - LSU for the championship. As for the other matchups, there will be a lot better bowl matchups out there than either USC - Ill or Ga - Hawaii.
You may be right about the best teams, but we’ll never find out for sure, because there isn’t a playoff. I’m a big proponent of USC myself, and I think both LSU and Ohio State are real glad they don’t have to face them.