Part of me believes the Big 12 cut off its nose to spite its face by inking a bowl game contract with the SEC.

The Big 12 was on the verge of collapse last summer and interim commissioner Chuck Neinas desperately needed an anchor to create stability. What better safe haven than to hook up with the most prominent college football conference?

On the other hand, we are finally on our way to the coveted college football playoff, which may or may not include this new bowl game. I don't think Neinas cares/minds if the Big 12 versus SEC showdown is on the outside looking in on the potential BCS playoff. He and his conference just needed to know the Big 12 possessed a contracted responsibility through 2019.

Here is where the national college football fanbase may once again play second fiddle to the almighty dollar.

Chances are high that if the SEC vs. Big 12 is separate from the BCS playoff, the two conference champions will be invited to the playoff and won't be participating in the new bowl game set to begin in 2014. So, you could very easily see the Big 12 and SEC runners-up converging for a New Year's Day game. Does that appeal to you as a consumer?

Although we can't alter the future SEC vs. Big 12 bowl game matchups, we do have the power to pair the past 10 conference champions in the "what-if" world.

Using our college football simulation engine, we "played" the SEC vs. Big 12 champions from 2002 through 2011 head-to-head 1,001 times.

2002 SEC vs. Big 12 Champions
Matchup	Win%	Avg Score	WIS Interactive
Oklahoma Sooners	32.8	22.8	Simulate Game
Georgia Bulldogs	67.2	28.7

2002 Georgia
Record: 13-1 (Sugar Bowl Champs)
Team MVP: David Pollack (DE)

2002 Oklahoma
Record: 12-2 (Rose Bowl Champs)
Team MVP: Quentin Griffin (RB)

2003 SEC vs. Big 12 Champions
Matchup	Win%	Avg Score	WIS Interactive
Kansas State Wildcats	23.4	16.9	Simulate Game
LSU Tigers	76.6	27.4

2004 SEC vs. Big 12 Champions
Matchup	Win%	Avg Score	WIS Interactive
Oklahoma Sooners	35.0	26.2	Simulate Game
Auburn Tigers	65.0	31.2

2004 Oklahoma
Record: 12-1 (Orange Bowl loss)
Team MVP: Jason White (QB)

2004 Auburn
Record: 13-0 (Sugar Bowl Champs)
Team MVP: Jason Campbell (QB)/Carlos Rogers (DB)

2005 SEC vs. Big 12 Champions
Matchup	Win%	Avg Score	WIS Interactive
Texas Longhorns	67.4	30.6	Simulate Game
Georgia Bulldogs	32.6	24.4

2006 SEC vs. Big 12 Champions
Matchup	Win%	Avg Score	WIS Interactive
Oklahoma Sooners	35.9	21.1	Simulate Game
Florida Gators	64.1	26.3

2006 Oklahoma
Record: 11-3 (Fiesta Bowl loss)
Team MVP: Adrian Peterson (RB)

2006 Florida
Record: 13-1 (BCS National Champs)
Team MVP: Chris Leak (QB)

2007 SEC vs. Big 12 Champions
Matchup	Win%	Avg Score	WIS Interactive
Oklahoma Sooners	59.0	28.9	Simulate Game
LSU Tigers	41.0	25.5

2008 SEC vs. Big 12 Champions
Matchup	Win%	Avg Score	WIS Interactive
Oklahoma Sooners	45.4	32.9	Simulate Game
Florida Gators	54.6	34.5

2008 Florida
Record: 13-1 (BCS National Champions)
Team MVP: Tim Tebow (QB)

2008 Oklahoma
Record: 12-2 (BCS runner-up)
Team MVP: Sam Bradford (QB)

2009 SEC vs. Big 12 Champions
Matchup	Win%	Avg Score	WIS Interactive
Texas Longhorns	11.5	15.1	Simulate Game
Alabama Crimson Tide	88.5	31.8

2010 SEC vs. Big 12 Champions
Matchup	Win%	Avg Score	WIS Interactive
Oklahoma Sooners	61.2	30.7	Simulate Game
Auburn Tigers	38.8	27.4

2010 Auburn
Record: 14-0 (BCS National Champions)
Team MVP: Cam Newton (QB)

2010 Oklahoma
Record: 12-2 (Fiesta Bowl Champs)
Team MVP: Landry Jones (QB)

2011 SEC vs Big 12 Champions
Matchup	Win%	Avg Score	WIS Interactive
Oklahoma State Cowboys	55.9	34.3	Simulate Game
LSU Tigers	44.1	32.4

Ryan Fowler is the Content Manager for WhatIfSports.com. He can be reached at rfowler@whatifsports.com. Follow him on Twitter at @FOXSportsFowler