Rivals ranks the Bowls in terms of "Attractiveness"

Perhaps it is because if BSU and TCU both won out, only one could have played in a BCS bowl.  If there was a playoff, they would both have had a chance to earn it on the field.  They also would not have ended up playing each other, and only each other, at the end of last season.  That might have given them a chance to prove that they can indeed play with the big boys.  That is also why they got scheduled to play each other.