As Joe Paterno privately campaigns this week for Penn State to land a lucrative ($17 million) BCS bowl berth, the legendary coach may be biting off more than his 2009 version of Nittany Lions can chew.

That is, from a competitive standpoint.

But at least the massive payout of the Fiesta Bowl, the BCS bowl most likely for the Lions, will be terrific.

It’s just that the opponent there, probably unbeaten Boise State, will be terrific, too.

Barring a rash of shocking results this weekend in league championship games, it would seem right now that the Fiesta Bowl and the Capital One Bowl at Orlando are the two most likely landing spots for Penn State in the post-season.

And even though a Capital One Bowl foe would probably be Louisiana State of the much ballyhooed Southeastern Conference, the Tigers would be a much better match-up for Penn State than WAC champion Boise State.

Reason: the quarterbacks.

In compiling its 10-2 record against a relatively soft schedule, the Nittany Lions arguably did not face the combination of an accomplished, veteran quarterback in charge of a high-powered, spread offense that could torch its inexperienced secondary.

In sophomore Kellen Moore, a marginal Heisman Trophy candidate, Boise State possesses just that.

A 6-0, 187-pound gunslinger, Moore owns a 168.7 quarterback efficiency rating, has thrown 38 touchdown passes with only three interceptions and led the Broncos to 532 points, a whopping 44.3 points per game.

Granted, those numbers were attained mostly against WAC defenses, but don’t be fooled into thinking the Broncos are just a pass-happy, spread offense. Boise’s attack is balanced, with 437 runs and 383 passes and is just of the mold that could drive the Nittany Lions batty.

LSU also has a sophomore at quarterback, a raw-boned Jordan Jefferson, who at 6-5, 220 pounds physically reminds a lot of Juice Williams but is hardly as accomplished as Moore. This kid is going to be real good, but he isn’t yet.

Jefferson’s efficiency rating is 137.8 and he’s thrown 16 scoring passes and six interceptions on a team with an excellent corps of receivers.

But LSU is one of those run-first teams, 419 rushes and 185 passes, whose style of offense would better play into the hands of the Penn State defense than wild and wonderful Boise State.

So this coming Sunday remember that if PSU lands a Fiesta Bowl bid over the more deserving Iowa Hawkeyes, the match-up if it's Boise State won’t be nearly as good as the LSU Tigers would be.

LSU may have the bigger name and more tradition but Boise State is the better team and would be far more motivated.

That said, Paterno this week had better be careful for what he wishes for during bowl season.