Bowl Season

Back on August 28th, this column came out with a college football preview and picks for the BCS. Here’s is how those eggs hatched. Ohio State was picked correctly to be in the BCS Championship Game and it was almost two-for-two if USC wouldn’t have been upset by UCLA. Overall, “The Grandeur” did quite well picking seven out of the ten teams that included Ohio State, Florida, Oklahoma, USC, Michigan, Louisville and Norte Dame. This record should be good enough to be considered one the leaders in BCS-picks Heisman race.
Now to stop the gloating and to getting on to the business at hand. The question every year is that did the BCS get the two best teams in the nation? The answer this year is most definitely a “no” or maybe it’s a “yes,” fine, “maybe.” Ohio State is without a doubt the best in the country and Troy Smith was right to win the Heisman (more gloating, this column picked two out of three Heisman finalists). It would be really interesting to hear the arguments people had for not giving first place votes to Smith. “Brady Quinn had a better photo shoot in his ESPN the Magazine feature” or “Darren McFadden can run the ball and ‘Call the Hogs’ at the same time.”
Now did the BCS make the best decision between Michigan and Florida? Some people say that we should play that argument out on the field. Well we did, Ohio State beat Michigan, so now its Florida’s turn at the Buckeyes. Michigan may well be second best but they had their shot. They got knocked out of the “playoffs” when they lost. Just because you’re second best in the country doesn’t mean you deserve a shot in the title game. The year Miami beat Nebraska in the Rose Bowl, the Cornhuskers may have been the second best team but they didn’t deserve to play in that game. They didn’t even win the North division much less the whole Big 12.
But thankfully were now on to the game than takes place in Glendale, Arizona on January 8th. Ohio State has a very good offense but they haven’t seen Florida’s speed on defense. Florida’s offense is inconsistent at best and Ohio State has a young defense that struggles at times. In the first half, expect to see a low scoring game where every inch is hard to come by. Both teams will be nervous and the way the two teams match up, don’t expect to see a run-and-gun show from the start. However, in the second half, expect the tempo to pick up. Florida has a great playmaker in safety Reggie Nelson that should control the deep threats but someone will eventually make a mistake and Ted Ginn Jr. will run right by them. Ohio State will get the lead and Florida will have to throw the ball deep downfield something that neither Chris Leak nor Tim Tebow are terribly great at and the Buckeye will force turnovers. In the end, Ohio State will turn out to be the better all-around team and should control the game down the stretch. Ohio State 24, Florida 13.
The first New Year’s Day game is USC-Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Both teams could be a little flat after coming so close the title game and then missing it. It wouldn’t be a surprise if neither team looks like they would rather be somewhere else. Both teams have great players; Booty, Jarrett, Smith, Henne, Hart. My guess is as good as the barber’s down on 5th Street. But Pete Carroll is a good one and he has his team in “The granddaddy of the all” which is classic stomping grounds for the Trojans. Expect a shootout and nothing less. USC 42, Michigan 34.
The other game that day pits Oklahoma and Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. The Broncos are a powerful undefeated mid-major, not unlike Utah from a couple years ago. Oklahoma has gone through enough this year to make the Kennedy family feel sorry for them. This should be a fun game to watch but the Sooners will just have too much talent. Paul Thompson will look to end a classy career with a BCS victory and Oklahoma will want to show their quality despite a tough season that may be one of Bob Stoops’ finest. Oklahoma 28, Boise State 17.
Wake Forest and Louisville square off in the Orange Bowl on January 2nd. Wake has been the Cinderella story this year by coming from well, nowhere to win the ACC. Despite losing tailback Michael Bush early in the season to injury and the loss to Rutgers, Louisville hung tough to win the Big East crown. All the underdog lovers would love to see a Demon Deacon victory but it won’t happen. Wake got lucky to have its great year when the rest of the conference was down (Miami, Florida State, Georgia Tech) and Brian Brohm and the Cardinals are too powerful. Louisville 38, Wake Forest 14.
The last BCS game is the Sugar Bowl with Norte Dame and LSU. The Irish are pretty good team considering the fact that they can’t stop anybody and they collapse in their big games (Michigan, USC). Unfortunately for them, LSU is better. They’re fast, powerful and athletic. Welcome to the SEC. But all that aside, Brady Quinn and JaMarcus Russell should entertain the crowd. LSU 28, Norte Dame 20.
Other notable Bowl Games. Holiday Bowl, 12/28, Texas A&M v. California. Alamo Bowl, 12/30, Texas v. Iowa. Cotton Bowl, 1/1, Auburn v. Nebraska. Gator Bowl, 1/1 Georgia Tech v. West Virginia. Capital One Bowl, 1/1, Arkansas v. Wisconsin.