With the GMAC Bowl in the books, there is now just one college bowl game left before the countdown to the college football season begins in earnest. Luckily for us, the last game is a gem. As we get closer to the Florida – Oklahoma showdown, I find myself changing my mind about the game a few times a day. I like Oklahoma a lot more than I like Florida from a personal bias basis, but my confidence has been shaken in them by the struggles of the big Big 12 teams in their bowls. As I drive my self crazy about the game, here are 10 things that will likely factor into my ultimate decision:
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It’s halfway through the Sugar Bowl, and I have contentedly been watching college football almost non-stop for three days. This is such a great, great time of year. As I sit here at halftime hoping that Utah can hold on and keep Alabama at bay, it seems like a good time to look back to see what we have learned the last few days:
The Lakers convincing win over the Celtics to end Boston’s 19 game winning streak was the highlight of the Christmas basketball action, but there was more to take note of as well. San Antonio’s last second win over the Suns was further proof that San Antonio’s bad start was just a blip on their path to the same predictability dull dependability that they have become known for. Cleveland won yet again, but they had to work way too hard to get past the lousy Wizards. Dallas looked very convincing against the Blazers. The Mavs are another Texas team that has turned things around after a forgettable start. Most surprising, though, was Orlando’s win over New Orleans. Orlando didn’t look like they were working very hard, yet they crushed the Hornets and totally shut down Chris Paul.
The last installment. These are the New Year’s Day games and beyond.
Outback Bowl – Iowa -3. The Hawkeyes won five of six. South Carolina looked terrible in their last two, and they can’t stop the run.
Same qualifier as last time – these are my picks, not official Maddux picks. They are also, as the name says, gut feelings, not carefully researched opinions.
Independence Bowl – Louisiana Tech (even). Northern Illinois comes in winning just one of four. Louisiana Tech won four of five. They are just the better team, so picking them when you don’t have to give up any points is a good thing.
Papa John’s Bowl – Rutgers -7. Both teams closed out hot, but Rutgers was better. They won their last six, and they finished off with a blowout of Louisville.
As I do every time I make any kind of prediction on this blog, I remind you that these are merely my opinions, and in no way do they reflect what the guys at Maddux think, or what their picks will be. There will almost certainly be disagreements between these and their picks, so when in doubt go with theirs – they are the pros. That being said, here are my gut feelings for all 34 bowls, broken down into three days:
I absolutely love bowls. People complain that there are too many, but I wish that there were more. As I’ve been looking over the bowls trying to get ready for them, some matchups have jumped out more than others. Here are the ten bowls, in order, that have me the most excited. Some won’t bethe ones you think:
I’m going to leave he review of last weekend’s football action for one day because there is too much other news to talk about:
82 year old Joe Paterno, fresh off of hip replacement surgery, has a new contract extension for three more years at Penn State. There are literally dozens of ways a guy could make fun of the situation, but given that the team is heading to the Rose Bowl as Big Ten champs while my team isn’t going anywhere. This is a situation we should appreciate while we can, I guess, because we sure won’t see anything like it again. I would love to be a fly on the wall around the program to know what kind of a role he actually plays with the team. Surely he can’t be very active anymore.
Amazing how close the Heisman was. Fitting. The only shame is that Graham Harrell wasn’t more competitive. He had a lousy game, but a heck of a season.
I have noticed a trend this year – I watch a college basketball game, get impressed by the team playing, write nice things about them, then they go out and get beat at their earliest possible opportunity. First Duke, and now Gonzaga. Arizona looked very good in the win. As a service to all of you, I will be sure to let you know what games I watch as soon as I watch them so you can fade who I like.
1. Go, go Buffalo. I was thrilled to see the Bulls win the MAC championship on Friday night by beating Ball State. I was there for their first game this year, and I have seen them play a couple other times, too. The team has a couple of nice players, but the big lesson here is that coach Turner Gill is really, really good. He has interviewed for Auburn, and he’ll get looks regularly until he gets hired somewhere else. The guy is going to end up at a top program sooner or later, and he is going to do very well once he gets there.
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