Sunday, January 06, 2008

How are the Picks, Part 5

FIESTA BOWL
Jan. 2, West Virginia (10-2) vs. Oklahoma (11-2)
My Pick: Sooners 31, Mountaineers 23
Result: Mountaineers 48, Sooners 28

WVU came out swinging and rolled in this game. OU comes out flat in the BCS yet again. I was very surprised at this result and am not sure what this means for Stoops as a coach. Lots of good coaches go through stretches of good and bad bowl results. Nebraska's Osbourne was the perennial bowl loser before turning the corner and dominating the mid 90s. Congrats to Stewart on winning a job with the victory, but I believe such appointments are almost always destined for failure.

ORANGE BOWL
Jan. 3, Kansas (11-1) vs. Virginia Tech (11-2)
My Pick: Hokies 27, Kansas 18
Result: Kansas 24, Hokies 21

Kansas comes in and at least proves my analysis sorely lacking. If Va. Tech at least had any offense, they probably would have easily won this game.

INTERNATIONAL BOWL
Jan. 5, Rutgers (7-5) vs. Ball State (7-5)
My Pick: Rutgers 28, Ball State 24
Result: Rutgers 52, Ball State 30

Rutgers dominates in game at held the interest of tens of fans.

GMAC BOWL
Jan. 6, Tulsa (9-4) vs. Bowling Green (8-4)
My Pick: Tulsa 33, Bowling Green 23.
Result: Tulsa 63, Bowling Green 7

Holy shit. I am guessing Arkansas would have actually liked to have an offense that could do that week in and week out versus what Houston Nutt gave them this year and last.

Record in this post: 2-2
Cumulative record for Bowl Season: 16-13

At least I am guaranteed a winning record for bowl season at this point.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

How are the Picks, Part 4

OUTBACK BOWL
Jan. 1, Wisconsin (9-3) vs. Tennessee (9-4)
My Pick: Wisconsin 9, Tennessee 8
Result: Tennessee 21, Wisconsin 17

Boring game between two boring teams. Wow. I am on the edge of my seat for a Vol win. Yeeha.
COTTON BOWL
Jan. 1, Missouri (11-2) vs. Arkansas (8-4)
My Pick: Missouri 35, Arkansas 23
Result: Missouri 38, Arkansas 7

Arkansas was even less into the game than expected. I don't care what McFadden says, he was mentally checked out and thinking about not hurting himself for the huge signing bonus he will get post NFL draft day.

GATOR BOWL
Jan. 1, Virginia (9-3) vs. Texas Tech (8-4)
My Pick: Red Raiders 56, UVa 35
Result: Red Raiders 31, UVa 28

Tech guts out a win in a game featuring a horrible leg injury late in the 4th. Much closer than I thought, but Al Groh's inability to be imaginative is always something you can count on.

CAPITAL ONE
Jan. 1, Michigan (8-4) vs. Florida (9-3)
My Pick: Gators 49, Wolverines 19
Result: Wolverines 41, Gators 35

I should have listened to my doubts about the ability of the Gator defense to hold any opponent down. Kudos to Carr and Michigan for a well played win. Darts to the Gator defenders for their abundance of trash talking in the game. I would hope Meyer will remind them in the future that supposed SEC supremacy does not matter once the whistle blows against an equally talented opponent.

ROSE BOWL
Jan. 1, USC (10-2) vs. Illinois (9-3)
My Pick: USC 39, Illinois 17
Result: USC 49, Illinois 17

USC pulls way away in the second half as Illinois finally wakes up and realizes that they are Illinois.

SUGAR BOWL
Jan. 1, Hawaii (12-0) vs. Georgia (10-2)
My Pick: Georgia 38, Hawaii 21
Result: Georgia 41, Hawaii 10

The result never in doubt in this game, too bad Brennan actually completed any passes whatsoever.

Record in this post: 4-2
Cumulative record for Bowl Season: 14-11

How are the Picks, Part 3

INDEPENDENCE BOWL
Dec. 30, Colorado (6-6) vs. Alabama (6-6)
My Pick: Bama 23, Colorado 17
Result: Bama 30, Colorado 24

Both teams seemed to genuinely want to win this. The Tide jumped out to a lead that the Buffs could not overcome. Both teams are likely very happy to be leaving Shreveport.

ARMED FORCES BOWL
Dec. 31, Cal (6-6) vs. Air Force (9-3)
My Pick: Falcons 35, Bears 21
Result: Bears 42, Falcons 36

After jumping out to a huge lead, the Bears finally decide to run it and throw it down the Falcons throat behind their backup QA. I guessTedford finally woke up and took an interest in coaching for a living.

SUN BOWL
Dec. 31, USF (9-3) vs. Oregon (8-4)
My Pick: USF 42, Oregon 17
Result: Oregon 56, USF 21

Holy shit! I fell quite the fool. Not even close. Where was this Oregon team the last three weeks of the season.

HUMANITARIAN BOWL
Dec. 31, Fresno State (8-4) vs. Georgia Tech (7-5)
My Pick: Georgia Tech 26, Fresno State 23
Result: Fresno State 40, Georgia Tech 28

Interim coaches are taking it on the chin this year. Fresno finishes strong.

MUSIC CITY BOWL
Dec. 31, Florida State (7-5) vs. Kentucky (7-5)
My Pick: Kentucky 49, FSU 20
Result: Kentucky 35, FSU 28

FSU keeps it much closer that I thought they would. Bobby Bowden heads into 2008 with a one game lead over Jo Pa. This could get interesting.On the other side of the ball, UK to return to doormat obscurity next season.

INSIGHT BOWL
Dec. 31, Indiana (7-5) vs. Oklahoma State (6-6)
My Pick: OSU 44, Indiana 14
Result: OSU 49, Indiana 33

Indiana still has a fine season considering all they had to deal with. Let's hope they can keep it up next season. OSU will head into 2008 with some momentum, but don't expect any major leaps forward.

CHICK-FIL-A BOWL
Dec. 31, Clemson (9-3) vs. Auburn (8-4)
My Pick: Clemson 35, Auburn 31
Result: Auburn 23, Clemson 20 (OT)

I thought this game would be close and it was. The difference was the Auburn defense. Muschamp is sure to get a HC job in the next year or two.

Record in this post: 3-4
Cumulative record for Bowl Season: 10-9