Bowl Game Picks 2008

Howdy Folks. After a somewhat dismal record picking games last year, I am going to give it another whirl this year. I will make the picks in a quickly in list fashion and follow later with posts on any items of hilarity or interest. Onto the picks (winners denoted by *):

EAGLEBANK BOWL
Wake Forest (7-5, 4-4 ACC)
*Navy (8-4, 4-2 home)

MAGICJACK ST. PETERSBURG BOWL
Memphis (6-6, 4-4 C-USA)
*South Florida (7-5, 2-5 Big East)

NEW MEXICO BOWL
*Colorado St (6-6, 4-4 MWC)
Fresno St (7-5, 4-4 WAC)

PIONEER LAS VEGAS BOWL
*(16) Brigham Young (10-2, 6-2 MWC)
Arizona (7-5, 5-4 Pac-10)

R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL
Southern Miss (6-6, 4-4 C-USA)
*Troy (8-4, 6-1 S. Belt)

SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL
(9) Boise St (12-0, 8-0 WAC)
*(11) TCU (10-2, 7-1 MWC)

SHERATON HAWAII BOWL
*Hawaii (7-6, 5-3 WAC)
Notre Dame (6-6, 4-2 home)

MOTOR CITY BOWL
Florida Atlantic (6-6, 4-3 S. Belt)
*Central Michigan (8-4, 6-2 MAC)

MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL
West Virginia (8-4, 5-2 Big East)
*North Carolina (8-4, 4-4 ACC)

EMERALD BOWL
Miami (FL) (7-5, 4-4 ACC)
*California (8-4, 6-3 Pac-10)

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL
Wisconsin (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten)
*Florida St (8-4, 5-3 ACC)

INDEPENDENCE BOWL
*Northern Illinois (6-6, 5-3 MAC)
Louisiana Tech (7-5, 5-3 WAC)

PAPAJOHNS.COM BOWL
North Carolina St (6-6, 4-4 ACC)
*Rutgers (7-5, 5-2 Big East)

VALERO ALAMO BOWL
*(21) Missouri (9-4, 5-3 Big 12)
(23) Northwestern (9-3, 5-3 Big Ten)

ROADY'S HUMANITARIAN BOWL
Maryland (7-5, 4-4 ACC)
*Nevada (7-5, 5-3 WAC)

PACIFIC LIFE HOLIDAY BOWL
(13) Oklahoma St (9-3, 5-3 Big 12)
*(17) Oregon (9-3, 7-2 Pac-10)

TEXAS BOWL
Western Michigan (9-3, 6-2 MAC)
*Rice (9-3, 7-1 C-USA)

BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL
Houston (7-5, 6-2 C-USA)
*Air Force (8-4, 5-3 MWC)

GAYLORD HOTELS MUSIC CITY BOWL
*(24) Boston College (9-4, 5-3 ACC)
Vanderbilt (6-6, 4-4 SEC)

CHICK-FIL-A BOWL
LSU (7-5, 3-5 SEC)
*(14) Georgia Tech (9-3, 5-3 ACC)

SUN BOWL
*Oregon St (8-4, 7-2 Pac-10)
(20) Pittsburgh (9-3, 5-2 Big East)

INSIGHT BOWL
*Kansas (7-5, 4-4 Big 12)
Minnesota (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten)

OUTBACK BOWL
*South Carolina (7-5, 4-4 SEC)
Iowa (8-4, 5-3 Big Ten)

GATOR BOWL
*Nebraska (8-4, 5-3 Big 12)
Clemson (7-5, 4-4 ACC)

FEDEX ORANGE BOWL
*(12) Cincinnati (11-2, 6-1 Big East)
(19) Virginia Tech (9-4, 5-3 ACC)

CAPITAL ONE BOWL
*(15) Georgia (9-3, 6-2 SEC)
(18) Michigan St (9-3, 6-2 Big Ten)

THE ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY CITI
(8) Penn St (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten)
*(5) USC (11-1, 8-1 Pac-10)

COTTON BOWL
*(25) Mississippi (8-4, 5-3 SEC)
(7) Texas Tech (11-1, 7-1 Big 12)

ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL
(6) Utah (12-0, 8-0 MWC)
*(4) Alabama (12-1, 8-0 SEC)

AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL
*Kentucky (6-6, 2-6 SEC)
East Carolina (9-4, 6-2 C-USA)

INTERNATIONAL BOWL
Buffalo (8-5, 5-3 MAC)
*Connecticut (7-5, 3-4 Big East)

TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL
(10) Ohio St (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten)
*(3) Texas (11-1, 7-1 Big 12)

GMAC BOWL
(22) Ball St (12-1, 8-0 MAC)
*Tulsa (10-3, 7-1 C-USA)

FEDEX BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
*(2) Florida (12-1, 7-1 SEC)
(1) Oklahoma (12-1, 7-1 Big 12)

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

Musburger

"You can cut a snake's head off, but he continues to live!" - Brent Musburger, 1997 Rose Bowl

A single sentence that haunts me to this day. I watched that Rose Bowl game, only interested in the outcome because, my team, the Florida Gators, stood to have a chance at the MNC of college football, only if Ohio State could somehow manage to beat Jake "the snake" Plummer and Arizona State. At that moment, his statement, while perplexing, indicated the Gators' chance of getting the title was small as ASU had just gone ahead with time dwindling in the game. After OSU answered to take the lead, it dawned on me how weird that exclamation was.

Did Musburger have inside information the Plummer was some alien species? Had he actually practiced that line ahead of time (a la Al Michaels in the 1980 Olympic Hockey game between the USA and USSR) in the event the Plummer would lead ASU to an important late game score? Was Brent a closet biology buff who wanted to show his prowess for knowing that dead snakes may not exactly be dead?

Ever since then, if Musburger is announcing a game, I find myself remembering that quote. Obsessive? Perhaps, but as obsessions go, it doesn't interfere with my day-to-day life.

One weird thing about Musburger is that he really evokes some primal responses in folks. a friend once referred to him as "Musfucker" when she didn't like his characterization of her team during a game. Needless to say, holiday cards were not sent to him that year either.

Bowl Game Picks Part II

Continuing my own lame attempts at prognostication:

OUTBACK BOWL Tampa
Jan. 1, 11 a.m. (ESPN) Wisconsin (9-3) vs. Tennessee (9-4)

Two mediocre, boring offensive teams slug it out in the lamest of the New Year's Day Bowls. Tennessee will be without its Offensive Coordinator, WR's coach and 6 players who are ineligible for the game. Wisconsin is from the Big Ten. Great fun for all! Wisconsin 9, Tennessee 8.

COTTON BOWL Dallas
Jan. 1, 11:30 a.m. (FOX) Missouri (11-2) vs. Arkansas (8-4)

Another contractual mismatch. The Cotton Bowl gets first pick of the Big 12 non-BCS teams and fourth non-BCS SEC squad. The biggest shock is when the SEC actually wins this game. This is not to be one of those years. Missouri is undefeated against all teams not named Oklahoma. Arkansas will be coached by someone and who really has any clue how they will respond. Missouri 35, Arkansas 23.

GATOR BOWL Jacksonville
Jan. 1, Noon (CBS) Virginia (9-3) vs. Texas Tech (8-4)

Al Groh's offense vs. Mike Leach's offense. Red Raiders 56, UVa 35.

CAPITAL ONE Orlando, Fla.
Jan. 1, 1 p.m. (ABC) Michigan (8-4) vs. Florida (9-3)

The granddaddy of the non-BCS games pits Michigan in Lloyd Carr's last game against Heisman winner Tim Tebow and the the Florida Gators. Despite the torchability of the Florida secondary, I expect the Gators to have more than enough to take care of a mostly fired Michigan coaching staff and their weak offense. If Rich Rodriguez were coaching this game, I would give Michigan a chance, but then again, they do play in the Big Ten. Oh yeah and Urban Meyer is undefeated lifetime in bowl games. Gators 49, Wolverines 19.

ROSE BOWL Pasadena, Calif.
Jan. 1, 4:30 p.m. (ABC) USC (10-2) vs. Illinois (9-3)

Example #23 of why the BCS is such a joke. Illinois representing the BCS is like Lynne Spears writing a book on parenting tips. Oops, that happened too. USC will once again trounce a joke representative from the Big Ten. Bonus viewer points for being able to follow the mental droppings of Illinois coach Ron Zook during his half time interview. USC 39, Illinois 17.

SUGAR New Orleans
Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m. (FOX) Hawaii (12-0) vs. Georgia (10-2)

Hawaii. Worst undefeated team ever. June Jones is supposedly actively looking for a new job. I am guessing that he does not relish the thought of how his team will be helping to jump start the 2008 Heisman campaign for Tim Tebow when they open the season in the Swamp. As for this game, Hawaii will likely have to chain convicted/acquitted rapist Colt Brennan to his room during their time in New Orleans. Georgia will likely be able to run at will against Hawaii and have a stout enough defense to disrupt Brennan and co. Georgia 38, Hawaii 21.

FIESTA BOWL Glendale, Ariz.
Jan. 2, 8:00 p.m. (FOX) West Virginia (10-2) vs. Oklahoma (11-2)

West Virginia will be coached by an interim and Oklahoma will be looking to erase the memory of last year's fantastic finish against Boise State. Oklahoma's freshman QB Sam Bradford is a name to watch for next year's Heisman. West Virginia could be playing with White, Slaton etc. for the last time depending on the outcome of their coaching search. I say there is a 50% chance some sort of chicanery involving Noel Devine takes over the media in the last 24 hours prior to kickoff. Sooners 31, Mountaineers 23.

ORANGE BOWL Miami
Jan. 3, 8 p.m. (FOX) Kansas (11-1) vs. Virginia Tech (11-2)

If Hawaii is the worst BCS team, then the Orange Bowl is the worst BCS game. Kansas feasted on enough cupcakes this year to almost sate the immense hunger of Mike Mangino. Virgina Tech, on paper appears to have lost once in somewhat fluke circumstances to BC and of course had the blowout against LSU. but when you watch them play, you never feel like you are watch one of the 4 best teams in the country. Hokies 27, Kansas 18.

INTERNATIONAL BOWL Toronto
Jan. 5, Noon (ESPN2) Rutgers (7-5) vs. Ball State (7-5)

To call this the "Who Gives a Shit Bowl" wouldn't adequately distinguish it from about 20 of the other bowls. Ball State is fairly good at putting a scare into BCS teams, but last year that team was Michigan and this year was Nebraska. Rutgers 28, Ball State 24.

GMAC BOWL Mobile, Ala.
Jan. 6, 8 p.m. (ESPN) Tulsa (9-4) vs. Bowling Green (8-4)

Actually a nice matchup for fans of good solid offense. This game has a chance to be tons more entertaining than the last game of the season. Tulsa 33, Bowling Green 23.

BCS TITLE GAME New Orleans
Jan. 7, 8 p.m. (FOX) Ohio State (11-1) vs. LSU (11-2)
Last season: No. 2 Florida 41, No. 1 Ohio State 14

OSU, 0-8 lifetime versus the SEC in bowl games. LSU is perhaps the worst BCS participant since Oklahoma in 2003. OSU plays in the Big Ten. LSU relies on coaching decisions enhanced by the mental Viagra of Les Miles. OSU is actually better balanced this year than last year in that QB Boeckman can have an off day and OSU will still be able to score. LSU should be 100% healthy for the this game which is not good news for OSU. If the game comes down to coaching you have to give the edge to Tressel. If it comes down to athletes, LSU. I think this one is a nail biter and OSU finally gets the SEC monkey off of its back. OSU 23, LSU 21.

Hail to the Chompions!

I know it has been a while since the Final Four, but dude, that ruled!

At the last minute, my lovely wife scored tickets to the games! She is a UCLA grad, so I did have to sit with the Bruins. However, the Final Four is easily the single best sporting event I have ever experienced. The whole weekend was a blast and this is coming from a guy that drove 13.5 hours with three kids under 3 years old to get there.

I will tell you that the gators did play as if there was no tomorrow and I couldn't be happier to be a UF grad. I know I now have about a 10 year moratorium on complaining about them.

Go Gators!

No Day But Today

A familiar refrain from the largely forgettable musical, Rent. But yet, this line and the implications of it have been echoing in my head recently. Perhaps it is because this past year (my twins will be one year old in three weeks) has gone by so fast. I look back and see that I spent way too much time worrying about bullshit that really doesn't make a difference. I guess that is easy to do when you are in the middle of something so monumentally hard to do as working full time and taking care of two infants and a toddler.

So why do I break my non-creativity streak and post now?

Two reasons: NCAA tourney and Kids

NCAA tourney - this event to me has become the premier sporting event of the year. I would say that college basketball is my third favorite sport behind college football and soccer. But, this tournament is the most riveting event around. Each game is a drama and the overall product delivers the goods every time. Last year, my team, Florida, played like there was no day but today and improbably won it all. This year, every pundit acts like it would be a failure if they didn't win it all, but I think it will be the greatest accomplishment of my lifetime should they do it.

Take these points:

1) The best team seldom wins the NCAA tournament
2) The team that can impose its game on others, wins more often than it loses
3) The team that can play defense best wins

For point #1, the best team left is Kansas, followed closely by North Carolina. All the stats back me up on this and head to head, Kansas beat UF earlier this season in an OT game that UF was lucky to force.

For point #2, UF is better at your game than you are. If you want to play half court, they are better at it than you. In the half court game, Horford is unstoppable. If you want to play physical, they have the strongest and most fearsome player in Chris Richard. If you want to run and gun, Noah, Green and Humphrey will quickly light you up. Yet, Kansas is even better at all of that than UF. Their larger guards can bury shots like no one else.

For point #3, Georgetown wins here, but Hibbert is such an overrated stiff, that they will eventually stumble. The next best two teams are Kansas and North Carolina. UCLA plays good defense, but Afflalo is such a head case, I don't trust them against an equally matched opponent.

No Day But Today. That is the only way that Florida overcomes the gorilla named Kansas that lies ahead on March 31 in Atlanta. Leave it all behind and don't think of what could happen if you were to lose. No Day But Today. All of the pundits that have picked Florida to win, likely already have half of the column written that describes how foolish they were to pick them should they fall without a championship. Live the moment like it is your last.

I am confident that both of these teams will not let the clearly inferior opponents left stop them from what should be the true national title game. As much personal pain as it would cause for UF to play UCLA again, I would welcome that so much more than having to face Kansas.

Kids - There is nothing like having kids to bring up all the hang-ups and fears you have about yourself. I know that my little guys don't analyze everything I say to them and take it as a life lesson. But I do think they every day has the potential to be a day that is remembered forever. There are days from when I was 3 that I can still recall very vividly. My oldest will be 3 soon and her earliest memories will be formed. No Day But Today.

Every day is a gift, every laugh, smile, milestone, tantrum and lesson learned is something to cherish.

She went with me to Ma'ariv services tonight and really surprised me by being very well-behaved, very insightful and sweeter than I could ever be. Ma'ariv services start at 7:45 PM at this time of year which is a horrible time of day for a two and one-half year old. They are tired and ready for bed. I explained that this service was a quiet place as we entered the temple and she was perfect. The only sounds she made were "Amen's" and an insightful comment.

As we sat down for the mourners to recite the mourners kaddish, she says, "Daddy, where is Mr. God?" This drew a couple of laughs from the other folks around us. I did tell her that Mr. God is "everywhere".

As we finished the service, I asked her to think a good thought for her Aunt Sheila. She stopped and closed her eyes and then looked at me. I asked her what she she was thinking of, and of course she replied, "Aunt Sheila." Sheila, you have Eliana on your side, and with her comes lots of love and all of the things that Mr. God can do to help. You can't lose.

UF Baseball Advances in CWS

UF's baseball team defeated Nebraska 7-4 Sunday night in the College World series in Omaha. The gators now need only one victory to advance to the championship series where they would face the winner of the other semifinal pod.

Here is a schedule of games to give you a better idea of how the tournament works. Basically the final 8 teams are broken into two groups of four. Each group of four plays a double elimination tournament. Once a victor is determined from each group of four. Those two teams play a best of 3 series to determine the national champion. UF has never advanced to an NCAA baseball title game.

UF defeats FSU to earn CWS berth

The Florida Gators baseball team defeated hated rival FSU 8-5 to win the second game of their best of three series with the Seminoles. UF won game 1 on Friday night 8-1 with starter Tommy Boss throwing a complete game. UF now heads to the College World Series in Omaha Nebraska where they will face SEC rival Tennessee.

As of this posting, all 3 SEC teams in Super Regionals were still alive with 2 already advancing to Omaha. Fifth-seeded Ole Miss is facing Texas for a spot on the other side of the bracket.

First UF Post

Since I did name this the Maryland Gator Blog, I should spend more time focusing on UF sports.

I have yet to meet a UF graduate that is not excited about this upcoming football season. Everyone thinks better days are ahead with the arrival of Urban Meyer to lead the troops against the best of the SEC. All are happy the Ron Zook disaster is behind us.

I am sure he is a hard working, good guy, but he is just not a great football coach. Some thoughts on the Zooker (no offense to Illinois fans):

1. He was way too lax on discipline with our team which is why off campus incidents and arrests climbed after he took over the program. Meyer promises to correct this trend. One wonders how he can expect to have players be disciplined on the football field (i.e. no penalties and flawless execution of plays), when they are not disciplined in anything else they do.
2. He was too conservative for the college game. Unlike the NFL, college games are not generally won or lost on the last possession of the game. Better teams impose their will on the other team and force them to do things they would rather not do. UF played close games against good teams and bad teams while Zook was coach. Sure we were always in the game, but we never were able to make the other team react to us for the full duration of the game.
   
3. The man is incapable of stringing together coherent thoughts during interviews. Again, if he has that much trouble communicating to a sideline reporter asking a fluff question, how can one expect him to adequately impart game plan information to his coordinators and players? Sure he is "high energy", but he would probablyhave more of his plan actually put into place if he spoke in a manner understandable to the rest of the humans in the room.
   

I am definitely ready to move on from the past and get back to the business of being the most feared team in the SEC!