HERE COME THE GOOD BOWLS: Part I

Well the bowl games are really starting to heat up. The appetizer games are getting more interesting (some of the games over the past week or so have been nothing more than back ground action). And there has been a lot going on in the news. Here are some of the highlights, just in case you missed it.

#1. Urban Meyer is stepping down from UF and Will Muschamp is stepping in. For a man that has earned the right to call his shots in Gainesville and adjust his schedule as he sees fit, I find this one very odd. There seems to be more to the story that I don't think the general public has received yet. I can not say I'm surprised by Urban's decision as he toyed with it last year, but walking away from Florida with so many wins still on the table is a head scratcher. I guess Life-After-Tebow is harder and more painful than it looks. And know this Dawg fans, if Will Muschamp wins The Cocktail Party next year, Mark Richt is toast.

#2 Bill Stewart to be replaced by Dana Holgorsen. So Bill has one more year at the helm and Dana is going to come over and be the OC? Really? Can next year get any more awkward at WVU? I know we all like Bill Stewart he lives and breathes WVU football, but this decision is like deciding you kind of want to the band-aid off. Not a fan. Pull the plug and let's get to it. No messing around with he's kind of the new sheriff in town.

#3 Maryland is getting rid of the Fridge. Not sure I understand exactly what Maryland is looking for here. Ralph is an alum, he's been winning modest bowl games, and putting up decent numbers in the W's department. So they get rid of him with no real succession plan in place. OK, I think? Maybe they were just waiting for Ralph to finish up the bowl game, but something does not look well thought out here. Jumping from to Ralph to potential Lubbock meets Key West bad boy Mike Leech could be a gamble of epic proportions. Leech would score more points though no doubt. Seems like revising Ralph's staff a bit more (maybe starting with the recruiting coordinator) was in order first, but that's just a thought because it just seems to me that they have not been hitting the mark in the talent war.


And now on to the best days in the College Football Post Season! The Bowl Season really heats up starting today. Let's jump in:

Thursday December 30th:

#1 Army vs SMU in Armed Forces Bowl
(12/30) Noon on ESPN
Really not much too say as this one is not on too many people's radar. Home game for SMU as the game is in Dallas. Know this. June Jones is going to keep winning. A win today puts SMU at 8-6, and drops Army to a loosing record on the season. You think Southern Methodist was glad to get Coach off the Island? This makes 2 bowls in a row for SMU. Things are going in the right direction.

#2 Kansas State vs Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl
(12/30) 3:30 PM on ESPN
This one has the makings for a really good game that you didn't see coming. I could be wrong here, but I see this being one of the better games of the day. The 2 teams are evenly matched and very comparable. Both are 7-5 and hungry for the 8th win of the season. I like K-State. They won their last game and the 'Cuse comes in on a 2 game loosing streak. Plus this game is in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium, so it will a cool first time experience. Many consider it a home game for Syracuse, but look for K-State to settle down and put on the jets.

#3 North Carolina vs Tennessee in the Music City Bowl
(12/30) 6:40 PM ESPN
Well this is another great match up. In a year of "What could have been" for UNC and "Wait until next year" for Tenn. A loss here puts Tenn at a loosing record for year, but I like UT in this one. Not too say that UNC is not talented and capable of pulling this one out, but I was at the VaTech/UNC game this year, and UNC missed opportunities and flat out got out played. I see comparable athletes on Tenn's squad, especially at the emerging QB in Tyler Bray (he's the bright future for Knoxville) and the bevvy of talented receivers. Look for Tenn in this one.

#4 Nebraska vs Washington in the Holiday Bowl
(12/30) 10:00 PM ESPN
I could have sworn we already played this game. Oh yeah we did and Nebraska took Washington to the wood shed back on Sept 18th, with a 38-17 pummelling. Thanks Bowl committee. I'm loving the creative have not seen this before bowl selections. Plus Nebraska is 18th in the country and 10-3, while Washington is 6-6. I don't get it. I repeat, I don't get it. Nebraska should be playing someone in their class this year, like Alabama or Michigan State. But Washington...that's just tomfoolery.

Check back in tomorrow as we'll preview the Dec 31st games in Part II of the "HERE COME THE GOOD BOWLS" series.

Enjoy!

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Clemson Proves Too Much for Kentucky in Music City Bowl

Last night looked to be a cold one in Nashville, and CJ Spiller and company were too much for Kentucky in a 21 - 13 victory. The win puts Clemson at 9-5 on the year and drops Kentucky to 7-6.

(Photo Courtesy of Mark Humphrey, AP)

Kentucky took the lead early with a Newton to Matthews TD pass, which had Clemson's secondary turned around, but that lead did not hold. A pretty pass from Parker to Ford tied the game right back up at 7-7.

Clemson amassed 312 total yards of Offense, and held Kentucky to just 277 total yards. Down the stretch Kentucky could not convert on a 4th and long. Ricky Sapp for Clemson came up big as he tackled Newton just shy of a first down.

CJ Spiller, who played a good portion of the year with turf toe, battled through last night and went out on a high note. He becomes the only player in ACC History to have a touchdown in every game of the season. He finished with 172 total yards last night and 1 TD.

(Photo Courtesy of Mark Humphrey, AP)

In addition, Clemson's defense played outstanding. The entire squad showed up when it counted most.

Coach Brooks for Kentucky just coached his last game. He will more more than likely be handing the reigns over to Joker Phillips for the 2010 season.