HERE COME THE GOOD BOWLS: Part III

New Year's Day! Definitely the best time of the year for college football fans. We've got 6 great looking games to day and an absolutely sexy Rose Bowl game. I can't remember a more compelling match up than this Rose Bowl right here. Let's jump in.

Saturday January 1st

#1 Northwestern vs Texas Tech in the TicketCity Bowl
(1/1) Noon ESPNU
The battle of the 7-5's. This makes back to back New Year's Day bowls for Northwestern. This one is being played in the Cotton Bowl, and it should be a doosy for Texas Tech. Persa is out for Northwestern and he's the heart & soul for that squad. So goes Persa so goes Northwestern. Tubs gets a bowl win for his first year in Lubbock.


#2 Florida vs Penn State in the Outback Bowl
(1/1) 1:00 PM ABC
Now we're talking! It would not be New Year's without JoePa. We get crusty old JoePa, a living legend, and a Coach leaving the game before his time. Story lines abound in this one. I'm curious how Florida will play against a Penn State team that made great strides in righting the ship this year. It was a bumpy road, but if they can find a way to get the ball to #6 Derek Moye, they should be able to move the sticks. Who knows what Florida will do with their QB rotation. Its a circus back there, and its so maddening to watch that Urban had to step back from the program. They say if you got 2 quarterbacks, you don't have 1. I guess, if you got 3 quarterbacks, start shopping for a new coach. Think JoePa will snag a W, and then step aside? Don't hold your breath. He's coaching forever. God bless him. He's press conferences have become the most surreal experiences I can recall. Gators pull out the W, and Urban goes out with a W...for now.


#3 Alabama vs Michigan State in the Capitol One Bowl
(1/1) 1:00 PM ESPN
A great match up. I am curious which BAMA team will show up. I have a feeling Alabama is frustrated from this year, and I have a feeling the Spartans are walking into a beat down. How will Greg McElroy respond to being body slammed in that Auburn game? He did not look good walking off the field that day, but I think he'll bounce back and be able to hand off to Ingram and Richardson. Hitting Julio on the slant should be open on that D too. Saban is not wanting to go into the off season with a loss. While 9-4 is not too bad, you know he's eyeing 10-3. MSU has won a ton of close games this year, and they done so on grit, hard work, and some good old fashioned trickery. Don't be surprised if the Spartans fake a punt or field goal to stay in the game. Saban gets another bowl victory in the books. I have to send out a Coach of the Year nod to Coach Dantonio. He guided the Spartans to one of their best seasons in the modern era, and he suffered from heart attack after the Notre Dame game victory. Great year, Coach!


#4 Mississippi State vs Michigan in the Gator Bowl
(1/1) 1:30 PM ESPN2
If Rich Rodriquez can pull this one out, Michigan fans and alum might cut him some slack. Nah. They'll be calling for his head rain or shine because he's not a Michigan man. Well let me ask you this Michigan, if he's not a Michigan Man, then why did you hire him in the first place? Seems a bit odd that you'd bring him in, if he did not fit your Primary Job Hiring Criteria. Coaching aside, the kicking game is awful for Michigan. The defense is awful for Michigan, and those are 2 critical components to the game of football. Look for Mississippi State to run it all over this Michigan Swiss cheese defense. Dan Mullen is off to great start.


#5 Wisconsin vs TCU in the Rose Bowl
(1/1) 5:00 PM ESPN
Talk about good looking day of football. This is a the T-Bone Steak you've been waiting for. What a great matchup. Wisconsin is 11-1 and TCU is 12-0. If this game does not get you pumped, something is up. I'm curious how John Clay will run on TCU. I've said all year Wisconsin has one of the best Offensive Lines in the country and how they square up against TCU's outstanding defense is where the game will be won. Andy Dalton and company have an opportunity to go 13-0 and ask "Why not us". That's a debate for another, but this game could be huge in the national historic debate of post season college football. Let's say TCU does win. The "Plus 1" crowd will be chirping. And if TCU does win, I'll be chirping too. More football? Hey I'm in. Badgers style football is what its all about, but I have to say I'm rooting for TCU. Bring on the Plus 1. Remember '04 when Auburn was left standing. If we go back and drop in the Plus 1, we would have had the luxury of seeing undefeated Southern Cal vs undefeated Auburn. How in the world can you not like that match up? Yeah, go horned frogs.


#6 UCONN vs Oklahoma
(1/1) 8:30 PM ESPN
Thank the automatic bowl tie-in's for this one. UConn rolls in with an 8-4 record, and the Sooners are 11-2. Not much to say here, except that the Sooners, if they come like they should, will roll big.

Happy New Year!!!


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SO CLOSE YOU CAN ALMOST TASTE IT

With the opening kickoff of the College Football 2010 season just weeks away its time to start breaking down games.


Let's start with opening night, Thursday September 2nd.

(All times are listed in EST)

Southern Miss @ South Carolina
7:30 ESPN
Both teams finished last season with a loss to end the season, and both finished 7-6 in their respective campaigns. But considering the tone that needs to be set early for this season, especially considering the way USC finished last season (they were sloppy and man-handled by UCONN in the bowl game), South Carolina should roll. They will be getting tuned up for the always important early season showdown with Georgia (9/11). The most intriguing aspects for me in this game will be the Offensive Line for USC and how well they protect (Sr.) Stephen Garcia. I am also very interested in seeing the crown jewel of Coach Spurrier's most recent recruiting class, Marcus Lattimore. Is he the second coming? Will he be the starter? Is he THE player that ushers in the balance that Coach has lacked since arriving in Columbia? Look for Carolina to come out gunning for the end zone, and expect Carolina to win by 21.



Marshall @ Ohio State
7:30 Big Ten Network
Ohio state is coming off an 11-2 season last year capped off by an impressive Rose Bowl victory over a very good Oregon team. Marshall on the other hand is coming off a 7-6 season, which they posted just 2 conference wins. I will be keeping an eye on Terrelle Pryor's surgically repaired right knee. He could be wearing a knee brace, and it is going to be a long season. So he might be handing off and focusing on pocket passing for the opener with VERY little scrambling. But let's be honest, running is in his blood and if it's 3rd Down, and he sees daylight and no one open, then there is a really good chance he could bolt. I just hope the body holds up (reference Colt McCoy in the Bama game). Marshall's Defense will resemble swiss cheese and The Buckeyes will roll in front of the home crowd. The Defense will be stifling, and OSU should win by 28.



Pitt @ Utah
8:30 Versus
Huge road test for Pitt. This is without a doubt the best matchup of the night. Both teams finished the season with 10-3 records, but take note: Utah went undefeated in conference play while Pitt dropped 2 games in the conference last year. Of course this is a non-conference game, but those are interesting numbers regardless, especially considering teams without a doubt should be getting up for the conference matchups. Pitt will be working out the kinks with a new QB under center, but look for them to handoff all night and rely on the strong D they bring to the table in 2010. Utah should be tough, but ultimately not have the answers to stop Dion Lewis and Pitt's ground game. Look for Pitt by 10.



USC @ Hawaii
11:00 ESPN
Southern Cal is coming an unusually crazy ride of an off season, and in my opinion get used to it as you, USC, officially signed up for it with Lane Kiffin and the Merry Pranksters. And for USC the hits keep coming as star freshman tailback Dillon Baxter will not be playing in the season opener. Either way usher in the Kiffin Era with a win. USC finished last year 9-4 and Hawaii subpar 6-7 record. Monty is one of the best in the business and the Defense will be stout. USC by 21.

Let me know what you think. How do you see the opening Thursday night festivities panning out?