Watching end of Miami- Nevada. Much better game than anticipated. Which leads to a quick question - how bad is the ACC? Boston College needed Navy to self-destruct in the final minutes to win that game. Va. Tech blew a 21-3 healftime lead and lost to Georgia. Now, Miami leads a WAC team by 1. Throw in Kentucky's win over Clemson and the ACC post-season has been unimpressive. Big 10 has laid a pretty good egg, too.
I love New Year's Day! Tho in Japan, my new yr's day is your new yr's eve, so I ain't watching great football today.
New Year's Predict
Wisconsin/Arkansas - Wisc most underrated 1 loss team. But Arkansas played a much tougher schedule...Arkansas 27-Wisc 24
Tenn/Penn St...great game here. 4 of Penn St losses were to Ohio St, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame...Which Tenn team shows up? The one that beat Cal, or the one that needed a stop on a 2-pt conversion to beat Air Force? Tenn wins, 21-20.
Auburn/Nebraska...Auburn still smarting from Georgia kicking their arse. Nebraska can't stop anyone...Auburn 31-28
West Va/Ga Tech - No Reggie Ball(a good thing), but W Wa can flat out run, with or without Slaton...West Va 30-Ga Tech 24
USC/Mich - Mich still bitching about BCS snub...USC out to prove UCLA loss was abberration...USC wins 44-35
BCS
Wake/Da Ville...Da Ville scores at will, Da Ville 45-21
LSU/Notre Dame...LSU good against pass, Notre Dame passes well...LSU "at home", 31-28
Boise St/Ok...Nevada showed WAC can play with Big Boys...Boise St wins 34-33
Title Game:
Ohio St has all the weapons to turn this into a rout. Florida stays close enough. Chris Leak outduels Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith. In a huge upset, Florida wins, 28-27.
Cotton Bowl - I like Nebraska in this game. Can't pinpoint a major reason but I think this is a solid matchup and Nebraska is finally learning Bill Callahan's offense. Wouldn't be surprised to see either team win.
Outback Bowl - I love Penn State in this one a lot. Joe Paterno is 21-10-1 in bowl games. He earned this by having a disciplined team that will not get destracted. He probably doens't have the most talented team in this game but is a better coach and will have his team better prepared. Coaching before and during the game will determine this outcome and allow PSU to win.
Gator Bowl - Tough for me to guage the impact of the loss of Reggie Ball. Also talk on Steve Slayton not playing due to leg injury so this game has several unkowns. WVU still has to be hurting from that home loss to South FLorida which cost them a shot at BCS game. I'll go with WVU but wouldn't be surprised with anything.
Capital One Bowl - I like Arkansas though I do agree with Pametto that this Wisconsin team has been under the radar and possibly the most underrated 1 loss team ever. I believe Wisco's D is pretty strong so it will be interesting to see McFadden against it.
Rose Bowl - I like USC with the advantage at being home and having recent success in big bowl games even though the players are different. I like Pete Carrol over Lloyd Carr. Again if both teams show up, this game should come down to the last possession. Intrigued to see how two teams comming off dissapointing ends to the season play each other and see how the react.
Fiesta Bowl - I like Oklahoma. I said earlier in the year on this board as BSU was rolling Oregon State that Ian Johnson will become well know by the end of the year and he is a good running back. However, I think facing a D like Oklahoma for the first time will hurt him. More experience against team like this and he would be as good as anyone but with him struggling tonight, BSU will as well. Oklahoma will win on physical toughness and Stoops' experience in these games and should be thrilled to be in BCS game after everything that has happened the past 5 months.
Orange Bowl - I lean toward a big win by Louisville. I think the way WF plays they have a chance to keep it close but I think Louisville strikes quick to take WF out of their game. There have been several instances this year where Louisville struggled on offense during stretches of the game (rutgers, Cincinnati) so if they get a lead they need to focus on keeping the pressure on and not letting WF back in the game.
Sugar Bowl - LSU is just too quick, athletic and big for Notre Dame. I don't think many people would disagree that Notre Dame did not earn this berth and probably shouldn't be here. Big home advantage for tigers as well. Tigers roll.
International Bowl - Cincinnati vs. Western Michigan- I have obviously been following this game very closely. UC has a new head coach in Brian Kelly that has a completely different offensive style than Mark Dantonio. BK's is wide open and he spent the first 8 practices trying to install some of his schemes while keeping a lot of what dantonio had. BK drilled Western Michigan once already while at central michigan so he hasn;t spent a lot of time scouting them. Surprisingly to me a lot of "experts" are picking WMU in an upset but I like the Bearcats. They have a very young and underrated defense which will keep them in the game and Nick Davila who didnt start utnil the upset against Rutgers fits with BK's offense nicely, unfortunately he is a senior and BK is not thrilled with any of the returning coaches. UC 27 WMU 13
Hope you are right. But I believe it will be 5-0 since Pitt at 6-6 did not get in. Uconn, PIT and cuse did not get in. However, I agree the MAC is overrated this year and living off of recent past success. I am leaning towards Ohio vs Southern Miss on Sunday. I wonder how rumors of Frank Solich to Minnesota could effect the team. Ohio has been real up and down this year. If they show up they are a better team then S Miss. I will say both teams are well coached. I'll side with Ohio since the team they loss to in the MAC Championship, Central Michigan dominated their bowl game and Houston who beat USM lost to South Carolina.
