It’s the most wonderful time of the year! College football is set to embark on yet another bowl season which means games on almost every night starting next week. I’m not going to bore you with another BCS rant because we all know how I feel about the matter… it sucks!
This system is the most un-American way to decide a national champion that I can think of. This country, which was built on the sweat and blood of great men, still lets the BCS get away with this travesty after 13 years. A system that is decided by computers and sports writer/AD opinions is no system at all. I can’t even begin to tell you how lame it is. Would getting ready for a 16 or 8 game playoff this week be any fun?
Would a playoff bracket make any money or cause any excitement? Am I laying on the sarcasm enough? The answer is a resounding YES to all of those questions but apparently my bitching and moaning here at ITS for the past 2 seasons has fallen on deaf ears. I guess some dude in NW Ohio screaming into cyberspace hasn’t made that much of a difference. Oh well. Since we have to live with this unfortunate system for now, I wanted to cover the best of this year’s bowl games. Every year there are intriguing matchups that you wouldn’t have otherwise seen during the regular season.
Those oddball games are great entertainment and a spectacular reason to stop talking to your co-workers and family during holiday gatherings! That reason alone is worth its’ weight in gold. So plant your ass in a favorite recliner, grab a cold one and get ready for the last of college football until next fall. Disclaimer #1- This is an Ohio St. blog (if haven’t already noticed). I will not include the Gator Bowl because it is obvious that contest is the best game to watch. There will be tons of pre game coverage on this blog and others so I don’t want to attack this one just yet.
Even though 6-6 wasn’t what we had in mind, the Gator Bowl offers a rare opportunity for retribution and revenge against those swamp rats from Gainesville. You don’t often get opportunities for a rematch when over 100 teams play in your sport so let’s hope the Buckeyes can get that monkey off their back. I really want this win even if it is on a slightly smaller stage than in 2006. Disclaimer #2- I refuse to include the MNC because it is bullshit that Alabama got another shot at LSU. Not only did the Tide not win their conference, they failed to even win their own division. While LSU was busy earning their way in the SEC championship, Bama was at home resting in preparation for the game they already knew they were going to. How on earth is that fair? If I were an Oklahoma St. fan I would be irate with anger.
The SEC bias in this country (ahem.. ESPN) is totally nuts. Alabama had their shot and they lost. Nobody can tell me otherwise. This year’s game is a sham. OK, without further adieu, I give you the best 3 bowl games this holiday season in no particular order.
Tositos Fiesta Bowl– Somehow Oklahoma St. has to get over the shit hand they were dealt and I think they take that anger out on Stanford. The game will feature two of the nation’s best quarterbacks in Andrew Luck and Brandon Weeden which should mean lots o’ points. Everyone enjoys a good barn burner and I think this one will deliver.
The Stanford offense is dangerous and can put points up with the best of them but I still don’t believe they are in the same class as OSU. The OSU/OK game really opened my eyes as to how good this team is. Blackmon is an absolute beast and I pity the poor corner who is assigned to cover him. He sure would look good in Orange and Brown next year. Sorry, I was just drooling at the thought of him in Cleveland. It will be close but look for OSU to come out on top.
Rose Bowl– I’ve been a Big Ten homer all of my life and it was impossible to leave the Granddaddy of them all off this list. The setting and pageantry of this game is unmatched in college football. Hey, the matchup is pretty good too. Those brutes from cheese land will take on the high octane offense from Eugene. I don’t know which way to lean in this one. On one hand, I want to go with Wisconsin and that massive offense.
If the Badgers can get that run game going, they might just stay on the field the whole night. That is the best way to beat Oregon after all. They can’t score points if they aren’t on the field. If the Duck defense can somehow stop Monte Ball and company from plowing them over I really like Oregon in this game. We saw firsthand how good that offense can be and how fast the scoreboard can light up. I am really excited for this one and I’m just going to go with Wisconsin because it is my blog and I have a Big Ten bias. So there.
Sugar Bowl– I really wanted to leave this game off the list but there aren’t a ton of other great games this year (thanks BCS). Is Michigan for real? Virginia Tech will offer a stern test but you wouldn’t know it after the throttling they took against Clemson. The Hokies really backed their way in to the BCS this year but somebody does that every season. Michigan on the other hand actually deserves to be in the big show this season. I know there are a lot of folks that wanted to see the Spartans get the nod but Michigan just offers the sexiest matchup for New Orleans.
Those turds up north have a huge following and they definitely offer a better game in theory. We shall see what happens but I think Denard and a vastly improved defense will get the Wolverines out of New Orleans with a victory. So that’s the list. There are some other marginal games that interest me but by and large the matchups were a little disappointing. That doesn’t mean I won’t be glued to the television starting next week. Bad college football is still light years ahead of the NBA so you know I will be tuned in. If you have a different opinion, don’t hesitate to tell me how stupid I am in the comments.
