Happy New Year!

Outback (Hall of Fame) Bowl
Thursday, Jan. 1, 11 a.m. ESPN
Iowa vs. South Carolina
Iowa favored by 3
USC vs. Iowa... wait a minute... that was Carson Palmer vs. Brad Banks. I know that Palmer's leader of a 1-11-1 Bengals team; where in the world is Banks? As for the Hall of Fame Bowl, other than a OSU loss to Bama, a Penn State blowout over Auburn, and a slew of Gamecock games, I really don't remember much... er, I guess I remember a good bit.

I've watched a couple of Iowa and S.Car. games; I honestly have no clue how this one will go, but this game will be a fun one to watch, as long as I get the TVs setup by Thursday morning. Coupled with the fact that I'm going to try and cook collared greens, black-eyed peas and cornbread on Thursday, means this game might not get my full attention. That's okay though; as I see the Hawkeyes taking this one from Spurrier.


Capital One (Citrus) Bowl
Thursday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ABC
Georgia vs. Michigan State
Georgia favored by 6
I should be more hyped up for this one, but I'm not. And I, the big SEC fan, should expect to see this one be a run-away, with Georgia high-octane offense and the Bulldog's stellar defense... oh that's right, scratch that about the defense. Thanks to Matt Ryan, Willy Martinezis probably the most hated man in Georgia. (Not too concerned with Mike Vick being locked away anymore...) Auburn went down to Orlando in 2005 with a highly favored team, only to get drubbed by a big, slow Big Ten team - though they didn't look that slow on New Year's Day 2006. I could easily see the same thing happening against Michigan State. Oh, and goodbye to Matt Stafford and Knowshon; best wishes at Detroit, Matt; and to Moreno, have fun doin' that Solja Boy in the NFL.


Konica Minolta Gator Bowl
Thursday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. CBS
Clemson vs. Nebraska
Clemson favored by 3
I hate the Gator Bowl. I don't know why. Perhaps because it always opposed the SEC's Citrus Bowl. Maybe it's because it usually put in a bland Big East team against a bland ACC team. Or it could be because this seemed to be the all-Notre Dame bowl for the late 90's. A decade ago, this match-up might have seemed a little bit more interesting, but now that Nebraska's made that leap into the mainstream of offenses, the only real storyline is seeing a so-so Big XII team play a reeling ACC team. I guess seeing Thunder and Lightning in their final game, along with the outstanding hire of... wait, who'd Clemson get to replace Tommy Bowden. Dabo who? How do you pronounce that? And Auburn's being told it has the worst hire ever? Why wasn't this decision questioned? Oh, right because the Tigers beat the Gamecocks... wait a minute, isn't that what Tommy Bowden has done over the past decade to continually save his job. Nice decision Clemson. Guess it's true that ya'll are Auburn with a lake.




The Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi
Thursday, Jan. 1, 4:30 p.m. ABC
No. 5 USC vs. No. 6 Penn State
USC favored by 10
I don't understand why everyone's saying that this is the game of the bowl season, specifically citing it as better than the National Championship Game. Really. This one? No offense to Penn State (I've been a huge supporter of the Lions all season even though I did predict the Iowa loss), but I don't think anyone has a chance against a Pete Carroll team in a bowl game. USC has been amazing when they have a month to prepare, and the team rolls through anyone in Pasadena. I see the same thing happening here.

I'm obviously happier seeing the Lions play USC though, because a PSU-Oregon State rematch would've been a snoozer (especially after watching Oregon State defeat Pitt 3-0. As Rece Davis said, of all the Sun Bowls ever played, this was certainly one of them.) I think Penn State will stick close through a half, which has normally been the case for Big Ten teams against the Trojans, but USC will take over in the second half.

Oh, and to everyone who says that USC should have been in the championship game over Florida because their loss was on the r .Quit the crying. USC gets the benefit of the doubt at every juncture. They're normally the next-in-line. It's true that it's not the Trojans fault that the Pac-10 sucked, but that's the way it works. In 2004, they were unquestioned as the number one team, even though Auburn played a tougher conference schedule. Instead, people looked at Auburn's win over The Citadel to show why the Tigers should be left out. The Trojans can't benefit from people using their schedule to elevate them, then claim that it's inappropriate to do so the next. That rant's directed at you, David Norrie.


FedEx Orange Bowl
Thursday, Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m. FOX
No. 11 Cincinnati vs. No. 16 Virginia Tech
Cincinnati favored by 2
I'm actually interested in watching this one, unlike everyone else outside of Ohio and the Blacksburg metropolitan area. Cincinnati was knocked around by Oklahoma earlier in the season, but rebounded and came through with a 6-1 Big East record. (Of course, it'd be much easier to hype the Bearcats if not for the mid-season 40-16 loss to Connecticut.) I'm a big fan of Brian Kelly; I wished Auburn had pursued him a little more, but evidently he's really happy in Cincinnati. I didn't think it was possible for anyone to be happy in Cincinnati, but apparently you can be happy there; I guess it's not Scranton.

Virginia Tech nipped their way into the ACC Championship Game, though I (and apparently the SCF Poll voters) thought that Georgia Tech is the superior ACC team at year's end. The Hokies make a return trip to Miami, where they'll try to make-up for that horrible loss to Kansas (which actually legitimized the Jayhawk's overrated season). Thanks Hokies. Va Tech is going for their first win in a BCS bowl, losing the 1999 Sugar, 2004 Sugar (to Auburn) and last season's Orange Bowl.

Finally the SEC Bowl Season Begins

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 31, Noon ESPN
Air Force vs. Houston
Houston favored by 3
Perhaps the most common sense match-up of all the bowls - an military institution takes on a local Texas school. Both teams make their second appearance in the bowl, and one will finally break through with a win.

Houston really should have played for the C-USA championship and I think they are much better overall than Air Force (which isn't going too far out of the limb considering they have considerable more talent). But I always like pulling for the service academies in bowl games, and it would just be wrong to go against Air Force in this game.



Brut Sun Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2 p.m. CBS
Pittsburgh vs. Oregon State
Oregon State favored by 3
Something I've wondered for years: during the entire season, CBS covers the SEC, yet in the bowl season, they pick up the PAC-10/Big East Sun Bowl. I don't really get that. Shouldn't CBS buy up the rights to cover an SEC Bowl? Well, at least the Northeast and West Coast will have to handle the horrible analysis of Gary Danielson and the blubbering of Verne Lundquist.

Oregon State was a win over Oregon away from winning the Pac-10 title and playing in the Rose Bowl. The Beavers kept their lead over USC for the majority of the season, somehow winning each week up until the Civil War. Interesting, if the Beavers wouldn't have blown the season opener to Stanford, then that Oregon game wouldn't have mattered. But it's probably better that they lost, since now we'll get Penn State vs. USC instead of a rematch of the Nittany Lions September blowout over OSU

This game should be pretty good. Pitt rebounded after the early season loss to Bowling Green to finish 9-3, including wins over South Florida, Notre Dame and West Virginia, to finish tied for second in the Big East. But I stuck with the Beavers, though I only put six points on it.



Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. ESPN
Boston College vs. Vanderbilt
Boston College favored by 4
OMG! VANDY! BOWL GAME! After a lifetime drought, the Commodores finally get that elusive sixth win and get a bowl invite ... and for all their trouble ... all their hard work ... all their clawing ... they get an invite to glorious, wonderful ... NASHVILLE! Congrats, 'Dores, but, um, since we don't really have an athletic department, or an athletic budget, we're going to need you to stay in your dorms. And the title sponsor is cutting back... so your pregame meals are going to be at Rand. Congrats again!

Maybe the local fans will be confused and think that its a Wednesday Titans game. That'd be an advantage for Vandy, since they're already used to playing in front of another team's fans.





Insight (Copper) Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 5:30 p.m. NFL Network
Minnesota vs. Kansas
Kansas favored by 10
I still hate you NFL Network... but I'll watch this... but I hate you even more for it... and I'll change the channel as soon as Kansas runs the Gophers into the ground and the Peach Bowl starts.

Auburn John's Expert Prediction: Kansas -17







Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ESPN
No. 13 Georgia Tech vs. LSU
Georgia Tech favored by -4
Finally, a non-sarcastic HOORAY!

So we're having a party at the house for New Year's and I can't be happier that Georgia Tech facing LSU will face off during the festivities (I'd say it'd be better than Auburn playing in it again, but I guess I'd rather Auburn being anywhere than sitting at home). I can't imagine a better ACC-SEC match-up in the Peach Bowl.

Georgia fans mocked the Paul Johnson hire a year ago, and I told a few that his option offense would give teams a lot of trouble. I didn't really think that Johnson would have the breakout year that he did, almost playing in the ACC title game and breaking the UGA-strangehold. The option is just so hard to prepare for; with so few teams now running it, there is just no way to simulate it in practice.

The LSU program is being run into the ground, but not enough people are noticing it. Les Miles has slowly allowed for the wall around Louisiana to be broken down and all the talent that Nick Saban accumulated is quickly diminishing. Texas, Ole Miss, Florida and Alabama are pilfering the state's talent. Les is going to have the team back to those Gerry DiNardo / Curly Hallman days before long.

A lot of people are beginning to think that the Tigers have the speed and athleticism to stop the Tech ground attack. I remember that being said about Florida and Nebraska in the late 90's. While Nesbit is no Tommy Frazier, LSU - a team that appeared to play with less and less fundamentals as the season went on - is still going to have trouble covering the option. I can't see Tech losing this game.

Marching to those New Year's Bowls

Valero Alamo Bowl
Monday, Dec. 29, 8 p.m. ESPN
Missouri vs. Northwestern
Missouri favored by 13.5
This is normally not such a bad game, but it says something about the Big Ten when Northwestern finds it's way into this game. The Alamo Bowl was home to almost one of the best endings ever when Michigan lost to Nebraska in 2005, but I normally think of the Alamo Bowl being the home of Texas suffering through Chris Sims meltdowns until Major Applewhite came in and led the Longhorns to victory. It felt like it happened in about six consecutive Alamo Bowls (or perhaps Holiday Bowls... these sometimes get confused in my head, but anyway...)

I saw Missouri play earlier in the year and their offense seems to be way too explosive for this Northwestern team. It'll be fun to see Chase Daniel in his final college game, and even though they're not preseason goals probably didn't include a trip to San Antone, I can't see how the Wildcats stick around too long, so I put up a nice 24 on my confidence picks. Kirbstreit on the otherhand (who I'm currently beating, by the way) is putting up a big 12 on Northwestern for the upset, while Fiutak put 20 on Missouri (Fiu is beating my by eight points at the moment, so this is a big game).


Roady's Humanitarian Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 4:30 p.m. ESPN
Nevada vs. Maryland
Even opening line
Finally, a Humanitarian Bowl without Boise State. I know the Broncos have an amazing home record, but surely someone has thought that maybe - just maybe - a team wearing all blue on an all blue field may have a bit of an advantage?

So anyway, Maryland versus Nevada... yeaaaaaaa. Mayland has become one of those ACC teams that just get lost in the muck of my mind. Them and N.C. State and Boston College and Virginia and even Florida State all seem to be basically the same boring team. The last game I really remember Maryland playing was against California when the Terrapins went up huge and had to narrowly hold on to win, which I was happy to see since I took Cal and gave up about 21 points. If a team has no chance to cover the spread, I strongly want them to lose... why should I be the only one to suffer?

I didn't see Nevada play this year, which might explain why I put an uneasy nine points on Maryland. Let's go Turtles!


Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 8 p.m. ESPN
No. 14 Oklahoma State vs. No. 15 Oregon
Oklahoma State favored by 3.5
One of the most exciting bowl games in the history of bowl games, the Holiday Bowl, coupled with the Alamo Bowl, are probably two of the most anticipated December bowl games. Originally the bowl was created to take the WAC champion against an at-large team, which made it a defacto BYU Bowl for the first decade of its existence. Recently it's become more of the place where a team snubbed by the BCS goes to get beaten up.

This year neither team was snubbed and it's on the list of my top three anticipated December bowls (this newly-made list also includes the Poinsettia Bowl and the Peach, err... Chick-fil-A Bowl.) Oklahoma State almost came through with a breakout year: after beating Missouri, the Cowboys narrowly lost to Texas but were beaten like a drum by Texas Tech and Oklahoma. Oregon started the season very poorly, including a home loss to Boise State, before gaining momentum and finally knocking off rival Oregon State to end the Beavers' Rose Bowl dreams.

I'm really excited about this one, which makes me really upset that there's another game scheduled for this time...


Texas Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 8 p.m. NFL Network
Rice vs. Western Michigan
Rice favored by 3
So let me see if I can get this straight. The NFL Network, which is available in about 40 million homes is going head-to-head with ESPN, which is available in 100 million. And to boot, NFL Network is going to show Rice vs. Western Michigan against the always high profile Holiday Bowl. Don't think we could've scheduled this one at 6:30 p.m. NFL execs? Or at least head-to-head with Nevada-Maryland?

Ok, so what really grates my cheese is that I only have one cable box, so only one TV - my big one - gets NFL Network. So I either miss the Texas Bowl (which I actually did two years ago and missed the great Minnesota-Texas Tech game that led to the Glen Mason firing) or I put the Texas Bowl on the big screen and put the Holiday Bowl on a small TV. Or I could do the old fashioned switch-at-commercials, but that negates the second TV that is permanently installed in the living room beginning in mid-September. (Now there is another option which I hate to contemplate involving putting the non-HD Holiday Bowl on the big screen, and the NFL Network game on the non-HD 28-inch... but seriously, non-HD blows.)

So thanks NFL Network. I would cancel our $6-a-month sports package if not for the fact that would deprive my roommate of watching the Tottenham Hotspur, but because you're basically forcing me to miss a bowl game I may just boycott your other broadcast... the Insight Bowl... maybe...

Christmas Delayed

Meinke Car Care Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 27, 1 p.m. ESPN
North Carolina vs. West Virginia
Even opening line
Ok, I love this matchup, but I hate the Meinke Car Care Bowl. That one and the Gator Bowl. But this one I hate just for name alone. Seriously, Car Care Bowl. It couldn't be the Meinke Charlotte Bowl? Or the Meinke Carolina bowl? At the least the Meinke Car Care Charlotte Carolina Bowl could be reduced to the MCCCC Bowl, which I guess in Rome would be the 1400 Bowl.

Seriously, Pat White's last bowl game against whatever Butch Davis can throw out there. I just wish this were a night game. With the even opening line, I'll go with...

Auburn John's Expert Pick: West Virginia + Pat White + Noel Devine > North Carolina + Butch Davis + Finally getting back their starting QB


Champs Sports (Blockbuster) Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 27, 4:30 p.m. ESPN
Florida State vs. Wisconsin
Florida State favored by 5.5
Alright, well I did some research, and even though this bowl was called the Tangerine Bowl in the early 2000's, it's actually the old Blockbuster Bowl. I remember the Blockbuster Bowl from when Alabama beat Colorado in the early 90's (I honestly don't know if that's right. It's coming straight from the top of my head, so you may want to double-check before you wager that 6 points in trivia).

This game initially looks intriguing, before realizing that Florida State has been a marginal ACC team for most of the decade and Wisconsin has continued its post-Alvarez slide and finished fifth (or so) in the Big Ten. At least there's a game that follows this one...


Emerald (San Francisco) Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 27, 8 p.m. ESPN
California vs. Miami
California favored by 6
... Oh crap, the game that follows the Blockbuster Bowl is this? The Emerald Bowl has a stigma. And that stigma suits it for its birthname. I don't think I've ever seen this game be exciting, and I can't guess it'll start now with these two underachievers. I was able to manage to see the Hurricanes again this season in-person (which makes Miami my most-seen non-SEC team... Yeaaaaa)

Auburn John's Expert Prediction: I'll be drunk before this Saturday night is over.


PetroSun Independence Bowl
Sunday, Dec. 28, 8:15 p.m. ESPN
Louisiana Tech vs. Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois favored by 2
You know the guys in Shreveport are thoroughly excited in seeing this one. In the game that will forever be known as the WeedWacker Bowl, this one will include two non-BCS team for the first time in 20 years. (Yeah, I actually had to look that one up.)

At least the residents of Shreveport will get the cultural influx of those from Ruston. Yeaaaaa elitists from Ruston!

For me, it'll be a good chance to see two of the top candidates that Auburn passed over for Gene Chizik. Wait, wasn't the Independence Bowl home of every Iowa State bowl game in the early 2000's? Why aren't the Cyclones playing in this one? Oh, they only won 5 games... that's ok; Auburn only won five games... oh, Chizik only led them to five wins in 2 years?!?!?! ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!



PapaJohns.com (Birmingham) Bowl
Monday, Dec. 29, 3 p.m. ESPN
Rutgers vs. N.C. State
Rutgers favored by 6.5
I love Papa Johns. Seriously, they have the best delivery pizza around. So what that it took them two years before they realized they should serve Papa John's pizza during the bowl game. I'm sure no one noticed that the bowl's sponsor was serving Tostito's pizzas for $4 a slice.

This actually isn't too horrible of a game. Unfortunately it's being played in the ghetto of Birmingham (I know what your thinking, isn't all of Birmingham a ghetto? Well, yeah... it is.) But this one is at Legion Field, which has been partially condemned. Of course, the Wolfepack and Knights could only fill up half of the stadium anyway, so the fact that an upper deck may fall during the game shouldn't really be much of a problem.

Auburn John's Expert Prediction: Over / Under on Gameday Muggings: 86

A note on CollegeFootballNews.com

I've been a reader of collegefootballnews.com for about eight years or so (back when the site was so bad that this blog would put it to shame), and for about the same timespan, I've been a fan of its founder Pete Fiutak, basically as much for his funny, zany and all-together strange posts as for the dead-on predictions and commentary. (I'll put more weight in his and Kirbsteit's opinions than anyone else covering college football... sorry Trev Alberts...)

That said, I have to take the good and the bad, and for an Auburn fan, lately all commentary has been bad.

With that said, I'm going to steal Pete's Christmas Wishlist and post the SEC teams here. For all other team's, go here.

The Fifth Annual Christmas/Festivus/Hanukkah wish list for all SEC teams this holiday season. To ...
Alabama: Gene Chizik … wait a minute Bama, you’re not supposed to open your presents early.

Arkansas: A Matt Ryan jersey.

Auburn: The next five years to go by very, very quickly.

Florida: The NFL advisory board to give Tim Tebow a 5th round projection, and for the Cleveland Browns to not want to go the college coaching route after the Butch Davis fiasco.

Georgia: crowbar to open up the slammed shut window of national title opportunity the program had with future Detroit Lion QB Matthew Stafford under center and Knowshon Moreno in the backfield.

Kentucky: The incoming quarterback recruits to be good enough to allow Randall Cobb to be used in a variety of positions.

LSU: A damn strong football team and a quarterback whose favorite receiver isn’t wearing the other team’s colors.


Mississippi State: Dan Mullen to show right away that his offense consists of more than Tebow right, Tebow left, Tebow right.

Ole Miss: Ed Orgeron to come back as the recruiting coordinator.

South Carolina: An interception that Gamecock quarterbacks don’t like to throw.

Tennessee: Lane Kiffin’s wife to not be the only aspect of the program that’s smoking hot.

Vanderbilt: A quarterback who can throw half as well as Jay Cutler and an attack that can score more than 14 points on a consistent basis.

Running on Fumes

Motor City Bowl
Friday, Dec. 26, 7:30 p.m. ESPN
Central Michigan vs. Florida Atlantic
Central Michigan favored by 6.5
Yeah, okay, this one is a dog with fleas... but I know a little something about that. What you're gonna wanna do, Motor City Bowl, is call Pestex Fleabusters... they've got a year's guarant... wait a minute; this game's sponsored by the Big Three Automakers? Are you guys going to use our tax dollars on this? I know I said I love the bowls, but I'm not sure if I can condone this...

And for Pete's sake, if I have to hear one more time about how great Howard Schnelleburger is, I'm going to go nuts ... can someone explain how the man is still living - he left Miami 25 years ago because he was getting too old!!! And Central Michigan's QB is going to have to change his name. I can't spell it. Dan LeFever is as close as I can get.

With almost two full days without college football (and with the earlier 7:30 kickoff), I'm sure I'm going to watch this game, but it might be while playing beer pong. Which reminds me, we're looking for competitors for those who are interested.

I put down 23 points on Central Michigan, so I'm guessing I'm pretty confident that the Chippewas are taking down the Owls, which would make me a little worried since I only saw them play twice - both losses (Georgia and Ball State) and in both cases I took CMU and the points. But I'm ok because that's two more games than I've seen Florida Atlantic play (well, that and both Kirbstreit and Pete Fuitak of collegefootballnews.com both picked the Chippawas, with Kirbstreit putting down 24).

Auburn John's Expert Prediction: Roommate David gets swept out of the house in three consecutive games of beer pong, flip cup and darts

One More Chance to Pull Against the Irish

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 24, 8 p.m. ESPN
Notre Dame vs. Hawaii
Hawaii favored by 1.5
Hooray! Notre Dame made a bowl game. Great job Irish. So where does the 6-6 team get to go? Oh, Hawaii for Christmas. Nice. Sunny weather. An easy WAC opponent. For a team that lost to Syracuse at home this all should really help get the Irish over .500... Err... wait a minute, doesn't Hawaii always win this game? Haven't the Irish lost every bowl game since Knute Rockne?

I'm surprised Notre Dame didn't force ESPN to drop the game so NBC could pick it up. I hate NBC for their all-Notre Dame, all-the-time contract.

I'm currently 0-1 on my picks, but I press on...

Auburn John's Expert Prediction: Hawaii: 47 , Notre Dame and Charlie's bum leg 19

Pollster's Bowl Time Picks

Alright SFCF poll readers, here are the pollster's picks for the bowl season. We chose to pick our top 16 teams games, as well as three picks of our own, all of which will count as a single game. Here are the picks, and the bowl, along with the line by the favorite.

No. 1 Florida (-3) vs. No. 2 Oklahoma, FedEx BCS National Championship Game
No. 3 Texas (-9.5) vs. No. 10 Ohio State, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
No. 4 Alabama(-10)vs. No. 7 Utah, AllState Sugar Bowl
No. 5 USC vs. No. 6 Penn State (+10), The Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi
No. 8 Texas Tech(-5.5)vs. Ole Miss, Cotton Bowl
No. 9 Boise State (+2.5) vs. No. 12 TCU, San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
No. 11 Cincinnati vs. No. 16 Virginia Tech (+2), FedEx Orange Bowl
No. 13 Georgia Tech (-4) vs. LSU, Chick-fil-A (Peach) Bowl
No. 14 Oklahoma State (-3) vs. No. 15 Oregon, Pacific Life Holiday Bowl

Some other popular picks for games were
North Carolina (pk) vs West Virginia (pk) split picks
Boston College (-3.5) vs Vanderbilt

Thanks to the pollster's who participated, and best of luck to all the bowl teams in their respective games. GO JACKETS

First Weekend Gone By...

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Sunday, Dec. 21, 8:15 p.m. ESPN
Troy vs. Southern Miss
Troy favored by 3.5
Ok, I know a little about college football, and I know the teams that make up the Sun Belt and C-USA, but when I first read this, I couldn't believe that the New Orleans bowl stuck two teams from the same conference together. It just seems that the Eagles and Trojans should be in the same league. And the fact that Troy State, er.. I mean Troy is favored in this goes to show that the Trojans could probably move into C-USA without missing a beat.

For some reason, a college football Sunday night game in New Orleans just seems wrong.


San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 23, 8p.m. ESPN
No. 9 Boise State vs. No. 12 TCU
Boise State favored by 2
Hmm... anyone else wondering if the San Diego County Credit Union got a bailout? It most certainly has one of the premier match-ups of the early bowl season, with WAC Champion Boise State taking on Mountain West runner-up TCU. The Horned Frogs were a missed field goal away from beating Utah for the MWC title, while Boise ran the table but saw Ohio State receive the Fiesta Bowl invite over the Broncos.

Boise is favored, but I see TCU as being the better team. The Broncos' schedule is a tad better than Ball State's, with the only win of note being (at) Oregon, but that was back in September before Oregon became Oregon.

This is the first game that is a must-watch for anyone calling themselves a college football fan. Hmm... I may have to push back going home for Christmas until Christmas Eve Day. This one's going to need my full attention, and so will the kegerator...

Relax, it's just the end of Day 1

Magicjack St. Petersburgh Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 20, 4:30 p.m. ESPN2
South Florida vs. Memphis
South Florida favored by 13
Alright, quick: What's a Magicjack? ... ... ... Yeah, it's okay that you didn't know. I was actually looking up the spreads when I saw an infomercial for this product, and it's perhaps one of the worst made infomercial's I've ever seen. It took me 3 minutes of starring at the TV before I realized what this simple device does. I'm guessing that I'll have bought four of them before this game between the Bulls and the Tigers is over (make that 10 if I've actually had those beers... These'll be GREAT stocking-stuffers and Christmas is only five days away!).

As for the game, this is probably going to be one of the ugliest. The bowl is basically a stone's throw from the USF campus and, while Matt Grothe has the capability to keep Memphis in it, the Bulls should overpower the undermanned Tigers on the field and in the stands. Tommy West, who is clawing his way back to a .500 career record, has to be asking where DeAngelo Williams is and how he can get him back in a Tigers jersey. Jim Leavitt would know.

Oh, and Jim Leavitt is a cheater. Go TIGERS!

Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 20, 8 p.m. ESPN
BYU vs. Arizona
Arizona favored by 3.5
Finally, a game that I can really sink my teeth into. Maybe it was a good thing that I didn't start drinking at 11 a.m. The Cougars attempt to go 3-0 against the Pac-10 while keeping as far away from the Strip as possible. For some reason, I see the Mormons being a little more distracted going to Vegas than the Wildcats - Tuscon is just Vegas-lite.

BYU finished third in the MWC and were blasted by conference rivals TCU and Utah. The Cougars needed a horrible personal foul call to beat Washington while Arizona beat the Huskies by 34. Even though BYU is 10-2, the 7-5 Arizona lost it's games by an average of 5.6 points, and Arizona opened as an early 3.5 point favorite. (I know you're all impressed by these numbers, especially since they are worthless during bowl time.)

I do expect this one to be much more competitive than the Grothe Bowl, which should make for a good end to the first day of bowls.

And so they begin...

EagleBank Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 20, 11 a.m. ESPN
Navy vs. Wake Forest
Wake Forest favored by 3
Hooray... The first of the bowl games finally arrives with this early 11 a.m. EST kickoff, only to be followed by three more games (which ESPN, conveniently, starts at different times). Normally, this setup would have me parked on the couch, juggling remotes with one hand while pumping the keg with the other. Unfortunately, this is our family Christmas weekend, so I'll have to split time watching the tube and my not-yet-two-year-old nephew eat wrapping paper. But that'll be okay for this early morning kickoff because I didn't go to Auburn for the Tennessee game. Why is that important? Because I already saw Navy upset Wake Forest in Winston-Salem on Sept. 24.

So obviously, we already know what's going to happen in D.C. Take the Middies and the 3.

Auburn John's Expert Prediction: Navy 24 Wake Forest 17


New Mexico Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 20, 2:30 p.m. ESPN
Fresno State vs. Colorado State
Fresno State favored by 3
I'm guessing that by 2:30 the kid will be full and ready for a nap, so I should be able to pay attention to this one, though I'll probably still be lacking that first beer. I last saw Colorado State play on Aug. 31, so I know Fresno State much better because I saw them play Wisconsin two weeks later. While in my head the Rams and Bulldogs should be a combined 0-2, somehow they've been invited to a bowl game. Unfortunately, these guys haven't played each other before, so you'll have to make your own guess on who'll win this one.

Interestingly, this game is the first of only four bowl games without a title sponsor but the sixth of the ESPN-owned bowls.

Around the Bowls

by John Buzbee

I've come to realize that there is a growing resentment to the bowls. While I guess it comes from the fact that 98 percent of college football fans are rabidly pro-playoff (of which I'm part of the dwindling two percent), I must say that I love the bowls. Love 'em.

I find enjoyment in the Sugar and Fiesta Bowls, even when Notre Dame is allowed to play in them and you just know the Irish will trail by four TDs by halftime. I love seeing how the conferences fare, even though way too much weight is put on a conference's bowl record. (When a MAC Champion plays a No. 8 BCS-school, obviously, something's going to be a little skewed).

And while many critics (mostly those who don't watch or report on college football - e.g. Harris pollsters and Heisman voters) pipe in that there are too many bowls, I love all 34. I like the fact that 34 teams will end the season with a win, and can claim themselves champions of the PetroSun Bowl (you probably know that one better as the Independence Bowl). I'll sit down with a beer or 12 and watch the rematches and the MAC vs. WAC Wednesday noon game.

What I hate most about the bowls (besides the renaming with corporate sponsers) is what everyone else apparently loves: The Jan. 1 bowl games. Because (up until this year), Jan. 1 pretty much meant the end of the college football season, and nothing is more depressing than that. But not this year! A record seven bowl games will be played after New Year's Day,* with the biggest of non-BCS'ers being the Cotton Bowl, which finally gets its own time slot on Jan. 2. Of course, while others may scoff at being excited over the post-Jan. 1 Liberty, GMAC and International Bowls, I say bring 'em on.

So for this bowl season I'm going to go through and write a little something about each one. I'll include the opening lines for each, and I may even give a prediction for some (which will most certainly be wrong). I may do some quick analysis, and yes, some may only get a single line (I know there are some really bad ones). But regardless, I'm going to give each bowl the spotlight it deserves, because it's the bowls that help make college football truly unique.

*Save for the years where Jan. 1 falls on a Sunday and is moved in consideration of the NFL.

Sayonara Tuberville

Auburn releases Tuberville after a decade on the Plains
by John Buzbee

First off, let's get one thing straight: Olive Tuberville is right. Nothing says anything different than Tuberville was canned. Ousted. Axed. However you want to put it, Tubs was fired. Whichever way the administration wants to call it, nobody gets paid $5.08 million (the prorated amount of the full $6 million buyout) if they just walk away. Or resign. Or quit.

I'm about a week late in chiming in on the Tuberville saga, but in the past week Tubs has shown more class and respect than he's been given over the past seven years. Of course, I could find a similar inner strength if I was being handed a check for $3 million at New Years, and another at Christmas 2009.

Tuberville averaged 8.5 wins over his 10 years at Auburn, and while I'm not willing to round that up to 9, it's not too shabby considering a 50-win run between 2003-2007 (and many people will forget that the bulk of those years came without Cadillac, Ronnie or Jason Campbell), an SEC Championship, an unbeaten (unlucky) 2004 season, and countless SEC West Championships (countless, because I hate counting up the ties).

Auburn slide over the past two years, that fact is evident. But more importantly, people had gotten tired of watching Tuberville-style football. Florida and LSU were putting up mega-points on the way to their national championships (though the Gators were 0-2 and LSU 1-1 against Tuberville in those years). Georgia had become a formidable opponent with an excellent offense. And Auburn, even with a stout defense, was scrapping by offensively and looked to be left behind.

Tuberville heard the grumbling and made a change. Obviously, in hindsight, he would have done things differently. Tony Franklin was not a good fit at Auburn or Tuberville's philosophy. The question though: should Tuberville be fired for that decision? That was answered by the Board through their puppet.

Most know how Auburn's brass attempted to fire Tuberville during the 2003 season. When that went awry, the rank-and-file Auburn fans circled the wagons around Tuberville, the local and national medias glorified him, and he became untouchable by the higher-ups. And word is, he let them know it. As much as Alabama fans hate Tuberville for putting up a new finger for each win over the Tide, the Auburn upper echelon hated Tuberville for getting all the credit. Wasn't it Bobby Lowder and Co. that stole him from Ole Miss? How dare Tubs continue to rub their treason in their face and gloat and be celebrated by the media and everyday fan. Now, with his base grumbling after two poor seasons, the powers-that-be realized they could finally strike down Tuberville. And strike they did.

But aside from a special position to the President - a so-called 'ambassador' of the university - Tuberville is gone, and now all Auburn has left is the puppet that is Athletic Director Jay Jacobs. And in the past week, it's become clear who is running the show at Auburn.

Lowder wanted Tuberville gone, and he didn't care who Auburn would get to replace him. The first round of candidates says as much; not one of those is in the same league as Tuberville: Brady Hoke, Patrick Nix, Rodney Garner, Charlie Strong, Derek Dooley, Gary Patterson, Todd Graham, Turner Gill (And if anyone can tell me how Gill is a great prospective coach, I'd like to hear it. Anyone whose first argument is how he'll bring in great recruits is a racist; and ignorant to college football recruiting.) The best coaches mentioned have been Houston Nutt and Paul Johnson - which are lateral moves at best - and both of those used Auburn to get raises from their current school.

Now Auburn fans are being told that the first group was a smoke-screen for the real candidates. That Auburn's main agenda is to get Steve Spurrier... or Will Muschamp... or Gene Chizik... or Jim Grobe.. or Butch Davis. Of course, most schools work from the top of their wish list to the bottom. Jay Jacobs apparently believes in doing that in reverse. Which may be clever until Nix or Strong or Dooley realize what's going on, and turn-down the Auburn 'offer.' Then it looks like Auburn can't get a third-rate coach, much less a great one.

Auburn has gotten itself into a mess, and it's exactly what the brass wanted. Anyone was better than the smug Tuberville. Unfortunately, Auburn fans now see that those who really run the program care less about competing for SEC championships than showing who should share the spoils.

For Auburn, though, I doubt there's going to be anything to share.

Georgia Tech, Buffalo Named Final Two National Teams of the Week

For Immediate Release

With the Bulls 42-24 win over previous unbeaten Ball State, Buffalo has been named the National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Dec. 6.

Buffalo forced five turnovers - four fumbles, two of which by start QB Nate Davis - to hand the Cardinals their first loss of the season and secure the Bulls first-ever league championship. The victory is the first for Buffalo against Ball State (previously 0-7) and the school's first win against a ranked opponent.

The turnovers ended Ball State's run at perfection, as the five turnovers contributed to 28 points. Buffalo was outgained in every place but the scoreboard, as the Cardinals had 200 more total yards that than the Bulls, converted more first downs, and held the ball for almost 10 more minutes. But it was Buffalo, which won just 10 games in seven seasons before coach Turner Gill took over the program in 2006, who held the MAC Championship Trophy.

The MAC Champions will close their season in Toronto against Connecticut in the International Bowl.

Other nominees for Southern Fans' National Team of the Week for the weekend of Dec. 6:

No. 2 Florida
W - No. 1 Alabama 31-20
Florida couldn't put up 42 points for an eighth straight game, but the SEC Champion Gators did lead Alabama in the second half, which had not happened to the Tide all season.

Navy
W - Army 34-0
The Midshipment recorded their first shutout over rival Army since 1978 and extended their winning streak over the Black Knights to seven games.

Army
L - Navy 34-0
Army broke out camouflage helmets, pants and jerseys and attempted to display their new option-based offense, but the Black Knights were still no match for the Midshipmen. Army becomes the first team to lose a game and be nominated for the National Team of the Week Award.

East Carolina
W - Tulsa 27-24
The Pirates secured the Conference USA title - their first in 32 years - with a last minute, 36-yard field goal by PK Ben Hartman and by forcing Tulsa into seven turnovers; the C-USA champions will face Kentucky in the Liberty Bowl.

-----

With their 45-42 win over rival Georgia, Georgia Tech has been named the Southern Fans' National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Nov. 29.

Georgia Tech, which had not beaten their in-state rivals since 2000, scored 26 straight points while outrushing Georgia 201-1 in the third quarter to erase a 28-12 halftime deficit. The Jackets did all their damage on the ground, as QB Josh Nesbitt only completed one pass. Georgia Tech rushed for 409 yards, the most given up by a UGA defense since allowing Vanderbilt 415 yards in 1994.

Paul Johnson becomes the first Georgia Tech coach to win his first matchup vs. Georgia since Pepper Rodgers in 1974. The 87 total points were the second highest ever scored in the series.

Other nominees for Southern Fans' National Team of the Week for the weekend of Nov. 29:

No. 1 Alabama
W - Auburn, 36-0
The unbeaten Crimson Tide had already reached No. 1 in the nation, but it took a win over in-state rival Auburn to formally take back No. 1 in their own state, as Alabama won the Iron Bowl in blowout fashion - their first win over the Tigers since 2001, the first shutout since 1992 and the largest winning margin since 1972.

Oregon
W - No. 15 Oregon State 65-38
The Ducks ran up 694 yards of offense in a 65-38 win over rival Oregon State to spoil the Beavers' hopes of a clinching a Rose Bowl berth.

Clemson
W - South Carolina 31-14
Clemson may have a new coach, but the Tigers had the same effect over their in-state rival Gamecocks, as James Davis scored three touchdowns in a 31-14 win - the Tigers sixth in the last seven games in the series.

No. 3 Oklahoma
W - No. 11 Oklahoma State 61-41
Against their in-state rivals, the Sooners put up 60 points in its fourth straight game to make a statement that it should be the Big XII South representative in the championship game against Missouri.

No. 4 Texas
W - Texas A&M 49-9
The Longhorns blasted their in-state rivals by 40 points to make a statement that it should be the Big XII South representative in the championship game against Missouri.

Tennessee
W - Kentucky 28-10
Phil Fulmer's final regular season game as head coach at Tennessee ended the same way all his previous final regular season games ended - with a win over Kentucky, which has now lost 24 straight games to their southern rivals.

No. 9 Boise State
W - Fresno State 61-10
Boise State closed out their third undefeated season since 2004 by blowing out WAC rival Fresno State, as the Broncos put up 48 unanswered points on the Bulldogs.


The Southern Fans' Poll began naming a national team of the week this season. Members of the Southern Fan's pool of voters decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2008 college football season, the Southern Fans will name the National Team of the Week through Dec. 10.

2008 Southern Fans' National Teams of the Week
• Weekend of Aug. 30: Alabama
• Weekend of Sept. 6: East Carolina
• Weekend of Sept. 13: Southern California
• Weekend of Sept. 20: Louisiana State
• Weekend of Sept. 27: Ole Miss
• Weekend of Oct. 4: Vanderbilt
• Weekend of Oct. 11: Texas
• Weekend of Oct. 18: TCU
• Weekend of Oct. 25: Penn State
• Weekend of Nov. 1: Texas Tech
• Weekend of Nov. 8: Iowa
• Weekend of Nov. 15: Houston
• Weekend of Nov. 22: Syracuse
• Weekend of Nov. 29: Georgia Tech
• Weekend of Dec. 6: Buffalo

Florida takes SEC, No. 1 crown from Tide

For Immediate Release

The Florida Gators, which have never been ranked outside the Southern Fans' Top 16, finally reached the top of the poll with a 31-20 win over previous No. 1 and unbeaten Alabama. The Gators, who received 17 first place votes and took the SEC Championship with the win over the Crimson Tide, will next play No. 2 ranked Oklahoma in the BCS National Championship Game in Miami as the BCS rankings, which do not include the Southern Fans' poll, listed Oklahoma as number one and Florida as number two.

No. 3 Texas, which was excluded from the Big XII Championship Game despite beating Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout, received five first place votes, one more than Oklahoma. The Longhorns will face No. 10 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Alabama fell three spots to No. 4, and face unbeaten Utah in the Sugar Bowl. The Tide is followed by USC and Penn State, who will face off in the Rose Bowl.

Unbeaten Utah, recipients of the final first place vote, remained at No. 7, followed by co-Big XII South Champion Texas Tech; the Red Raiders will face Ole Miss in the Cotton Bowl. Boise State, the only other Division 1-A (Football Bowl Subdivision) unbeaten, remained at No. 9. The Broncos missed out on its second trip to a BCS bowl, as BSU will face No. 12 TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl. No. 10 Ohio State was chosen over the Broncos for the final BCS Bowl slot.

Big East champion Cincinnati jumped three spots to No. 11. The Bearcats will make its first-ever trip to a BCS bowl when they travel to Miami to play No. 16 Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Cincinnati is followed by TCU and Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are the highest ranked ACC team and will play LSU in the Chick-fil-A (Peach) Bowl. No. 14 Oklahoma State and No. 15 Oregon will battle in the Holiday Bowl. Virginia Tech enters the poll at No. 16 for the first time since Week 7.

The bowl line-up consists of seven games matching up 14 of the Southern Fans' top 16 teams. Only Texas Tech (against Ole Miss) and Georgia Tech (facing LSU) will play unranked teams.

No. 1 Florida vs. No. 2 Oklahoma, BCS Championship Game
No. 3 Texas vs. No. 10 Ohio State, Fiesta Bowl
No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 7 Utah, Sugar Bowl
No. 5 USC vs. No. 6 Penn State, Rose Bowl
No. 8 Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss, Cotton Bowl
No. 9 Boise State vs. No. 12 TCU, Poinsettia Bowl
No. 11 Cincinnati vs. No. 16 Virginia Tech, Orange Bowl
No. 13 Georgia Tech vs. LSU, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
No. 14 Oklahoma State vs. No. 15 Oregon, Holiday Bowl

Final Regular Season Poll

The Southern Fans' College Football Poll
December 9, 2008
27 Pollsters

Ranking	Team	Points	Previous
1	Florida [17]	415	2
2	Oklahoma [4]	396	4
3	Texas [5]	389	3
4	Alabama	339	1
5	Southern Cal	324	5
6	Penn State	288	6
7	Utah [1]	265	7
8	Texas Tech	261	7
9	Boise State	212	9
10	Ohio State	190	10
11	Cincinnati	115	14
12	TCU	113	12
13	Georgia Tech	104	15
14	Oklahoma State	102	NR
15	Oregon	44	16
16	Virginia Tech	23	NR
Other's Receiving Votes: Georgia 32, BYU 15, Ole Miss 11, Michigan State 10, Boston College 4, East Carolina 3, Buffalo 3, Missouri 2, Pittsburgh 1

Pollster's Improve, gain ground above .500

Ahh Championship Week. Two huge games determined the Championship match, while others determined your BCS contenders. While we only fared 4-3, it could've been both better and worse.
Cincy makes a late comeback, and then a pass interference call cost us the 3 points they would've gotten had they kicked the field-goal rather than run-out the clock at Hawaii. Florida made a late scoring drive to cover, and well Ball St finally woke up from their dream (while falling to 22 in the BCS).
However, thanks to USC for once again failing to do anything offensively near the end-zone, VT for pulling through with their first offensive showing of the season, Oklahoma for plowing through Mizz's "defense," and Pitt for putting down the huskies in the second half.
Cheers go out to Doug and Max for besting everyone at 5-2. Max also took the lead over Greg by 1 game. As we round out the season, let's see if we can finish quite a bit better than 500.

Pollster Pick'em
Week 7: 4-3
Overall: 39-37-1

Pollster	This Week	Overall	Overall Percentage
Max Renfro	5-2	45-31-1	.592
Greg Frayser	3-4	44-32-1	.579
Jarad Wilson	3-4	43-33-1	.566
Eddie Slep	3-4	38-38-1	.500
John Buzbee	2-5	37-39-1	.487
Kumar Chadha	4-3	35-41-1	.461
Ashley Chadha	2-5	33-43-1	.434
Jeff Renfro	2-5	33-43-1	.434
Jordan Renna	4-3	31-45-1	.408
Anil Chadha	4-3	30-46-1	.395
Brian Smith	4-3	29-47-1	.382
Doug Bendinger	5-2	29-47-1	.382

Pollster's Tallies

Alright SFCF, here are this weeks picks for Championship Week. The USC vs UCLA game ended in a tie, so I went with UCLA, who has a better record against the spread this season. Hopefully they win, but if not I'll give us a W anyway since I do the books.

Friday Night:
Ball St (-15) vs Buffalo.... Vote:8-4

Saturday
Florida vs Alabama (+9.5) (Neutral Site)..... Vote:9-3
Oklahoma (-17) vs Missouri (Neutral Site)..... Vote:9-3
Virginia Tech (+1) vs Boston College (Neutral Site).....Vote:7-5
USC (-33) vs UCLA (+33)..... Vote:6-6 ..... SFCF pick is (whichever wins) ... UCLA
Cincinatti (-7.5) vs Hawaii..... Vote:10-2
Pittsburgh(+2.5) vs UConn..... Vote:10-2

Week 14 Poll

The Southern Fans' College Football Poll
December 2, 2008
25 Pollsters

Ranking	Team	Points	Previous
1	Alabama [17]	382	1
2	Florida [6]	372	2
3	Texas [1]	353	4
4	Oklahoma [1]	337	3
5	Southern Cal	292	5
6	Penn State	254	6
7	Utah	246	8
8	Texas Tech	238	7
9	Boise State	196	9
10	Ohio State	164	10
11	Ball State	120	16
12	TCU	117	14
13	Oklahoma State	95	11
14	Cincinnati	91	NR
15	Georgia Tech	73	NR
16	Oregon	23	NR
Other's Receiving Votes: Georgia 12, Boston College 12, BYU 11, Ole Miss 6, Michigan State 3, Missouri 2, Oregon State 1