Okay, here we go, a booze fueled breakdown of every bowl game including the asinine selection of Michigan and Virgina Tech in the Sugar Bowl.  Any games called by ESPN's Joe Tesitore will be decided by the lower ranked team.  

I could start with the BCS title game or the Beef O'Brady Bowl but let's start with the biggest joke of the four games of the BCS that doesn't include the title game and does include my Michigan State bias. 

Sugar Bowl - Michigan vs. Virginia Tech  Yup, a team that wasn't involved in its conference championship and a team that was and lost big from a crap conference.  A joke game done to fill seats and hotel rooms.  I guess they missed Michigan State scoring 39 against Wisconsin and Boise State missing one field goal to lose their only game.  But the BCS is fair and run by computers that can't be wrong.  Pick:  Virginia Tech, can't pick AAJC even though they'll probably win and be insufferable about.

-Orange Bowl - West Virginia vs. Clemson  I'll take Dabo Swinney and anything crazy he says over a team from the Big East.  I'll take a couple high school teams over a Big East team but hey, fair's fair in the BCS when a conference can barely crack the Top 25.  Clemson 


There are two ACC teams in BCS games, nothing wrong with college football's postseason.  Hey, why not put two Big East teams while you're at it. Or Florida Atlantic, or Michigan - oh wait, they're in.  I said this was MSU biased.

-Fiesta Bowl  - Oklahoma State vs. Stanford  Mike Gundy looked thrilled on ESPN minutes after it was announced his Cowboys would be going to play for nothing, he's a man and he did not like it.  Hey Mike, you lost at Iowa State, shut it.  Oh yeah, predicted No. 1 NFL draft pick Andrew Luck is in this game.  Stanford is coached by a man too, a man who's name I do not know.  Oklahoma State, because their quarterback is almost the same age as their coach and he's a man. That "man" thing does not get old.

-Rose Bowl  -  Wisconsin vs. Oregon  No bias at all in this game.  I hope the Badgers punter enjoys the trip, he certainly enjoyed himself faking a hit and laughing it up on the sideline of the Big Ten Championship Game.  Oregon, big, like 63-2.  Or 111-6.  Screw you Wisconsin. 

On to the smaller bowls, like the Sugar Bowl, with Michigan and Virginia Tech.  Oh wait.

New Mexico Bowl - Temple vs. Wyoming  This game has a cool Navajo style pottery trophy.  There will also be some ads during the game featuring hot air balloons which evidently is big in New Mexico.  Hopefully Wyoming will figure out a way to work more brown into their uniforms.  Wyoming  

Potato Bowl - no, this is not a funny, made up game like the Toilet Bowl or Salad Bowl.  It's a real game and I cannot wait to see the trophy.  Ohio vs. Utah State.  Utah State gave reigning champ Auburn all they could handle back in September proving that I'll watch just about any game.  Utah State

New Orleans Bowl - San Diego State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette  Brady Hoke will be pulling for the Aztecs so I'm rooting for the Fighting Crawfish or Ragin' Malaysians or whatever they're called at LLU.  There will be 398 people at this game and 391 will be without shirts.  Louisiana-Lafayette.

Beef O'Brady's Bowl - Florida International vs. Marshall   This game will test Bowl Quest right out of the gate.  It's played in the Tampa Bay Rays stadium.  Hopefully someone pulls a fire alarm and they declare it a tie.   Marshall, because they wear the loudest green uni's on the planet.

Poinsettia Bowl - TCU vs. Louisiana Tech  How many colleges are in Louisiana?  The Horned Frogs were in the Rose Bowl last year.  This year, they earned the right to pick up trash in Pasadena, or San Diego or Pomona or wherever this game is played.  TCU, large. 

Las Vegas Bowl - Arizona State vs. Boise State   It's a fine line between BCS bowl game and being a cartoon.  If Boise State's coach sticks around for another year he must really love Boise.  Boise State

Hawaii Bowl - Nevada vs. Southern Miss  Yes, there will be people who will avoid their family on Christmas Eve to watch this game.  I will be one of those sad, sad people.  Southern Miss, because after beating Houston in the C-USA championship their coach insisted they should be in a BCS game despite losing to UAB weeks earlier. 

Independence Bowl - Missouri vs. North Carolina  This bowl game will feature a lot of ads featuring Drew Brees, as it's sponsored by Advocare and he's their spokesman.  You've never heard of Advocare, neither have I but they pay Drew lots of money to tell us how great they are.  Missouri, soon to be an SEC team and we all know the top heavy SEC is awesome!

Little Caesar Bowl - Western Michigan vs. Purdue  This used to be the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl but they took the pizza out of the title  I don't like that even though their pizza is terrible. At least Western Michigan gets to play their bowl game in the United States this year.  Western Michigan is in a bowl game every year too.  There may be too many bowl games.  Purdue.

Belk Bowl - Louisville vs. North Carolina State  This is the back half of the doubleheader following the former Pizza Bowl.  Belk is a department store in the south, or at least it used to be when I lived there.  It could be a chain of oil change places now as far as I know.  Louisville was a U.C. Bearcats loss away from being in a BCS game and that's all you need to know about the integrity of the BCS.  NC State

Here's the logo of the Belk Bowl, inspiring.

Military Bowl - Toledo vs. Air Force  I think Toledo was involved in a game that ended 63-60 and they are the Rockets.  Air Force has great uniforms and they are the Falcons.  Nuclear War could break out during this game.  Or not.  Toledo

Holiday Bowl - California vs. Texas  Sounds like a good game but it's not.  This bowl game used to be kind of a big deal.  These two teams are terrible and this game has been rendered meaningless by the BCS.  Texas

Champs Sports Bowl - Florida State vs. Notre Dame  Ah, the renewal of the old rivalry between the convicts and the Catholics.  Last year or the year before FSU won this game and acted like they won the national championship.  Notre Dame acted the same way winning the Hawaii Bowl last year.  How the mighty have fallen.  I miss the Seminoles in the national title picture, a lot better than what we have now with an SEC team guaranteed to win.   Florida State

Alamo Bowl - Washington vs. Baylor  I have no idea how this game picks the teams that will play in the game.  Washington had Jake Locker play for them for the past 17 years and they didn't qualify for a bowl game.  The first year after he's gone they're back in the mix.  Congrats Tennessee Titans on your vastly overrated draft pick.  Baylor has a guy who is somehow up for the Heisman.  Baylor

Armed Forces Bowl - BYU vs. Tulsa  Shouldn't one of the armed forces be in this game?  Navy wasn't good this year but they're usually entertaining and would be a better rep than Tulsa.  BYU

Pinstripe Bowl - Rutgers vs. Iowa State  Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy has declared Rutgers will win this game.  Iowa State

Music City Bowl - Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest  By this time in the bowl quest, I'm gassed.  Hell, I'm gassed just writing out these predictions.  I watched Auburn slip by Miss. State and had no idea Wake Forest was bowl eligible.  I've read that Mississippi State's head coach is up for some vacant jobs in other conferences.  I don't think he's ever won a game of any consequence, until this outstanding bowl game.  Mississippi State

Insight Bowl - Iowa vs. Oklahoma  If there's any team that just doesn't care about the bowl season, it's the Sooners.  They were picked by many "experts" to win the national championship.  Instead, they're playing the Hawkeyes who are glad to be anywhere that doesn't have snow in late December.  Oklahoma, huge 

Meineke Car Care of Texas - Texas A&M vs. Northwestern  This used to be the Texas Bowl (I think) but Meineke got the boot out of Charlotte for Houston by Belk.  That's bowl politics, kind of like the Republicans, a bunch of guys you really don't care about.  I expect A&M to get out to a 42-7 lead and then blow it.  A&M is the Herman Cain of bowl teams.  (This is my only political infused game of this write up.)  This a noon game on New Year's Eve day, start slow junior.  Texas A&M

Sun Bowl - Georgia Tech. vs. Utah  I''m sure the Utes fans feel as jilted about Urban Meyer taking the Ohio State job as Florida fans do, considering he probably lied to them too. There should be a lot of hilarious Urban Meyer t-shirts coming out of Columbus in the next nine months.  I don't think the Yellow Jackets pass the ball.  I have no idea what Utah does besides beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.  Georgia Tech

Liberty Bowl - Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt  Hey look, the third Big East team that could have wound up in a BCS game via convoluted conference logic.  And Vandy.  The Commodores are really cute, they hang around for the first quarter and a half and then lay down.  But not as cute as the Bearcats who now have a quarterback named Munchie.  Doesn't matter, U.C. has a running back who'll probably play on Sundays.  Cincinnati.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl - Illinois vs. UCLA  It's a battle of two teams with no head coach.  This is why I love bowl quest.  Neither team should be in a bowl game yet both will battle in San Francisco, a destination a whole lot nicer and more fun than the location for many games.  I'm predicting the teams will play but no fans will show up, opting for a nice restaurant and some picture taking.  Illinois

Chick-Fil-A Bowl  Virginia vs. Auburn  The defending national champs get a team that hasn't been in a bowl game since Billy Carter was peeing on tarmacs.  This game will be up against some NFL games I think.  Good luck with that outside the southeast.  Enjoy New Year's Eve in Atlanta.  Auburn

January 1 - Happy New Year!  The NFL plays today so college football says "thanks, but no thanks."

Ticket City Bowl - Houston vs. Penn State  The Cougars were one win away from a huge payday for their conference. Instead, they crapped the bed on their own field in the C-USA championship game, erasing a $13 million payout.  They've lost the will to live, just like most Penn State fans.   Penn State

Outback Bowl - Michigan State vs. Georgia  Yeah, Florida bound for the third straight year.  Consolation prize for the best regular season record in the Big 10 but I'm not bitter.  Georgia beat Vanderbilt, I think.  In all actuality, the Spartans need to win this game and show they are a program on the rise.  Or maybe Georgia's punter could make sure he's hit late in the game after the Spartans waste 14 opportunities to win.  Michigan State

Capital One Bowl - Nebraska vs. South Carolina  This is the second of three games featuring Big 10 teams that's on at the exact same time.  Thanks goodness ESPN has the rights to almost all the bowl games.  I have to say that after one year of Nebraska in the conference, no one really likes them or the trip to Lincoln, especially Michigan State.  I'd imagine Bo Pellini will be extremely irritable and will dress down some Disney employees on a team trip to the theme park.  Meanwhile, Steve Spurrier will be playing golf and drinking Grey Goose right up to game time.  South Carolina

Gator Bowl  Florida vs. Ohio State  Oh, see what they did here, put Urban Meyer's former employer against his new employer even though he has nothing to do with either team right now.  I'm sure Urb will be spending the day with his family as he quit on the Gators to do so.  I also thought Florida lost all its games so I'm shocked they're in a bowl game. Luke Fickell will be spending his last day as head coach of the Buckeyes at this game and then step back to work for Urb.  That won't back awkward. And this game is sponsored by Taxslayer.com.   Ohio State

Cotton Bowl - Kansas State vs. Arkansas   K-State beat every team in Texas this year which would be impressive if any of the teams in Texas were all that good.  Arkansas would probably win any other conference in the country but instead they play in the SEC West.  They're like the Toronto Blue Jays.  Arkansas 

BBVA Compass Bowl - SMU vs. Pittsburgh  Instead of watching this horrible game, try to catch the ESPN 30 by 30 on SMU in the 80's when they were outwardly corrupt and didn't care what anyone thought.  ESPN's Craig James played for SMU in that time and he's a complete jerk if you need a rooting interest.  Pittsburgh should have won the Big East and up until the final week of the season was in contention for a BCS bowl game.  And you thought the Big East couldn't be more lame.  Pittsburgh

Go Daddy.com Bowl - Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois   This game is a real tester for the bowl quest, one day before the national championship.  You want the big boys, well you need to sit through this stinker.  Sun Belt vs. MAC champ, who you got?!   And both teams fans get to spend January 8th in Mobile.  Happy one week after New Year!  Northern Illinois 

BCS National Championship Game - Alabama vs. LSU  A rematch of a 9-6 overtime game.  I can't stand Nick Saban and the state of Alabama is getting too big for its britches.  Quite honestly, I'd rather have seen LSU take on Oklahoma State or Stanford instead of a rematch of a game we've already seen this season and I'm not even Mike Gundy.  LSU wins this one big, 12-9. 

Happy Bowl Season!! 

Bowl Quest - Complete!

Another year, another mountain of mostly meaningless games watched.  Finished with the title game between No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Oregon.

37 days since these two schools played football and did it show.  It's amazing how the NCAA can  allow their marquee sport to languish in its post-season year after year.  The regular season is essentially one and done - you lose and your school's chance to win the championship is over.  And then they cap the season by shutting it down for weeks and then to pile up horrible games between 6-6 and 7-5 schools until New Years.  Then make the fans wait another week or so before the title game.

So yeah, there was rust on these schools, and probably a good case of nerves.  No scoring in the first quarter followed by unusual scoring in the second quarter including Oregon going for two points to increase the score 11-7 with Ducks coach Chip Kelly trying to build some offensive momentum.  It didn't work.  The Ducks could never get its running game on track against the Auburn defensive line. And who didn't predict a 16-11 halftime score.  

Not much scoring after that but at least Oregon's only second half touchdown and another two point conversion came late in the game to add some excitement to the finish.  The big play was when Auburn running back Michael Dyer appeared to be tackled but was never down and broke off a long run to set up the game winning field goal.  (I google searched Michael Dyer and this picture of pro wrestler Ox Baker came up, you're welcome.)

Final score 22-19 in a game that at least was close but really had lulls because of the first and third quarters.  Heisman winner Cam Newton looked okay but certainly did himself no favors if he plans on entering the NFL this year.  He looks raw and in no way ready to step into the pros.  A lot of his throws were off the mark and the small-ish Oregon defense was able to bog down the Auburn attack a number of times.  As a matter of fact, for all the hype ESPN gave to the high paced attack of both teams, the Auburn defense was the story.  As usual, the world wide leader misses the mark.  Fortunately the game had a number of explosive plays to keep interest up although I did fall asleep in the third.

Game notes:
-Really long, unnecessary pre-game coverage.  Nick Saban never has to worry about a career as a TV analyst.  Not exactly Dick Vitale on the microphone (not all bad in that regard).  For the "experts" employed by the network, Nick Saban and Urban Meyer were odd choices to co-host the pre-game coverage.
-Thanks to the person who decided to not have Matt Millen involved with this game in any capacity.
-Casey Matthews plays for Oregon, another member of the football Matthews family with really long hair.  I think members of the Matthews family played for 50% of the teams in bowl games.  
-Oregon coach Chip Kelly knew what kind of game his team was in for and going for the two point conversion early indicated it.  Kudos to his team for converting the 2-pointer twice.  Oregon was probably a play maker or two away from winning that game.  
-A lot of vindication for Auburn fans who have seen their team go undefeated and not get in the title game.    
-The win gives the SEC its fifth straight national title.  The conference has never lost in the BCS title game.  All title hopes run through Alabama, Florida and Louisiana. 
-I finished 19-16 in ESPN's Bowl Mania, good for 68%.  M'eh.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

I watched the second quarter of this game.  Don't remember much as not much happened except a field goal.  

Nevada beat Boston College 20-13.  Huge crowd for this game, guessing most of them Nevada fans. Picked this one correct in ESPN Bowl Mania, now 18-16 with one to go. 


BCS Championship game tonight, No. 1 Auburn against No. 2 Oregon.  

BBVA Compass Bowl

Garbage time of bowl season, stragglers hanging around waiting to play their game that no one, not even their own alumni, care about. That would be Kentucky and Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl.  

I think this is the fifth bowl game logo to use this color scheme.  For the past couple years the game in Birmingham was sponsored by Papa John's Pizza and Papa John himself threw himself into the game with gusto.  Now it's some southern bank.  Oh well, Papa's moving on to bigger things becoming the official pizza sponsor of the Super Bowl.  Good move Papa. 

The game was on at work so technically I saw it but the boy came through and watched most of the first half.  He said it was boring with little scoring and no one was there at the game.  That is an apt description.  Pittsburgh won 27-10 over Kentucky.  I switched my Bowl Mania pick to Kentucky right before the game and fall to 17-16.  Just the start of another sorry sports day for me.  

Michigan State lost to Penn State in basketball and the Pittsburgh Penguins were hammered 4-0 by Minnesota.  This is probably one of the worst teams Tom Izzo has put on the floor.  They don't rebound, play shaky defense, turn the ball over constantly and are poor free throw shooters.  Sounds like a combination to miss the tournament.  

The upside of sports Saturday, two exciting NFL Wildcard games.  Good stuff.  

Just two games left in the quest including tonight's Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.  Can't wait.

AT&T Cotton Bowl

This one started with a bang and ended with a whimper between LSU and Texas A&M.  32nd game of the Bowl Quest, three to go.

Texas A&M opened strong with a big kick return that lead to a touchdown and then another drive for a field goal to jump out to an early 10-0 lead.  LSU countered  with a touchdown and the first half was rolling along.  Back and forth scores but you got the feeling LSU had too many good athletes and Texas A&M would buckle.  28-17 at half when A&M made too many mistakes including a horrible interception throw with two minutes left in the half.  

LSU came out and scored right away in the second half and I checked out for Friday Night Boxing on ESPN2.  Final 41-24 and another decisive victory for an SEC team.


Game Notes:
-Huge crowd for this game at Cowboys Stadium, over 83,000.  Looked pretty even between LSU and A&M fans.  Good atmosphere for the game with all that A&M brings.
-LSU is loaded with young talent and it would not be surprising to see them overtake Alabama and Auburn in the SEC West next season.  They can run the ball. Two backs with more than 100 yards against a good A&M defense.
-Fox does a nice job on this game.  They treat it like a BCS game.  Lots of cameras, most of the stuff you're used to seeing from the NFL.
-Another game I picked correctly so my ESPN Bowl Mania record climbs to 17-15.  


One game today, early kick at noon between Pittsburgh and Kentucky in what used to be the Papa Johns Bowl.  I'll miss Papa's presence at the game.

Go Daddy.com Bowl

The light at the end of the tunnel - the end of the Bowl Quest is near after getting game No. 31 out of the way with Miami University taking on Middle Tennessee State - whooooo!

Nice story for Miami with the greatest turnaround in a single season for a bowl series team.  Going 1-11 in 2009 to 10-4 with a 31-25 win in this game in Mobile, Alabama.

I was out with some people from work so I didn't get home until halftime.  I caught the third quarter and it was eventful.  Not well played, eventful.  Three turnovers in less than five minutes including Miami taking an interception in for a score, a long touchdown run for MTSU and a punt that went one yard.  Think about how hard that is to do.  Kicking a ball one yard takes some real talent.  That's like swinging your driver at full speed and getting your golf ball to go one yard.  

The Redhawks withstood the one yard punt plus the other miscues and went ahead 28-21 at the end of the quarter and I was done.  Miami put one more on the board and ended a really nice season and gave new head coach Don Treadwell a good idea of what kind of team he was inheriting.  Got to work on that one yard punt thing, Don.

I picked Miami to win this game, a MAC team, I know.  My ESPN Bowl Mania record creeps back over .500 to 16-15. Tonight, what should be a good game - The Cotton Bowl between LSU and Texas A&M.  This game was normally played on New Years Day but since the NCAA has now stretched the games into early May, we get it tonight.

Allstate Sugar Bowl

Well, just five game left after the Buckeyes hang on to win over Arkansas in the 30th game so far.

Watching these games is really just a chore at this point.  I was hoping for Ohio State to win to help the Big 10 save face after a disastrous New Year's Day performance, especially by Michigan State and Michigan.  That they did but it was close, 31-26.

The Bucks surged to an early lead in a dominating first half.  Both their offense and defense looked very good, maybe the best half they played all year.  Arkansas is known for coming back and they did but OSU hung on and won their second BCS bowl game in a row and finally got the "SEC" monkey off their back.  Good for them.  They're going to be the favorite, again, to win the Big 10 next season whether or not their five suspended players including Terrelle Pryor come back or not. 

Also, how much are the Buckeyes kicking themselves for the one lousy half in Wisconsin?  Oh well. 

Five more games to go but at least a break tonight. 
  

Discover Orange Bowl

After a day off from the bowl games, the quest is back on tonight with the first of seven remaining games including tonight's Discover Orange Bowl from Miami.  Taking some notes during the first half.

Discover Credit Card has taken over for Fedex as the sponsor of this game and they've put a lot of bland in this updated logo.  They should have kept King Orange Obie. 

Okay, enough logo jibba jab to quote Mr. T., on with the game between Stanford and Virginia Tech. 

Tons of story lines for this game:
-Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh is the "hot" commodity guy this year.  Will he go pro, will he go to Michigan, will he stay at Stanford?  Needless to stay he didn't answer any of those questions.
-Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is the "hot" draft pick - will he come out and go to Carolina or will he stay and play another year at Stanford and try to win the Heisman?
-Virginia Tech's slow start with losses to Boise State and inexplicably to James Madison and then winning 11 in a row.  
-The ESPN Monday night crew is doing this game including Jon Gruden so expect a ton of "this guy" statements.  If you watch MNF, you know what I mean.  I keep waiting for Ron Jaworski to lose it and fight Gruden in the booth.  
-John Elway and Jim Plunkett on the Stanford sideline; Bruce Smith on the Virginia Tech sideline.  Marcus Vick probably holding up a liquor store somewhere in Miami. 
-We find out early that the Goo Goo Dolls will be performing at half time.  I guess the Gin Blossoms were booked.
-Virginia Tech wearing orange helmets for the first time.  Another school that wears a different uni for every game except this time I don't think they realized they look a lot like the Cleveland Browns.  Steelers 41  Browns 9 (just needed to get that in).
-IBM ad tells us that 66% of appliances have electronic intelligence and that we can have a refrigerator that orders our groceries.  No thanks.  With two boys they'll probably rig the thing to fill the house with Pringles, Mountain Dew and cocktail weenies.
-Ever wonder where all that money you pay for insurance goes?  Allstate, Nationwide, Geico and State Farm all heavily invested in these games.  Amazingly, they don't have funds immediately when you make a claim or someone almost kills your wife in a car wreck. 
-Bare midriffs for some of the Stanford cheerleaders may not have been the correct call.
-Virginia Tech defensive coordinator stroking out after first Stanford touchdown.  He looks like the kind of guy who would have Molly Hatchet cranked up in his F-150 while passing you in the right lane at 97mph. 
-No contest in the body painting contest.  Virginia Tech over the eggheads from Stanford who are mostly wearing polos or clever t-shirts. 
-I've concluded punt returners are the players hardest to coach.  The habit of catching balls inside the 10 yard line is infuriating.  The Stanford returner goes one better and catches the ball inside the 5 with no return.  I'm assuming since he goes to Stanford he must be relatively smart so why he didn't let it go in the end zone is beyond me.
-Ball at the five, next stop, safety.  Stanford kicks from the 20, Virginia Tech gets the ball, moves down field and scores their first touchdown.  All because Mr. Punt Returner caught the ball inside the 5 yard line.  The ESPN announcers completely ignore how all this occurred. 
-Stanford answers with a touchdown but misses the point after on a block.  Two special teams miscues so far. 
-One of the Stanford linebackers is rocking the Road Warrior Animal look.  
-The greatest mascot in all of sports, the Stanford Tree, is lurking behind Elway on the sideline.  Do something crazy tree!
-Defensive holding sets up a Virginia Tech field goal.  13-12 at the half.


Half time - mini Sports Center and then a song from the Goo Goo Dolls.  The song was okay, kind of reminded me of the Dream Academy's "Life In A Northern Town" but with more guitars.

Second half and Stanford is starting to take control, scoring two TD's against a so-so Virginia Tech defense.  Molly Hatchet guy is probably having a coronary.  ESPN has shown Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor's mom and dad in the stands and they don't look pleased.  As a matter of fact I'm sure his mom or dad may kick Molly Hatchet defensive coordinator's ass if his defense gives up another easy score. 

Okay, think I'm done with this one.  Stanford with their third score of the 2nd half.  Tyrod Taylor's mom is headed down to field to shank Bud Foster, the VT defensive coordinator.   

Morning update:  Good choice in going to bed before the end, 40-12 Stanford the final.  My ESPN Bowl Mania Record is above .500 for the first time since BYU beat UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl, which seems like a long time ago. Expect a lot of "Luck" puns this morning. 

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

Good Lord, I'm hitting the 12 hour mark with sports on TV today.  This has to be the last year I'm doing this Bowl Quest thing.  Five losses by the Big 10 and now Oklahoma and Connecticut with Matt Millen on the ESPN game call.  

I'm almost certain ESPN hates America and football fans with the pox that is Matt Millen.  

Mr. Millen, the gloriously failed GM of the Detroit Lions, can now be seen at least three times a week for various football duties.  He does one of the Big 10 games each week on ESPN, he's on Monday Night Football coverage for some reason and he does the Thursday night games on the NFL Network.  The NFL Network games are a real low point as he's joined in the booth by Joe Theisman.  He offers no insight, makes stupid jokes, and tonight even used Lebron James' "take my talents" line in a reference to some player.  His college football partner Sean McDonough has untold amounts of patience and tolerance to spend hours on end with this man.  Millen even has a lousy voice for broadcasting.  It's dull and loud.  Why would anyone want Millen's analysis of a football game when he had zero ability in analyzing players as a general manager?  He knows nothing and you or I or that guy that who talks about his fantasy football team at work could do a better job on these games. 

Meanwhile, Vern Lundquist and Gary Danielson, probably the best college football play by play and analyst combo, get to do one game this bowl season, the highly memorable Hyundai Sun Bowl.  

Why do I just have a feeling that Millen will somehow be involved with the championship game between Oregon and Auburn?  The ESPN exec who inflicts Millen on us every week will be thinking how much he hates America and football fans and will have him involved in some way.  Millen just gave us his analysis of the game and says Cam Newton is a good runner and Oregon has a fast paced offense.  No kidding genius.  Anyone up at midnight still watching this Fiesta Bowl knows that.  I guess that's the insight that made him draft a wide receiver with his high first round pick every year.  "He fast, he catch balls, me draft."  

At this very moment he's defending the high caliber of play of the Big East and just told me to go watch the tapes.  First of all, how would I get those tapes Matt?  Second, the Big East was horrendous this year Matt.  You go watch the tapes.  Go watch the tape of West Virginia sleep walking against NC State in the Champs Sports Bowl.  Go watch the tape of West Virginia losing at home to Syracuse...or Rutgers beating UConn...or how about Pittsburgh losing 31-3 to Miami this season.  You sir are an idiot. 

Oklahoma over Connecticut 48-20.  The day is done. 

And Wisconsin makes it a perfect day

Perfectly awful.  The Big Ten 0-5 on the day.  The Big East and ACC get a lot of crap for being weak BCS conferences and they are and so is the Big 10.  It's hard to believe there are only three Big 10 teams that didn't make bowl games.  Mrs. Keith says at the end of possibly the worst day ever for the Big 10, "Why do they get so many teams in bowl games?"  Uh, because there are 35 games Mrs. Keith. 

The bowl game scenario is ridiculous.  There should not be more than 20 with the top 40 teams playing - if we can't have a playoff.  Hard to believe but the NCAA allowed for the addition of one more game than last year.  When so many teams are 6-6 and 7-5 in these games it's not a reward for a good season, it's having to put 70 teams in bowl games.  Hey, we have the GoDaddy.com, BBVA Compass Bowl and Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl still to come.  

So, yes, Wisconsin lost 19-17 in The Rose Bowl Game.  When did we add "Game" to this bowl title?  Is it 1920?  "Hey mistah, nice handlebar mustache and tweed vest.  Are you riding your penny farthing down to the Rose Bowl Game to see Harvard take on Oregon?  23 Skidoo and Boolah Boolah!!"

Wisconsin went away from what they do best, running the ball, and guess what, they lost.  TCU finishes 13-0 and good for them.  They automatically become the best team in the Big East when they move into that conference.  I'm not sure how a team from Texas is in the Big East but so be it.  Considering how poorly teams in the Big 10 have played, some of them might consider joining another conference.  Maybe the MAC would like a few more. 

Mentioning the MAC, I can no longer give that conference grief after today's five losses by the Big 10.  Maybe Nebraska will have second thoughts and stay in the Big 12.  

And just a terrible sports day for me - Spartans lose in humiliating fashion and now the Penguins lose to the Caps in the Winter Classic.  Don't worry, plenty of the Fiesta Bowl left to keep the quest going.  

Banner Day for the Big 10

Watched at least a quarter of each of the four early games thanks to my Michigan State Spartans going completely in the tank and freeing up the TV for Michigan and Penn State to lose as well.  

But we start with Northwestern taking on Texas Tech in the TicketCity Bowl. 

That's a crazy strong logo for a new bowl game from a company no one's ever heard of before.  The company CEO came on to explain they were like StubHub but with people, people who like dogs.  Or something to that effect.  Texas Tech jumped out to a big lead in the mostly empty Cotton Bowl, Northwestern rallied late but came up just short 45-38.  Hey, at least it was competitive, unlike the next game. 

No. 9 Michigan State (my alma mater) against big bad No. 16 Alabama.  To say my Spartans were over ranked is a slight understatement.  There was some question if Alabama would be motivated after playing for the national title last year.  Yup.  Total destruction.  Men vs. Boys.  Giant screaming eagles versus baby chicks - sorry can't get the TicketCity bowl logo out of my mind.  

Alabama was far better in every facet except punting and that's because we didn't see them punt until the third quarter.  49-7 the final, but hey, at least it wasn't a shutout.  I didn't see MSU score their only touchdown but I'm assuming Nick Saban had the cheerleaders playing at that point.  

I guess all that babbling by the MSU faithful about not getting a BCS bowl game was a waste of time.  Long way to go before the football program is in that class.  And how exactly did Alabama lose three games this season?  Huge Alabama crowd at the game as well - Bama fans do travel well.

And just in case the state of Michigan wasn't humiliated enough, UofM made sure the RichRod guessing game stays very much alive.  

Michigan hung with Mississippi State for most of the first half before the Bulldogs took them to the woodshed for a 52-14 beating.  At least Michigan was consistent with horrible defense just like the regular season unlike Michigan State which actually played some D.  Normally I take great satisfaction in the Wolverines getting the crap kicked out of them but MSU getting curb stomped took all the vitriol out of me.  

Speculation will be running wild about Michigan keeping or firing Rich Rodriguez.  He may be back but no way can defensive coordinator Greg Robinson return to Ann Arbor next season.  I've never seen a Michigan team with a worse defense, usually the backbone of their team.  

One more opportunity for the Big 10 to grab a win...

And no.  Penn State and Florida, two teams accustomed to playing in better games were close for a while until the Gators overpowered a very young Penn State squad.  37-24 the final and the Big Ten is 0-4 for the day with only Wisconsin left to give any pride to the conference today.  I switched over to this one after Michigan State's quarterback had to be scooped off the turf.  

Joe Paterno looked confused every time they showed him on the sideline and it appeared he was smuggling a pizza box under his sweater.  I know he's a legend and will decide for himself when he retires but those involved in the Penn State program really should sit him down and convince him it's time to let someone else take over.  The Big 10 Network was showing a Penn State bowl game from the mid 90's last week and the PSU assistants were mostly the same guys that are still assistants now.

I'm completely un-enthused for the Rose Bowl Game (their title, not mine) so I'll probably catch the 3rd or 4th quarter before the Fiesta Bowl later on.  And if you're wondering if I'm sick of college football, yes, yes I am. 


3-1 in the ESPN Bowl Mania for these four so I'm up to 13 points and the 84th percentile.

Chick-fil-A Bowl

22nd of 35 games, over 2/3 of the way done with this year's quest.  Match-up between South Carolina and Florida State in what used to be the Peach Bowl.

Made it fully through the first quarter and much of the second half.  Yet another game filled with turnovers, this time by South Carolina's quarterback.  Florida State beat their old friend Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks 26-17.  The old ball coach was without his trademark visor and was wearing some sort of half sleeve white pullover which looked kind of dopey.  I didn't take much more from the game other than that.  

I understand that these bowl games need sponsors but I miss when they had names like the Peach Bowl, the Astro Blue Bonnet Bowl, the Tangerine Bowl and who can forget the Poulan Weed Eater Bowl.  Okay, skip that last one. 

Today's the day - six games starting at noon including my Michigan State Spartans taking on Alabama in the Capital One Bowl.  We're going to see a lot of those vikings today.  Make it through today and the Bowl Quest is fairly easy to complete.

With two games picked correctly Friday my record in ESPN Bowl Mania is now a lousy 10-12 but still in the top 30% of all players.