Let's Go Bowling

So.Much.Football.

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.

National CFB Games This Weekend

I've got to get myself to do this every week, I keep forgetting. Oh well, we all know I would have picked correctly anyway. At least that's what I tell myself to keep myself from crying every night.

Last Week's Record: 0-0
Season Record: 9-4 (69% correct thus far)

Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-2, 1-2) at #3 Oklahoma Sooners (6-0, 3-0), 8 PM EST, ABC/ESPN3
The Red Raiders are a pretty decent team this year, and have aspirations of upsetting the course of the Sooners way to the Big 12 championship game. The Sooners most likely won't have too much difficulty as they are in Norman, but anything can happen. Prediction: Oklahoma Wins 44-21

North Carolina Tar Heels (5-2, 1-2) at #9 Clemson Tigers (7-0, 4-0), 12 PM EST, ESPN/ESPN3
Tajh Boyd and the rest of the Tigers came back against Maryland last week after being down 18. Twice. Yes, really. North Carolina had some good momentum, but stepped on their feet, and dropped from our BlogPoll rankings. If they can upset the Tigers, I would be surprised. Prediction: Clemson Wins 31-21

#22 Washington Huskies (5-1, 3-0) at #4 Stanford Cardinal (6-0, 4-0), 8 PM EST, ABC/ESPN3
If you're a Cardinal fan and you're upset that the Cardinal has dropped a couple spots in the AP Poll because of a weak schedule, here's why: Washington is one of 2 games that is truly important for Stanford when it comes down to the BCS. The other? Oregon. If you're a Huskie fan, you've got to be impressed with how well this team is doing, and are hoping for a huge upset. Prediction: Stanford Wins 24-10

Bowl Week 3 (part 2)

I won´t really give an introduction, other then after part 1, Inside The Shoe is now 21-13.

Today

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl - Air Force vs Houston - 12:00 PM EST - ESPN

In a re-match of last year´s bowl game, Houston´s best passing attack in the nation, will take on Air Force´s best passing defense in the nation. Houston will be led by quarterback Case Keenum, who was in the top 10 Heisman voting. Houston´s ability to run up the score has helped them, and their offense get even better. Meanwhile, Air Force has the 4th ranked rushing attack, while Houston is terrible at defending the run. With that being said, Houston will be to much for Air Force, 31-20.

Brut Sun Bowl - No. 21 Stanford vs Oklahoma - 2:00 PM ET - CBS

If your a Sooner fan, your probably feeling a bit down, not being ranked, not in a BCS bowl, and playing in El Paso. If your a Cardinal fan, you are ranked, you have one of the best backs in the nation, and your playing a former Big 12 powerhouse. Nevertheless, look for this to be a good game as Toby Gerhart and Sam Bradford lead their offenses. I see Stanford winnnig a competieve game, 28-17.

Texas Bowl - Missouri vs Navy - 3:30 PM ET - ESPN

Buckeye fans got a nice look at the triple option aganist Navy, as Navy came very close at the end to upsetting the Buckeyes. We know that Missouri is in the process of rebuilding, and that Navy fights for a whole 60 minutes, without rest, as the Buckeyes learned. So in this situation, I really like Ricky Dobbs and that crazy option attack, as Navy gets the win, closing a fantastic season, 24-10.

Insight Bowl - Iowa State vs Minnesota - 6:00 PM ET - NFL Network

After a little persuasion, and some outcrys by their fans, Iowa State fought their way into the Insight Bowl to take on the Golden Gophers. Minnesota brings in a mixed attack, with wideout Eric Decker being out to injury. Adam Weber has had a mixed season, along with the offense, as they can score points, but not many. The key is stopping ISU´s rushing attack, which Minnesota is actually good at doing. I see the Big Ten going to 2-0 after this one, 17-10

Chick-fil-A Bowl - No. 11 Virginia Tech at Tennessee - 7:30 PM ET - ESPN

With the losses to Georgia Tech, and Alabama, Va Tech will look for it´s first win in Atlanta this year, and they have to do it aganist Lane Kiffin´s Volls. Tyrod Taylor leads the attack, and I have to say, Tennessee won´t be able to stop him, or running back Ryan Williams. Virgina Tech wins a close one, 24-17

New Year´s Day

Outback Bowl - Auburn vs Northwestern - 11:00 AM ET - ESPN

Even after dropping it´s last 5 of 6 games, hopes are high at Auburn, the reason being they almost upset Alabama. Northwestern, on the other hand, has won four of it´s last 5 games, and they look to continue winning. With an SEC vs. Big Ten game, expect a bit of mouthing off to each other, but look Northwestern to pull the upset and unbelivably, the Big Ten going 3-0, 35-31.

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl - No. 16 West Virginia at Florida State - 1:00 PM ET - CBS

In Bobby Bowden´s last game as a head coach, a lot will be said about his storied career. He faces his old WVU team, and looks to go out with a bang. I hate to say they will have a tough time stopping the 3rd ranked rushing attack. WVU gets the win, 38-24.

Capital One Bowl - No. 12 LSU vs No. 13 Penn State - 1:00 PM ET - ABC

LSU wanting another 10 win season under Les Miles, looking to take care of a PSU team that lost to the Buckeyes, 24-7. Oh, I didn´t have to add that, did I? PSU´s Darryl Clark will want to go out with a win aganist an SEC opponet, but will just fall short, 24-21.

Rose Bowl

Inside The Shoe will cover this game the day of it.

Allstate Sugar Bowl - No. 3 Cincinnati at No. 5 Florida - 8:30 PM ET - FOX

A game in which both head coaches are new, due to the old ones having health problems, and getting a new job at Notre Dame. Cincy comes in looking for it´s first BCS bowl win, while Florida, looking to send Tebow on a rainbow to the NFL, where he will be, umm, no one really knows. Florida has an outstanding defense, while Cincy has a high powered offense. Florida will take this because Cincy has no defense, and Florida has one of the best. 42-21.

Part 3 will come the day after the Sugar Bowl, keep it here folks! Enjoy your New Year.

Recapping National Games.

Recapping on our predictions last friday, we now have a 7-3 record due to the 2 upsets that occured. Ole Miss got the win, when they ran over, around, and through the LSU defense. The last 3 minutes of that game were absoulety crazy, and it resulted in a 25-23 upset of #8 LSU.

Meanwhile, down in Stanford Cal caught them off-guard thanks to back up running back Shane Vereen who for a career-high 193 yards and three touchdowns on 42 carries. He certainly did his part and lead the upset of 17th ranked Stanford, 34-28.

In the heart of Tucsan, Arizona layed a stadium full of jam packed fans despretaly wanting an upset of Oregon. The celebration came early when Arizona scored, but Oregon struck back quickly under the calm quick hands of Jermiah Massoli. It ended up going to double overtime, resulting in a 44-41 win that gave Oregon the best chance at the Rose Bowl. Oregon State also has a chance, and whoever wins that game, and wins out, will be heading to the Rose Bowl.

Overall, it was an exciting weekend in CFB, and we here at Inside The Shoe plan on covering the bowl games as well as this upcoming week.