The Bowls Stop Here: Picks IV
The Bowls Stop Here: Picks IV
Things are getting heavier than December northeastern snow fall in the Creek vs. Musket match-up, and for these two game pickers it seems they’re buried beneath the weight of a tractor trailer. Early tallies indicate that Musket may have sunk into early hibernation while Creek may have wondered farther south than cable television can reach. Musket has the slight lead at 7-8 while Creek is sitting at 6-9. Both are struggling to find their footing, but that’s a staple of big name game pickers that are settling for lower tier bowl games. Now is the time when the heavy hitters begin to take stage.
Northwestern vs. Auburn (Outback Bowl)
Musket: You have to respect what Pat Fitzgerald is doing with the admissions requirements, size, and location of Northwester’s program. On the other side of the ball is a multi-million dollar staff, ‘A’ list recruits, and a monster fan base. Still, there’s something intriguing, somewhat mystical about Wildcat success, especially considering their plight through the traditional Big Ten football powerhouses. A well-rested Auburn team has been vicious this season. Auburn wins.
Creek: The way Auburn handled Bama was impressive, considering the fact that the Tigers have really had no defense this year. Mahzlebenakin, the OC, has turned into a hell of a coach, both RBs will be healthy and if they have carried the momentum from the Iron Bowl for a month, they should be tough. Pat Fitzgerald has put together something very special at NW. They have some very impressive wins this year. They key for the Wildcats is to force the pass. This is a tricky pick, but Northwestern wins.
Penn State vs. LSU (Capital One Bowl)
Musket: The Nittany Lions travel away from home against a non-conference, ranked opponent. Meanwhile, Buffalo Wild Wings is introducing their new line of pork wings because pigs can now fly… or it may just be the thick of bowl season. Either way, Penn State is out of their element. LSU is undefeated in bowl games under Miles with big victories over some solid opponents. Penn State won’t roll over, but LSU loves to win. LSU wins.
Creek: Les Miles is the worst coach in the SEC. Joe Paterno is the biggest fraud since Billy Sunday. Jordan Jefferson has some pretty good numbers, but he panics like a teenager caught with a Playboy in the bathroom. Darryl Clark is good, but the Tigers’ DBs are better. LSU wins.
West Virginia vs. Florida State (Konica Minolta Gator Bowl)
Musket: (To the tune of ‘Country Roads’) Take Bobby home, everglade roads, to the place, he belongs, out to pasture, playin’ Bingo, take Bobby home, everglade roads… This will be an emotional ride for Florida State, no doubt, but West Virginia plays with great passion under Bill Stewart. The one great equalizer will be team speed and Florida State’s ability to neutralize Mountaineer Backs. Jeff Casteel finally earns his pay, West Virginia wins.
Creek: It is the end of the road for one of the all time greats. I wish I could predict a happy ending, but Dad Gum It!, the Mountaineers have been one of the most improved teams over the course of the season. Plus, they have Pioneer Girl. I’m not going against full leather with fringe. West Virginia wins.
South Florida vs. Northern Illinois (International Bowl)
Musket: The Bulls are notorious for mailing it in late in the season. They got their annual Mountaineer victory fix and eased up on intensity. BJ Daniels is ready to get out of the cold and onto the basketball court. Northern Illinois leads the MAC in total defense and will play hungry. Once again, I’ll have to go with raw talent as George Selvie and other Bulls will be playing for NFL scouts. South Florida wins.
Creek: I’m feeling contrary and ornery this morning. I was early on the USF bandwagon and they have done nothing but disappoint me. I think one question that has to be answered is how many Bulls will be held at the border? It isn’t as easy getting into Canada as it used to be. The other question is: Why the hell is USF going to Toronto for a bowl? Don’t they know it’s cold and a regular Starbucks cost about $469. Northern Illinois wins.
Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss (AT&T Cotton Bowl)
Musket: Last year I took Texas Tech over Ole Miss and paid dearly. I never bought into Ole Miss despite their solid 2008 season, mainly because I think the team wasn’t under Houston the Nutt’s wicked spells yet. We saw his spells play out this year. The Cowboys limped out of what once looked like a Cinderella season with a measly 109 total yards in a shutout loss to Oklahoma. The loss of Dez Bryant hurt bad, but it forced the Cowboys to find other means. Oklahoma State wins.
Creek: Just keep chanting McCluster and Hodge. Do not let your mind wander to Nutt and Snead. The Rt. Rev. is a certified Nutt, but he has nothing on Mike Gundy. The “Man” is a loser. If you can’t even win with the best players that T. Boone can buy, you need to go back to selling John Deere accessories. Ole Miss wins.
South Carolina vs UConn (PapaJohns.com Bowl)
Musket: Papa John’s is hosting two of the worst offenses to ever play in a bowl game. If you want to see fireworks cook a fork in your microwave at half time. South Carolina can play some wicked defense anchored by the large and in charge linebacker Eric Norwood. UConn has the tenacity of a wounded, cornered opossum and just will not quit. The last time I took UConn to upset I was disappointed, but these Huskies desperately want to go out with a bang. UConn Wins.
Creek: No fireworks, but plenty of firepower outside of Legion Field. Hell, the sponsor of this bowl will not even deliver in the neighborhood. Too bad, it was a great place to watch a game. I think the character of Randy Edsall and the Huskies team carries the day. UConn wins.
Arkansas vs. East Carolina (AutoZone Liberty Bowl)
Musket: East Carolina is the worst, good mid-major program I’ve ever seen play. They always play tough and have won some big games against BCS foes, yet they seem to squeak by inferior teams they should easily romp. One thing’s for certain, the Pirates may be the best form tackling defense in college football. That defense will have to get their mitts on big play Razorbacks in Bobby Petrino’s wide open attack. Deep balls kill the Pirates, Arkansas wins.
Creek: This is Skippy’s resume, or reel if you are into show biz. Too bad, against Petrino he will look like David Hasselhoff trying to read with DeNiro. Arkansas wins.
Michigan State vs. Texas Tech (Valermo Alamo Bowl)
Musket: Turns out that not greedy coaches, but sensitive players are the main demise for college football programs. Michigan, Kansas, and now Texas Tech have all been riddled by student athletes that say, “Coach is mean”. What are the Red Raiders to do without Leach’s strange, yet glorious offensive mind? The Spartans tout a solid foundation and will flaunt consistency on the football field. Michigan State wins.
Creek: We have the strange and unfolding story of Captain Leach against the home invasion crew of Sparty. I wonder if D’antonio made them wear ties to riot? I had MSU to have a pretty good year and was kind of torn on this, simply because I like Leach. he is just weird enough to make Lubbock interesting. No more. Michigan State wins.
Central Michigan vs. Troy (GMAC Bowl)
Musket: The Chippewas have no chief. Their defense can’t get much worse, but the offense needs to find a rhythm to be successful and without Butch Jones, that rhythm may be lost. Troy is a gritty team with everything to gain. They lead the Sun Belt in total offense averaging almost 500 yards per game. Even Dan Lefevour at general for Central Michigan will be hard pressed to keep up with the Trojans. Troy wins.
Creek: If Jones had stayed put, I kind of liked the Chippys. I am a Troy fan though. Many years ago, as a high school student masquerading as an undergrad – don’t say you never did it – Troy State was one of the most fertile fields you could ever sow. Ah, memories. Troy wins.
THE BCS BOWLS – PICKING THE BIG BOYS
Spread out over four days, like some kind of football addicts Bonaroo are the BCS Bowls. These are supposedly the cream of the crop, but usually among the least entertaining bowl games of the year. This season promises more of the same. So, Musket and I will sift through the dump and try to pick the least foul smelling teams in the heap. Next week we will pick the winner of Alabama’s slaughter of Texas.
The Rose Bowl- 1/1 at 5PM (ABC)
Oregon vs. Ohio State
Creek: This one is supposed to be easy. not many people give the Buckeyes much chance. Oregon has looked damn near unstoppable at times. Other times they have been very stoppable. OSU has a pretty good defense, if Tressel and company get over the idea that everybody still lines up in the Notre Dame Box. Oregon doesn’t believe in defense, it is an agent of the devil. What will Terrell Pryor do? I’m going to bet that not even the Ducks can figure it out. Ohio State wins.
Musket: Ohio State has always been, is now, and probably always will be a running team. The entire plan comes together when a damn genius like Craig Krenzel excels at completing seven yard 3rd down passes to keep drives alive. Things fall apart when the offense depends on a rushing quarterback posing as a passer to throw the ball downfield. The Buckeyes must run the football and churn first downs on the ground. Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli sometimes plays like a rabid puma with his tail on fire, other times he looks content to chill out with a cigarette and a beer in the parking lot. The Ducks now threaten with a spread option featuring Masoli, LaMichael James, and LaGarette Blount. Oregon Wins.
The Sugar Bowl- 1/1 at 8:30PM (FOX)
Florida vs. Cincinnati
Creek: Oh boy. Drama. Pathos. Low Comedy. What more could you ask for? Who are the coaches in this anyway? The announcers are Dr. Phil, Tyra and Boffo the Clown. I would never have given the Bearcats a chance a week or so ago. They lost a coach, but that can be overcome. I just didn’t think their players could match up with the Gators. I still don’t think they do, but there is more to it now. The sword has been pulled from Florida’s rock and it is just a paper clip. They do not have the character or guts to win a ballgame against a good team. Cincy wins.
Musket: Who’s gonna be there? Coaches? Players? Fans? Anyone? I’ve had my doubts about Cincinnati, but it takes a special team to finish undefeated. Pike is composed, Gilyard is elusive, and Pead is fast. The real surprise has been the succes in the rebuilt Bearcat defense that now features a 3-4 defense, a defense common in the NFL but rare in college. Florida has enough talent to fill three Cincinnati starting rosters. With both programs in some sort of turmoil, I’ll go with talent. Florida wins.
The Fiesta Bowl – 1/4 at 8PM (FOX)
TCU vs. Boise State
Creek: Wholesale massacre. This is the one we’ve been waiting for – The Horned Frogs vs. The Potato Heads. TCU is honored to be here and thinks that a BCS Bowl is very nice. Boise is bitching like the whole team is full of Craig James offspring. They want to play who they want, when they want, where they want. Fuhged about it. This will be embarrassing. It will be so entertaining that I’m going to put it on a loop and run it for the entire off season. These punks need to go back to their blue playground and beat up on some more Montana or somebody. TCU wins.
Musket: I don’t think there is a team that tickles every blade of grass on the field the way Boise State does. This is a text book spread offense that moves the ball around like a hot potato. TCU has evolved into a very well-rounded football team behind veteran Andy Dalton. Both teams rank top in their conference in total defense, while TCU places first and Boise State second in total offense. In a rematch of last year’s San Diego Country Flower… errr, something Bowl, the the Broncos cut loose and then cash in their chips. Boise State wins.
The Orange Bowl – 1/5 at 8PM (FOX)
Georgia Tech vs. Iowa
Creek: As has been the norm of late, the Orange is the most boring of them all. This used to be a big deal. Now, you get the ACC champ and some also ran. At least Georgia Tech is fun to watch and there is always the suspense of waiting on a Kirk Firentz team either just explode into a hailstorm of cowturds or quit, whichever comes first. Iowa’s D can’t stop Tech’s wishbone and the Beez have no D. Of course the Clones have little offense. Georgia Tech wins.
Musket: Tech head coach Paul Johnson has all the ingredients he needs to whip up a wicked stew of slaughter: rested legs, film crammed brain, and a brow beat defense. Iowa’s second string quarterback won’t be able to take advantage of Tech’s swiss cheese secondary. Georgia Tech wins.
This entry was posted on Thursday, December 31st, 2009 at 5:28 pm and is filed under Authors Blogs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Where is the OSU – OSU PICK???
It’s coming OB. They are in the Big Boy category.