Outback Bowl/Capital One Bowl

Two marquee games for the Big 10 to make a statement against the SEC.  Keep those remote control batteries fresh.

It appears that Capital One has finally tired of the vikings they've been using in their ads for the past couple years, favoring Jimmy Fallon and Alec Baldwin.  Probably a good choice.

#23 Nebraska vs. #7 Georgia

Two big boy programs, with the Cornhuskers coming off a beating at the hands of Wisconsin in the Big 10 Championship Game while Georgia went down to Alabama in the SEC Championship game.  Which team would be more interested in ending a disappointing season on an up note?

This was actually the fourth game I worked in for the day, picking it up in the third quarter.  Nebraska's "black shirt" defense must have gone on winter break before the Big 10 championship game and stayed on vacation for this bowl game.  Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray lit up the Nebraska defense for five touchdown passes.  Murray made a case for coming out early with the draft stock of so many other college QB's falling in these games.

Georgia wasn't playing great defense either, and this game was tight at 31-31 going into the fourth quarter.  The last two Bulldogs scores cemented this one with Nebraska having no late game heroics in them.  At least they didn't give up 70 like they did to Wisconsin. But still, 115 points in two games doesn't make Bo Pelini happy.

Georgia 45  Nebraska 31

Game notes:

-The games first score came on a blocked punt that went into the end zone but not one of the several Georgia players near the ball could get a handle on it and it went through the end zone for a safety.  Someone needed to cue up the Benny Hill music.

-Nebraska has inexplicably come apart on defense, giving up 589 yards to Georgia following the debacle in Indy in December.

-Huskers head coach Bo Pelini has a Twitter account and follows eight other accounts.  Seven of them are Nebraska related.  The other is the Cleveland Indians.

-Bowl swag:  $420 shopping trip to a local Best Buy, Fossil watch.  Note, the players can only use the money at Best Buy during the team's official trip to the store.

-This game is the former Tangerine Bowl.  I miss the old bowls. 

Having seen Nebraska fall apart against Wisconsin, I had Georgia to win this one.

One last chance for the Big 10 to make a statement against another very good SEC team.  If you've seen Michigan play all season, which I did, you're not giving them much of a chance.

Michigan vs. South Carolina 

I caught the second quarter of this game and then was back for maybe the most exciting finish to a game all season, let alone the bowl games.

It's really too bad there are so many games instead of a rational amount so fans could see all the games instead of switching constantly.  What, normal people don't watch every game?  Okay then.  You get my point.  Spread out good match-ups instead of serving up games with Tulsa and Ball State.

From what I saw, this was a really good back and forth game.  I thought South Carolina would blow out the Wolverines.  Michigan really didn't have much in the way of impressive wins all season (MSU could and should have beat them, try throwing long once or twice Dan Roushar).

Huge game for South Carolina's Ace Sanders who had three touchdowns including a 63-yard punt return for a score.  And check this hit by the Gamecocks Jadeveon Clowney in the fourth quarter.

Good grief.  This guy should be the number pick in the NFL draft.

Michigan did strike late and had a 28-27 lead but South Carolina was not to be denied and went in for the score late.  You knew the old ball coach Steve Spurrier wasn't going to try a field goal.

South Carolina 33  Michigan 28

Game notes:

-There have been some really good games in the giant mound of bowls but this finish was the best.  Both teams really wanted this one and the bigger, faster, more talented team won in the end.

-I really wish I had watched more of this game.  I love seeing Michigan lose. That's probably not healthy.

-Sure, there was bowl week fun for the teams including Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson meeting a giraffe.

-Bowl swag:  So so, $150 Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, ring, cap, Outback Steakhouse gift card.


-Because South Carolina won, Outback Steakhouse is offering a free bloomin' onion January 2nd.  If it's anything like the offer they made to veterans in November, you'll be waiting at least an hour to get a table.  Americans love free crap.

-And for those that have some love of conference, thankfully Northwestern won earlier.  

Bowl picks taking a serious uptick today.  Big surprise, all teams I've seen play.  4-for-4 today with two more games to go.