Sugar Bowl

Only three of my four family members had to ask whether or not there was another bowl game Wednesday night.  Yes, wife/daughter/boy #2, the Sugar Bowl is being played in New Orleans.  And there's another game Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Sunday night and Monday night.  Then it's done.

#3 Florida vs. #23 Louisville

Here come the Gators, one win away from likely playing for a national championship against the Cardinals from the hobbling and bumbling Big East.  The outcome was supposed to be a formality, with the Gators ferocious defense humbling the Cardinals air attack.  Someone forgot to tell Louisville.

Hey, even the Louisville fans looked hammered after a day on Bourbon Street, getting ready for the inevitable.

First play from scrimmage and an errant Gators pass is returned by the Cardinals to the end zone and it's a game.  Following a Gators stalled drive, Louisville takes the ball down the field, aided by some stupid Florida penalties and it's 14-0.  What?!

I thought this was going to be a first half only game to watch, and it kind of was, but for Louisville curb stomping Florida.  Instead of playing great defense like they did all season, the Florida players decided it was more important to try and bully Louisville, standing over players after tackles, strutting and preening after hits and adding penalty after penalty.  Florida head coach Will Muschamp had little control of his players.

24-10 Louisville at half and we're looking at the possibility of the biggest upset in the bowl games.

Things didn't get much better for Florida in the second half and I had dozed off for a while.  Boy #2 yelled at me to wake up and I saw the score jumped to 30-10.  With the way the inept Florida offense was going, this game was all but over.

Cardinals quarterback Teddy Bridgewater continue to lead his team down the field, putting up one more field goal while the Gators threw up some desperation scores but couldn't finish.  The Gators were desperate most of the game, trying onside kicks (that didn't work) and trying to make big plays on defense that back fired.

Yeah, Florida fans, you may want to go incognito. And I hope that woman was able to dislodge whatever was caught in her teeth.

Louisville 33  Florida 23

Game notes:

-In their 11 wins, Florida had a total of six turnovers.  They had three in this game alone.

-For all the Gators' false bravado, attempts at intimidation and thug-like behavior, Louisville never flinched.  That's great coaching.  How other schools missed on Charlie Strong is a mystery.

-ESPN had Sean McDonough and Chris Spielman calling this game.  Spielman is the anti-Matt Millen, thankfully.  Good game insight, understated delivery, the guy gets it.

-Tim Tebow was on the Florida sideline.  He was really familiar with the way the Gators played, he'd seen the same all season with the Jets.

-This game bore an almost exact resemblance to the 2008 Sugar Bowl when Utah came in and stunned a fairly disinterested Alabama team.  The Gators came in expecting win, a huge flaw. Once again, lousy job by the coaching staff.  I will say Florida coach Will Muschamp did a great job yelling at the officials.

-I have no idea what teams do after games, but I'd guess a few Gators players may have had a few Hand Grenades down on Bourbon Street.

 Mmm, grain alcohol and Midori.   Tropical Isle, the bar that serves them up, claims it's the most powerful drink in New Orleans.  They're horrible if you're ever down there and thinking of giving one a try.  Go for a nice Sazerac or a Vieux Carre at the Hotel Monteleone carousel bar. 

-Swag for players, decent:  Gift suite, Fossil watch, New Era cap, Boxer & Stone hoodie. 

I had the Gators (like 97% of bowl picks pool players did) with my second highest confidence points guess. Watch out for the guy at work who had Louisville in his pool, he may be crowing about it.

Fiesta Bowl tonight, Kansas State vs. Oregon.  Might be a few touchdowns.