BCS Game

And scene.  The crazies in Tuscaloosa now start making plans to tear down the current Saban statue and build one ten times bigger, made of pure gold and hounds tooth, and ROLL DAMN TIDE!

#1 Notre Dame vs. #2 Alabama

When rankings aren't worth squat.  Notre Dame was 12-0 so what choice was there without the playoff that will finally be here in a couple years.  The Irish were close to losing to Purdue, they squeaked by Michigan, they needed all the help they could get from the officials to win against Stanford, Pitt had them beat, and even a depleted Southern Cal team stayed close.  But the luck of the Irish played out all season and the Golden Domers were trying to wake the echoes. 

And then they played Alabama.  Touchdown Jesus turned this game off at halftime. 

If you're reading this you probably saw the game, so I'm not going to recap or give details.  The Irish had no answer for the Tide.  This might as well have been Purdue or any other 6-6- or 7-5 team playing, they would have stood the exact same chance.  If there was a playoff, we would have probably had Oregon or Georgia playing the Tide in a week or two for at least some semblance of a title game.

I don't think Notre Dame would be any better than the seventh best team in the SEC if they played in that conference.

After 35 games, what an utter disappointment of a game and it's pretty much what I expected.  You know what kind of game you're watching when Brent Musberger is more interested in the Alabama quarterback's girlfriend and skeezes out a nation with his comments.

It's often said Brent gambles on the games he calls and it was apparent that if he laid down a few dollars, he was definitely in for the Irish with the points.  A bit lighter in the wallet then.   

I'm actually typing this while the game finishes, glad another BowlQuest has ended.  It's too bad that my favorite sport has come to an end like this for a second straight year.  They'll get it right eventually.  Or not. 

Alabama 42  South Bend High School 14   And Kool and the Gang is playing. 

For a moment today I almost switched my final bowl pool pick to Notre Dame because I had no chance to win outright.  Glad I didn't.  If my calculations and Yahoo are correct, I'll pocket the second place cash.  Could be worse, I could have to watch this game again.

GoDaddy.com Bowl

Yeah, there was a game on Sunday night. Why, who knows?

Arkansas St. vs. Kent State

Off to Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile we go for this nightcap to all the NFL wildcard playoff action.  The MAC champ taking on the Sun Belt champ.  A game with both head coaches leaving for bigger jobs.  Gus Malzahn from Arkansas State, gone to Auburn while Darrell Hazzel of Kent State is taking the Purdue job.

A bowl rarity, Hazzell stuck around to coach the Golden Flash in this game.

The only thing really interesting about this game were the helmets worn by Kent State.

I have no idea what's going on with the front of the helmet.  I guess a "Flash" has demonic eyes.  I kind of like the "K" on the back.

Kicking off at 9pm (good grief), I caught most of this game as no one at home seemed to care.  No one really cares what happened so I'll spare you any details.  Two supposedly high octane offenses were shut down by defense and the Red Wolves won 17-13.  I turned the game off early in the fourth quarter and went to bed.

Game notes:

-Go Daddy used their ads during the game to focus on the product they sell instead of trying to dupe 17-year olds into thinking Danica Patrick was naked in an extension of the ad on the company website. 

 Ms. Patrick did show up on the sideline, fully clothed, talking about the upcoming NASCAR season driving for Tony Stewart Racing.  I then had to hear Mrs. Keith's thoughts on Danica. (She doesn't like her and doesn't think she's "all that.")

 Yeah, she even tosses her hair at news conferences.  Larry The Cable guy was also in Mobile for the game although I doubt he had a presser or tossed his hair. 

-Bowl swag:  Did players get a Fossil watch? You know it.  Not a bad swag bag - Sol Republic headphones, Fossil watch, leather garment bag, Wilson football.


I picked Kent State, hoping they would win their first bowl game since I was getting G.I. Joe's from Santa Claus.  Bowl record now 20-14 and I fall to third place in the picks pool.  That pretty much ends my chance at winning.  I probably have to take Notre Dame for any chance at the top spot.


BCS Championship game tonight between, well you know the teams, and the bowl game marathon comes to an end.

Compass Bowl

Game 33 of BowlQuest, zero interest, just like Pittsburgh fans.

Pitt vs. Ole Miss

The Panthers have played in this game three straight years.  At some point you'd figure they either have to win another game or two and play in a better bowl game or drop below .500 and stay home.  Either is a better alternative than an annual January trip to Birmingham and crumbling Legion Field.

Boy #2 and I made a trip to Dave and Buster's to catch the first quarter because we had a $40 gift certificate to use before it expired Sunday.  The local Dave and Buster's has been remodeled and while still a humungous space, it was much nicer than the previous incarnation.

We sat in this area and fortunately Stephen A. Smith wasn't on.  In addition to the Compass Bowl, we had access to the Michigan State/Purdue basketball game on another big screen. The Spartans are the usually sloppy, foul happy team they are this time of year and it was a foul fest against the Boilers.

Anyhow...

Ole Miss scored two touchdowns in the first half, one coming thanks to a Tino Sunseri interception.  Sunseri's only playing of note was that he had not thrown an interception since September.  The ESPN guys calling the game made certain to mention that fact several times so everyone watching knew what was coming.

We stayed at Dave and Busters through the first quarter and left after we ate and the boy played $20 worth of games.  A stop at Costco was next, to pick up a couple things to munch on during the NFL playoff games.  I don't know what they were selling, but it was the most crowded I've ever seen Costco.  Not a single cart at the front of the store.  Must be an outstanding coupon book this month.

It took forever to check out.  We were standing next to a man who was only buying two boxes of cereal.  Seemed like a bad time for cereal only shopping.  Mr. Cereal looked perplexed at the whole situation and for some reason, jumped out of his line one spot from checking out and went to stand in another line.  He still managed to check out before us because the self serve check-outs at Costco are the worst.  They stop working for every single customer and require an employee to come over and restart it.  There should also be an item limit on those self serve lines.  We were behind a family that appeared to be restocking a restaurant and furnishing a bedroom. 

We finally checked out and then there was a huge line to wait for the receipt check.  A lot of people hate the receipt check but during Christmas we saw these folks pick off some shoplifters, so there is a reason for it.  And it's always the same people who do the checking, which I like.  Charlie always seems like the cantankerous but kind elderly neighbor.

Oh yeah, the game.  I came home, watched the ho-hum third quarter and then Mrs. Keith said she had enough and started watching episodes of True Blood.  Wow, that show is terrible.

Ole Miss 38  Pittsburgh 17

Game notes:  

-Nice season for the Rebels, improving to 7-6 from 2-10 last season. SEC!  SEC!

-As noted Pittsburgh needs to do something one way or another with their program.  If not, at least commit to not playing in this game for a fourth straight year.

-The announced attendance was better than at the Sugar Bowl.  How does that happen?  I guess Rebels fans were excited about being in the postseason and they could drive to the game.  Thankfully Legion Field didn't crumble under the weight of a full capacity of fans. 

-Pre-game competions?  How about some bowling (get it?) with bowling pin trophies.

-Bowl swag:  Fossil watch, Oakley Dispatch II sunglasses, wireless portable speaker, backpack, football.  Not a bad haul for a bottom tier game.

I had Ole Miss in this game, upping my record to 20-13, just a few points back of the pool leader.  It's all going to come down to Monday night.

There is another game tomorrow, the GoDaddy.com bowl.  And it's on late.  But MACtion. 

Cotton Bowl

And then there's Johnny Football...

This game has been played on Friday nights the last couple years and while I'm kind of annoyed with games like the Fiesta and Sugar bowls getting played away from New Year's Day, I like this game being at the end of a work week.  Friday Night Football!

Everyone at home has finally begun to deal with the games (that only took 32 games) and just ask, "When is your game coming on?" when I walk through the door.

Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma

The hype that's going to surround Johnny Manziel next season is going to be immense.  I don't know if I've seen a player like him.  It's not just the ability to run and throw well, it's like he sees the field differently than other players.  Like he can see where the holes are going to open up, not where they are open at the moment.

Texas A&M kind of plays like Oregon when it comes to tempo, but unlike the Ducks, everything revolves around Manziel.  On the Aggies first quick touchdown drive, Manziel darted to his left and looked like he was going out of bounds but he danced along the sideline and then skipped into the end zone.  I think the Sooners were watching him instead of trying to tackle him.

Oklahoma's game plan was good in the first half, keep Manziel off the field.  The Sooners were trading field goals for touchdowns, usually a recipe for losing but they took a sure Aggie touchdown away with a pick and finally got in the end zone to make it 14-13 Aggies at the half.

Then the A&M train came out of the tunnel at full speed to start the second half. Enjoy.

The Aggies had almost 300 yards of offense in the third quarter alone (!) while scoring three touchdowns and putting this game away.

Final totals for Manziel, 287 passing yards, 229 rushing yards, four touchdowns, and one of the most dominant performances I've ever seen.  Johnny Football footballed all over Oklahoma.  The Sooners looked punch drunk with about eight minutes left in the game.  No mas Johnny.

Texas A&M 41  Oklahoma 13

Game notes:

-Remember when all those people were crowing about Northern Illinois not belonging in the Orange Bowl, the Huskies taking Oklahoma's rightful spot. Actually, the Sooners would have been a good match up for the Seminoles.  I'm sure they would rather have been in Miami instead of in front of Manziel and A&M.

-Looks like the Cotton Bowl folks went back to 1986 for their champions hats.

-Huge crowd for this game - not surprising, being in Texas and the two teams playing.  Didn't look like an empty seat in the house.  For as much as Jerry Jones has screwed up the Cowboys, he's done an amazing job marketing his stadium and making this a top tier game again..

-Texas A&M fans really enjoy football.  They never stopped making noise, even when the game was decided.

-Players got their beef on at the pre-game Beef Bowl.  It is Texas.

 
-Bowl swag:   The game does not disclose the gifts bestowed but last year the players received an iPad2 and...a Fossil watch!  Also, the Sooners all received Johnny Manziel's cleat prints on their back.

I had the Aggies to win this one, bumping my bowl record to 19-13.  I'm in second place in my picks confidence pool.  I probably need to win out to take the top prize.

Today, the BBVA Compass Bowl from dilapidated Legion Field in Birmingham.  Pittsburgh fans must feel like Russians exiled to Siberia every January.  Birmingham, again? 

Fiesta Bowl

A veritable football party in the desert, and sometimes when you go to a party you see things you never thought you would see.  That happened in tonight's game, a football rarity.

#5 Oregon vs. #7 Kansas State

On paper, or at least in the rankings, a great match-up but having seen both these teams play a number of teams this season I had a feeling that it wasn't nearly as close as the rankings would lead you to believe.

The Ducks blasted out of the gate thanks to the human blur, DeAnthony Thomas who took the opening kick in Glendale, Arizona and streaked to the end zone, with Oregon never looking back.

The entire game was Oregon doing what it does best, play fast paced football, and see if their opponent could keep up.  Kansas State could not.  This was a game the Wildcats needed to slow down and they did  for a while after Oregon scored their second touchdown.  Then the Ducks lightning attack struck right before halftime and you had a feeling this game was over.

No one complained about me watching this game, and Mrs. Keith even put in her two cents about Oregon because she stayed up late to watch Stanford beat them and ruin their shot at a national title.

Growing weary of football, I found a new show (or at least new to me) on PBS called "Market Warriors" about professional pickers that was actually well done, informative and hooked me.  It was like they took all those pawn shop/storage unit shows from cable channels and threw out all the awful acting and staged competition to make this show.  Meet Miller Gaffney, a picker on the show.

 The other cast members were interesting as well. I got hooked on the episode and forgot about the Fiesta Bowl for a while.  Fortunately I turned back in time to see the rarest of the rare.

The One Point Safety.  I had only heard whispers of such a play.  And it was if the football gods whispered to me to turn off PBS and get back to ESPN to see it.  I swear to you, I turned the game back on just as the play happened.  Confusion at the game, confusion on the couch on Blackhawk Drive.

Then referee Ron Cherry stepped to the field and said, "On the previous play, we have an unusual ruling,"and then went on to explain the ONE POINT SAFETY!  Indeed, the great white buffalo of football plays.

(I tried to include the video but Youtube is refusing to cooperate, here's the link to watch it yourself.)

What makes this play even stranger, ESPN play by play announcer Brad Nessler was also calling the only other game where a one point safety occurred, a game in 2004 between Texas and Texas A&M. 

After this rarity, the game was all but over.  How do you come back from that?  Kansas State did not.

Oregon 35  Kansas State 17

Game Notes:

-This may have been Chip Kelly's last game coaching the Ducks.  There are three NFL teams that are interested in installing Mr. Kelly's offense to their team.  Maybe ESPN can stage a Lebron-like event where Kelly comes out, with three team hats on a table, and takes 30 minutes to make his decision. 

-I would really like to see Alabama and Oregon play. 

-Bowl swag:  Fossil, you win.  Gift suite presented by PAC Sports Division, Fossil watch, Ogio Mercur backpack. 

As noted above, I had Oregon winning this one, seeing no chance for Kansas State's defense to contain the Ducks.  I moved up to 3rd place in my bowl picks game still with the most potential points to win.

Cotton Bowl tonight, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, should be a good one.

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. 

Orange Bowl

We're officially at the point of the BowlQuest when the family keeps asking if I've had enough football.  Yes, yes, yes.  That's the point, bowl season is bloated, the challenge to watch all the games isn't all that fun.  Tuesday night's game was the sixth of the day so football has been on TV in the house since noon. 

Despite watching all but the last couple minutes of this game I'm just realizing FedEx no longer sponsors this game.  When did that happen?  Where's Obie?  Despite it's several colors, this logo is pretty bland.

Florida State vs. Northern Illinois

MACtion in the BCS, how will we survive.  A lot of jibba-jab about how a team from the MAC shouldn't be in a BCS game.  If that's the case, then why is the MAC in the BCS at all?  Apparently people felt Oklahoma should have been in Miami.

Who cares, this game means just as much as the Gildan New Mexico Bowl in the grand scheme of things. Give the Huskies a shot.  And the bigger issue is really why ESPN continues to force analyst Matt Millen on the football loving public?

After five games I was really dreading a night filled with one idiotic comment after another from Millen, especially after hearing him on the Russell Athletic Bowl.  Sure enough, he came out with the annoying habit of referring to play by play partner Joe Tessitore as "Tess" over and over again. And then a tsunami of stupidity hit in the second half.  A few examples:

-With the half time score 14-3, Millen explained the Huskies were behind by 11 points!
-He insisted on saying NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch was from the "south side of Chicago" and even broke off a few lines from "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown."  Lynch is from Mt. Greenwood, from Chicago's south side but a nice neighborhood.  Millen made it sound like he was some sort of gangster.
-When Lynch forced a throw for an interception inside Florida State territory, Millen said it would have been better for NIU to attempt a field goal than turn the ball over.
-And then Millen started saying things to amuse himself including calling one player a "good looking rascal" and saying "That's a big, powerful man. Follow that rear end," and then giggling about it.

Brutal. Let's shake off Millen and "Tess" with the famous "fumblerooski" play from the 1984 Orange Bowl.

Nebraska against Miami, now that's an Orange Bowl. 

The game, Florida State did get NIU's best shot for three quarters but bigger, faster athletes finally took over as did Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher waking up and calling for plays to bust through the Huskies smaller defensive line.  The Seminoles finally started pushing in the fourth quarter and put the game away.  This was kind of a no-win game for the them.  Win, and it was expected.  Lose, and it's an embarrassment. 

Florida State 31  NIU 10

Game notes:

-This game has been a blow out for the last couple years.  I don't think there's really been a good Orange Bowl since 2006.  Of course, Miami will be back in the spotlight with Notre Dame and Alabama Monday night for the championship.

-Where was Obie, a.k.a. King Orange?  Last year, Obie was near the field and got tangled with a player as he ran out of bounds during West Virginia's blow out of Clemson.  He did finally show up but bowl organizers were keeping him well away from the action.  So no Obie in the logo, or seen much during the game. Boo! 

 Here's Obie and former Kansas coach Mark Mangino.  Fill in your own wise ass remark.

-Hats off to this guy, an NIU fan who was tailgating at the Huskies stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.

 Why?  Who knows, but he was there to support his much maligned team. 

Bowl swag for players:  Pretty boringy, a gift suite trip, Tourneau watch.  Not too creative.

I had Florida State, as did most everyone else, and went 6-for-6 in correct picks on New Year's day.  I'm up to 4th place in my bowl pool with the most potential points still on the board.  Need to keep getting them right.

Sugar Bowl tonight, Florida and Louisville. 

Rose Bowl Game

I've never run a marathon but I'd imagine watching the fifth game of the day is kind like hitting the 18th or 19th mile, if it included sitting in a chair for eight hours.

Wisconsin vs. Stanford

A game of two teams that play your daddy's football.  Run, run and run some more.  Of course, the game features the theme of bowl season, a coaching change.  Wisconsin's Bret Bielema left to take the Arkansas job so current athletic director and former head coach Barry Alvarez is back to coach the Badgers.  With Ohio State ineligible, I would have much rather have seen Northwestern in this game to represent the Big 10 but they ain't here. 

Stanford is coming off another very good season, having beat Oregon in their PAC 12 division and a win over UCLA to make it to Pasadena.

I watched all of this one, being the only game on.  As always, one of the most beautiful settings in all of sports. The games are really starting to get on Mrs. Keith's nerves. She must have asked six times today if I was tired of watching football.  I've done this now for seven straight years, you'd think she knows what days the most games are on.  Today is one of those days.

This game was expected to be a grinder and it was.  Stanford able to grind better than Wisconsin, getting a score on their first couple drives, forcing the Badgers to play catch up all game.  Wisconsin came alive in the second quarter, adding two touchdowns, making this a game.  17-14 Stanford at the half.

The second half was old style, Big 10 football.  A defensive battle between the 30's.  Cleanly played, not too many penalties.  Stanford finally put together a long, clock eating drive but couldn't convert to into the end zone.  20-14 but not much time left.

Finally, the game ending turnover, Wisconsin with an interception, game over.  Both teams with a great effort in a well played game.

Stanford 20  Wisconsin 14

Game notes:

-This was Stanford's first Rose Bowl win since 1972.  The Big 10 is 1-9 in their last nine Rose Bowl games.

-It's often speculated that Brett Musberger gambles on college games and you can tell what team he has money on by the way he calls a game.  If that's so, he had Wisconsin and the points today.  If he did, he lost.

-Famed anthropologist Jane Goodall was the Rose Parade grand marshall and was on the field for the coin toss.

 
The pregame emcee pronounced her last name "Goodell," as in the NFL commissioner.  Is it asking too much to learn how to say someone's name? 

-Swag for the players:  A trip to and through the gift suite, Fossil watch, Oakley backpack, New Era Thirty9 Thirty cap.  What, no football?

-While I was watching the game I found my BowlQuest VII souvenir for the year, a Schutt bowl game mini helmet.

Why the Sun Bowl?  Because it was the only bowl game mini helmet I could find on ebay.  Last year, I bought an Armed Forces Bowl scarf.  Such is BowlQuest.

I had Stanford in this one, making me 5-for-5 on the day.  Need Florida State to win for the New Year's Day pick 6.  After tonight, we get to single game situations the rest of the way. 

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. 

Heart of Texas Bowl/Gator Bowl

Lots of games to start the day, meaning one quarter of each, back to back.  Will the Big 10 finally shut up some of the barking about the SEC?  Can Northwestern win its first bowl game since Truman was President?

Oklahoma State vs. Purdue

This one was over when they announced the bowl match-ups.  The clear and obvious top confidence choice in your college bowl confidence pool.  (One guy in the pool I'm in had this game for only eight points.  Okay.)

Purdue is only in the this game because Ohio State and Penn State were not eligible for postseason play. If they had been, Michigan State would likely have been in this game.  The Cowboys were 17 point favorites, which seemed low but Vegas tries to keep money on both sides of the line.

Purdue didn't beat a team with a winning record all season and came limping into Dallas losers of three of their last four.  Their head coach had been fired.  They probably had the team bus break down on the way to the stadium and had to fix it themselves.  (It is an engineering school.)

Five Boilermaker turnovers is the only stat you need to know about.  I watched the first quarter and that was plenty with so many other games underway or coming up.

Oklahoma State 58  Purdue 14

Game notes:

-Here's how bad it was.  Early on, Purdue decided to go for a fake punt deep on their own side of the field. That led to an easy Cowboys score.  Then down 14-0 still in the first, Purdue decided to try a field goal at the Oklahoma State's 17-yard line.  What?

-Plenty of leg room at the old Cotton Bowl for this game.

-This game was a big bowl game step back for an Oklahoma State team that was better than its 7-5 record.  Last year this team was a breath away from the BCS title game.

-If this game went away, no one would care. Toss in the Little Caesars Bowl, Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl and the BBVA Compass Bowl and get the total down to 31.  Still too many games, but that would be a good start.

-Bowl swag:  Lousy game, lousy gifts for the players - Backpacks, long-sleeve dry-fit shirts, stocking caps.

Obviously I picked this one correctly, with my highest confidence pick, 35.

Northwestern vs. Mississippi State

COWBELLS...COWBELLS...COWBELLS...COWBELLS...COWBELLS...COWBELLS

Yeah, another bowl game with the well traveling Bulldogs fans from Starkeville who shake their cowbells from the opening kick to the final whistle.  This is by far the most annoying fan base in all 35 games of BowlQuest.  I find myself having to turn the sound way down because the bell ringing never ends.

The big story here is Northwestern having not won a bowl game in their last nine tries and not having won a game since the 1949 Rose Bowl.

Turnovers again the number one factor in a game, with Mississippi State quarterback Tyler Russell throwing four of them.

I arrived in the second quarter of this game with Northwestern already up 10-0.  Mississippi State would answer with a touchdown (COWBELLS) and it looked like a game at half, 13-7.  I turned the game off at this point to start watching the Outback Bowl.

Back in the fourth quarter to see if the Wildcats can get it done.  And they did.  Russell threw his fourth interception inside the red zone with less than 10 minutes to play.  Northwestern added one more score and was able to overcome three of their own turnovers to win the game and get the bowl monkey off their back.

Northwestern 34  Mississippi State 20

-The Big 10 scores a win over the monolithic SEC!  Two more B10 vs. SEC games going on at the same time.

-Pat Fitzgerald is a really good coach and I'm surprised more bigger schools haven't made a run at him. He has tons of energy and his players really seem to buy in to his program and style of coaching.

-Taxslayer is back for a second year as bowl game sponsor.  They do your taxes for $9.99 and have Dale Earnhardt Jr. as a spokesperson.  Earnhardt drove the Taxslayer car onto the field before the game.

"Get the damn car off my lawn!" 

-Bowl swag:  Okay, not great.  Fossil watch, Dome hat, Mercury garment bag and carry-on bag, Jostens ring, football.  Nice touch, the game sent the players their luggage before the game with their names stamped on each piece.  

I had Northwestern in this one because I believed they would get it done.  And I wanted to see 20,000 bell ringing nitwits go home unhappy.

Four games left in the day. 

Liberty Bowl/Chick-Fil-A Bowl

The back half of a four game day.  Music City and USC's flat tire of a performance in the Sun Bowl down, time to head to Memphis and Atlanta.

Iowa State vs. Tulsa

The only rematch of a 2012 regular season game.  The Golden Hurricane lost up in Iowa to the Cyclones in the biggest high wind related game of the year so let's bring the storming schools together in Memphis.

After that Sun Bowl I wasn't much in the mood for a usually entertaining game.  The first quarter belonged to Iowa State but then the Tulsa running game and run defense kicked in and the Cyclones never scored again.

I was in charge of cooking dinner for New Years Eve so I had the game on while kicking around the kitchen.  For dinner, I picked up a couple pounds of shrimp for an old family favorite, barbeque shrimp St. John's Bayou.

Lots of butter, garlic and spices on the shrimp on crusty, toasted bread. Easy to make and delicious.  A tossed salad and a couple glasses of red wine for me, nice.  This was gone quick, too.

While cooking and eating, Tulsa just ground out the second half while Iowa State could do nothing.

Hero of the game, Tulsa running back Trey Watts, the son of former Oklahoma great J.C. Watts.  He carried the ball for 149 yards, leading a Tulsa ground attack that put up 320 total yards.

Tulsa 31  Iowa State 17

Game Notes:

-This is one of the older bowl games, back when going to a bowl was a real reward for a good season.  It started in Philadelphia (check the logo) in 1959 but small crowds forced the game to move.  The next destination was Atlantic City in 1964 inside the convention center to avoid the cold weather.  The first indoor game in bowl history, played on a 4-inch thick pad of real grass and 2-inches of burlap underneath.

If the end zones look a bit small, it's because they were only eight yards deep.  Utah whipped West Virginia in the game and it was moved in 1965 to Memphis, where it has been played ever since.

-Big turnout of Iowa State fans at the game.  At least they had the chance to have a fun New Year's Eve on Memphis' Beale Street.

-A lot of bowl games have eating competitions in the days leading up to the game and being in Memphis, the Liberty Bowl has a rib eating contest.  Ethan Tuftee bested the rest and won this Gibson guitar for his rib eating prowess.

Bowl swag - players make out nice in this game:  Sol Republic Tracks HD Anthem headphones, Bulova watch, Nike athletic shoes and sandals, Nike sunglasses, Nike backpack, football.  Bulova, not Fossil, classy.

I thought the Cyclones would win again despite their 6-6 record.  Wrong.

I was making no friends at home with the fourth game of the day so I knew it was probably going to be a one quarter game despite the best match-up of bowl season so far.

#14 Clemson vs. #8 LSU

What a good first quarter.  Both teams were jacked up and ready to play.  We haven't seen much of that in bowl games so far.  Right off the bat, Clemson loses its big play maker Sammy Watkins and LSU takes the ball in for a score.  The game turned into the Tajh Boyd show, Clemson's quarterback who is destined for the NFL.  He lead a swarming, high energy Clemson attack to an answering score, 7-7 first quarter.

My needed quarter in, I acquiesced to the family and flipped things over the all night tribute to Dick Clark on ABC.  Although I was missing the best bowl game so far, it was fun watching the old American Bandstand and New Year's Rockin' Eve clips. A serious lack of Kool & The Gang though.  They were New Year's Rockin' Eve when I was a kid.

While Clemson was winning the game in dramatic fashion, we were hanging with Ryan Seacrest and a shrieking Jenny McCarthy in Times Square.  Ms. McCarthy kept squawking about needing someone to kiss at midnight!!!  In Los Angeles, Fergie was holding things down in an obviously recorded situation.  We counted down to midnight, sprayed some cheap champagne around and sounded an air horn to ring in 2013.

Clemson 25  LSU 24

12/31/12 was not my day - I wrongly picked all four games and Michigan State lost to Minnesota in basketball in their Big 10 Opener.  Hope my picks for New Year's Day work out better.

Music City Bowl/Sun Bowl

Bowl favorites are not favorites to win.  Seems to be the way this bowl season is playing out.  Between coaching changes, failed season expectations, injured players and utter indifference, being favored to win means nothing in these games.  Add in a heaping helping of too many games and you get the abundance of bad football that's been played out over these games so far. 

North Carolina State vs. Vanderbilt

I started this game with the boys at the Gaslight Cafe in Pleasant Ridge.  This was an abbreviated version our annual Christmas tradition we call Man Day.  Just the guys out for lunch, shopping and maybe a few beers for Dad along the way.  We couldn't get it in this earlier because they didn't get off from school until the Friday before Christmas and Mrs. Keith and I were out of town that weekend.  So today was the last chance.

The Gaslight Cafe was the destination because the Gaslight burger is ranked as the #4 burger in town by Cincinnati magazine.

Boy #2 and I went for it while Boy #1 must be watching his figure and went for the quarter pound burger.  It's one tasty burger.  And if you go, stick with the chips.  The large crinkle cut fries were a disappointment. The house made chili wasn't bad but too much alongside this monster.

Turns out the Gaslight didn't have the bowl game, favoring the U.C. basketball game.  No problem, these games drag on so I'd catch a quarter of the second half at home.  As noted many times, I've been subbing for my morning show, so the belly buster of a burger combined with mild exhaustion equaled me laying on the couch for the third quarter.

Blah.  Vanderbilt put up 21 points in the second quarter and that's all she wrote in this one.  This game was another with a coaching change, with Jim O'Brien getting the boot in Raleigh so we'll chalk up the Wolf Pack's poor play to that.  As is common in these games, turnovers are a huge factor and NC State's Mike Glennon had three of them with interceptions.

North Carolina State outgained Vanderbilt by 214 yards.  That's seriously inefficient.  

Vandy 38  NC State 24

Game Notes:

-This was Vanderbilt's first 9-win season since 1915.  1915.  They didn't wear helmets that far back.  Commodores coach James Franklin certainly deserves some votes for coach of the year.  He's turned a doormat program into a solid second tier player in the S.E.C.

-Another quarterback hurting his draft stock with lackluster to poor play, this time NC State's Mike Glennon.  Three picks isn't going to get you paid come April, Mike.

-The highlight of NC State's season was ruining Florida State's season when they beat them in October.  That win gave us my favorite football fan picture of the year.

I'm guessing that guy would really enjoy the Gaslight Cafe.

Swag bag for players:  Just like this game, blah.  A trip through the gift suite and a Fossil watch.  Fossil, the official watch of bowl game gift suites.  Bowl sponsor Franklin American should at least offer players parents a discount on a re-fi.

Of course, I picked NC State to win.  Bowl record started to swirl.

The Sun Bowl is sponsored by Hyundai but I like this Vitalis logo better.  I'm taking the Sun Bowl as seriously as the Trojans of USC did.

Southern Cal vs. Georgia Tech

What an embarrassment for Southern Cal, a team that was a preseason favorite to play for (and win) a national championship.  Obviously that didn't happen as they found themselves in El Paso on December 31st.

I put this game on after it was clear the Music City Bowl was a done deal.  I had doubts about Southern Cal in this game because of starting quarterback Matt Barkley being out with a case of "I don't want to get hurt in this meaningless game" and the Trojans being relegated by their own doing to this game instead of something on New Year's Day or later.

Another turnover plagued game with a real lack of effort and game planning by Southern Cal.  They had no  answer to Tech's triple option attack and couldn't find a way to get the ball to their two soon-to-be-NFL playing wide receivers.  No one on offense really seemed to be trying. 

USC head coach Lane Kiffin was dressed as the Unibomber, in a hoodie and shades, maybe hoping no one would recognize him and the awful job he and his staff did all season and for this game. Here's Lane looking thrilled to be part of some pregame folderol.

George Tech 21  USC 7

Game notes:

-This is the only bowl game on CBS because ESPN loves showing crappy football.  Vern Lundquist and Gary Danielson, the SEC A-Team, are called in to do this game yearly.  These guys get to be in El Paso every New Year's Eve day.  Lucky them.
 When it was clear that USC had no intention of making a real effort, they told the story of how Kiffin and his team blew off the bowl game dinner that is planned for both teams.  El Paso takes a lot of pride in this game, their only time each year in the annual spotlight.  They were both obviously disgusted with the team's lack of manners and consideration for the people that put on this game and were waiting to tell this story to shame USC. That they did.

-If they don't jump on a private jet to go home, what can Vern and Gary do on New Year's Eve in El Paso?  Well, the "stars" of American Idol are performing at the nearby Inn of the Mountain Gods.  Yes, that's a real place.  There is an outdoor ball drop at the Lotus club including a performance by the band Biscuit Roller.  Or they can go R&B at the Sunland horse race track with the velvety sounds of Sha'Vone.

-Player swag:  Timely watch, Majestic fleece, Top of the World cap, coin, Helen of Troy hair dryer.  The only game that gives away a hair dryer.  Maybe a late Christmas present for mom, yeah?

Got this one wrong too, picking Southern Cal.  I probably shouldn't gamble.

Finishing the Liberty Bowl now and on to the nightcap, hopefully a good game between Clemson and LSU.  Aw, who am I kidding, it's the ACC vs. the SEC, it will likely be a beat down. Maybe I can pick one game correctly. 

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl

After a day of games that started at 11:45am, we hit the Saturday night finale.  Serious doubts about reaching the final whistle.

Before my scattered memories of this game, props to the Buffalo Wild Wing folks who gave a clinic on in-stadium branding.  They left no doubt what company was sponsoring this game.  Beef 'O' Brady's could learn a thing or two from BWW.

TCU vs. Michigan State

From the outset, all bowl predictions were for a close game dominated by defense.  That's been the forecast for every single MSU game this season so why change now?

But oh my.  The Spartans offense looked like it somehow regressed since their last game in November, and there wasn't much room to move backwards.  And despite how good MSU's defense has been, they must also lead the NCAA in giving up a big play followed by a crushing penalty to add 15 yards.

They did all that in the first half and more.  Quarterback Andrew Maxwell looked completely lost, they couldn't get Le'Veon Bell and the running game going and when the receivers did get near the ball, they dropped it as often as they caught it.

Despite a shank, punter Mike Sadler was the first half MVP, pinning the Horned Frogs deep a number of times.  There was also possibly the worst trick play ever in MSU history - an attempted half back pass that wound up going back to Maxwell who almost threw an interception.  Oh for the days of George Perles.

Instead of seeing that play one more time, how about Little Giants?  

13-0 TCU after two quarters and it could have been much worse.

(At this point I'll be honest, it was well past 12am and I had been up since 6am to drive my daughter to work.  My eyes, having seen enough horrible football during the day, could not stay open much longer.)

The MSU offense continued to misfire to start the third quarter.  Fortunately MSU's defense knows how to play games like this and kept TCU out of the end zone.  Finally, the Spartans shook up the offense and put freshman Connor Cook in at QB, leading to the Spartans longest touchdown drive in their bowl history.  13-7 and there was life.  The drive did include a drive saving pass not from Cook, but Bell.  One can only imagine what this season would have been without him. 

Was there a fourth quarter comeback in store for Sparty?  Evidently so but I didn't see it.  Fell asleep.  Just could not keep my eyes open, and no, I wasn't boozing it up.  I even had some iced tea for a bit of caffeine to try and help the cause.  I have no idea what ESPN was thinking other than wanting a prime time game for the west coast.  This game could have been on ABC at 8pm, you know, like every week during the regular season.  I think our local ABC affiliate was showing an infomercial for the Schtickie.  

Punting hero Mike Sadler, who will play on Sundays, sent a 55 yarder back to TCU after another stalled MSU drive and finally, a break!  Muffed punt, Spartans recover.  Bell takes it in and it's 14-13.  But  it's the Spartans so count on more drama.  TCU manages a drive and a field goal from kicker Jaden Oberkrom.  No, he did not Oberkrombie and Flinch!  (That's some Berman-like top dollar humor right there.)

Since I wasn't awake, the finish from the AP:  Starting at their own 25-yard line, the Spartans moved 45 yards in eight plays, setting up Conroy for his second game-winner in a bowl after beating Georgia with a 28-yarder in the third overtime of the 2012 Outback Bowl.

A nice way to wake up Sunday morning.  MSU 17  TCU 16.   NO WAY did I see the Spartans coming back to win after the putrid first half performance.  Credit to Mark Dantonio for not letting the team give up but there are a lot of things that need to be addressed for next season. 

Game notes:

-MSU is the only team in the calendar year to punt 11 times and still win.  Key point, better to punt than turnover the ball not that Spartans didn't try.

-Nice game for Le'Veon Bell in what's likely his final game in green and white.  32 carries, 145 yards, a touchdown and that pass.  We'll just forget about that trick play in the first half.

-Also, a good end after a shaky season for kicker Dan Conroy.  For a guy who was great his junior year, Conroy's misses this year probably cost MSU a 9-3 record.

-A tiger at the Phoenix Zoo picked the Spartans to win, so did I.

-Not much in the way of swag for players:  Gift suite, Fossil watch, Ogio Mercur backpack. Hopefully a Buffalo Wild Wings gift card was in there.

-Did you know Buffalo Wild Wings is the number one account for Dos Equis and Guinness beer in the U.S.?

-Pretty excited about MSU's victory that gave them a winning record?  Maybe you should pop for this smart looking Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl sweater vest. 

 Too Tressel like for you?  Maybe this neon green BWW Bowl lanyard is more your speed.

Me either.  A positive note to the end the season and a break in the bowl games until Monday. 

Alamo Bowl

First match-up of ranked teams.  After three games in the day and the MSU game coming up around 2am, I had zero interest in this one.

#23 Texas vs. #13 Oregon State

Hey, no coaching changes.  But player changes galore for Texas, suspending two players a week or so back and then sending quarterback Case McCoy and another player home for violating team rules.

The roster shake up seemed to have the Longhorns on their heels in the first half, leaving them down 20-10 at the half.  It could have been worse as the Beavers settled for a couple field goals.

Second half, the Alex Okafor show.  Second half beast mode for defensive players has been a growing theme through these games.  The Texas defensive lineman finished with 4.5 sacks (a new Alamo Bowl record!), leading the team that sacked the Oregon State QB 11 times.  Okafor, like Kyle Van Noy from BYU and the Estonian kid of SMU, made a lot of money thanks to this performance.

Back to the Texas QB situation.  David Ash, who replaced McCoy (Colt's little brother), rallied the Longhorns in the fourth quarter.  This is when I turned the game back on after watching an episode of Boardwalk Empire.  I'm just starting to get into the HBO show.  Moves kind of slow but captures the period.

Anyhow, Ash hit for a touchdown pass with a couple minutes to play to give Texas their first lead of the game and it stuck.

Oregon State did have one more shot but their QB continued to get pummeled into the turf in San Antonio.

Texas 31  Oregon St. 27

Game notes:

-A whole lot of orange in San Antonio. 

-Great security there in the Alamodome. At least the guy kept his clothes on.

-Players make out with the bowl swag, one of the best hauls of any game:  Apple iPad mini, Fossil watch, $100 Best Buy gift card, panoramic team photo, Schutt mini helmet.  I'd like to find one of these bowl game mini helmets on ebay.

I had Oregon State in this one, drifting to .500.  Need the Spartans to win in Tempe.  I'm sure their offense will look razor sharp...