Moving On...
It's been almost a week. I am moving on. Well, as much as I can. Putting objectivity aside, that was one of the toughest MSU losses to take. The game itself was fantastic. A college football fan's dream, and proof that teams can re-match and play a meaningful, equally as memorable game. But how it ended? Some of the calls? Bret Bielema's post game press conference? I'm still struggling. I run through about five particular plays over and over and over. I'm ready for the bowl game so I can move on once and for all.
The good news for Spartans fans? This is not a once in a quarter century thing. Our program has arrived, made a statement and is here to stay. That team in green? Not your daddy or granddaddy's MSU. There is talent, depth, speed and athleticism. A team that I think would have matched up better with Oregon than Wisconsin. But that's enough of my shaded viewpoint!
One last on the game, which was a boon for the league. Bret Bielema is a bona fide jerk. Smug, arrogant, cocky, rude. All SEC from the astronomical scores against inferior foes to the way he speaks, acts, etc. Sorry, the guy bugs me. Always has, always will. It was just magnified last Saturday.
The game itself? Best of the day. A classic. One I can watch over and over and over except for the way it sits in my stomach. The toe-tap catch by Keyshawn Martin? Extraordinary and I still wonder how there was enough clear evidence to overturn it? The running into the punter? That guy trains with Bo Ryan. Pretty sad to see a game end on a call like that... especially with as much as they were letting both sides play in the first 58 minutes.
I'm not going down the BCS road. It is clearly time to go to a +1 and open the rest of the bowls up. Michigan does not deserve the Sugar. Nor does Va Tech. But at least Va Tech won their division...
Get Gamm
Going into the bowl season, we have a deadlock at the top. And a first too. Dan gets to pick with the closest to on the margin in the title game. You know the drill Dan!
Western Michigan v. Purdue - Little Caesar's Bowl (12/27)
Oklahoma v. Iowa, Insight Bowl (12/30)
Texas A&M v. Northwestern, Meineke Car Car Bowl (12/31)
UCLA v. Illinois, Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (12/31)
Houston v. Penn State, TicketCity Bowl (1/2)
Florida v. Ohio State, Urban Meyer, er Gator Bowl (1/2)
Georgia v. Michigan State, Outback Bowl (1/2)
South Carolina v. Nebraska, Capital One Bowl (1/2)
Oregon v. Wisconsin, Rose Bowl (1/2)
Virginia Tech v. Michigan, Sugar Bowl (1/3)
Season Review...
Over the next few weeks, I'll take a look back at what I picked versus what happened. Meantime, Happy Holidays!
Showing posts with label big ten bowls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label big ten bowls. Show all posts
Friday, December 09, 2011
Thursday, December 16, 2010
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Happy Holidays TFS followers!
It has been a wild, busy stretch for me but I finally have a few minutes to post some football thoughts, think a little hoops and get the Get Gamm finale up and running.
I realize that I've missed blogging about the Big Ten - ACC Challenge (Victory for the Big Ten!) and that I didn't even get the most basic of hoops predictions up. Work and life go that way sometimes. Hoops and swimming for my kids, a ton of travel lately with a busy winter ahead, and some cool stuff at work, such as signing Kurt Warner to be spokesperson for my product line, have all taken me away from the blog. But never fear, I'm back! At least for a few visits over the next couple of weeks...
Final regular season football thoughts... It was a great year for the Big Ten. While a wide chasm exists between the top (Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin) and the rest of the pack who sits at 7-5 or worse, the league is set up to have some success in the bowl season. Can the conference continue last year's momentum? Shut up the SEC? Win the big ones? I hope so.
I am still a little sore at the BCS snub for the Spartans. Not because UW and tOSU aren't deserving. But rather because UConn gets to go at 8-4? Please. We need a tweak to the rules for who qualifies for BCS games. That said, the fam is going to Orlando for our third trip in four years during bowl season and the match-up with 'Bama is one of the best of all 35 games.
The league mopped up in award season, and deservedly so. I still don't get how Ray Guy leaves out an Aaron Bates but as I live at the office sometimes, politics can reign over facts and data!
I am ambivalent to the recent division names announcement from the conference. I'd have preferred something more like Lakes and Plains or Black and Blue but it is what it is. I also have to mimic a question from some of the national pundits... that logo? Seriously? The Big Ten paid to have that made? My 3rd grade daughter came up with something nicer... and for FREE! In the end, that is all window dressing but still, we couldn't get better? The awards? Now those they nailed...
Hooping it up... Bummed that I never got around to picking the Big Ten. There are going to be a lot of good teams and the race is as open as ever. Right now I'd have to say I like Ohio State to repeat, but don't count out MSU just because of some early losses.
It was also nice to see the league rough up the ACC a bit. Hoping that trend continues.
As for Get Gamm for hoops... probably a no go this year. Just too much to do and too many games to try and track. Instead, let's do this. Everyone pick the order of finish (ties are fine) and the closest to wins Get Gamm for bball. Deal? Tiebreaker is teams in the Big Dance.
Speaking of Get Gamm... The only playa to have a better than .500 record in the last week was Dan. That moved him into a tie at the top with nine bowl games to pick. Picks are due by December 28 at 10pm EST.
Insight Bowl, 12/28 @ 10pm EST: Iowa vs. Missouri
Texas Bowl, 12/29 @ 6pm EST: Illinois vs. Baylor
Holiday Bowl, 12/30 @ 10pm EST: Nebraska vs. Washington
TicketCity Bowl, 1/1 @ 12pm EST: Northwestern vs. Texas Tech
Gator Bowl, 1/1 @ 1pm EST: Michigan vs. Mississippi State
Outback Bowl, 1/1 @ 1pm EST: Penn State vs. Florida
Capital One Bowl, 1/1 @ 1pm EST: Michigan State vs. Alabama
Rose Bowl, 1/1 @ 5pm EST: Wisconsin vs. TCU
Sugar Bowl, 1/4 @ 8:30pm EST: Ohio State vs. Arkansas
Happy Holidays TFS followers!
It has been a wild, busy stretch for me but I finally have a few minutes to post some football thoughts, think a little hoops and get the Get Gamm finale up and running.
I realize that I've missed blogging about the Big Ten - ACC Challenge (Victory for the Big Ten!) and that I didn't even get the most basic of hoops predictions up. Work and life go that way sometimes. Hoops and swimming for my kids, a ton of travel lately with a busy winter ahead, and some cool stuff at work, such as signing Kurt Warner to be spokesperson for my product line, have all taken me away from the blog. But never fear, I'm back! At least for a few visits over the next couple of weeks...
Final regular season football thoughts... It was a great year for the Big Ten. While a wide chasm exists between the top (Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin) and the rest of the pack who sits at 7-5 or worse, the league is set up to have some success in the bowl season. Can the conference continue last year's momentum? Shut up the SEC? Win the big ones? I hope so.
I am still a little sore at the BCS snub for the Spartans. Not because UW and tOSU aren't deserving. But rather because UConn gets to go at 8-4? Please. We need a tweak to the rules for who qualifies for BCS games. That said, the fam is going to Orlando for our third trip in four years during bowl season and the match-up with 'Bama is one of the best of all 35 games.
The league mopped up in award season, and deservedly so. I still don't get how Ray Guy leaves out an Aaron Bates but as I live at the office sometimes, politics can reign over facts and data!
I am ambivalent to the recent division names announcement from the conference. I'd have preferred something more like Lakes and Plains or Black and Blue but it is what it is. I also have to mimic a question from some of the national pundits... that logo? Seriously? The Big Ten paid to have that made? My 3rd grade daughter came up with something nicer... and for FREE! In the end, that is all window dressing but still, we couldn't get better? The awards? Now those they nailed...
Hooping it up... Bummed that I never got around to picking the Big Ten. There are going to be a lot of good teams and the race is as open as ever. Right now I'd have to say I like Ohio State to repeat, but don't count out MSU just because of some early losses.
It was also nice to see the league rough up the ACC a bit. Hoping that trend continues.
As for Get Gamm for hoops... probably a no go this year. Just too much to do and too many games to try and track. Instead, let's do this. Everyone pick the order of finish (ties are fine) and the closest to wins Get Gamm for bball. Deal? Tiebreaker is teams in the Big Dance.
Speaking of Get Gamm... The only playa to have a better than .500 record in the last week was Dan. That moved him into a tie at the top with nine bowl games to pick. Picks are due by December 28 at 10pm EST.
Insight Bowl, 12/28 @ 10pm EST: Iowa vs. Missouri
Texas Bowl, 12/29 @ 6pm EST: Illinois vs. Baylor
Holiday Bowl, 12/30 @ 10pm EST: Nebraska vs. Washington
TicketCity Bowl, 1/1 @ 12pm EST: Northwestern vs. Texas Tech
Gator Bowl, 1/1 @ 1pm EST: Michigan vs. Mississippi State
Outback Bowl, 1/1 @ 1pm EST: Penn State vs. Florida
Capital One Bowl, 1/1 @ 1pm EST: Michigan State vs. Alabama
Rose Bowl, 1/1 @ 5pm EST: Wisconsin vs. TCU
Sugar Bowl, 1/4 @ 8:30pm EST: Ohio State vs. Arkansas
Monday, December 07, 2009
Let's go bowling
I'm really glad that the Big Ten is extending the football slate into Thanksgiving weekend starting next season. This sitting around waiting, speculating and gathering rust is not helpful while the other conferences are hogging up the spotlight.
In fact, I wish the Big Ten would hurry up and add a 12th team so that we can just have a conference championship game already. It could even rotate between Detroit, Indy and Minny to spread the wealth. But that's another wish for another story.
Time now to focus on here and now. The Big Ten bowl bids more or less shook out as expected and finally, the conference might have a chance to quiet its critics and win some ball games. And something that none of the pundits are willing to point out very readily - this is the ninth time in 12 BCS years that the Big Ten sends two to the "big bowls." Since the inception of the BCS in 1998, the Big Ten has qualified 21 teams for BCS bowls, more than any other conference. Not bad at all...
Champs Sports Bowl - Orlando, FL: 8pm on December 29
Wisconsin vs. Miami-Florida
An interesting match-up of power versus speed. I do think that the Badgers stack up better here than Northwestern would have and in fact, this might be one of the best pre-New Year's Bowl contests. The Badgers hammered Hawaii and likely wound up here due to a gut feel that UW fans might be travel fatigued after the basketball and football teams have been in Hawaii in the past three weeks. Early edge? Miami-Florida.
Insight Bowl - Tempe, AZ: 6pm on December 31
Minnesota vs. Iowa State
A good match-up for the Big Ten. Minnesota is back to Tempe for the second-straight season and this time seeks a victory. I am a little surprised that the Alamo passed on Minnesota based on the off the field stuff hitting the fan in East Lansing, but then again, MSU provides a better match for Texas Tech. Iowa State had a great turnaround from last year's two-win campaign. The Golden Gophers limp into this but want to win to set the tone for next year. Early edge? Minnesota
Outback Bowl - Tampa, FL: 11am on January 1
Northwestern vs. Auburn
I've always been a fan of this game. You wake up after a late night bringing in the New Year and viola, football is on and the Big Ten is front and center. You can bet Northwestern is loving it too. After being snubbed for Iowa a season ago, the Wildcats snuck past Wisconsin. That is all about the fact that UW has been to Hawaii and back recently. Plus, frankly, the match-up is better. I like the Wildcats' chances in this one. Their first New Year's Day contest since 1997 and a shot at their first win in 60 years. Early edge? Northwestern
Capital One Bowl - Orlando, FL: 1pm on January 1
Penn State vs. Louisiana State
A classic New Year's day tilt between two college football powerhouses. And hey, if JoePa stays around long enough, this could preview a coaching match of the minds of the future in the Big Ten (that is if RichRod fails and Les Miles comes to the rescue in Ann Arbor). Penn State is probably a little disappointed that it got passed over by Iowa for the BCS at-large berth but you all know how I feel. When all else is tied, the head-to-head winner should get the nod. LSU never quite materialized this year while PSU also had its share of head scratching moments. Still, I like this match-up too. Early edge? Penn State
The Rose Bowl - Pasadena, CA: 4:30pm on January 1
Ohio State vs. Oregon
This should be the best BCS game outside of the National Championship. The Buckeyes defense versus the Ducks potent offense. Two of the more athletic quarterbacks in college football. Surprisingly, given their successes, the first Rose Bowl jaunt for either team since the mid-90s. The last time here the Buckeyes won on a late Germaine to Boston TD pass to beat Jake the Snake and the ASU Sun Devils. Oregon's last trip to the hallowed grounds was a loss to Penn State. I can't wait to watch this one... Early edge? Oregon
Alamo Bowl - San Antonio, TX: 9pm on January 2
Michigan State vs. Texas Tech
I have already heard everyone from Fox to ESPN to the Big Ten Network call this a major mismatch. I'll forgive them for being so presumptive so quickly. The Spartans will go into this with a chip on their shoulder. Riding a three game bowl losing streak, without some notable players and all the talk about how the Red Raiders will shred the MSU secondary. So be it. I think that if MSU can get some pressure and also shut down the run game, this will be a chance to silence the critics. And the State offense is pretty good too, with or without a few wide outs. This is perennially one of the better non BCS games, it might be again. Early edge? Texas Tech
Orange Bowl - Miami, FL: 8pm on January 5
Iowa vs. Georgia Tech
This one is very intriguing to me. Iowa has one of the most underrated defenses in the nation. Georgia Tech is a throwback joy to watch with the triple option. I know that with the limited access to triple option capable scout team players, the Yellow Jackets should have an upper hand, but I want Norm Parker on my side every time in these cases. My bigger fear is Iowa's attack. It hasn't been great and Stanzi will have to shake two months of rust. Still, as we get closer, I'll like Iowa's chances to get it done. Right now? Early edge? Georgia Tech
As for the rest...
Illinois - what a painful - if not appropriate - way to end the season. It looks like Zook will be back but the noose is on and will quickly tighten if the Illini don't get back to winning next season.
Indiana - the really bad news is that IU doesn't have hoops to look forward to quite yet. Will be a long winter in Bloomington, but this program has a chance to take a step up next season.
Michigan - I'm not sold that this team is poised to make the next step next year. Yes, the defense was young but it was also really bad. The offense isn't where it needs to be yet and there are rumors that Forcier might be supplanted by a newcomer next season? Not the start this program needs for 2010.
Purdue - The Boilers came on strong this year but have to replace some key pieces and parts. I do like the fire Danny Hope brings to the table, however, and think Purdue will make some noise in the near future.
The final Get Gamm picks - bowl style - are due by December 28. And BruceS gets to pick with me for winning the tiebreaker on the week 12 picks...
I'm really glad that the Big Ten is extending the football slate into Thanksgiving weekend starting next season. This sitting around waiting, speculating and gathering rust is not helpful while the other conferences are hogging up the spotlight.
In fact, I wish the Big Ten would hurry up and add a 12th team so that we can just have a conference championship game already. It could even rotate between Detroit, Indy and Minny to spread the wealth. But that's another wish for another story.
Time now to focus on here and now. The Big Ten bowl bids more or less shook out as expected and finally, the conference might have a chance to quiet its critics and win some ball games. And something that none of the pundits are willing to point out very readily - this is the ninth time in 12 BCS years that the Big Ten sends two to the "big bowls." Since the inception of the BCS in 1998, the Big Ten has qualified 21 teams for BCS bowls, more than any other conference. Not bad at all...
Champs Sports Bowl - Orlando, FL: 8pm on December 29
Wisconsin vs. Miami-Florida
An interesting match-up of power versus speed. I do think that the Badgers stack up better here than Northwestern would have and in fact, this might be one of the best pre-New Year's Bowl contests. The Badgers hammered Hawaii and likely wound up here due to a gut feel that UW fans might be travel fatigued after the basketball and football teams have been in Hawaii in the past three weeks. Early edge? Miami-Florida.
Insight Bowl - Tempe, AZ: 6pm on December 31
Minnesota vs. Iowa State
A good match-up for the Big Ten. Minnesota is back to Tempe for the second-straight season and this time seeks a victory. I am a little surprised that the Alamo passed on Minnesota based on the off the field stuff hitting the fan in East Lansing, but then again, MSU provides a better match for Texas Tech. Iowa State had a great turnaround from last year's two-win campaign. The Golden Gophers limp into this but want to win to set the tone for next year. Early edge? Minnesota
Outback Bowl - Tampa, FL: 11am on January 1
Northwestern vs. Auburn
I've always been a fan of this game. You wake up after a late night bringing in the New Year and viola, football is on and the Big Ten is front and center. You can bet Northwestern is loving it too. After being snubbed for Iowa a season ago, the Wildcats snuck past Wisconsin. That is all about the fact that UW has been to Hawaii and back recently. Plus, frankly, the match-up is better. I like the Wildcats' chances in this one. Their first New Year's Day contest since 1997 and a shot at their first win in 60 years. Early edge? Northwestern
Capital One Bowl - Orlando, FL: 1pm on January 1
Penn State vs. Louisiana State
A classic New Year's day tilt between two college football powerhouses. And hey, if JoePa stays around long enough, this could preview a coaching match of the minds of the future in the Big Ten (that is if RichRod fails and Les Miles comes to the rescue in Ann Arbor). Penn State is probably a little disappointed that it got passed over by Iowa for the BCS at-large berth but you all know how I feel. When all else is tied, the head-to-head winner should get the nod. LSU never quite materialized this year while PSU also had its share of head scratching moments. Still, I like this match-up too. Early edge? Penn State
The Rose Bowl - Pasadena, CA: 4:30pm on January 1
Ohio State vs. Oregon
This should be the best BCS game outside of the National Championship. The Buckeyes defense versus the Ducks potent offense. Two of the more athletic quarterbacks in college football. Surprisingly, given their successes, the first Rose Bowl jaunt for either team since the mid-90s. The last time here the Buckeyes won on a late Germaine to Boston TD pass to beat Jake the Snake and the ASU Sun Devils. Oregon's last trip to the hallowed grounds was a loss to Penn State. I can't wait to watch this one... Early edge? Oregon
Alamo Bowl - San Antonio, TX: 9pm on January 2
Michigan State vs. Texas Tech
I have already heard everyone from Fox to ESPN to the Big Ten Network call this a major mismatch. I'll forgive them for being so presumptive so quickly. The Spartans will go into this with a chip on their shoulder. Riding a three game bowl losing streak, without some notable players and all the talk about how the Red Raiders will shred the MSU secondary. So be it. I think that if MSU can get some pressure and also shut down the run game, this will be a chance to silence the critics. And the State offense is pretty good too, with or without a few wide outs. This is perennially one of the better non BCS games, it might be again. Early edge? Texas Tech
Orange Bowl - Miami, FL: 8pm on January 5
Iowa vs. Georgia Tech
This one is very intriguing to me. Iowa has one of the most underrated defenses in the nation. Georgia Tech is a throwback joy to watch with the triple option. I know that with the limited access to triple option capable scout team players, the Yellow Jackets should have an upper hand, but I want Norm Parker on my side every time in these cases. My bigger fear is Iowa's attack. It hasn't been great and Stanzi will have to shake two months of rust. Still, as we get closer, I'll like Iowa's chances to get it done. Right now? Early edge? Georgia Tech
As for the rest...
Illinois - what a painful - if not appropriate - way to end the season. It looks like Zook will be back but the noose is on and will quickly tighten if the Illini don't get back to winning next season.
Indiana - the really bad news is that IU doesn't have hoops to look forward to quite yet. Will be a long winter in Bloomington, but this program has a chance to take a step up next season.
Michigan - I'm not sold that this team is poised to make the next step next year. Yes, the defense was young but it was also really bad. The offense isn't where it needs to be yet and there are rumors that Forcier might be supplanted by a newcomer next season? Not the start this program needs for 2010.
Purdue - The Boilers came on strong this year but have to replace some key pieces and parts. I do like the fire Danny Hope brings to the table, however, and think Purdue will make some noise in the near future.
The final Get Gamm picks - bowl style - are due by December 28. And BruceS gets to pick with me for winning the tiebreaker on the week 12 picks...
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