COLLEGE BOWL PICKS/PREVIEWS: PART V*

Time to pick the New Year's Eve Bowls, and there are some tantalizing ones on the menu. All these games are on Thursday 12/31.

12:00PM - ESPN
Armed Forces Bowl - Fort Worth, TX
Houston Cougars vs. Air Force Falcons
Good C-USA/MWC match-up here. Houston has the shorter trip, but there are plenty of Air Force people in Texas who will come out in support of AFA. Houston's put up 29+ in every single game, including a win over Texas Tech. They also beat #19 Oklahoma State in Stillwater. Still, they lost to ECU. Air Force is a solid mid-pack Mountain West team, but Houston's too much for them.



2:00PM - CBS
Brut Sun Bowl - El Paso, TX
Oklahoma Sooners vs. #21 Stanford Cardinal
I think everyone outside of Pasadena and Berkeley have been Stanford fans this season. The Cardinal is one of only 2 teams that beat Pac-10 Champ Oregon. Oklahoma will have more fans with the game in West Texas, and I think this will be an exciting contest. But I'm going with OU to win.



3:30PM - ESPN
Texas Bowl - Houston, TX
Navy Midshipmen vs. Missouri Tigers
The Tigers are part of a dreadful Big XII North that was nothing short of a joke. I think Navy sails away with this one.



6:00PM - NFL Network
Insight Bowl - Tempe, AZ
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Iowa State Cyclones
Both teams boast 6-6 records, so the game should at least be a close one. ISU feasted on North Dakota State, Army, and Kent State to get their 6 wins. Minnesota had South Dakota State and Syracuse. ISU sucks on toast, Minnesota is just kind of bad. Minnesota wins.



7:30PM - ESPN
Chick-fil-A Bowl - Atlanta, GA
#11 Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Tennessee Volunteers
Complete mismatch. Then again, the ACC has struggled against the SEC this season. But Va-Tech never plays at the same level as the ACC. I think this game is a blowout in favor of the Hokies.

FOUR PATRIOTS GOING TO PRO-BOWL

Tom Brady will backup Rivers and Manning at QB. Logan Mankins will start at guard. Wes Welker is a backup WR. And Vince Wilfork will start at tackle.

No Patriots were snubbed. And frankly, who cares. Being named to the Pro Bowl team is more of an honor than actually playing in it.

This will be Brady's 5th Pro Bowl. Logan Mankins' 2nd. Only Vince Wilfork's 2nd. And Wes Welker's 2nd.

The Vikings boast 8 players named, the Eagles 7 the Colts 6, the Cowboys 6, New Orleans 5, Baltimore 5, San Diego 5. Arizona, Houston, and Denver also have 4.

Source:
NFL

BYE BAY

The Mets have signed Jason Bay to a 4 year, $66 million deal. And I'm left to scratch my head. The Red Sox, who spent $51.1 million for the right to talk to Daisuke Matsuzaka, and who allocated $70M over 5 years for JD Drew, apparently couldn't match this 4 year, $66 million deal.

Now, $16.5 million per year isn't peanuts. Especially for a guy as inconsistent as Bay. But I'll say this much; the Red Sox better find a way to spend the $66 million they've saved by not signing Bay, either this off-season or the next. Because 36 HR, 119 RBI guys don't grow on trees.

A look at the Red Sox lineup as of now:
1. CF Ellsbury
2. 2B Pedroia
3. 1B Youkilis
4. C Martinez
5. RF Drew
6. DH Ortiz
7. 3B Lowell
8. LF Cameron
9. SS Scutaro

Once a pitcher gets out of the 1st, the 2nd and 3rd could literally be no-sweat innings.

Source:
MLB

PEYTON MANNING'S DIARY

Dear Diary,
I feel just awful. We lost to that mean fatty Rex Ryan and the Jets. It wasn't my fault! Coach Jimmy made me not play. We were up 15-10 when Coach Jimmy took me out. He told me he wanted me to stay healthy so I couldn't stay in the game.



I like Coach Jimmy, and I don't want any owies to happen before the playoffs, but I wanted to play! Don't tell anyone, diary, but on Sunday, I wished that sour puss Bill Belichick was my coach. He'd never give up on a 15-10 game. But he'd probably yell at me too, and Coach Jimmy never does that. And I doubt Bill Belichick would ever take us out for pizza and orange drink after.



The whole time I was on the sidelines, I was just so angry and frustrated. I kept hoping Coach Jimmy would say "Peyton, you're back in, buddy!" Last night I had a dream that he did just that. But on Sunday, he never did. I even kept my helmet on, hoping he'd put me back in. But he didn't. :-(



That night, I was so upset. Me, Reggie, and Dallas had a good cry in the locker room. But something was missing. This was the first time I've lost and didn't have Coach Tony with me. And that hurt. So when the bus dropped me off at my house, I snuggled into my big comfy racecar bed, and dialed Coach Tony's number.



It was nice talking to him again. He read my a story from his book: Quiet Strength



My favorite quotes from the book were:

"Things will go wrong at times. You can't always control circumstances. However, you can always control your attitude, approach, and response."

And...

"My purpose in life is simply to glorify God. We have to be careful that we don't let the pursuit of our life's goals, no matter how important they seem, cause us to lose sight of our purpose."

After he read me his whole book, I asked him to read me Where the Wild Things Are. It was a bit scary, but I fell asleep and didn't have any bad dreams!!!



Until next time, diary! I love you!

LIGHTNING STRIKE TWICE

It'd be easy to blame luck and the refs for this loss. But I'm gonna take the high road. This game was lost BY THE BRUINS in the 2nd period. Tampa Bay's late goal, which turned out to be the game-winner, did come on a power play. A power play which came from a bad call (Sobotka called for boarding because Lecavalier lost his balance). But that bad call came from good play by the Lightning, keeping the puck in the offensive zone.

Tim Thomas was stellar. But we're back to the pattern of his excellent outings turning into losses.



Marco Sturm's goal was, in a word, nifty. And the Bruins as a whole calmed themselves in the 3rd period. But it's sad how usual it is for the B's to fall behind by 2 goals, and then calm themselves to play solid hockey.

The Bruins host the Thrashers Wednesday night.

Source:
ESPN

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

STURM ALL OVER YOUR FACE

Believe it or not, the Panthers are decent. They're floating around that 8th spot in the Conference. Beating them on the road is a nice little snack.

Tim Thomas was outstanding. He allowed a weird goal that came off a bad-angle shot and found the .01% of the post side that Thomas didn't have covered. It was a shot meant to create a juicy rebound, but sometimes guys get lucky.

After that, he was like Dominek Hasek out there. I've seen much better outings by him, this year and last, especially in terms of positioning. But his athleticism atoned for those shortcomings in anticipation.

Ryder tipped in the Bruins' first goal, his 10th of the year. Sturm's game-winner was his team-leading 11th. Sturm's speed coupled with Savard's vision and touch will make for a deadly combination once the two spend enough time together to figure everything out.

Bruins @ Lightning tonight at 7:30.

Source:
ESPN

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Rick Silva

BC FALLS SHORT

A lot of people gave BC a chance in this game. And that chance would be if USC decided not to show up and give 100%, BC would win. In fact, I'd say that most people out there felt like USC at 80% would be quite sufficient to bury the Eagles.

Well, USC did show up. And Boston College still lost. But it was hardly the shellacking that was anticipated by some people (including myself) out there.

In fact, in many ways, BC cost themselves the game. Shinskie's interception, Montel Harris fumbling the ball on the USC 6 yard line. And of course the missed extra-point. BC struggled with the wet conditions much more than USC. And in the 1st quarter, BC was clearly nervous and jumpy, especially Shinskie.



The Mountain West officiating crew also did their part. These guys were probably expecting a match-up like BC/Arizona, not BC/USC. They weren't blatantly biased, except when it came to instant replay. What was clearly an incomplete pass (receiver out of bounds) was ruled a completion, then upheld. Instead of 2nd & 10 on the BC 44, the Trojans were given 1st & goal on the BC 6. They then scored a touchdown.

In the 3rd, with USC up only 17-13, BC punted. The ball bounced off a Trojan, who was engaged with BC's Luke Kuechly. Kuechly then pounced on the ball. The officials reviewed the play, then decided that the USC player had been blocked into the ball. Even though the USC player was blocking Keuchly forward, and literally stepped into the bounce of the ball. BC would have had possession on USC's 30 yard line.

Officiating aside, BC lost this game on their own. I like David Shinskie, but he's not the long-term solution at QB. He's steady. And against the likes of Maryland and NC State, he's more than adequate. But BC has a desire to move beyond the middle of the ACC. BC wants to do more than get to Emerald Bowls. David Shinskie simply isn't the QB to get them there. At least not now.



BC usually gets good QBs (Matt Ryan, Brian St. Pierre, the Hasselbecks), so I'm sure a solution at the position will eventually be found.

But I can't wait for BC's 2010 campaign. The QB situation will at least no longer be a massive question mark as it was in the summer of '09. Montel Harris (1,457 yards, 14 TDs) will be back for his junior season. Luke Kuechly (142 tackles, 81 solo tackles, 2nd in country in both categories) will be back for his sophomore season. And All-American Mark Herzlich will also return.

Did anyone else think how ridiculous USC's post-game exuberance was? I mean, they won a 3rd-tier bowl game in their home state against a team that has academic standards. Good job! Maybe next year you'll be able to beat Washington!



Source:
ESPN

Photo Credits:
AP Photo

COLLEGE BOWL PICKS/PREVIEWS: PART IV*

Here we have the Bowls just before the really big bowls. The appetizer bowls, so to speak.

Monday 12/28 - 5:00PM - ESPN2
Independence Bowl - Shreveport, LA
Texas A&M Aggies vs. Georgia Bulldogs
In another year, this matchup would induce salivation. Now it's two struggling programs trying desperately to regain their glory. But Georgia is in better shape than A&M. Don't expect the Aggies to muster the same kind of effort that kept them close with Texas. Georgia will roll through them. But I also include a picture of this Texas A&M girl because she's hot and I never get a chance to pick A&M cuz they suck.





Tuesday 12/29 - 4:30PM - ESPN
EagleBank Bowl - Washington, DC
UCLA Bruins vs. Temple Owls
Normally this would be a no-brainer, but Temple was 9-3. UCLA was 6-6 and only got in because Army couldn't hang on to a lead against Duke. UCLA was 8th in the Pac-10. But Temple did lose to I-AA Villanova. They rolled through the MAC, but couldn't beat Ohio to clinch a spot in the MAC title game. I'm not impressed. I'm picking UCLA.



Tuesday 12/29 - 8:00PM - ESPN
Champs Sports Bowl - Orlando, FL
#15 Miami Hurricanes vs. #25 Wisconsin Badgers
Not a bad matchup here, should be fun to watch. Miami is very close to being back to their elite form, but they're not quite there. Wisconsin has been up and down all year, in and out of the Top 25. Miami has the talent, relative homefield advantage, and they'll win.



Wednesday 12/30 - 4:30PM - ESPN
Humanitarian Bowl - Boise, ID
Bowling Green Falcons vs. Idaho Vandals
Essentially a home game for Idaho. But I bet even they are pissed they have to spend New Year's Eve Eve in Idaho. I'm tempted to give Idaho the edge. But I know nothing about Bowling Green, so I'll pick them instead.



Wednesday 12/30 - 8:00PM - ESPN
Holiday Bowl
#20 Arizona Wildcats vs. #22 Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska was close to a BCS berth, but instead they wind up in San Diego. Things could be worse. Arizona quietly put together a nice 8-4 season and deserve their #20 ranking. But I think Nebraska's defense makes a big point in the Holiday Bowl, and the Huskers triumph.



Tons of previews coming Wednesday.