So you’ve spent up every last penny of your gift cards, gas cards, and Christmas cash, and the entire holiday season seems like a distant memory. Not so fast.
Despite the NFL Playoffs being a crapshoot, there’s still one vice left…the Bowl Championship Series.
Five games with plenty to offer - even if it is not in the form of a playoff system.
So without any playoff scenarios or any continued whining about who is playing where (I wanted WVU vs. Va Tech!), let’s take a look at what’s left on our college football plates.
Why not trust a guy whose regular season finished something like…
NFL Picks: 32-15-2
NCAA Picks: 18-6
Tuesday, January 1st:
The Rose Bowl
#13. Illinois vs. #6. USC [-14.5]
Here's your sleeper 1st Round RB for the '08 Draft.
Credit: Yahoo! Sports
As disrespected as any team, Illinois finished the season strongly (including the noteworthy win in Columbus against a then-unbeaten Buckeyes team) and allowed the Rose Bowl to have its annual Big Ten/Pac-10 showdown. While last year’s USC/Michigan affair was a flop, don’t count out the talent of Juice Williams and company, especially RB Rashad Mendenhall, who is expected to be selected early on Day 1 of the NFL Draft if he decides to leave early. It’s also only fair to commend National Coach of the Year Ron Zook on rebuilding Illinois into a legit Big Ten contender again. Ditto can be said for Pete Carroll never losing his team despite being served a few more losses (okay, it was only 2) than they expected. While I like USC to win, the team lacks the true playmakers it had in years past. That’s why Illinois keeps it close enough to bust this pesky spread.
Should’ve Been: Illinois vs. USC. [Call me crazy, but I like this matchup.]
Tuesday, January 1st:
The Sugar Bowl
#10. Hawaii vs. #4. Georgia [-7.5]
A UGA win may lead to a pre-season #1 ranking next year.
Credit: Yahoo! Sports
Much like last year’s Boise State team, Hawaii has a ton to prove with its BCS selection. While most of the nation knows of June Jones and is fascinated over the draft stock and prospects of Heisman-contender Colt Brennan, there is still a ton of talent on this Rainbow Warrior squad. The same has to be said for the red-hot Bulldogs, who were a Tennessee loss away from potentially playing LSU for a spot in the BCS Title game. Alas, freshman phenom RB Knowshown Mereno will try his best to dictate a power running game, thus keeping the ball out of the hands of Brennan for a Bulldog victory. However, I love rooting for the little guy. So while UGA will enjoy the win, Brennan will be the real star as he keeps it under one possession as the clock ticks to zero. Should’ve Been: LSU vs. Missouri [The battle of the ‘almost’ teams.]
Wednesday, January 2nd:
The Fiesta Bowl
#11. West Virginia vs. #3. Oklahoma [-7.5]
Can QB Pat White stay healthy the entire game?
Credit: Yahoo Sports!
Still reeling from the loss at home during the Backyard Brawl and the loss of their head coach, what is most important for WVU’s chances are the health of junior QB Pat White and the number of carries they can give to forgotten stud RB Steve Slaton. Since neither seems likely to completely rebound against such a suffocating Sooners D, this game may turn ugly late thanks to precocious freshman QB Sam Bradford, a ferocious group of running backs and electric wide receiver Malcolm Kelly. Sorry Mountaineer fans, the off-season will only get tougher after this double-digit thumping.
Should’ve Been: Oklahoma vs. Georgia [Perhaps the nation’s two youngest elite teams.]
Thursday, January 3rd:
The Orange Bowl
#8. Kansas vs. #5. Virginia Tech [-3.5]
Which Va. Tech QB will see the majority of the snaps?
Credit: Yahoo! Sports
It’s time to stop pining for the Missouri Tigers and acknowledge an amazing season for the Jayhawks. Or is it? Tech is returning the majority of their talent, outside of key defensive playmakers (Brandon Flowers, Victor “Macho” Harris, etc.) and could use an Orange Bowl victory to propel them to a potential pre-season top-5 ranking next fall. What remains most interesting isn’t how the Hokies D mastermind Bud Foster handles the spread offense. Instead, it’s how the Hokies balance QBs Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor. I’ll take Beamerball’s experience in this game, which will be far more entertaining than many outside of Lawrence expect it to be.
Should’ve Been: West Virginia vs. Virginia Tech [Rekindling a lost rivalry.]
Monday, January 7th:
The BCS Championship Game
At least someone is waiting until Monday morning to make my prediction...
Credit: Yahoo! Sprots
Should’ve Been: [Wait and see…]
Wait, what this? No score? No teams? No analysis? No picks!?!?
While we all know it’ll be the Bayou Bengals (aka Tigers of LSU) and the Buckeyes (of “The Ohio State”), we won’t pick a winner until game day.
Check back on Monday, January 7th for that goodie.
Until next time…
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