In a disappointing title game, Alabama beat Texas, 37-21. Texas's Colt McCoy was knocked out on the first drive, and Garrett Gilbert threw a killer interception returned for a touchdown before halftime. The team rallied and got some shocking big plays in the middle of the defense.
Give credit to Nick Saban for adjusting on the fly. Alabama's defense bore down on Texas and got some key turnovers. Javier Arenas saw his stock fall, but Rolando McClain will certainly get drafted in the top 10. Maybe the Chiefs or Raiders? For Texas, you have to wonder what kind of point differential would his presence carry? Ten? Gilbert got some big game experience and that will be enough to give their team some hope next year.
Unfortunately, none of us got the game we wanted. Even Alabama fans have to admit this is not how they wanted to win a title. The next college football questions are: how high does Boise State rank in the 2010 preseason? How good will the Big 12 be, and could we see Nebraska ascend? Can the SEC win a fifth straight BCS title? Who is John Brantley?
Showing posts with label SEC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SEC. Show all posts
Friday, January 8, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
BCS Bowl Game Preview
The 2010 Bowl Season is upon us, and, even though each bowl season has come to feel endless (in a bad way), I'm excited. For the last few years, I've been disappointed by some of the match-ups (Illinois-USC two years ago, Texas-Ohio State last year). Maybe fans should redirect their outrage from the BCS to the bowl selection committees. But, I say with regained composure, I'm excited. Here are the five BCS bowl games, and how I see them playing out:
January 1, 2010: Sugar Bowl - Florida vs. Cincinnati
This game pits the most overhyped team (2009 Gators) against the least hyped undefeated team I've ever seen (2009 Bearcats). When I've heard anyone suggest that the Bearcats might beat Alabama or Texas, that same person says it so slyly the boast might be understood as a practical joke. Watching the Bearcats evolve over the last season, watching them absorb misfortune after misfortune, has convinced me that they win despite the fact that they're the last stop on the Tim Tebow and (maybe) Urban Meyer Farewell Tour. I predict a cozy and high-scoring victory for Cincinnati, 45-21.
January 1, 2010: Rose Bowl -Oregon vs. Ohio State
This is secretly one of the best games of the bowl season. Both teams overcame media debacles at the start of the season, and won their respective better-than-anticipated conferences. Though Tressel's squad has lost three consecutive BCS bowls, Ohio State showed up in last year's Fiesta Bowl with a great performance. No one is certain what to expect from Chip Kelly at this point in his career, so the game should give us a good barometer of where these teams are going in the new decade. I pick Oregon in a surprisingly high-scoring game, 31-28.
January 4, 2010: Fiesta Bowl - Boise State vs. TCU
I'll be honest. I haven't gotten to see a complete game for either of these teams. So I'll keep the punditry to a minimum. I love watching Boise State, I believe TCU to have a great defense. Both coaches seem like they're committed to their mid-major for the long haul, and they will see the BCS cartel fall within their careers. The game goes to overtime and TCU wins, 35-31.
January 2, 2010: Orange Bowl - Iowa vs. Georgia Tech
Strange that I have picked so many of these games as high-scoring, but you don't get to the BCS table without some explosive playmakers. Unless you play great defense and adequate offense in the Big 10 (Iowa), and unless you mop up with weaker ACC teams with a well-executed and fresh scheme (Georgia Tech). What might have happened if Georgia Tech had played Miami later in the season? What might have happened if Rick Stanzi had not gotten injured? We'll never know. Iowa wins, 24-14.
January 1, 2010: Sugar Bowl - Florida vs. Cincinnati
This game pits the most overhyped team (2009 Gators) against the least hyped undefeated team I've ever seen (2009 Bearcats). When I've heard anyone suggest that the Bearcats might beat Alabama or Texas, that same person says it so slyly the boast might be understood as a practical joke. Watching the Bearcats evolve over the last season, watching them absorb misfortune after misfortune, has convinced me that they win despite the fact that they're the last stop on the Tim Tebow and (maybe) Urban Meyer Farewell Tour. I predict a cozy and high-scoring victory for Cincinnati, 45-21.
January 1, 2010: Rose Bowl -Oregon vs. Ohio State
This is secretly one of the best games of the bowl season. Both teams overcame media debacles at the start of the season, and won their respective better-than-anticipated conferences. Though Tressel's squad has lost three consecutive BCS bowls, Ohio State showed up in last year's Fiesta Bowl with a great performance. No one is certain what to expect from Chip Kelly at this point in his career, so the game should give us a good barometer of where these teams are going in the new decade. I pick Oregon in a surprisingly high-scoring game, 31-28.
January 4, 2010: Fiesta Bowl - Boise State vs. TCU
I'll be honest. I haven't gotten to see a complete game for either of these teams. So I'll keep the punditry to a minimum. I love watching Boise State, I believe TCU to have a great defense. Both coaches seem like they're committed to their mid-major for the long haul, and they will see the BCS cartel fall within their careers. The game goes to overtime and TCU wins, 35-31.
January 2, 2010: Orange Bowl - Iowa vs. Georgia Tech
Strange that I have picked so many of these games as high-scoring, but you don't get to the BCS table without some explosive playmakers. Unless you play great defense and adequate offense in the Big 10 (Iowa), and unless you mop up with weaker ACC teams with a well-executed and fresh scheme (Georgia Tech). What might have happened if Georgia Tech had played Miami later in the season? What might have happened if Rick Stanzi had not gotten injured? We'll never know. Iowa wins, 24-14.
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