Eve and Day Bowl Game Picks

Games like the Holiday Bowl are why I could never make a living picking spreads. Not only did Arizona not cover, they made their fans suffer through a 33-0 shellacking in the pouring rain. Having done the same thing before, UF at FSU 2008, my heart goes out to the Wildcats fans. You pay all this money and travel and your team gets crushed. Anyway, after last night's game, I stand 2-3 against the spread and 1-4 picking the winners. Anyway, its time for the best day of the year (I know I say that a lot but I just love sports that much).

Armed Forces Bowl - Air Force vs Houston (-5) - I think Houston covers and wins. Case Keenum and company will put up a ton of points for the Cougars to cover and win.

Sun Bowl - Oklahoma (-10) vs Stanford - Which Sooner team is going to show up? Landry Jones has been lights out in some games (see Texas A&M) and can't find receivers in others (see Texas Tech). Stanford will be relying on Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart the nations leading rusher a little more with QB Andrew Luck out. However, the Sooner D will be pumped to stop him. Oklahoma covers and wins.

Texas Bowl - Navy vs Missouri (-6 1/2) - I think Missouri wins but I think Navy loses by less than a touchdown.

Insight Bowl - Iowa State vs Minnesota (-2) - this should actually be a pretty good matchup. However, its broadcast on the NFL Network so many of us won't be able to watch. Either way, Minnesota covers and wins.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl - Virginia Tech (-5 1/2) vs Tennessee - the Hokies end their season where it began in the Georgia Dome against an SEC opponent. However, the Volunteers aren't Alabama. The Hokies will win and cover the spread. You should watch this game even if you aren't interested in either team just to see Volunteer Safety Eric Berry. The junior won the Thorpe Award as college football's best defensive back and this may be his last college game before he starts playing on Sundays. He's a sure first round pick.

Outback Bowl - Northwestern vs Auburn (-8) - Auburn has a great offense, scores a lot, wins and covers.

Gator Bowl - FSU vs West Virginia (-2 1/2) - there is no way I'm picking against my team. FSU sends Bobby, Mickey and the rest of the gang out in style.

Capital One Bowl - LSU vs Penn State (-2) - I'm not sure what to make of LSU. I like their defense but don't like their offense. So Penn State wins and covers.

Rose Bowl - Oregon (-4) vs Ohio State - I keep thinking that if Jeremiah Masoli goes off in this game, will Terrelle Pryor wonder what life would have been like in Chip Kelly's spread option offense? Either way, the Buckeyes really need a win in this one but I don't think they get it. Oregon will take advantage with Masoli and LaMichael James running wild over the Buckeye defense. Oregon wins but Ohio State covers.

Sugar Bowl - Florida (-12 1/2) vs Cincinnati - Call this the distracted bowl. Florida has been dealing with guys looking to the NFL and with their coach unsure if he can keep coaching. The Bearcats lost their coach and are dealing with not making the championship game. I'm still going with Florida. Are you telling me Tebow is going to let his team lose in his last game as a Gator?

More picks coming tomorrow.

Sorry for the Hiatus

So I planned to pick all of the bowl games but I had to study for the Series 7 exam and the blog took a back seat. Now that I have finished and passed, I'm ready to get back in the swing of things.

The last game I picked I was way off. I thought SMU would challenge Nevada but I didn't think they would blow them out the way they did. Anyway, Bowling Green takes on Idaho in the Humanitarin Bowl. The game is played on the Smurf Turf of Boise giving Idaho a small homefield advantage. The spread in this game has Idaho giving the Falcons one point (-1). Since I really don't know much about these teams I'll agree with Vegas.

The Cornhuskers of Nebraska take on Arizona in the Holiday Bowl tonight. The last time we saw the Huskers they were about to throw a big wrench into the BCS but came up one second short against Texas. In tonight's game, they're giving 2 1/2 to the Wildcats. While I'm really impressed with the Black Shirts again, I don't see them beating Arizona or covering the spread. It has been said that Arizona has the most talent in the Pac-10 outside of SC and I think they will be able to score just enough points to beat the Huskers.

As for my thoughts on some stories that happened while I was away:

Colts, take it from Herm Edwards, "You play to win the game!"

Urban, are you really risking your health for football? That's my kind of coach. I'm not a Gator fan, I love the Noles and him leaving would probably benefit us, but if he loves the game that much then keep coaching. Plus the big salary doesn't hurt either.

Tomorrow I'll pick the New Year's Eve and Day Bowl games.

Hawaii Bowl - SMU vs Nevada

Utah made me look good in the Poinsettia Bowl. After starting slow and falling behind by two touchdowns, the Utes reeled off 27 straight points en route to a 37-27 victory over Cal. I was right on both accounts, picking against the spread and picking the winner.

Tonight I take on the Hawaii Bowl, with June Jones coming back and leading SMU against Nevada. The hard part in picking the early bowl games is that I haven't seen a lot of these teams play. I only saw Nevada get whacked by Boise State and haven't seen SMU at all. I do know that SMU stud QB Bo Levi Mitchell (great Texas name by the way) is a game-time decision on whether he will play. I also know that Nevada is the first team in FBS history to have three 1,000 yard rushers in the same season.

However, I feel like the 12.5 spread is too large. Nevada will be able to run the ball on the Mustangs and win, but now by more than 12 points.

Next I'll pick all of the December 26th games.

Poinsettia Bowl - Utah vs Cal

So I was way off in my prediction from last night's Las Vegas Bowl. BYU led from start to finish and rendered the Rodgers brothers useless. Either way the picks continue.

Cal is favored by three in this game but I'm never sure which Cal team will show up. Since stud RB Jahvid Best went down with a concussion earlier in the season, the Golden Bears have not been dominant. In fact, I hardly know anyone else on this team outside of Best.

Utah has fallen off from their undefeated season of 2008. I have seen them play twice this season, both losses to BYU in OT and to TCU in a blowout.

I'm taking Utah to cover the three points and to win because with Best not playing, I don't see any explosion coming from Cal offense.

Tomorrow: SMU vs Nevada (-12.5) in the Hawaii Bowl

Pick for Tonight's Las Vegas Bowl

This is one of my favorite times of year. Most people complain that all of these bowl games don't matter and no one watches them, but I enjoy having football on every night of the week. People complain that they can't wait until football season starts, but then its on every night and they complain that it doesn't matter and no one cares. I'll take what I can get.

Anyway, BYU plays Oregon State in the Macco Bowl Las Vegas this evening. BYU has been a hard team to figure out. They take out Sam Bradford and Oklahoma one week, then get blown out at home by FSU the next. There only other loss came to TCU who pummeled everyone in their way.

Oregon State started the season 2-2 but then beat Stanford and took USC and Oregon to down to the wire on the road before losing both games. The Beavers are again led by the small but speedy duo of James and Jacquizz Rodgers. James and Jacquizz led the Beavers in rushing, receiving and scoring this season. Along with QB Sean Canfield, they were one of the top scoring teams in the conference.

With Oregon State giving 2 1/2 to the Cougars, I think the Beavers win and cover the spread. BYU has struggled with fast and athletic teams. Oregon State has great speed from the Rodgers brothers and also has an athletic defense.

Tomorrow: Utah Utes vs the California Golden Bears in the Poinsettia Bowl.

New Cowboys Kicker

A few weeks ago I commented on former Redskins kicker Steve Suisham missing a 23 yard field goal and losing his job the next day. Well now that Cowboys kicker Nick Folk has done the same thing, albeit his team didn't lose the game, Dallas is trying out Suisham for their kicker position. Aren't there other qualified people to do this? This is like letting the Enron CEOs run another company.

Garrett's Famous!

With Christmas rapidly apporaching it's bowl game time in college football. All week long ESPN has games going and they always have a commercial to accompany the coverage. This year they chose to use the USF drumline which my cousin Garrett plays the snare. He's the guy up front and to the left of the rapper. Check him out.

http://hiphopblips.dailyradar.com/video/b-o-b-i-am-the-champion-espn-bowl-week/

Who to Watch the Game With

Most of the time the weekend blogs and radio shows fill their time and space with picks. I'll give you my NFL winners in a moment, but I had something I wanted to write about. I'm newly married and this means less time with the fellas and more time with my wife, including watching games. Now my wife is a sports fan more than most, but I don't learn anything watching the game with her and can't ask her opinions.

This got me thinking, if I had tickets to the Super Bowl/World Series/or other big sporting event of my choice, who would I take? I pose the same question to you. Pick the event and the people you would go with up to five.

NFL Winners Week 15

Saints

Pats

Cardinals

Dolphins

Chiefs

Texans

Jets

Eagles (I'd never pick against my team)

Ravens

Broncos

Chargers

Packers

Seahawks

Vikings

Giants

Jags Game Showing in Local Market and the Perfect Season

For the first time this season a Jacksonville Jaguars game will be showing in the local market. The NFL has a rule that games need to be sold out three days before the game is played or the local market is blacked out and can't see the game.

Now with the game on NFL Network, it remains to be seen how many people actually see the game. I guess by now the people of Jacksonville are used to going out to watch their team play so tonight won't take them out of their comfort zone.

Now with the Jags having so much trouble selling out their stadium, it has been speculated that they will pick UF QB Tim Tebow in the NFL Draft. Outside of ticket and merchandise sales, I don't see Tebow being an immediate contributor to the Jags next season. Outside of some specialized packages like the Wildcat, its going to be two or three years before he can be a legit NFL quarterback. And I'm not sure he even becomes a legit starting QB without some changes in his delivery, mechanics, and having an offense tailored to him.

On another note, the Saints and Colts are both 13-0 and have locked up home-field throughout the playoffs in the Colts case and close to it in the case of the Saints. Now the question is do the teams go for the perfect record or rest players. The Saints coach Sean Payton had already said his team will go for it while the Colts have a history of resting guys. The Colts also have a history of early playoff flame outs. If you were running one of these franchises, would you instruct your coach to go for the perfect season or rest guys so they are ready for the playoffs?

Fired Over Fantasy Football

Fantasy Sports is one of the biggest things going on is sports right now. For many people, its how you kill time in the morning before starting your work day and it gives bragging rights with your friends. However, if you work for Fidelity Investments, don't tell anyone about your fantasy leagues.

Fidelity fired four people for playing fantasy football. Yes Fidelity wants their employees focusing their time and equipment on "customers and clients." They also have a code about gambling as well. But isn't firing someone over fantasy football a little much? I find it ironic that a company that plays the stock market gets upset when its employees gamble.

Here is a link to the entire article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

I think the firing is too much but I haven't worked in an office for a while. What do you guys think about firing someone for fantasy football? And do you think the problem gambling is the problem?

Trading Aces

The Phillies, Blue Jays and on a lesser scale the Mariners are in the final stages of making a huge trade. Most likely the biggest move of the Hot Stove season. The Phils are getting Toronto ace Roy Halladay and a few prospects while giving up their own ace Cliff Lee and a few top level prospects of their own. The Mariners are getting Lee and sending prospects out.

The question is whether Philly will get any better. Lee was a stud for the Phillies after he came over from Cleveland in a mid-season trade and was dynamite in the playoffs. He was the only Phillies pitcher to defeat the Yankees in the World Series. Halladay has better overall numbers, but he has never pitched in the playoffs and I wonder if he could have the same success.

The deal does make economic sense. Lee has stated that he wants C.C. money for his next contract. Halladay is taking a discount to go to Philly. This is one of those trades that we're going to have to see how it plays out. Only the numbers and the success of their new teams during the season will tell us how this shakes out.

While the Mariners have made some moves that look like they want to compete in the AL West, I can't help but think that they will flip Cliff Lee at the trade deadline for a boatload of prospects. They are currently working to keep their own star pitcher Felix Hernandez and I don't see anyway they can afford both.

On another note, the Red Sox pickup free agent pitcher John Lackey. I don't understand why the Angels wouldn't come up with the money for him. He has been their best pitcher for a while now and they lost in the ALCS last year. They can't get any better by losing him. The Red Sox have now added another great arm to go with Josh Beckett and John Lester. The Yankees proved last season that you can go with a three man rotation and win the World Series and it looks like the Sox took note. This means that the American League, and more importantly the Rays in the AL East, (the Jays have no shot after losing their best two pitchers the last two years and the Orioles are a few seasons away) have their work cut out for them if they want to make the World Series.

I know the season is long and there are more moves to be made, but what teams do you think set themselves up to make the postseason and ultimately make the World Series?

Heisman Trophy - Does Tebow Vote for Himself?

So after months of speculation and many names claiming themselves as the Heisman frontrunner, it comes down to five football players: Stanford RB Toby Gerhart, Alabama RB Mark Ingram, Texas QB Colt McCoy, Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh, and Florida QB Tim Tebow.

If I had a vote I would pick Suh. He was an absolute beast and dominated most of the games he played in for a superb defense. He is the definition of the Heisman Trophy, given to the "Most Outstanding College Football Player." Suh turned about 30 minutes of the College Football Awards Show into his own personal showcase. He claimed the Outland (best interior lineman), Lombardi (lineman/linebacker), Nagurski (best defender) and Bednarik (best defensive player) Awards. He finished the season with 82 tackles to lead his team which is unheard of for a lineman facing constant double teams. He also tallied 23 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.

McCoy also had a banner night in Orlando winning the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, along with the Maxwell (best offensive player) and Davey O'Brien (best qb) Awards. However, McCoy's numbers weren't even as good as his numbers last season when he didn't win the Heisman. He does play on a team in the Championship game.

Gerhart should be the most competition for Suh. He led the country in rushing and rushing TDs while claiming the Doak Walker (best running back) Award. Gerhart was also the focal point of his team's offense. I don't think he has enough exposure to win the award having had time off while his opponents were having showcases on the last weekend.

The same can be said for Mark Ingram. Ingram had a great season but I'm not sure he's the best player on his team. Ingram had five games under 100 yards and wasn't even in the game on the winning drive against Auburn. Ingram did have a big game at the right time though.

Tebow's numbers aren't as good as last season when he didn't win. And his numbers aren't even close to what they were when he won as a sophomore. However, Tebow has one advantage no one else does, he can vote for himself.

My question to you, who do you think should win the Heisman and who do you think does?

Out of Leftfield

I'm studying for my Series 7 and for a break I turn on MLB Network to see what's going on at the Winter Meetings. The Winter Meetings is where most baseball trades are made that aren't done before the non-waiver trade deadline.

Anyway, I like the pickup of Rafael Soriano for the Rays. They have had trouble shutting the door and this allows J.P. Howell to move back to a setup role. While it is a big hit on the payroll, it is a move that had to be made. The Yanks and Red Sox are starting to solve J.P and the other Rays relievers were average at best. If Burrell hits decent, everyone stays healthy, and B.J. Upton gets it back some how, the Rays can again challenge in the East.

Speaking of the Yankees, they win the World Series and then go out and get a better centerfielder. Curtis Granderson is a team guy and allows them to move Melky Cabrera to left field if New York doesn't re-up with Johnny Damon. I do like the move as the Yankees get younger and better defensively, but Granderson struggles against lefties. Other than that, another good move by Brian Cashman.

On a completely different note, the Blue Jays are trying to move Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay. The Red Sox are a potential suitor, but the Jays want pitcher Casey Kelly and the Sox won't give him up. I remember covering Kelly as an All-State quarterback and shortstop while he was in high school and even then I was sure he would make the show in one of those sports. He was that guy who was just better than everyone else. I'm a little surprised that the Red Sox made Kelly a pitcher, but apparently his hitting numbers were below average and good pitching is hard to come by. Which brings me to the Sox other pickup. Pitcher Boof Bonser.

Bonser is best known as one of the players the twins picked up, along with stud pitchers Joe Nathan and Francisco Liriano, in the A.J. Pierzynski trade. I know him as the guy who single handedly beat my Venice High School Baseball team in the state playoffs while playing for St. Pete Gibbs High School. Bonser hit three home runs and a triple while also throwing a complete game.

I always find it interesting when I see a player that I either played with/against in high school, or who I have covered while working making noise in college or the pros. You guys have anyone out there doing it on the big stage who you saw before they made headlines?

No One Cares about Academics

So news came out that the University of Alabama is giving its students three days off for the National Championship game. Aren't these the same institutions that say they don't want a playoff because it will hinder student athletes from missing too may classes? And aren't these the same institutions that allow basketball players to miss three or four days of classes a week, sometimes for up a month, during the NCAA tournament?

There is no way for the BCS and college presidents to spin this one. I just want one president or athletic director or someone that keeps feeding us this load of crap to tell it like it is. As Henry Hill said, "F--- y--, Pay Me."

Steve Suisham - Graham Gano makes the Show

I'm sure you saw it on Sunday. The Washington Redskins had the New Orleans Saints on the ropes. The Saints perfect season hung in the balance. The Skins were up seven at home, and all kicker Steve Suisham had to do was hit a 23-yard field goal to put the game away. And he missed. The Saints were able to tie the game and ended up winning in overtime.

Tuesday the Skins cut Suisham, which they had to do because missing kicks like that will cost someone their job, and signed former Seminole and Groza Award winner Graham Gano to a three-year deal.

This is the part I don't understand, why aren't kickers just signed week to week? If you have a good one liek Adam Vinatieri or David Akers I can see signing them for an extended period of time, but not some of these other guys who never seem to make anything of note.

And further, why haven't the Bucs brought Matt Bryant back? He spent this season kicking in the UFL for the Florida Tuskers while the Bucs three kickers have combined to make only 50% of their field goal attempts. At some point, the Bucs need to bury the hatchet and bring back the successful kicker.

TCU vs Boise St.

Bowl Season is here After Championship Saturday I was intrigued to see what the bowl matchups would be to end the college football season. I’m not really one of those fans that will only watch the “intriguing” games. I tend to watch all or most of every bowl game that is played, from the New Mexico Bowl right through to the BCS Championship game.

At a later date I’ll have what I think about each contest, but today I’m annoyed by one of the Fiesta Bowl game between Boise State and TCU. I am happy that two teams from outside the Big Bowl Six were able to break up the party, but why do the teams have to play each other? The two of them played last year in the Poinsettia Bowl with TCU winning. While this may not be the case, it looks the BCS doesn’t want a team from outside the family beating one of their own.

All season long prognosticators have challenged the validity of TCU and Boise State continually calling out their strength of their opponents. Instead of having them test their mettle against Georgia Tech, Florida, or Cincinnati, they are playing each other for the second year in a row. I think that playing another school would be the best way to see how good these teams really are, and pave the way for eventually giving a mid-major team the chance to play for the championship. I do think the game will be a great one to watch, but I’d rather see Boise State’s powerful offense try to score on Florida. Or watch TCU’s vaunted defense attempt to stop the Ramblin Wreck’s triple option or Cincy’s 40-point a game offense. Any thoughts what you think the BCS is doing in having the two mid-majors face off?

Championship Saturday

The college football games from Saturday were for the ages. Three games that had BCS implications came down to the final minute. In Texas’ case, the final second. There were also other games that weren’t decided until late like the USF-UConn game, and the WVU-Rutgers contest. There was also the SEC Championship where Alabama handed out a beat down that few if any expected.

I picked the SEC Championship game wrong. I knew the game would be decided in large part by the defenses and quarterback, but I picked the wrong one. UF returned their entire two-deep and had thoroughly dominated much of the competition all season. And on top of that, they had Tebow. The Tide had a great defense, but I didn’t think their offense had enough firepower to keep up with the Gators. Mark Ingram put on a Heisman showcase with over 100 yards rushing and three touchdowns, not to mention a big catch and run on a screen pass to go with a key block on third down to allow Greg McElroy to pick up a first. Greg McElroy also played better than Tebow in all facets of the game. He didn’t turn the ball over and made big throw after big throw. I was impressed by McElroy. I thought he was nothing more than a game manager at the beginning of the season, but he has turned into a complete quarterback who can beat you with his arm as the season has progressed. I have to say that Bama is going to be favored going into the championship.

Texas almost pulled a Les Miles and let the clock run out on them in the Big 12 Championship. I know Colt McCoy said he knew how much time he had, but why cut it so close? I was really impressed with the Nebraska defense. I think Bo Pelini has the Black Shirts back to playing the way they were when they were winning championships. Texas better get it figured out by January. Ndamakung Suh and the defensive line of Nebraska almost won the game on their own, and Texas has to deal with Mount Cody in the Championship.

Clemson gets over 230 yards and four touchdowns form C.J. Spiller and loses? Not a great showing by the Clemson defense in a game they should have won. Give credit to GT for running all over and having just enough passing to get it done, but the Tiger defense spoiled a great performance.

My heart goes out to the Pittsburgh holder. I’m sure you’ve seen it but he fumbled the snap on a PAT and his team lost by one point. Yes the Panthers defense allowed Tony Pike and Cincinnati to come back from a 31-10 deficit, but I’m sure that doesn’t make him feel any better.

With the games done and the Heisman Trophy presentation this Saturday, who’s performance on Saturday earned them a trip to New York? And who do you think brings home the trophy?

Picks for Saturday and Conference Championships

This should have been done earlier but here are my picks for the weekend. No spreads, just the winners.

Arizona at USC - SC is at home and can give Zona QB Nick Foles fits

Cal at Washington - Cal even without Best should be better than Washington

Cincy at Pitt - Cincy has a powerful offense and Pitt won't be able to keep up

UF vs Bama - UF has Tebow and therefore they win

GT vs Clemson - GT: the triple option is tough to stop and GT can stop Spiller. The rain may play a factor

New Mexico St. at Boise St. - Boise St. never loses on the Smurf turf

South FL at UCoon - UConn wins. It's cold up there and they're still playing for their fallen teammate

Texas vs Nebraska - Texas: Colt McCoy has a big game and wins the Heisman

West Virginia at Rutgers - WVU: Noel Devine is too tough to stop.

Houston at ECU - Houston has the #1 offense and wins.

Cheating on Your Wife or Cheating on the Sport

I didn't want to discuss the Tiger thing this much but my wife and I had an interesting discussion on the way to dinner last night.

I have stated previously that I don't care that Tiger cheated on his wife. She is the only person that deserves an apology and not the public at large. However, when baseball players admit they used steroids, they have to issue a public apology.

Now, steroid use doesn't get under my skin that much. Everybody cheated and no one surprises me anymore. I'd like to think that all the players were clean and the few that have come out are aberrations, but I know better. I will say that Barry Bonds cheating bothered me.

Bonds was great, maybe the best baseball player of a generation. It was like he was built in a laboratory. He routinely hit .300, hit 30 home runs and drove in 100 runs. He played gold glove defense, albeit in left field, and also would steal 20 to 30 bags. He even had a 40/40 season. Apparently this wasn't enough for him and he had to cheat to get that obscene 73 home runs season and break Hank Aaron's all-time home run record.

The only reason I can think this bothers me is that Bonds and others cheated the game. We marvel at the feats they achieve only to be disappointed when its tainted. Tiger only made a covenant with his wife and broke that. Cheaters of the game broke the public trust and I guess that is why.

I need some opinions from everyone else about why it bothers the public more when the game is cheated than when an athlete cheats on his wife.

Civil War - Winner gets the Roses

I'm really pumped about tonight's Oregon State at Oregon game tonight. I really like watching the Pac-10 teams that we east coasters don't get to see all the time. All through college I had the drive to stay up until 2:00 AM to watch the end of the west coast games. As I've gotten older I haven't been as driven.

Now it's not entirely my fault. The Pac-10 television contract is no where near the SEC's where we have to watch everything. In fact, it's not even as good as the ACC or Big 12 contract. So I hope I can stay up for the entire game. I hope they give me something to stay up for.

Last year's game saw Duck QB Jeremiah Masoli shred the Beavers D and end their Rose Bowl hopes. This year, the winner takes all. Last year the Rodgers brothers (RB Jacquizz and WR James) didn't play for Oregon State. However, with the game in Eugene at Autzen, I see the Ducks getting the victory and Masoli along with LaMichael James running wild over the Beavers.

Leave Tiger Alone

I didn't want to talk about it but the elephant is in the room.

Apparently the guy cheated on his wife and now everyone wants to be mad at him. Guess what...IT'S NO BIG DEAL. The only person who should care is his wife. Jesper Parnevik, the golfer who introduced them, is talking about how he thought Tiger was a better guy than that. Jesper would have done the same thing if he had Tiger's options. And Elin will be fine. Either they'll stay married or should get the joy of just going to the bank the rest of her life.

Now before you get on me and ask me if I'd cheat on my wife and all that nonsense let me explain. I don't care what Tiger does Monday through Wednesday, I watch him play golf on Thursday through Sunday. Anytime outside of that, he can do what he wants. He is not accountable to me, he isn't my role model. The guy just plays golf and I enjoy watching him do his job.

Tiger won't lose sponsors either. Most of the people who buy products Tiger markets are men who really don't care that much. Michael Jordan is still peddling Nike and Gatorade and he cheated on his wife.

At the end of the day, people don't care as much as they're saying now. In a few months when he's playing on Sunday in Augusta, I won't care about what happened. I didn't care about Colorado when Kobe was winning the Finals MVP this summer, I didn't care that Peter Warrick got a deep discount on clothes when he was torching Virginia Tech in leading FSU to its last national title, and I don't care that Tom Brady left his pregnant girlfriend to start dating a supermodel.

They're athletes and I appreciate the entertainment and joy they bring me; however, they're human and should always be treated as such.

Big Ten/ACC Challenge - Whiteout?

So I'm watching the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and this might be the year the Big 11 breaks through. As you might know, the ACC has won all 10 challenges up to this point. With Illinois pulling out a big upset after being down 23 at Clemson, the Challenge comes down to the last two contests: Duke at Wisconsin and FSU at Ohio State. Duke has never lost a challenge game but playing at Wisconsin is no easy task. However, I still expect the Blue Devils to win.



On another note, I almost saw a whiteout. A whiteout is when all ten players on the floor at the time are white. Occasionally you'll see it during a lower division game, but it rarely happens in big time college hoops. Duke and Wisconsin almost pulled it off. Duke had Kyle Singler, Miles Plumlee, Brian Zoubek and Jon Schyer on the floor; while the Badgers had Jason Bohannan, Keaton Nankivil, Jared Berggren and Jon Leuer playing. If it wasn't for Trevon Hughes and Andre Dawkins, we could have seen a white out on national tv.



I'm happy to see that the other Big Bowl Six (ACC, Big 10, Big East, Pac 10, Big 12, SEC) have started showcases like the Big 10/ACC Challenge. The Pac 10 goes up against the Big 12 and the SEC and Big East square off. It gives great out of conference matchups early in the season before conference season gets going.

Can anybody spare LESS than a penny

So we know the Tiger Woods story from the weekend. He got into a car accident. I don't really care about the stories that are coming out (domestic violence and cheating), but I do laugh at the fine.

Tiger just passed $1 billion in earnings this year. He was fined $164 for careless driving. I have spent a while trying to do the math and that was a bad idea. What I do know is that $164 to Tiger is like one of us grabbing a penny from the tray at the gas station. Now yes his car is beat up and he has to fix the fire hydrant, but all of it is still a drop in the bucket to Tiger's immense wealth.

Carlos Dunlap

I have to say I'm surprised that Urban Meyer suspended Carlos Dunlap for an entire game. While it is warranted, I thought he'd use the misdemeanor/let the legal process take its course excuse and let him suit up. He is a force on the defensive line and leads the Gators in sack for the second straight season. I give the Gator coach some props on this one.

The End of an Era

After a hiatus that was entirely too long, I have started blogging again. Instead of trying to write about everything that has happened since I last posted, I’ll start over.

For the first time in my life, I woke up this morning and Bobby Bowden wasn’t the coach of my alma mater Florida State. I have mixed emotions about it. In a perfect world, Bobby would have led FSU to the National Championship and announced his retirement while holding the Crystal Football. However, FSU football has not been relevant on the national stage for quite some time. The last 10-win season came in 2003 and the last conference championship was in 2005. With the program not moving forward and competing at a high level any longer, I think it was time to make a change. Bobby made FSU football. We all know the numbers, 14 straight 10-win seasons, 14 top 5 finishes, two national championships, second most wins among major college football coaches, etc. As Dan Sileo said, “he turned an all girls' school into a football powerhouse.” But I don’t think that should allow him to run the program into mediocrity. I wish he could have righted the ship like Joe Paterno did in Happy Valley, but his loyalty to old players and coaches ruined any chance of that. A part of me wants to chastise the University officials for pushing a legend out the door, but with FSU dropping to fourth (hate to say it but have to after losing to USF) in the state football hierarchy, how long would Bobby be allowed to lord over the football program? Now we FSU fans get to see if Jimbo Fisher can return the team back to prominence. Jimbo has never been a head coach before and many viewed the Coach-in-Waiting contract as a knee jerk reaction to the overtures from West Virginia and other schools. I don’t seem to mind him taking over. I have a friend who isn’t sold on Jimbo’s ability to be a head coach. I’m not really sure why, but I’m sure he will let me know. Jimbo is a good recruiter and has improved the offense each season he has been at FSU. A lot of his success will come down to which coaches he retains (bye Chuck Amato and Jody Allen; maybe Dexter Carter, Odell Haggins, and Lawrence Dawsey, hello Terrell Buckley) and who he chooses and the new defensive coordinator with Mickey Andrews retiring. I’ll have to see how everything shakes out. Right now FSU is behind in recruiting and it will take a Bobby Bowden type of close for this cycle to be successful.

On another note, no surprise Notre Dame fired Charlie Weis. He boasted of having a “schematic advantage” when he arrived, and his offenses put up some pretty good numbers, but his defenses were awful. What I find ironic, is that Weis’ best years came with Willingham’s recruits. In 2007 as Weis led the Irish to their worst record ever, the excuse was that Willingham left the cupboard bare. Now we find out that Weis just couldn’t recruit defenders. In listening to AD Jack Swarbrick, Notre Dame still feels they are one of “the” jobs in college football. He should listen to himself. He mentioned finding the person to join the pantheon of Rockne Parseghian, and Hotlz. Does he realize that Holtz left in 1994 and that the Irish haven’t challenge for the title since 93. Recruits now were infants when the Irish were relevant. Now we’re waiting around to see who the Irish pick up and throw a boat load of money. Brian Kelly seems to be the consensus choice, but I think Notre Dame needs a defensive guy with a great offensive coordinator. I’m not sure who that person should be with Stoops taking his name out, but that’s the way I’d go. Who do you think The Irish should choose as their next coach?