(NOTE: So this is my last post of the decade. And how many posts did I finish up with since launching this site over a year ago? 69. Giggle, giggle, giggle…)
Hello Football Fans!
WELP…the decade isn’t going out without a fight, as there are several stories in college football (coaches gone wild), sports in general (the ongoing Tiger saga), and in the world (attempted terrorist strike that has been “pleasantly” swept under the rug).
The Leach Fiasco
I believe that I have a great insight into this, as I met Mike Leach in an airport. OK…obviously that means nothing but I DID meet him.
What a mess. I feel bad for the good people of Lubbock.
My take is that there are enough egos to go around here to fill a 747. And that goes for Leach, the Texas Tech administration, Craig freakin’ James, and his son.
I believe Leach made an error. I don’t know why he’d throw a kid into a dark room like he did. I guess there’s a possibility that it was good for him since he was suffering from a concussion – but it’s all quite strange. And the eccentric Leach has shown the ability to do weird things in the past.
I also believe that if he made that same ‘error’ against a 21-year-old ME – with MY dad instead of Craig James – this thing would have never gotten to the media. But instead, the kid is the son of ESPN’s smarmy, a-hole, I-really-really-really-love-myself Craig James. And ain’t NO WAY that Craig James is going to let that fly.
I guarantee you that Leach has pissed off several Texas Tech administrators with his ego and odd way of doing things, and I bet you could put Craig James into that list as well. (Is it really that hard to see Craig James trying to point out a few things that he sees to Leach, and Leach telling him to shut the ‘F’ up? I think not.) And it sounds like if Leach apologized…this whole thing would have blown over. But Leach is a lawyer by training (that’s what he went to college for), and has that brain and ego to go along with it, and refused to apologize for an “error” that he doesn’t feel he committed. And ya know what? If that’s what he believes… than I agree with that move. We’ll have to see how the rest of this story unfolds. Leach has yet to go public.
I just wonder if Leach’s wife already had that $800,000 spent ??!!??
———-
The Big Ten
C’mon Big Ten!!!!! Wisconsin got us off to a great start with a win over a ranked and highly-regarded Miami team. All the remaining match-ups are either close, or closer than the experts think…to use and old man Corso expression.
I’d be happy with 4-3 as long as 2 of those wins are the Orange (of course) and the Rose… Stay tuned.
———-
The Pac-10
Yeeesh. They’re sitting at 2-3…and those two wins were an un-impressive USC win over an average Boston College who had to travel cross-country…and a come-from-behind win for USCLA vs. Temple from the MAC. And oh by the way – of the 5 bowls they’ve played – 3 of them have been against non-BCS teams. Yuck and YUCK.
———-
“There are too many bowls”
Really? There are??!!?? Because I LOVE college football, and some of these games have just been awesome. I have to admit that I wasn’t 100% fired up to watch the Humanitarian Bowl on the smurf turf…but that Idaho comeback and ballsy win was just awesome.
Why take that away? From a guy that went to two non-BCS bowls (yes I know…I’m so old it was easily before the BCS was ever invented) when I was in college – trust me – those bowls are a blast and you never forget them. I’m not saying that teams with a losing record should be able to go to bowls, but if you’re 6-6 and especially 7-5…yea…I think you should go and play in a bowl. Why not? If ESPN is OK airing it and somebody makes some money, let’s do it.
———-
“Precarious Predictions”
Final Regular Season 62-55-2 (What…a…finish!)
Bowls 2 – 1
New Year’s Eve Bowls
Sun
Oklahoma vs. #21 Stanford
1:00 PM / CBS / Line: Oklahoma by 10
One thing to point out here – Stanford’s QB Andrew Luck is out. I’m pretty sure that’s where the big spread has come from here. Also, I’m not betting on the Pac-10 when they go against a decent defense…let alone a very, very good Sooners ‘D’.
I just hope Oklahoma actually wants to play football today.
Sooners cover.
Texas
Missouri vs. Navy
2:30 PM / ESPN / Line: Mizzou by 6.5
I’m going to give Mizzou the edge here…but I don’t feel good about this one.
Mizzou covers.
Insight Bowl – (AKA “THE HAWKEYE LOSS BOWL)
Iowa State vs. Minnesota
5:00 PM / NFL Network / Line: Gophers by 2
After much deliberation…I’ve decided to cheer for Minnesota in this bowl. Why? Because I don’t want to see us miss out ANY in-state recruit (although obviously an Insight Bowl win on New Year’s Eve will do little to sway young recruits)…but mostly because my Big Ten-colored-glasses are squarely on.
The problem? Although both teams finished horribly (ISU lost 3 of their last 4 – Minnesota lost 2 of their last 3)…I have to give the edge to ISU because they actually want to be in this bowl and give their fans something to cheer for.
With that said, I got some info from an article in the CR Gazette (and from my MOM) that both fans are struggling to get excited for this like an 89-year-old-male-porn star. In fact, there have been several ISU fans that bought the tickets BUT AREN’T GOING. You see…they just wanted to show their team support. And I said a long time ago, I guarantee there will be more Iowa fans watching this game than Gopher fans.
They may have to lure Tempe bums into the stadium with a warm (or cool?) meal.
ISU covers.
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl
#11 Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee
6:30 PM / ESPN / Line: Va Tech by 5
I’m not impressed with the ACC (I hope I don’t have to eat those words) and I fear any offense that has to go against a Monty Kiffin ‘D’ that has a month to prepare.
Tennessee + the points.
NEW YEAR’S DAY
Outback Bowl
Auburn vs. Northwestern
10:00 AM / ESPN / Line: Auburn by 8
This is THE BEST match-up that Northwestern could possibly hope for on a New Year’s Day bowl game vs. the SEC. I hope they don’t screw it up.
If Northwestern wins…it’s from surprising Auburn with their ‘D’…which I believe is pretty good.
Northwestern + the points.
-
Capital One
#13 Penn State vs. #12 LSU
NOON / ABC / Line: Penn State by 2
I believe that LSU is over-rated, and I believe that Penn State’s ‘D’ will keep this close. But the facts are this: I just don’t trust Darryl Clark in big games, and Les Miles knows how to win bowl games.
LSU covers.
Gator
#16 West Virginia vs. Florida State
NOON / CBS / Line: West Va by 2.5
Am I interested in Bowden coaching his last game? Sure. Do I believe that people are making too big of a deal out of it? Yessir. I’ve seen several sights that have this game ranked over the Orange Bowl? Really?
Bowden + the points.
Rose
#8 Ohio State vs. #7 Oregon
3:30 PM / ABC / Line: Oregon by 4
With regards to Ohio State…this game is very, VERY similar to Iowa’s match-up with Georgia Tech. If Oregon gets off and does whatever they want against Ohio State – the Buckeyes are in trouble. But I don’t believe that will happen, and if Ohio State’s offense puts any pressure on the Oregon offense…I will really start to like The Big Ten’s chances here.
And I know that motivation has a LOT to do with this, but I don’t believe the Pac-10 and/or Oregon has seen a defense like Ohio State’s (yes I know USC played Ohio State…and Ohio State should have shut them out.)
C’MON ON OHIO STATE!!??!! REPRESENT THE BIG TEN!!!!!
Buckeyes + the points.
Sugar
#5 Florida vs. #3 Cincinnati
7:30 PM / FOX / Line: Fla by 13
If this isn’t the weirdest, most un-compelling #5 vs. #3 bowl match-up ever…I don’t know what is. One coach is at a different school, and one coach is clutching for his chest…yet still the coach…yet not really…is anybody else confused with Urban Meyer??!!??
I just don’t see Tim Tebow losing his last 2 games, and I just don’t see how ‘Natti can put up a lot of points against an SEC defense when they don’t have their usual play-caller.
Florida covers.
HAVE A GREAT NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO HAWKS!
-Jeffrey the Greek!
Posted by Jeff Buch 
