BCS TITLE GAME

Florida -5 Oklahoma

I really like Sam Bradford - though not as much as this guy does, and I remember how big he came up against Texas - 5TDs, 387 yards. It isn't the Sooner offense I'm worried about - they've scored 58+ points in each of their last 6 games. They can hang with Tim Tebow and the Gators. The OU defense on the other hand has been . . . not as great. They've allowed 3TDs+ per game since losing to Texas. If the Sooner offense isn't clicking (for whatever odd reason) Florida will eat them up. I think this one will be close, but I have to go with the team that lost their only game of the season by one point. Sorry, Zambutos, but I'm taking the Gators giving 5 points.

GMAC Bowl - and 2 losses from .500

Well it looks like Texas managed to screw me twice last night. They won the game (which throws Utah's argument for a top spot out the window) and managed not to beat the spread. Compounding matters is the fact that with 2 games to pick, I'm only 2 games above .500 at 17-15. Lucky for me, with the GMAC Bowl tonight, even if I screw it up, the government will bail me out!!

Tulsa -3 Ball State

On paper, Ball State (12-1) should have little trouble beating Tulsa, who lost 3 of 5 to finish the year, including a 70-30 whooping by Houston. However, the Golden Hurricane happen to be the top ranked offense in the nation, averaging an astounding 565 yards and 47.4 points per game. This bodes well for Tulsa, except for the fact that their pass defense is wretched - allowing 258.8 yards in the air (putting them 104th out of 120 Bowl Subdivision teams).

Ball State QB Nate Davis may leave for the NFL after this game, putting his name in the mix with the two high-profile QBs playing on Thursday. If he takes his cues from other Detroit Lions wannabes (Colt McCoy, Fiesta Bowl - 414 yards passing; Chase Clement, Texas Bowl - 379 total yards, 4 TDs) he has a good shot of making himself heard on draft day. However, he could be overshadowed by David Johnson of Tulsa, who boasts a QB rating of nearly 180 and 43 TDs and looks to redeem himself for a 5 INT performance against ECU.

One thing is for sure - this one will be a shootout (the O/U is 74.5). The winning QB will be thrust into the top tier of NCAA QBs. The loser? Well, there's always a car loan . . .

I like Ball State in this one getting the points. I only hope alumni Brian Collins will be able to report on the game for KXXV in Waco, TX. Yes, that's the same BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE guy.

Three to go

With 3 bowl games remaining, I'm 17-14 this post season. In an effort to stay above .500, I'll be dedicating a post to each of the remaining games. That, and I'd like to hit the 100 post mark before the beginning of next season.

FIESTA BOWL

Texas -7.5 THE Ohio State University

Call this one a match up of opposites.

Texas features Colt McCoy and his high powered aerial attack whereas OSU has RB Beanie Wells who managed to get healthy and rush for 100+ yards in 6 of his last 8 games and QB Terrelle Pryor who has six TDs on the ground leading the Buckeyes ground assault.

The Ohio State pass defense is 7th in the nation, holding opponents to 164.3 yards per game. The Longhorns run defense is ranked 2nd nationally, giving up a paltry 73.6 yards per game.

Of course, the biggest difference between the two teams - OSU has been relatively quiet about playing in the Fiesta Bowl, whereas Texas hasn't stopped bitching about missing the Big XII title game and a shot at the BCS title game.

To quote John Madden, this game will come down to the battle between offense and defense. If the Texas defense can stop the Ohio State offense, Texas will win the game. If Ohio State's offense overtakes Texas' defense, then . . . then . . . then . . . the Buckeyes'll win. There's a guy who when he wears contact lenses, he can see better!!

I think Texas has the upper hand in this one, not to mention the bigger chip on their shoulder. I'll take the Longhorns giving the points.