Gators, Buckeyes the right match-up
First, let me get this out of the way. I think Michigan is the second best college football team in the country … and I would’ve voted for Florida as the team to play Ohio State in the BCS National Championship game.
Now that might not make much sense, but let me explain.
I think the Wolverines are better than the Gators, but the Buckeyes already beat Lloyd Carr’s squad. Someone else deserves that chance now.
Everyone has been talking all year about how tough the SEC is. Well, is it or isn’t it? If you didn’t give Florida the shot at Ohio State, and instead let Michigan go at the Buckeyes again, how would you ever know for sure how powerful the SEC is?
If you matched up Michigan and Ohio State again, then you would’ve rendered their first meeting meaningless. All you would’ve done is created a two-game series where it didn’t matter who won the first game, only the second.
To put Michigan in the national title game wouldn’t have been fair to Ohio State or Florida.
You know if Urban Meyer’s Gators are blown out by the Buckeyes that the Carr and the Wolverines will start their crying. But what can they say?
No matter what the score, they both would’ve lost to Ohio State, that’s the bottom line.
So do the Gators have a chance against the Buckeyes? Well, time for this year’s bowl picks, so read on to find out.
First, we’ll start with the local bowl teams, and might as well recap my “Rob on the Net” predictions I gave on heraldstandard.com earlier this season while we’re at it. Both play today.
Outback Bowl
Tennessee (-4) vs. Penn State
Let’s see, I predicted the Nittany Lions would go 8-4 with sure losses to Ohio State and Notre Dame and the other two losses probably to Wisconsin and Michigan. Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! OK, I better not pat myself on the back too much, because I’m not at all sure about this game. I like a lot about Penn State, especially Paul Posluszny, who never misses a tackle, but what I’m not very confident about is QB Anthony Morelli. He’ll have to step up or at the very least no implode if the Lions are to win. I’m not sure he’s proven he’s capable of that in a big game yet, though. Thus, Phillip Fulmer will pull within 224 of Joe Paterno on the all-time wins list.
Vols, 24-17
Gator Bowl
West Virginia (-10) vs. Georgia Tech
Alright, it says here the Mountaineers would go 11-1 with the one loss coming at Louisville. Well now, South Florida’s win in Morgantown cost me another perfect call. Steve Slaton and Pat White are a dynamic duo that’s hard to contain on offense. Uniontown grad Kevin McLee, the team’s leading tackler, will go out as a winner as he plays his 50th and final game at linebacker for the ‘Eers. And don’t forget Carmichaels grad Bobby Hathaway, a junior linebacker for WVU. The Yellow Jackets will be without their starting QB, but I still feel they’ll cover somehow.
Mountaineers, 37-31
??? Bowl
Pitt (6-6) vs. ???
I’m confused. Oh, that’s right. Pitt wasn’t one of the 64 teams that got invited to a bowl game. I remember now. I said they’d go 5-7 with no bowl, and you emailers killed me. Some of you even gloated when Pitt won its sixth game to go to 6-1 and wanted an apology for me. I gave none, of course, because five games later, and there you go, seems I was only one game off in my prediction. Sorry, Panther fans, you’ll have to wait until next year for a bowl … or maybe even longer.
Now for the rest of today’s games, and beyond:
Cotton Bowl
Auburn (-11/2) vs. Nebraska
The Tigers handed Florida its only loss of the season, but fell at home to Arkansas and Georgia. The Cornhuskers have improved steadily under coach Bill Callahan, but the Big 12 isn’t so mighty this year. Your bowl pick of the year.
Tigers, 35-17
Capital One Bowl
Arkansas (-11/2) vs. Wisconsin
Can the Badgers handle Razorbacks running back Darren McFadden? Can the Razorbacks be as physical as Wisconsin? Will there be a lot of scoring in this game? Maybe, maybe and no. Your bowl over/under (45) of the year.
Razorbacks, 20-13
Rose Bowl
Southern Cal (-1) vs. Michigan
The Wolverines still have an outside shot at half of the national championship if they can win this game and Florida wins ugly against Ohio State. I never did think this Trojans team was on a par with those of the past three seasons, and the UCLA loss proved that. Michigan gets revenge for its 2004 loss to USC here.
Wolverines, 27-20
Fiesta Bowl
Oklahoma (-7) vs. Boise State
If the Broncos roll over the Sooners, who’s to say they might not have deserved a shot at Ohio State? I would’ve voted for them to play the Buckeyes ahead of the Wolverines, too. You can’t argue with perfection, and Boise State did beat Oregon State, which beat USC. It’ll all be a moot point, though, because …
Sooners, 30-19
Tuesday
Orange Bowl
Louisville (-10) vs. Wake Forest
Cardinals have to be wondering “what if” in looking back to that late collapse against Rutgers. How did Wake get here? Louisville will be wondering that, too.
Cardinals, 37-20
Wednesday
Sugar Bowl
LSU (-91/2) vs. Notre Dame
Can you believe the Fighting Irish have lost eight consecutive bowl games? Tigers are tough, but Brady Quinn will find a way to pull this one out. Here’s your upset special.
Irish, 31-24
Saturday
International Bowl
Cincinnati (-8) vs. Western Michigan
Does anyone really care about this one? I mean the Bearcats even lost to Pitt.
Bearcats, 23-20
Sunday
GMAC Bowl
Southern Miss (-61/2) vs. Ohio
What will the TV ratings be for this clash? Big stage for Bobcats, but they’ll handle it and hang in there under coach Frank Solich.
Golden Eagles, 23-20
Monday, Jan. 8
BCS Championship
Ohio State (-71/2) vs. Florida
Finally, the big one. You’ve already read my view on why this is the correct national championship match-up. So will it be a close game? I think both coaches, Meyer and Jim Tressel, are top notch and will have their teams well prepared. So it will likely come down to talent. That means Ohio State will win, but will it cover? Well …
Buckeyes, 27-24
So now you know.
Rob Burchianti can be reached at rvburchianti@hotmail.com