College Football: Fiesta Bowl – #4 Boise State versus #6 Texas Christian University

In my soon to be released article entitled “Surprises and Disappointments of the Bowl Season” I will expand upon my disgust for what the BCS selection committee did in choosing these two teams to play each other. For now I will limit myself to this; more and more people want a playoff system and this game where the BCS has isolated its “mid-major” threats to protect the BCS “major” conferences should make everyone want a playoff system more.

In terms of the game, although robbed of the national stage with which to show they are just as good as the best of the “major” conferences, this will still be an exciting matchup between two high scoring undefeated teams. WAC Champion Boise State will look for revenge after Mountain West Champion TCU just edged them out of an undefeated season last year, 17-16 in the Poinsettia Bowl. TCU’s defense is one of the best in the nation though, leading many to see TCU as the favorite by around 8 points.

This marks the first time that two undefeated teams played in a BCS Bowl other than the National Championship and will act as the “mid-major” National Championship. It is only too bad that the winner doesn’t get to face the winner of the “major” National Championship between Alabama and Texas. Though it should be a close and exciting game, expect fewer points than usual from each team as TCU for the second year in a row stops Boise State from perfection.

January 5^th

NBA: Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers

Usually the best team in the NBA versus the eleventh best (seventh best in the west) is not a reason to be included on What to Watch, but this matchup is different. After taking the Lakers to seven games in last year’s playoffs, the Rockets let Ron Artest leave and signed as his replacement the Lakers then starting Small Forward Trevor Ariza. In November of this season, the Rockets took the Lakers to overtime, eventually losing by one in Houston. Eleven days later, they pulled off the unthinkable, beating the Lakers by ten at the Staples Center. Additionally, Ariza, who is six years younger, has averaged more points, rebounds, steals, blocks, free throws, and minutes per game than Artest. Expect a close one but for the Lakers to yet again ruin Ariza’s return to LA. This game is also perfect to watch for those of us who will be bored by the Orange Bowl and craving a sport fix.

College Football: Orange Bowl – #10 Iowa versus #9 Georgia Tech

In what many see as the most boring of the BCS bowl games, the triple-option offense of ACC Champion Georgia Tech will take on the Slow Ten’s second best team, and BCS at-large bid receiving, Iowa. With starting quarterback Ricky Stanzi and running back Adam Robinson well rested and back from injury, Iowa may make a game of it. Possession will be a key to victory in this game. Iowa will need to stop the run and Georgia Tech will have to make sure the “cardiac kids” are not discounted at the end, even if the Yellow Jackets are up big. Expect the Rambling Wreck to run all over the Hawkeyes.

January 7^th

College Football: National Championship – #2 Texas versus #1 Alabama

Easily the most exciting and star-studded matchups of the BCS Bowl games, the National Championship pits two of the most recognizable high-profile programs in all of college football against each other. Big 12 Champion Texas has the winningest starting quarterback in the history of college football in Colt McCoy. SEC Champion Alabama has Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. Alabama’s defense has stopped every team it has faced this year including the high scoring all-american filled Florida Gators though, leading me to believe that if Texas does not come with a varied game plan on offense they could get embarrassed. That said, Texas had the best defense against the run (Alabama’s bread and butter) in the nation. What gives remains to be seen. Expect a game that lives up to the hype of two undefeated teams from the top two conferences in the nation playing in the National Championship. That said, only one team can win, and my prediction is that after an 18 year wait, Alabama is finally ready to be named National Champions.

January 9^th

UVA Men’s Basketball: at North Carolina State

UVA Men’s Basketball ended the year looking good and giving Cavalier fans hope for the future and faith in Tony Bennett. That said, with the usual set of cupcakes we play behind us, the generally unforgiving ACC regular season schedule begins at North Carolina State. Neither of these teams has really faced that much of a challenge, with UVA being just edged out by Stanford, Penn State, and Auburn while NC State was barely beaten by Florida, Arizona, and Wake Forest. Luckily for the Cavaliers, the Wolfpack do not have a real big man presence and also rely on a lot of threes, making this more of a guard and forward game where the team with the better shooting from beyond the arc will win. If Landesberg can step up again like he did against UAB expect the Cavaliers to start their conference schedule undefeated, if not, may the best 3-point shooting team win.

NFL: Playoffs; NFC Wild-card Round, Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys

Unless the Washington Deadskins were involved in this game somehow, I cannot think of a game where I want both teams to lose more. Being a Giants game, I still cannot get over how our season crumbled at the end, how both these teams and the Jets made the playoffs, yet we did not. What a last year at Giants Stadium at the Meadowlands. A repeat of last Sunday’s matchup between the two teams (oddly a recurrent theme amongst three of the four wildcard games) in the same location. After 14 years without a playoff win, I think Tony Romo and the Cowboys will finally do it. Beating the Eagles twice in the regular season was no easy task, and beating the playoffs won’t be either, but all streaks have to come to an end eventually (except for maybe the Cubs not winning the World Series). Expect a closer game than last week but for the Cowgirls to prevail.

NFL: Playoffs; AFC Wild-card Round, New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals

The Jets are the biggest surprise team in the playoffs, but make no mistake the team with the rookie coach, rookie quarterback, the NFL’s best defense, and the NFL’s top rushing offense (led by UVA alum Thomas Jones) will not be backing down without a serious fight. Though not much should be taken of their 37-0 annihilation of the Bengals this past Sunday in the last game at Giants Stadium, it should serve as a confidence booster for the fearless Jets as they head to Cincinnati. Though I do not think the Jets will be this year’s Arizona Cardinals (who last year at 9-7 ended up winning three straight before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl), I am not counting them out in this game. Cincinnati’s achievements should not be passed over though. Going undefeated in the division with the reigning Super Bowl Champions and another Playoff team is no walk in the park. Doing it after a 4-11-1 season is equally if not more impressive. Keep in mind starting quarterback Carson Palmer has had previous injury problems that did not affect him this season and that the team played well below their potential last season. Regardless of the past, all that matters is how each team plays Saturday. The colder it is the more likely the Jets will win with their superior defense and run game. Expect a close one and maybe, just maybe, the Jets will survive to play another week.

January 10^th

NFL: Playoffs; NFC Wild-card Round, Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals

While this season has been all about Brett Favre, the Packers have quietly gotten things done and finished the season only one game behind the Vikings. Aaron Rodgers has put up similar numbers to Brett Favre (with a little more yards, three fewer touchdowns) while getting sacked about twice as much and without the best running back in the league to take the pressure off of him (or 6 more pro-bowl players surrounding him for that matter). It has earned Rodgers a pro-bowl invite to back-up starter Drew Brees and of course, Brett Favre. The Cardinals on the other hand, yet again won the worst division in the NFL, the NFC West. This time though, no one will be sleeping on them, especially not the Packers. Do not be surprised to see a repeat this Sunday of this past Sunday’s crushing of the Cardinals by the Packers in Arizona.

NFL: Playoffs; AFC Wild-card Round, Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots

This game is overshadowed by the fact that Wes Welker, the all-important receiver for the Patriots is out for the playoffs. He is star quarterback Tom Brady’s number one target and will be sorely missed. Given Randy Moss’ string of not-too-inspired performances, this could be just the kind of thing that leads to an upset by the Ravens. The curse of David Tyree continues to haunt Bill Belichick’s Patriots. First it was Tom Brady’s injury, now this. The once almost perfect Patriots are now two years older. The Ravens will look to avenge their week 4 loss in Foxborough and might just get it. Expect a tight game, but if Moss can get his act together, expect the home crowd and Brady to do the rest of the work and at least get one win this playoffs for the Patriots.

The Oregon Ducks’ magical season had to end at some point; they just wished it didn’t happen in their own house.

“We wanted to walk off this field winners,” running back LaMichael James said afterwards. “We just didn’t execute on that last play and that cost us the game.”

With just under two minutes remaining in the ballgame and the score at 14-10 Ohio State, the Duck’s defense held the Buckeyes near the Oregon 45 yard line.  Rather than attempt a long field goal to make it a seven point game, OSU Coach Jim Tressell sent out his punter to try to pin them back.

“Our defense had played well all game and I wanted them to have a chance to win this for us,” coach explained afterwards.  “We knew [punter Jon] Thoma had some good kicks in practice so we told him to pin it deep.  He really came through for us.”

Courtesy of blog.cleveland.com

Indeed he did.  Thoma’s punt went out of bounds inside the five-yard line, leaving the Ducks with 95 yards between them and the next round.  Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, however, wasn’t fazed by the situation.

“We had some success against them in the second half and I thought our plan for that drive was a good one,” Masoli said.  “We just didn’t execute once we got out there.”

A false start penalty backed the Ducks up two yards so they were barely beyond their own goal line.  With the Buckeye’s smelling blood, they decided to send a blitz to try to end the game.  It worked perfectly as freshman linebacker Storm Klein came in almost untouched to sack Masoli in the endzone for a safety.

“As a defensive player, you dream of that hit your whole life,” Klein said.  “He doesn’t see you coming and you get a free shot to end the game for your team; there’s nothing better.  I hope I get a chance to do that again at some point.”

While they did win the game, Ohio State was far from sharp in the contest as they had two turnovers to keep Oregon around until the end.

“Obviously that needs to change if we’re going to continue past next week,” Tressell acknowledged.

The coach is right if Ohio State is going to pose any threat to their next opponent, top seed Alabama in the Orange bowl.  Heisman winner Mark Ingram proved impossible to deal with today in their game against Troy, but the Buckeyes believe they will be ready for the challenge.

“He [Ingram] is a great player and we respect them as a team a lot.  Just look at what they’ve accomplished so far this season and you know they can’t be taken lightly,” Buckeye quarterback Terrelle Pryor said.

“But this is Ohio State and we’ve got a great tradition, a great coach, and a great team here too.  I think we can play with anybody and we’re ready to show everyone that next week.”

Results of Other Games:

#1 Alabama vs. #16 Troy

#8 Oregon vs. #9 Ohio State

#4 TCU vs. #13 Iowa

#5 Boise State vs. #12 West Virginia

————–

#2 Texas vs. #15 Central Michigan

#7 Georgia Tech vs. #10 LSU

#6 Florida vs. #11 Virginia Tech

#3 Cincinnati vs. #14 East Carolina

• Opening round games will be held December 19th at the higher seed’s home stadium.
• Second round games will be held December 25th at the listed bowl sites
• Final Four games will be held at the Rose and Sugar Bowls on New Year’s Day.  Teams in each is TBD.
• The National Championship game will be held in Pasadena on January 8.

The first bracket is in, so start the bickering over who got in and who didn’t.

Initial Reaction:

No surprises here.  Coming off their 32-13 thumping of former No. 1 Florida, the Crimson Tide richly deserve the honor of being college football’s first-ever top seed.  The No. 16 Troy Trojans enjoy an automatic bid as the fruit of their undefeated record in the Sun Belt Conference, but their road to the Final Four likely ends in Tuscaloosa.

With No. 8 Oregon and No. 9 Ohio State—conference champions, both—each down a notch from their rankings in the writers’ and coaches’ polls, it’s likely they’ve been leap-frogged in the standings by ACC champion Georgia Tech.

The second half of this bracket:

Initial Reaction:

Soft-schedule powerhouses TCU and Boise State are, no doubt, too close for each other’s comfort as Nos. 4 and 5.  With Alabama’s official coronation as No. 1 complete and Texas all but certain to be No. 2, suspense still surrounds the committee’s choice for No. 3.  The Gators can’t have fallen below both non-BCS unbeatens after one loss…can they?

The tournament’s first two official at-large selections have emerged in this group: No. 12 West Virginia and No. 13 Iowa.  Both were likely helped by head-to-head wins against two teams still on the bubble, with the Mountaineers boasting a 19-16 victory over Big East rival Pittsburgh and the Hawkeyes buoyed by their early-season toppling of fellow Big Ten contender Penn State.

The other side of the bracket (first half):

Initial Reaction:

The Yellow Jackets land at No. 7 after putting Clemson down 39-34 in the ACC Championship, a week after their 30-24 loss to in-state rival Georgia left their top-10 status in jeopardy. They’ll host the LSU Tigers, who lay claim to one of the three remaining at-large berths after struggling through a brutal conference schedule that included both Alabama and Florida.

Texas (Big 12) and Central Michigan (MAC) were mere formalities at Nos. 2 and 15 as conference champions. Enjoying their first-ever appearance in the national FBS standings at No. 25 in the coaches’ poll, the Chippewas face a steep uphill climb to advance past Austin.

Counting the Gators as a mortal lock for a tournament bid, all but one of several strong at-large candidates will be left out in the cold after the last four teams are revealed.

The last four:

Initial Reaction:

As the last pieces of college football’s first postseason tournament fall into place, the selection committee’s priority has become clear: Win your games. All of them. (Or, at least, as many as possible.)

The undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats fit neatly into the No. 3 slot as the last perfect BCS-conference team, with Florida’s fall from grace ending at No. 6, behind all five unbeatens, as the highest-ranked at-large candidate. East Carolina’s upset win over Houston in the Conference USA Championship grants the Pirates an automatic bid and the tournament’s No. 14 seed, robbing Cougars quarterback—and darkhorse Heisman candidate—Case Keenum of a national showcase.

Signature wins over Miami (Fl.) and Nebraska, coupled with losses to respectable foes (and conference champions) Alabama and Georgia Tech, boosted No. 11 Virginia Tech ahead of their competition for the last at-large bid. The Hokies’ trip to Gainesville is the tournament’s only first round matchup of at-large teams, and it figures to be a close one.

Bubble Teams Not Invited:

BYU 10-2

Houston 10-3

Penn State 10-2

Pittsburgh 9-3

Miami 9-3

Oklahoma State 9-3

Final Thoughts:

First, two points of contention.

1. Clearly stating a preference for perfection, the selection committee slotted college football’s five remaining unbeatens ahead of former No. 1 Florida after the Gators’ 32-13 loss to top-seeded Alabama in the SEC Championship.

The Crimson Tide, along with No. 2 Texas (Big 12) and No. 3 Cincinnati (Big East), have certainly earned top billing as undefeated BCS conference champions. But Florida’s strength of schedule (eighth in the nation) should have kept the Gators ahead of less-tested juggernauts No. 4 TCU (75th) and No. 5 Boise State (92nd).

Now, instead of hosting No. 13 Iowa—losers in two of their last three games—Florida must prepare for a tougher matchup against No. 11 Virginia Tech and the Hokies’ high-powered rushing attack.

2. In awarding No. 10 LSU an at-large bid, the committee spurned several possible alternates, but none with a better case for inclusion than Miami.

Most other candidates popped their own bubbles. Brigham Young and Houston each boasted double-digit win totals, but their strength of schedule ratings—88th and 91st, respectively—sunk them beneath their BCS conference competition. Pittsburgh, Penn State, and Oklahoma State each lacked a signature win over a true top-25 opponent.

(So did LSU, really.)

The Hurricanes’ win over ACC champion Georgia Tech stands out, in contrast, as the mark of a potential postseason contender. They’ve been up-and-down since, of course, including a loss to upset-hungry North Carolina—who, let’s not forget, also beat at-large contenders Virginia Tech.

To stock the tournament’s at-large ranks with capable foils to the big dogs, the committee should have gone with a team who’s actually finished one off.

Still, thanks to the format, the teams that made the Dance will finally be able to settle such grievances on the field. At long last, here in what the powers-that-be would call a “bizarro world,” rhetoric is merely the prelude to the college football postseason—not the main event.

So, TCU and Boise State, is your “unbeaten” as good as Alabama’s or Cincinnati’s?  Florida, are you prepared to claw back to No. 1?  Conference champions, are you national champions?  At-large teams, can you pave an improbable road to the top?

Strap on the pads and prove it. Welcome to the first second season.

@MiamiFL: Can’t please everybody.  Better luck next year.