Thread: NCAA Football '06 Bowl Season

Ohio St
LSU
Michigan
Boise St
Louisville

What if Ohio St loses and Michigan wins do they have co-champs with Florida and Michigan?

I would think not, guess it depends on the outcome of the game. That is the problem with the bowls

Coaches Poll

No. School Record Points Prev
1 Ohio State 12-0 1550 1
2 Florida 12-1 1470 4
3 Michigan 11-1 1444 3
4 LSU 10-2 1299 5
5 Wisconsin 11-1 1263 6
6 Louisville 11-1 1223 7
7 Southern California 10-2 1173 2
8 Oklahoma 11-2 1115 10
9 Boise State 12-0 1053 9
10 Auburn 10-2 1000 11
11 Notre Dame 10-2 923 12
12 West Virginia 10-2 800 15
13 Arkansas 10-3 798 8
14 Virginia Tech 10-2 781 14
15 Wake Forest 11-2 745 16
16 Texas 9-3 582 17
17 Rutgers 10-2 567 13
18 Tennessee 9-3 500 19
19 California 9-3 436 20
20 Brigham Young 10-2 369 21
21 Texas A&M 9-3 303 24
22 Nebraska 9-4 242 18
23 Boston College 9-3 175 25
24 TCU 10-2 95 NR
25 Georgia Tech 9-4 72 22
25 Oregon State 9-4 72 NR

Others Receiving Votes: Houston 40; Hawaii 22; Georgia 12; Clemson 11; Penn State 10; Navy 2; South Carolina 2; Maryland 1.

NOTE: The number of voters totals only 62 this week. Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel asked to abstain

I didnt know..I mean if Michigan blows out USC and Florida barely beats Ohio St. I think Michigan has a really strong beef.

Harris Poll

No. School Record Points Prev
1 Ohio State 12-0 2824 1
2 Florida 12-1 2670 4
3 Michigan 11-1 2632 3
4 LSU 10-2 2372 5
5 Louisville 11-1 2272 7
6 Wisconsin 11-1 2229 6
7 Southern California 10-2 2173 2
8 Oklahoma 11-2 1977 11
9 Boise State 12-0 1950 9
10 Auburn 10-2 1725 12
10 Notre Dame 10-2 1725 10
12 West Virginia 10-2 1485 15
13 Arkansas 10-3 1483 8
14 Wake Forest 11-2 1366 16
15 Virginia Tech 10-2 1358 14
16 Rutgers 10-2 1083 13
17 Texas 9-3 952 17
18 Tennessee 9-3 940 18
19 Brigham Young 10-2 838 19
20 California 9-3 736 21
21 Texas A&M 9-3 551 24
22 Nebraska 9-4 352 20
23 Boston College 9-3 318 25
24 TCU 10-2 232 NR
25 Georgia Tech 9-4 145 22

Others Receiving Votes: Oregon State 127, Hawaii 72, Houston 31, Penn State 28, Georgia 28, Clemson 17, Navy 11, UCLA 10, Central Michigan 5, Missouri 4, South Florida 2, South Carolina 1, Rice 1.

Originally Posted by Double D

I didnt know..I mean if Michigan blows out USC and Florida barely beats Ohio St. I think Michigan has a really strong beef.

No way, Michigan lost to OSU. Whoever wins this game is the champ in every poll. The possibility of a split National champion went out the window when Florida got into the game.

Bowl Championship Series Standings

1 Ohio State 1 0.9999
2 Florida 4 0.9445
3 Michigan 3 0.9344
4 LSU 5 0.8326
5 Southern California 2 0.7953
6 Louisville 6 0.7944
7 Wisconsin 7 0.7480
8 Boise State 8 0.7099
9 Auburn 11 0.6486
10 Oklahoma 12 0.6297
11 Notre Dame 10 0.6287
12 Arkansas 9 0.5166
13 West Virginia 15 0.5073
14 Wake Forest 17 0.4314
15 Virginia Tech 14 0.4282
16 Rutgers 13 0.4097
17 Tennessee 16 0.3851
18 California 18 0.3606
19 Texas 19 0.2875
20 Brigham Young 21 0.2082
21 Texas A&M 23 0.1468
22 Oregon State 24 0.1438
23 Nebraska 20 0.0936
24 Boston College NR 0.0885
25 UCLA NR 0.0645

2006-07 College Football Bowl Schedule

Dec. 19, 2006
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia
TCU vs. Northern Illinois 8pm ESPN2

Dec. 21, 2006
Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas
BYU vs. Oregon 8 p.m. ESPN

Dec. 22, 2006
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Rice vs. Troy 8 p.m. ESPN2

Dec. 23, 2006
Papajohns.com Bowl
South Florida vs. East Carolina 1 p.m. ESPN2

New Mexico Bowl
New Mexico vs. San Jose State 4:30 p.m. ESPN

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Tulsa vs. Utah 8 p.m. ESPN

Dec. 24, 2006
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Arizona State vs. Hawaii 8 p.m. ESPN

Dec. 26, 2006
Motor City Bowl
Middle Tennessee vs. Central Michigan 7:30 p.m. ESPN

Dec. 27, 2006
Emerald Bowl
Florida State vs. UCLA 8 p.m. ESPN

Dec. 28, 2006
PetroSun Independence Bowl
Oklahoma State vs. Alabama 4:30 p.m. ESPN

Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
California vs. Texas A&M 8 p.m. ESPN

Texas Bowl
Rutgers vs. Kansas State 8 p.m. NFL Network

Dec. 29, 2006
Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
Clemson vs. Kentucky 1 p.m. ESPN

Brut Sun Bowl
Oregon State vs. Missouri 2 p.m. CBS

AutoZone Liberty
Houston vs. South Carolina 4:30 p.m. ESPN

Insight Bowl
Texas Tech vs. Minnesota 7:30 p.m. NFL Network

Champs Sports Bowl
Purdue vs. Maryland 8 p.m. ESPN

Dec. 30, 2006
Meineke Car Care Bowl
Navy vs. Boston College 1 p.m. ESPN

Alamo Bowl
Texas vs. Iowa 4:30 p.m. ESPN

Chick-fil-A Bowl
Georgia vs. Virginia Tech 8 p.m. ESPN

Dec. 31, 2006
MPC Computers Bowl
Miami vs. Nevada 7:30 p.m. ESPN

Jan. 1, 2007
Outback Bowl
Tennessee vs. Penn State 11 a.m. ESPN

AT&T Cotton Bowl
Auburn vs. Nebraska 11:30 a.m. FOX

Toyota Gator Bowl
West Virginia vs. Georgia Tech 1 p.m. CBS

Capital One Bowl
Arkansas vs. Wisconsin 1 p.m. ABC

Rose Bowl presented by Citi
USC vs. Michigan 5 p.m. ABC

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Boise State vs. Oklahoma 8 p.m. FOX

Jan. 2, 2007
FedEx Orange Bowl
Louisville vs. Wake Forest 8 p.m. FOX

Jan. 3, 2007
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Notre Dame vs. LSU 8 p.m. FOX

Jan 6, 2007
International Bowl
Cincinnati vs. Western Michigan Noon ESPN2

Jan. 7, 2007
GMAC Bowl
Ohio vs. Southern Miss 8 p.m. ESPN

Jan. 8, 2006
Tostitos BCS Championship Game
Florida vs. Ohio State 8 p.m. FOX

The Michigan Superfan does a periodic article on his site, I liked it today.

Roses Are Blue

Now Suck It Up And Beat The Hell Out Of USC

I wish I could sit here and tell you how angry I was at being passed over for the BCS Bowl. I'm not. You know why? I completely expected it. First and foremost, why would you expect for one second that people that have proven over and over again not to have the integrity to get beyond their own agendas would allow the once-beaten Wolverines into that game? Do we not remember 1997 and the split national championship for the Wolverines? We're #1, and ONLY because Osborne retired from Nebraska, and the Huskers begged and pleaded, they award a share of the National Championship to the Huskers. That's the same poll folks...more or less the same fools that did it then, did it again. You can not trust human error when other agendas are in the mix. You certainly can't trust human integrity when that kind of money and exposure is in the mix. Second, I can not sit here and honestly give you a reasonable unbiased argument on why Florida does NOT deserve to be in it. Michigan IS the better team...but the Gators certainly have a reasonable argument.

Is Michigan the better team? I honestly believe we are. Based on the comments I've heard around the country, I think most people think we are too. Yes, maybe the SEC top to bottom is a little stronger than the Big Ten, but that certainly doesn't have anything to do with the fact that the two best teams in the country play in the greatest rivalry in college football. Yes the BCS is supposed to theoretically put the two best teams in the country against each other...but nothing guarantees that will happen. Not even a playoff would guarantee that would happen. Face it Wolverine nation, we got screwed. That's life. If Florida didn't get into the game, they would have felt screwed...and they would have had legitimate points. Just like USC got screwed three years ago and Auburn before that... The system sucks, but I'm not sure there is one much better.

Let me make one thing perfectly clear though, I honestly feel based on the games I've seen that the Wolverines are the second best team in the country at the least...so here are some random thoughts on this mess.

1. We might be the best team in the country on a neutral field. Now we'll never know.

2. Urban Meyer has proved to be a classless turd. Remember when you coached at Utah and your beef was you don't control the schedule...you just play who is in front of you. I guess that doesn't apply now.

3. The Big Ten needs better marketing. From what I can tell, the SEC is the best conference... Why? Because they say they're the best conference.

4. Meyer says Michigan had its chance...now Florida deserves one. Guess what...Florida had its chance too and they lost by ten to the War Eagles when we lost by a field goal in the biggest snake pit north of Dixie.

5. If Wisconsin beats Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl, they have every bit the legitimate argument at the National Championship game that Florida has.

6. Bo passing away reminded us of one of the reasons we loved the Old Coach. He said what he felt and he didn't give a damn what others thought. Jim Tressel should make a point of that.

7. I forgot how much trouble we had with Vandy...thank goodness Florida made it out of that matchup. If some South Carolina kicker can make an extra point, we're not having this discussion. If a final field goal doesn't get blocked, we're not having this discussion. Frankly, any team with a DII school on their schedule should not be having this discussion. Come on Florida...Michigan's practice squad would beat a DII team.

8. Lloyd is absolutely right. I guarantee that if USC won on Saturday, the Wolverines would still be in third place and Florida behind us. They would not have jumped us.

9. Based on the games I've seen this year, I think the #2 and #3 best teams in the land will be playing Pasadena on January 1st.

10. They'll never admit it, but I bet there was a sigh of relief in Columbus. If Michigan did win a BCS matchup with the Buckeyes, the Bucks would have a legitimate claim that they're still the nation's best. Nothing good would have come from a rematch. I guess we could have gone the best two of three...with game three happening in Ann Arbor next year.

11. Yes Michigan fans. We did have our chance. If we win all of our games, if we take care of our own business, none of this matters right now. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3. One helmet to helmet penalty. Two long touchdown runs. Three turnovers. No excuses. We lost that game down in Columbus. The rematch comes in 2007 in Ann Arbor...let's hope that the stakes are as high.

12. Thank God we have a coach that kept his pride...kept his dignity...and acted like I expect a coach from the University of Michigan to act. In contrast with Urban Meyer, I'll take old school every day.

So bring on the happy bowl season. The Grand Daddy Of Them All is now thought of by the nation as the consolation prize neither team is happy with. Now that stupid USC march that they play after every first down that has haunted my New Years since I was a child will again ring in my 2007. I have some close friends that love their Gators, but after the way Urban acted, I hope the Buckeyes beat the Gators from one end of Arizona to the other and toss them in the Grand Canyon to boot. I honestly think the Buckeyes will KILL Florida... I hope the Badgers kick the hell out of Arkansas and show exactly where the SEC ranks. If LSU was playing anybody BUT Notre Dame, I'd want them to lose too. However, with them playing Notre Dame, I still hope the Irish lose by 30. I'm not usually like this, but after the way this season went, I'm all about Big Ten pride.

Go Bucks...bring home the national championship! If the Wolverines can't win it, I'm glad you can!

Go Badgers...prove you're the third best team in the country!

Go Blue... You can't always get what you want...that's life. Now go out and prove to yourselves, your coach, and your fans that you are indeed one of the finest teams in college football today!

http://michigansuperfan.com/

Originally Posted by goandykid

The Michigan Superfan does a periodic article on his site, I liked it today.

Roses Are Blue

Now Suck It Up And Beat The Hell Out Of USC

I wish I could sit here and tell you how angry I was at being passed over for the BCS Bowl. I'm not. You know why? I completely expected it. First and foremost, why would you expect for one second that people that have proven over and over again not to have the integrity to get beyond their own agendas would allow the once-beaten Wolverines into that game? Do we not remember 1997 and the split national championship for the Wolverines? We're #1, and ONLY because Osborne retired from Nebraska, and the Huskers begged and pleaded, they award a share of the National Championship to the Huskers. That's the same poll folks...more or less the same fools that did it then, did it again. You can not trust human error when other agendas are in the mix. You certainly can't trust human integrity when that kind of money and exposure is in the mix. Second, I can not sit here and honestly give you a reasonable unbiased argument on why Florida does NOT deserve to be in it. Michigan IS the better team...but the Gators certainly have a reasonable argument.

Is Michigan the better team? I honestly believe we are. Based on the comments I've heard around the country, I think most people think we are too. Yes, maybe the SEC top to bottom is a little stronger than the Big Ten, but that certainly doesn't have anything to do with the fact that the two best teams in the country play in the greatest rivalry in college football. Yes the BCS is supposed to theoretically put the two best teams in the country against each other...but nothing guarantees that will happen. Not even a playoff would guarantee that would happen. Face it Wolverine nation, we got screwed. That's life. If Florida didn't get into the game, they would have felt screwed...and they would have had legitimate points. Just like USC got screwed three years ago and Auburn before that... The system sucks, but I'm not sure there is one much better.

Let me make one thing perfectly clear though, I honestly feel based on the games I've seen that the Wolverines are the second best team in the country at the least...so here are some random thoughts on this mess.

1. We might be the best team in the country on a neutral field. Now we'll never know. If you were the best it wouldn't matter where you played...

2. Urban Meyer has proved to be a classless turd. Remember when you coached at Utah and your beef was you don't control the schedule...you just play who is in front of you. I guess that doesn't apply now. In Utah they played shit opponents, in Florida they don't...

3. The Big Ten needs better marketing. From what I can tell, the SEC is the best conference... Why? Because they say they're the best conference. They are the best conference because 47% of current NFL players are SEC grads....

4. Meyer says Michigan had its chance...now Florida deserves one. Guess what...Florida had its chance too and they lost by ten to the War Eagles when we lost by a field goal in the biggest snake pit north of Dixie. Michigan did have it's chance and they lost, I don't recall seeing OSU vs. Florida this year...

5. If Wisconsin beats Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl, they have every bit the legitimate argument at the National Championship game that Florida has. This I agree with.

6. Bo passing away reminded us of one of the reasons we loved the Old Coach. He said what he felt and he didn't give a damn what others thought. Jim Tressel should make a point of that. Who cares.

7. I forgot how much trouble we had with Vandy...thank goodness Florida made it out of that matchup. If some South Carolina kicker can make an extra point, we're not having this discussion. If a final field goal doesn't get blocked, we're not having this discussion. Frankly, any team with a DII school on their schedule should not be having this discussion. Come on Florida...Michigan's practice squad would beat a DII team. Assumptions, and poor ones. We all know what happens when you assume things...

8. Lloyd is absolutely right. I guarantee that if USC won on Saturday, the Wolverines would still be in third place and Florida behind us. They would not have jumped us. Perhaps the guys in the fron office @ Michigan will schedule a game around or after Thanksgiving next year?

9. Based on the games I've seen this year, I think the #2 and #3 best teams in the land will be playing Pasadena on January 1st. Based on this comment the author just lost all of my respect.

10. They'll never admit it, but I bet there was a sigh of relief in Columbus. If Michigan did win a BCS matchup with the Buckeyes, the Bucks would have a legitimate claim that they're still the nation's best. Nothing good would have come from a rematch. I guess we could have gone the best two of three...with game three happening in Ann Arbor next year. Why? You would have lost the first 2...

11. Yes Michigan fans. We did have our chance. If we win all of our games, if we take care of our own business, none of this matters right now. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3. One helmet to helmet penalty. Two long touchdown runs. Three turnovers. No excuses. We lost that game down in Columbus. The rematch comes in 2007 in Ann Arbor...let's hope that the stakes are as high. Now you get to play a team that shouldn't even be in the top 10. What will that prove if you win? Or if you lose?

12. Thank God we have a coach that kept his pride...kept his dignity...and acted like I expect a coach from the University of Michigan to act. In contrast with Urban Meyer, I'll take old school every day. You have a coach that tucked his tail and didn't fight for what he believes in. Urban cared enough to open his mouth and now he's going to the BCS championship game. Thanks LLoyd!

So bring on the happy bowl season. The Grand Daddy Of Them All is now thought of by the nation as the consolation prize neither team is happy with. Now that stupid USC march that they play after every first down that has haunted my New Years since I was a child will again ring in my 2007. I have some close friends that love their Gators, but after the way Urban acted, I hope the Buckeyes beat the Gators from one end of Arizona to the other and toss them in the Grand Canyon to boot. I honestly think the Buckeyes will KILL Florida... I hope the Badgers kick the hell out of Arkansas and show exactly where the SEC ranks. If LSU was playing anybody BUT Notre Dame, I'd want them to lose too. However, with them playing Notre Dame, I still hope the Irish lose by 30. I'm not usually like this, but after the way this season went, I'm all about Big Ten pride.

Go Bucks...bring home the national championship! If the Wolverines can't win it, I'm glad you can!

Go Badgers...prove you're the third best team in the country!

Go Blue... You can't always get what you want...that's life. Now go out and prove to yourselves, your coach, and your fans that you are indeed one of the finest teams in college football today!

Originally Posted by FatCatMC

I see you're from FL, no bias there

Lloyd was respectable and had class, he didn't campaign for his team like a bitch for two weeks.

I posted a well-written article by a michigan fan, it wasn't hateful, don't cop an attitude.

Originally Posted by goandykid

I see you're from FL, no bias there

Lloyd was respectable and had class, he didn't campaign for his team like a bitch for two weeks.

I posted a well-written article by a michigan fan, it wasn't hateful, don't cop an attitude.

I'm a Penn State fan actually. But the proof is in the pudding, more NFL players are from the SEC than any other conference by a longshot. Florida deserves that shot. Michigan had that shot, and lost.

This is an issue neither of us are going to convince the other one of, I'll agree to disagree.

Having said that, the BCS voters were supposed to vote strictly on the two ebst teams in the country, not who had their shot and who didnt.

When OSU blows up UF and Michigan shits on USC, I'll be expecting an apology.

Originally Posted by goandykid

This is an issue neither of us are going to convince the other one of, I'll agree to disagree.

Having said that, the BCS voters were supposed to vote strictly on the two ebst teams in the country, not who had their shot and who didnt.

When OSU blows up UF and Michigan shits on USC, I'll be expecting an apology.

As much as I'd like to see OSU kill UF, it's just not gonna happen. Florida is way better than anyone is giving them credit for (including myself.) As for Michigan, they better beat USC after all the bitching and moaning we've had to hear.

Originally Posted by FatCatMC

As much as I'd like to see OSU kill UF, it's just not gonna happen. Florida is way better than anyone is giving them credit for (including myself.) As for Michigan, they better beat USC after all the bitching and moaning we've had to hear.

Really, you think Florida will win? They've won 5 games by 7 or less.

I guess we'll see in a month or so.

Originally Posted by goandykid

Really, you think Florida will win? They've won 5 games by 7 or less.

I guess we'll see in a month or so.

If you are going to use that philosophy then what's your take on the New England Patriots?

Originally Posted by FatCatMC

If you are going to use that philosophy then what's your take on the New England Patriots?

Who? The redskins are one more big free agent from a superbowl

Originally Posted by goandykid

I see you're from FL, no bias there

Lloyd was respectable and had class, he didn't campaign for his team like a bitch for two weeks.

I posted a well-written article by a michigan fan, it wasn't hateful, don't cop an attitude.

Totally agree, and most of the article.

Originally Posted by goandykid

This is an issue neither of us are going to convince the other one of, I'll agree to disagree.

Having said that, the BCS voters were supposed to vote strictly on the two ebst teams in the country, not who had their shot and who didnt.

When OSU blows up UF and Michigan shits on USC, I'll be expecting an apology.

Go Big Ten!

Originally Posted by FatCatMC

As much as I'd like to see OSU kill UF, it's just not gonna happen. Florida is way better than anyone is giving them credit for (including myself.) As for Michigan, they better beat USC after all the bitching and moaning we've had to hear.

I also agree with this. Florida has speed, speed, speed. Why does everyone think this is going to be easy? Remember Miami/OSU in 2002? No one gave Ohio State a chance in hell.

Originally Posted by goandykid

Who? The redskins are one more big free agent from a superbowl

God, I hope so!

Originally Posted by JerseyDevil

I also agree with this. Florida has speed, speed, speed. Why does everyone think this is going to be easy? Remember Miami/OSU in 2002? No one gave Ohio State a chance in hell.

You'd be crazy to count Florida out of this game. They have a lot of young, fast talent, including 17 freshmen that play. Teams like that are very unpredictable.

Miami was favored by 13 in that game. They had a 33 or 34 game winning streak and were crushing everyone. OSU was undefeated, but like Florida this year were winning close competitive games, but very battle tested. And it turned into a battle. That was one of the best games in college football history. Was a shame that the phantom interference took away from it.

Imagine if the BCS was never institued...

We wouldn't have had last year's Rose Bowl, Texas v USC game or the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, OSU v. Miami. Voters would have to decide the national champion based on all the garbage that dosen't matter.

And, this year would have looked something like this....

Gator Bowl: #13 WVU v. #12 Arkansas
Cotton Bowl: #18 Texas v. #10 Auburn
Capital One Bowl: #4 LSU v. #3 Michigan
Rose Bowl: #8 USC v. #1 OSU
Orange Bowl: #15 Wake Forest v. #7 Oklahoma
Sugar Bowl: #11 ND v. #2 Florida
Fiesta Bowl: #6 Louisville v. #5 Wisconsin

Just say for arguments sake OSU lost and Michigan, Louisville, and Florida won. Now you would have OSU, Michigan, Louisville, and Florida all with 1 loss and have leave it up to the voters...

Until we get a playoff system, the BCS is the next best thing.

My picks for all the bowl games, cut and pasted from another board:

Poinsettia Bowl Northern Illinois (7-5)VS(25) TCU (10-2) TCU
Las Vegas Bowl Oregon (7-5)VS(19) BYU (10-2) Oregon
New Orleans Bowl Rice (7-5)VSTroy (7-5) Troy
Papa John's.com Bowl South Florida (8-4)VSEast Carolina (7-5) USF
New Mexico Bowl San Jose St. (8-4)VSNew Mexico (6-6) SJS
Armed Forces Bowl Utah (7-5)VSTulsa (8-4) Tulsa
Hawaii Bowl Arizona St. (7-5)VSHawaii (10-3) Hawaii. Overrated, but ASU fired its coach.
Motor City Bowl Cent. Michigan (9-4)VSMiddle Tenn. St. (7-5) CMU
Emerald Bowl UCLA (7-5)VSFlorida St. (6-6) UCLA
Independence Bowl Oklahoma St. (6-6)VSAlabama (6-6) OSU. Who in their right mind would take the Alabama job? How many coaches have the had the last ten years?
Holiday Bowl (21) Texas A&M (9-3)VS(20) California (9-3) Cal
Texas Bowl (16) Rutgers (10-2)VSKansas St. (7-5) Rutgers. One play from the Orange Bowl. UGGGHHH!!
Music City Bowl Clemson (8-4)VSKentucky (7-5) Kentucky in an upset.
Sun Bowl (24) Oregon St. (9-4)VSMissouri (8-4) Mizzou
Liberty Bowl Houston (10-3)VSSouth Carolina (7-5) Houston. Another upset.
Insight Bowl Texas Tech (7-5)VSMinnesota (6-6) TTU
Champs Sports Bowl Purdue (8-5)VSMaryland (8-4) Maryland
Meineke Bowl Navy (9-3)VS(23) Boston Coll. (9-3) Navy. Go Middies!!
Alamo Bowl Iowa (6-6)VS(18) Texas (9-3) Texas
Chick-fil-A Bowl (14) Virginia Tech (10-2)VSGeorgia (8-4) VT
MPC Computers Bowl Miami (FL) (6-6)VSNevada (8-4) Nevada. What punishment for Miami. Going from warm southern Florida to Idaho for the holidays! Definitely not the "hood" up there.
Outback Bowl (17) Tennessee (9-3)VSPenn St. (8-4) Vols
Cotton Bowl (10) Auburn (10-2)VS(22) Nebraska (9-4) Auburn
Gator Bowl Georgia Tech (9-4)VS(13) West Virginia (10-2) WV
Capital One Bowl (12) Arkansas (10-3)VS(6) Wisconsin (11-1) Arkansas
Rose Bowl (8) USC (10-2)VS(3) Michigan (11-1) USC. Michigan doesn't want to be there.
Fiesta Bowl (9) Boise St. (12-0)VS(7) Oklahoma (11-2) Boise State!!!
Orange Bowl (15) Wake Forest VS (5) Louisville (11-1) Louisville.
Sugar Bowl (11) Notre Dame (10-2)VS (4) LSU (10-2) The Irish.
International Bowl W. Michigan (8-4)VS Cincinnati (7-5) WMU. Cincy's coach has already left.
GMAC Bowl Ohio (9-4)VS Southern Miss (8-5) Southern Miss.
BCS Championship (2) Florida (12-1)VS (1) Ohio St. (12-0) Gators!!!

Final Poll: 1. Florida 2. USC 3. Fighting Irish 4. Ohio State 5. Louisville 6. Boise St.

Originally Posted by goandykid

Now Suck It Up And Beat The Hell Out Of USC

I wish I could sit here and tell you how angry I was at being passed over for the BCS Bowl. I'm not. You know why? I completely expected it. First and foremost, why would you expect for one second that people that have proven over and over again not to have the integrity to get beyond their own agendas would allow the once-beaten Wolverines into that game? Do we not remember 1997 and the split national championship for the Wolverines? We're #1, and ONLY because Osborne retired from Nebraska, and the Huskers begged and pleaded, they award a share of the National Championship to the Huskers. That's the same poll folks...more or less the same fools that did it then, did it again. You can not trust human error when other agendas are in the mix. You certainly can't trust human integrity when that kind of money and exposure is in the mix. Second, I can not sit here and honestly give you a reasonable unbiased argument on why Florida does NOT deserve to be in it. Michigan IS the better team...but the Gators certainly have a reasonable argument.

Best To lines of that post!

Let's not forget that the poll the voted Michigan the National Champion that year also voted them number 3 this year.

Just beat USC, then you can whine buddy!

Bowl Spectacular: Some things to look for starting Dec. 19

Dec. 15, 2006
By Dennis Dodd
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer



If you believe in momentum, you believe in the bowl system.

Think back to 11 months ago when Ohio State essentially kicked off its '06 championship run by kicking Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.

With 32 bowl games, you have to be a real shut-in to want to watch everything from the MPC Computers to the PapaJohns.com.

Uh, pass the pretzels. You found your guy.

Welcome to CBS Sportsline.com Bowl Spectacular. There is some small corner of the world left to hype games that fill TV screens but not the stands.
The key is momentum, picking out the games that mean the most for '07. Ohio State was the team to watch coming out of the Fiesta. Here are the games to watch coming out of this bowl season.

Things looking Rosey:
The Rose Bowl should be a window to the top five for next season. Michigan left tackle Jake Long announced this week he's coming back for his senior season. Huge. That, combined with the return of Chad Henne and Mike Hart, should make the Wolverines national champ contenders in '07.

Southern California is loaded again for next season. The Rose will be a huge indicator on which way quarterback John David Booty is headed. Prep superstar Mark Sanchez is waiting in the wings.

Sugary sweet:
It's looking like 2003 again for LSU heading into the Sugar Bowl. In 2007, that is. A lot of folks -- OK, me -- think the Tigers are the best team in the SEC right now. If JaMarcus Russell stays for his senior year, they will prove it next season.

Capital Won! Wisconsin should be in a BCS bowl at 11-1. Arkansas played for the SEC title. It's not a stretch to suggest both should be national contenders next season.

Darren McFadden is guaranteed to be back in Fayetteville. Hopefully by then, the Hogs' anxious freshmen will be over their snit (see below).

You're either a Gator or playing in it:
With the "return" of Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia could be favored to win the Big East in '07. A win over Georgia Tech in the Gator would help.

Chick-fil-eh?
Virginia Tech was the sneakiest 10-victory team this season, winning its last six in a row. Frank Beamer is back to his old habits with the nation's best defense. He and Georgia coach Mark Richt have never met. The schools haven't met since 1932.

Holiday at Qualcomm:
Texas A&M vs. Cal. The winner gets its 10th victory. For Jeff Tedford that would be the second time in three seasons. For Dennis Franchione, it would be second time in five years, or since Fran won 10 at 'Bama way, way back in 2002.

BCS paradise:
Yes, Hawaii could be next year's Boise. The Warriors won 10 this year pitching it all over the field. If Colt Brennan returns (after a Hawaii Bowl date against Arizona State), who says Hawaii can't win them all next season?

When parents attack
Is this Pop Warner or big-time SEC football?

Turns out a few parents of key Arkansas freshmen went to AD Frank Broyles this week, basically complaining about their sons' playing time.

Never mind that Arkansas has won 10 games, played in the SEC Championship Game and is in a Jan. 1 bowl (Capital One vs. Wisconsin).

The parents wanted to know why Houston Nutt didn't live up to his "promise" of playing more spread offense so their babies could get more glory.

Parents: Sit the (blank) down and shut up. You do realize your kids are snot-nosed 18-year-olds, right? Supposedly, when you/they signed that letter of intent, it was with the assumption that the head coach would run the program, not you. If it wasn't for football, some of your kids' sense of entitlement would end at the McDonald's drive-thru window.

Presumably, your sons came to Arkansas to win first. That happened. If they develop as players, great. But Nutt has a job to keep and a program to run.
Oh, and your babies weren't exactly deprived. Quarterback Mitch Mustain started and won eight games at quarterback, then was replaced when Nutt realized an SEC title was at stake. The risk of turnovers from Mustain became too great.

Mustain's mother, Beck Campbell, released a statement -- a statement? -- saying: "It was agreed by all parties involved that the head coach has the valid right to determine the direction of the program ..."

It took the quarterback's mother to declare the coach was in charge 10 months after the letter of intent was signed. Thanks, Beck, glad you're on board.

This was about those players' high school coach (Gus Malzahn) being hired as offensive coordinator. Malzahn ran a high-scoring spread offense that won state championships at nearby Springdale, Ark.

It was also about the strength of the Razorbacks being running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.

It was about the quarterback position being shaky.

It was about Nutt, Malzahn and the coaching staff finding a way to win. Its strength was running. Its young talent had come from a passing offense.
For the parents of Mustain, tight end Ben Cleveland and receiver Damian Williams, it was about Johnny not getting enough playing time.

Rick Cleveland, Ben's father, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette the players were sold "a bill of goods" by Nutt.

Now we're getting somewhere. It's not about SEC titles or winning at all, it's about Johnny's ego. Nutt was so unfair that Ben Cleveland and Damian Williams were named to the All-SEC freshman team.

Williams is transferring. Nutt has given him his release.

Arkansas could contend for the SEC and national championship next year. But let's make sure Mitch and Ben get their touchdowns. That's the important thing.

Split national championship
It hasn't been mentioned much, but there is a small chance at Michigan gettin' some -- an AP national championship, that is.

It would take a rout of USC in the Rose Bowl and a Florida victory over Ohio State in the BCS title game. Even then, it probably would be hard for AP voters to vault Michigan over the Gators and Ohio State, a team it had lost to with the same record (12-1).

Excellence in hoops, football not impossible
Only 10 schools have won national championships in both football and basketball. Two of them will be playing on Jan. 8.

None of the 10 has pulled the hoops/football double within a 10-season span. The Buckeyes and Gators could do it within 12 months.

Florida has the best shot as the defending national champion in basketball.

The two squads have interacted to the point that Urban Meyer had Billy Donovan address the team before the season.

"That," Urban Meyer said, "was a very powerful day for us."

"I went to Indianapolis to watch that team (in the Final Four)," he added. "I was invited in that locker room after the game. I'll never be the same after what I saw in that locker room.

Ohio State's road to a double is tougher but doable. The No. 4 basketball Buckeyes certainly look like national championship material. In football, they must get past Florida on Jan. 8, then have the hoops team run the tournament table in March and April. That would be the two major national championships in 84 days.

Only 11 times has a school won a bowl and the basketball national championship in the same academic year. Michigan was the last to do it in 1988-89 (Rose Bowl win, Final Four win in Seattle).

Overload
The combination of more bowls and the coaching carousel were likely to intersect at some point.

This postseason six schools that made a coaching change are in bowls. That has created some uncomfortable, if not confusing, situations.

• It will be awkward figuring out who wears the headset. Miami's Larry Coker has been fired but will coach in the MPC Computers Bowl. His replacement is defensive coordinator Randy Shannon. We'd love to see who runs the practices -- and the sideline on Dec. 30.

• It gets more confusing for Brian Kelly. He led Central Michigan Motor City Bowl (Dec. 26), but as Cincinnati's new coach will be coaching the Bearcats in the International Bowl on Jan. 6. Some of Kelly's assistants could conceivably coach in both bowls.

• Pat Narduzzi was named Cincinnati's interim coach before becoming Michigan State's new defensive coordinator.

• When Boston College's Tom O'Brien left for North Carolina State, that meant defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani would coach in the Meineke Car Care on Dec. 30.

• Not a bad reward for Arizona State's Dirk Koetter. He gets fired and is owed almost $3 million to go away. His farewell will come in Honolulu at the Hawaii Bowl.

• Alabama is being run by defensive coordinator Joe Kines in the Independence Bowl. Hey, wait a minute. Has he interviewed yet?

Playoff? Not
Among the many reasons not to have a playoff is this simple one: Presidents aren't going to approve something that runs through December finals.

USC All-American tackle Sam Baker missed the taping of a nationally televised All-American show in Orlando last week because of a final.

Nagurski Award winner Jim Laurinaitis of Ohio State left the ceremony shortly before getting the award. He needed to catch the last flight out of Charlotte to get back to Columbus for a final.

Professors either wouldn't change or had already changed the date of both finals. No final -- one would assume -- no bowl eligibility.

How is that going to work if players are getting ready for football games in December? It isn't. Yeah, yeah, we know basketball teams are taking tests in far-flung hotel ballrooms in March. The presidents aren't proud of that.
No matter what argument you bring to the table, the barriers against a playoff, even in the long-term, are significant.

• A plus-one model wouldn't solve the train wreck of 2004. USC, Oklahoma and Auburn were all deserving. What if all three won their bowl games? The task would be to pick two teams to play for the championship. Same problem.

• To accommodate the non-BCS schools, it's likely a sixth BCS bowl would have to be added (there are five starting this season). That means a five-year rotation for the championship game instead of four. There is absolutely no support for that among the four BCS bowls.

• Seeding teams does no good because that would rip apart the Rose Bowl. The Rose, Big Ten and Pac-10 don't like things the way they are. What if No. 1 Ohio State was playing No. 8 Boise State this year? The bowl and two conferences would rather secede from the BCS than do things that way.

• The bowls view themselves as destinations. If you start a playoff on campus sites with teams progressing through major bowls that presents two problems.
1) Attendance. You're asking fans to buy tickets to a bowl where they don't know the contestants.
2) No major bowl wants to be a national semifinal.

In essence, to establish a playoff you'd have to change the thinking of the overwhelming majority of college presidents, the NCAA and bowl executives. Several of those presidents manage billion-dollar budgets on their campuses. The athletic department budget is a minor part of that.

You're also talking about ripping apart the traditional bowl structure. Some of that tradition goes back 100 years with the Rose Bowl.

And you thought finals would be hard to overcome?

A tour of the BCS
When they suit up for the Fiesta Bowl, several Oklahoma seniors will have done so in all four of the BCS bowls.
For fifth-year seniors that would include:
2002 season: Rose Bowl (defeated Washington State)
2003: Sugar Bowl (lost to LSU)
2004: Orange Bowl (lost to USC)
2006: Fiesta Bowl (vs. Boise State)

Unintended consequences
Setting the bar low allowed the bowls to have enough inventory -- 64 teams for the 32 teams.

With the new 12-game schedule, 6-6 was the qualification standard. However, nine teams finished with that record but were shut out of bowls.

Some of them big names:
Washington State: The Cougars were 6-3 and looking good on Oct. 28 after a 22-point victory over UCLA. But the season ended with a three-game losing streak. Most upsetting was a three-point Apple Cup loss at Washington with a bowl bid on the line.

Arizona: Beat Washington, Cal and Oregon in November to get to 6-5. But with a bowl bid on the line, the Wildcats pulled a Washington State and lost to their biggest rival. It had to be more gut-wrenching to endure a 28-14 loss to Arizona State and then see Dirk Koetter fired.
Kansas: OK, not exactly a football power but the Jayhawks missed out on a chance to go to consecutive bowls for the first time. Mark Mangino's team lost in overtime to Toledo and Nebraska and blew a last-minute lead against Texas A&M.

Pittsburgh: This one hurts because Pittsburgh is a former national champion. Otherwise, the Big East was an '06 success story. Dave Wannstedt started 1-4 in 2005. He lost his final five this season after a 6-1 start.

Best, worst defensively
Western Michigan made the biggest improvement defensively among bowl teams, according to stats compiled by the Arizona State sports info office. The Broncos improved from 108th in 2005 to 11th in 2006, allowing 181 fewer yards per game.

Wisconsin made the second-biggest improvement, allowing 174 yards fewer yards per game. The Badgers went from 92nd nationally in total defense to third.

The rest of the top 10 in defensive improvement: Arizona State (surprise! 170.25 fewer yards), UCLA (163.23), Ohio (148.2), Texas A&M (134), Rutgers (112.6), Cincinnati (97.4), Boise State (96) and BYU (93).

Alabama had the "worst" defensive slide among bowl teams. The Tide allowed 32.5 more yards per game, sliding from second in '05 to 18th this year in total defense.

Etc:
• As of Friday morning, Wake Forest had sold all but 400 of its 17,500-ticket allotment for the Orange Bowl. This from a school that has only 55,000 living alumni and the third-smallest enrollment in I-A (4,321). If you want to do the math, that means there is a ticket available for every 3.36 alums and undergrads.

• On the other end of the bowl glut: Missouri was giving away Sun Bowl tickets, along with cheap travel packages to students.

• Ah You Fiesta: Oklahoma defensive end C.J. Ah You is the nephew of Junior Ah You, who played in the first Fiesta Bowl in 1972 with Arizona State. C.J.'s father, Charles, was a reserve running back for BYU in 1974 when the Cougars lost to Oklahoma State in the Fiesta.

• Best line of the postseason goes to Michigan's Lloyd Carr. During an awards show interview last week, he interjected: "By the way, I voted Ohio State No. 1, Michigan No. 2 and Florida No. 3." The statement was clearly aimed at Jim Tressel who was sitting in the front row, not 30 feet away.

• If things fall right, Rice could be tied for the nation's second-longest winning streak heading into next season. The Owls have won six in a row heading into the New Orleans Bowl against Troy. All they need is losses by Wisconsin (eight in a row, vs. Arkansas), Oklahoma (eight, vs. Boise State), BYU (nine, vs. Oregon), Boise State (12, vs. Oklahoma) and Ohio State (19, vs. Florida which also has won six in a row).