FanNation - The Republic of Sport

EagleBank Bowl: Navy vs. Wake Forest

     I would have loved for the MIDS to get to play Miami (The U) instead of Wake Forest but something about scheduling finals (wah, wah, wah), and we have a second meeting with the Deamon Deacons. Anyway, in what will be an almost home game for Navy (Navy played Air Force at Redskins Stadium a few years back).

My Prediction: Navy keeps rolling along as Wake Forest will be caught sleeping and out of sync for an 11 am kickoff to start the 2008-2009 Bowl Season.

Poinsettia Bowl: TCU vs. Boise State.

     The Mountain West Champ used to get an Invite to the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. The WAC Champ (the old WAC) used to go to the Holiday Bowl. The Mountain West Conference gave up the Liberty bowl because it didn't make any geographic sense and Mountain West fans aren't that inclined to go to Memphis in December.

The WAC went from 8 teams, to 16, before many of the original teams broke off to form the Mountain West. Boise State joined the new WAC and has become the darling. TCU got cheated out of the Big 12, had a cup of coffee with Conference USA before settling in the Mountain West. Now the two teams collide in a game that arguably should be a BCS Game.

     My prediction: TCU's defense is too much for Boise, as the Horned Frogs give the Broncos fist in a 24-14 win.

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii vs. Notre Dame

The Notre Dame-Hawaii game will be a good one. If Charlie Weiss wants to keep his job, he better do a great job next year. So, in a bowl game with Hawaii, a team that Notre Dame would have traditionally beaten, it will be a great test to see where 'Dame is at. Remember that ND only beat one team with a winning record, and that was my Navy team, who almost came back in the fourth quarter to win.

Hawaii is also very potent in Hawai'i. One, because they have the confidence and two because teams forget about playing football when they leave cold Midwestern areas and come to Hawaii in December.

The game will also come down to Jimmy Clausen, who cannot beat anyone with a pulse with his arm.

My prediction Hawaii 35-Notre Dame 31

The Fiesta Bowl: Texas vs. Ohio State & the Rose Bowl: USC vs. Penn State

The Big Ten:

Ahh, yeah, the Big Ten is just now realizing that the three yards and a cloud of dust football of the late 70's, 80's and early to mid 90's just doesn't cut it. However Rich Rod at Michigan will get things cooking, Ohio State will be steady, and Chip Paterno has got things rolling for Penn State, Michigan State is solid and Iowa is good in spurts. And if Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northwestern, and either Indiana, Illinois, or Purdue can become solid, the Big Ten will be back to being one of the best conferences in the country. Currently, it is third behind the Big 12, and SEC. Rounding out the top six are the ACC, PAC-10 (no one outside USC are a serious contender, Mountain West then the Big East. Cincinnati, are you serious???

Oh wait, back to the games: Texas by 35, 42-7, in an effort to get the AP title as the Oklahoma-Florida winner gets the BCS title. USC by 21, 35-14 in a game where Pete Carrol is kicking himself for not riding his team harder for that Thursday night game vs. Oregon State. Terrelle Pryor: welcome to the Big 12, your moves are great, but if Penn State can make you look bad, Texas can make you look like, well, a true freshman. Don't worry, in two or three years, you can get them back in a big way. JoePa: you are a legend, call Bobby and agree to play one more year, whoever wins more games is the all time record holder. Then again, why not keep being the "coach" when your son is doing all the work and you get all the credit?

Allstate Sugar Bowl: Utah vs Alabama

     How good is Brian Johnson? Is Alabama the second best team in the country? Should this game be called the "slighted Bowl"?"

Anyway, Nick Saban has to be one of the toughest people to coach against given a month to prepare. Utah has great quarterback in Johnson, however, its offensive line has not seen speed on defense outside of maybe TCU like Alabama's. However, Alabama's offense is a balanced one that can score a lot of points, not a high octane offense.

My prediction: Utah keeps it close thanks to Brian Johnson, but Alabama breaks it open late. 35-24

BCS Championship Game: Florida vs. Oklahoma

     This game will come down to Oklahoma's defense. I say again, this game will come down to Oklahoma's defense. Ryan Reynolds got hurt vs. Texas and the defense has never truly been the same again. However, if Oklahoma can make Florida beat them with Florida's running backs and not Tebow and Percy Harvin, Oklahoma will win. Spy Tebow all day, double Harvin and make the supporting cast win. The supporting cast will get yards, they will score points, just not as many as Bradford and company will.

My Prediction: Oklahoma in a shootout 45-35 in a fitting score to end a fitting season for the Sooners. (Masterchief, Senior, it's been fun arguing all year)

To everyone else that has read my blogs this year, Thanks for the support.

Happy Holidays.

THE CEO