BWC Has the Balls to Predict the Bowls

Last year, Don and I did some bowl predictions, and when all was said and done, he’d somehow picked 7 out of 8 correctly.

Here’s what I’m saying: we don’t want to advocate gambling, especially when it’s illegal to bet on college games, but we’re just reminding you Don got 7 out of 8 right.

Las Vegas Bowl: Brigham Young Cougars v Oregon Ducks

Don: Oregon’s football season was something of a let down, but they should field a stronger team next year. The Ducks will be looking to prove themselves after losing to Oregon State (who ended up ranked after their win in Hawaii)…Look for the Ducks to narrowly beat BYU.

Jordan: This is one I’m definitely watching. No only am I a huge Ducks fan, I also have a fondness for the Mormon air attack that is the BYU Cougars. Look for this to be a high-scoring affair, and not just on the field: male Ducks fans should be pleasantly surprised by BYU coeds unleashed in Las Vegas, not that we condone that sort of thing. The Ducks will, of course, win.

Chad: It is hard to say what’s more blinding, the lights on the Vegas strip, or Oregon’s uniforms. Fashion aside, the Ducks are a solid team who could use this game as a springboard into next season. The Cougars are likely to spend most of their energies fighting off the temptations of Sin City. Glowing in the dark, and playing an exhausted opponent, the Ducks in a rout.

Actual Outcome: The Cougars absolutely obliterated the Ducks, 38-8, and it was actually a worse loss than the score indicates. Oregon played like a JV team at a high school with 400 people. Awful…just awful.

Holiday Bowl: California Golden Bears v Texas A&M Aggies

Don: Texas A&M might be back. They had a terrific season (compared to their last few) and should handle Cal fairly easily. I’ve been to more Aggie football games in person than any other team, so watching the Holiday Bowl will bring back some memories. Gig ‘em, Aggies!

Jordan: Can you think of a greater matchup? The hippy-strewn confines of Berkeley go head to head with a wannabe military school. I’m bringing in my West Coast bias (as opposed to Don’s Texas bias) and I’m going with Cal, primarily because A&M bugs me. Apparently, there are unmarked areas on campus where you can’t walk, you just have to know where they are. That’s, like, totally what I’m not about, man.

Chad: California occasionally lets Counting Crows singer Adam Duritz deliver the pre-game pep talk. The President of Texas A & M was just confirmed as Secretary of Defense. It’s going to be a long December for the Bears, because the Aggies now have nukes. A&M in a tight one.

Actual Outcome: Hippies win out over the military industrial complex once again.

Alamo Bowl: Texas Longhorns v Iowa Hawkeyes

Don: Colt McCoy had a terrific season after opening with an unfortunate loss against Ohio State. He was hurt while playing Kansas Sate and the Longhorns lost that game as well. But this red-shirt freshman is a remarkable quarterback and should lead his team to a win in the Alamo Bowl. The home crowd shouldn’t hurt either. Longhorns dominate in this one.

Jordan: I’m with Don here. Texas was a better team than their record indicated, and while it looks like they’ve gone back to their typical underachieving now that Vince Young is gone, they’ll still easily trounce Iowa.

Chad: The last time we saw Colt McCoy he was being carted off the field after a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit in the Texas A&M game. I’m not sure if he will be back in time for the bowl game, but I don’t’ think it will matter, because Iowa will pummel an uninspired Longhorn team.

Outcome: Texas wins, 26-24.

Chic Fil A Bowl: Georgia Bulldogs v Virginia Tech Hokies

Don: The mini-chicken breakfast biscuits at Chic Fil A are noteworthy, so it’s good to see this chain growing and sponsoring their own bowl. I once spoke at a Chic Fil A convention and found the men and women who actually own and run those places to be of the kindest folks of the business set. They are also, however, incredibly successful, wealthy and competitive. Look for this Atlanta based company to pay off the refs so Georgia gets a few extra downs and defeats Virginia Tech.

Jordan: I think Virginia Tech have some of the coolest uniforms around. Georgia wins.

Chad: I sat in the rain and watched Georgia beat Auburn 37-15, and I don’t care what their record is, the Bulldogs are the best team on Earth. Jordan what are you talking about? Virginia Tech’s uniforms are orange and maroon, two colors God never intended to be used together. Georgia wins big.

Outcome: Georgia.

Cotton Bowl: Auburn Tigers v Nebraska Cornhuskers

Don: My friend Caroline attends every home Auburn football game, and, well Caroline is a babe, so I’m going with Auburn on this one, if only that she will think more favorably of me. That said, however, Auburn had a great season and was the only team to beat national-champion hopeful Florida. This is a very strong football team and they should be able to handle Nebraska with relative ease.

Jordan: While it’s tempting to piss Chad Gibbs off, I’m pretty sure Auburn is the best team not playing in the Rose Bowl or National Championship. Nebraska, on the other hand…what are they doing here?

Chad: Auburn’s two losses this season came in games played before 11:30 in the morning, and the Cotton Bowl kicks off at 10:30 AM. That being said, Auburn is going to destroy Nebraska. War Damn Eagle!

Outcome: Chad doesn’t have to end his season in tears, as Auburn beats the Huskers.

Rose Bowl: USC Trojans v Michigan Wolverines

Don: In my opinion, Michigan should be playing for the national championship. They are a stronger team than florida and nearly pulled out a win at the horseshoe. If that game were in a neutral location, Michigan, I feel, would have won. But that’s chaos of the BCS system. USC is coming off a terrible loss to UCLA and will want to redeem themselves, but they are also a team that has trouble getting up for games they feel are beneath them. Their only two losses were to Oregon State (then unranked) and the aforementioned UCLA. Trojans are going to have trouble giving their all in a game that, win or lose, marks the season as a let down. Michigan will win the Rose bowl.

Jordan: I hate to say it, but Don’s right. Michigan could’ve been in the national championship, and USC has played this season like a rebuilding year, which is horribly frightening. On the other hand, my girlfriend is a USC grad, so I might be in the doghouse for a little bit. No matter, journalistic integrity doesn’t have a girlfriend. Michigan…barely.

Chad: Michigan still has an outside shot at an A.P. National Championship, and will most likely give a spirited effort in the Rose Bowl. USC will hit the snooze button twice, drive to the game in their pajamas, and go through the motions. Michigan by ten.

Outcome: USC embarrassed the Wolverines. I couldn’t help but notice how, when USC loses, its fans are sad. When Michigan loses, its fans are angry. Real angry.

Fiesta Bowl: Boise State Broncos v Oklahoma Sooners

Don: Bob Stoops lost Heisman hopeful Adrian Peterson and still managed to coach Oklahoma to a 10 and 2 season. This team is playing with tons of energy and will have no problem defeating Boise State. That said, Boise should be congratulated for a great, undefeated season, but, in the Fiesta Bowl, will be playing out of their league. Oklahoma.

Jordan: I think most Oregonians love the Broncos right behind the Ducks and Beavers. Boise State is lead by an Oregon native (Jared Zabransky) and a kid from my high school plays wide receiver (Legedu Naanee). But without their distracting blue field, and considering Adrian Peterson returns, and also considering Oklahoma could’ve had one loss without a questionable call here in Oregon, Oklahoma will outplay the Broncs. I’m hoping that’s not the case, though…

Chad: Do birds actually crash into Boise State’s blue field thinking it is a pond, or is that an urban legend? Either way the Broncos are probably in over their head against Oklahoma in a BSC Bowl Game. Sooners in a blowout.

Orange Bowl: Louisville Cardinals v Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Don: Wake Forest may be the best story in college football this year. A perennial weakling, Jim Grobe instantly turned this team into a powerhouse. Louisville is everything Fresno State wants to become, but they won’t have enough to beat the destined Demon Deacons…

Jordan: Louisville will win convincingly, unless Wake Forest unleashes their secret weapon, mysterious 7’0” tight end “Dim Tuncan”.

Chad: Wake Forest had a terrific season, and I hope their team has a nice time soaking up the south Florida sun, because the Orange Bowl will be no fun whatsoever. Bobby Petrino never smiles, ever. Louisville, big.

Sugar Bowl: Notre Dame Fighting Irish v Louisiana State Tigers

Don: This is a close one. Notre Dame has a lot to prove, so they are going to have the emotional advantage. But I think LSU is a better team and I don’t think Brady Quinn and the Irish are going to be able to win this one. LSU.

Jordan: Everyone outside of Notre Dame knows Notre Dame is horribly overrated. Everyone outside of South Bend also knows Brady Quinn is horribly overrated (he’s pictured above, next to his equally overrated sister). LSU will blow them out, which will be the 10th time since 1993 that the Irish have lost in a bowl they didn’t deserve to be in.

Chad: LSU fans scare me. But come bowl season it is nice to unleash them and their Bayou Bengals on an unexpecting opponent, especially when that opponent is Notre Dame. LSU will have this one wrapped up by halftime.

National Championship: Florida v Ohio State

Don: I lost ten bucks at the beginning of the season when OSU beat Texas, and was actually in Ohio the day the Buckeyes played Michigan. Florida has had a great year in the toughest conference in the country, but Ohio State is a better team. Ohio State should have no problem beating the Gators. Ohio State.

Jordan: While Michigan-Ohio State would’ve been an incredible game, Florida deserves to be here, and I think it’s going to be a lot closer than a lot of folks think. Urban Meyer is a spectacular coach, but Ohio State is the team of destiny this year, and it’s going to take a Herculean effort from Chris Leak and Tim Tebow to pull this out. It may not have the rivalry implications, but this’ll be a good championship game, and I think Ohio State will pull it out in the end.

Chad: I am not ready to live in a world where Urban Meyer has won a National Championship. But if the Gators do win, you can count on me buying a bumper sticker that reads: “National Champions 17 Auburn 27”. Of course that is not going to happen, because Ohio State is going to catch three or four of Chris Leak’s passes, and Troy Smith will show the nation why he won that big paper weight the other night. Buckeyes by two TD’s.