Goodbye Gator Bowl, now replaced by a company that uses two capital letters in its name.
This game has had its fair share of sponsors in the past several years. I guess TaxSlayer said "screw it" and just got rid of Gator.
Iowa vs. Tennessee
Another chance for the Big 10 to step up and shut up the SEC yard barkers. Win this game and the Big 10 goes 6-4 in bowl season and makes a case for being a stronger conference. It's all on you Iowa!!
Yeah, maybe we shouldn't have left that up to Iowa. And this guy.
Already down 28-0, Iowa kick returner Jonathan Parker's brain told him to throw the ball back in bounds as he went out of bounds at the three yard line on a kick return. Does he know the rules? Did he think he was playing another sport?
Iowa did have a furious comeback in the fourth, scoring three touchdowns. Unfortunately it was 42-7 going into the fourth quarter. You ain't no Houston, Iowa.
Tennessee 45 Iowa 28
Notes
-If you just saw the score, you'd think, okay, Iowa let this one get away. Nope.
-I watched this game in the air studio, three full quarters.
-Weeeee!!! Rocky Top!!!! 'Murica!!!!
It's Rocky Top Big Boy. He has the right to vote.
-What did I eat: Nothing, I was at work, working, doing work stuff.
-Bowl swag: Panasonic gift suite; Fossil watch. Players get to pick $400 of kind of crappy electronics.
My pick: Rocky Top, but with the lowest confidence points, one. Thought this one would be close. I've been a lot of wrong the last two days.
It took until the 33rd game of BowlQuest to get an interim head coach throw down.
Pittsburgh vs. Houston
Teams are often in transition during bowl season, coaches taking better jobs, schools unhappy with their 6-6 or 7-5 records. Houston's defensive coordinator David Gibbs under the headphones after Tony Levine was shown the door meanwhile Pittsburgh HC Paul Crist is headed back to Wisconsin to take that job.
Michigan State DC Pat Narduzzi was at this game as he's taking over the Pitt job. They could have used him calling defense today. Yikes.
I watched the full first quarter at work, eating lunch. I was in the air studio to witness the total meltdown of the Pitt defense in the fourth. Yikes again.
Let's look at the box score, shall we...
How does a team score three touchdowns in less than four minutes left in the game? By converting two consecutive onside kicks. Oh yeah, then Gibbs decided to go for two and the win.
And that's how Michigan State's comeback points record in the Cotton Bowl was erased in less than 24 hours. And that's why I watch these games. A bowl record 29 points in the fourth quarter, an all time bowl record.
Houston 35 Pitt-ifulsburgh 34
Notes
-It was cold and raining at this game. And people have to go back to work on January 2nd. Not exactly a robust crowd in Fort Worth.
I don't even know what team's stadium this is. TCU?
-Weird day at work. Felt like a Monday, had to do Friday stuff, sales people kind of milling about. I certainly wasn't wasting a vacation day to watch the Armed Forces Bowl.
-What did I eat: Jimmy John's Vito (#5) with hot peppers and a bag of salt and vinegar chips. Always go with the Vito.
-The bowl schedule next season will move all these "extra" games to other days because New Years Days will be on Friday and the NFL playoffs will be that following weekend. Here's an idea, play some on Christmas Day. All day, noon to midnight. Please.
-Bowl swag: This stuff again;
Ogio Marshall Pack backpack; beanie; Big Game football.
Fans asked for it forever, it finally arrived on January 1st.
This season's games, the Rose and Sugar to decide the two teams to play for the national championship on January 12th. I've gone on enough about what teams I thought belonged in so no need to go over that again.
Rose Bowl - #2 Oregon vs. #3 Florida State
Still basking in the glow of Michigan State's unbelievable comeback in the Cotton Bowl, we go straight to college football nirvana, Pasadena and the Rose Bowl.
Oregon, with one loss, taking on undefeated Florida State. No argument with either team in this game although you had to figure the Seminoles would struggle considering they struggled in almost every game this season.
Yep.
I watched all of the game - the dominant Ducks showing off not only their offense but a defense that grabbed the game in the second half and took the ball from FSU at will. HC Jimbo Fisher appeared to have enough with Jameis Winston's chuck and duck passing after one of several interceptions. "Calm the ___ down!"
Oregon 59 Florida State 20 Ouch.
Sugar Bowl
Okay, I was wrong about Ohio State. Here on out, I promise not to mention the loss to Virginia Tech again. This is a different team than the one on the field in September. What an amazing job by Urban Meyer, on his third quarterback, although you wouldn't know it.
During the game I realized that I was on my 11th straight hour of football watching and couldn't keep my eyes open somewhere in the third quarter. I figured Alabama would straighten things out. Well, again, wrong.
How about that Big 10? All the experts favorite whipping boy conference. And the SEC West, maybe not as great as everyone thought. Maybe teams like Alabama need to take Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee and Charleston Southern off their schedule (those are all teams the mighty Tide will beat up next season).
Ohio State 42 Alabama 35
My pick - the Tide, with my No. 1 confidence pick. Whiff... My record is at 22-10 and I'm on top of my picks pool, for now.
Mrs. Keith said during the game, "So, this is it except for the championship, right?" Hardly - there are four games today. Talk about anticlimactic after last night.
Nuts to BowlQuest Logo protocol. The logo is in there. And the Citrus Bowl is at the end.
I could probably go on and on about what an unbelievable comeback this was, one of the greatest in my watching bowl games...but
That pretty much says it all.
Here's the thing. ESPN promoted this game as Baylor's high powered offense against MSU's stout defense. I guess that was for the lay fan who didn't watch all season. Michigan State's defense was its biggest weakness this season. They were gouged by big plays constantly. Their motto was, "We can't or won't cover the middle." That was certainly the case today.
As this is about watching the games, I was there the entire first half but when Baylor took the opening second half possession for a score, I wasn't feeling very good. So much so, I was more interested in the Outback Bowl. But something said to not give up on the game, Baylor gave up huge points all over the place all season.
What a fourth quarter. The Spartans certainly didn't give up. Three touchdowns including giving up the ball on the worst interception you'll ever see.
But...
A block in the back on the interception return.
Then a field goal block, that resulted in this:
He's fine, at least he said he was on his Twitter account.
The result, Michigan State driving for the winning score and a mild cardiac episode on Blackhawk Circle.
Michigan State 42 Baylor 41
Notes
-There was a whole lot more. There was this:
390 pound lineman La'Quon McGowan caught a touchdown pass. Baylor was clowning at this point. This guy was also his high school team's kicker.
-ESPN stats indicated after the third quarter Michigan State had a 1.8% chance of winning.
Yep, there was a chance.
-There's a whole of change coming for this Michigan State team. Plenty of guys graduating or going pro. These seniors represented their team and the Big 10 well.
-What did I eat: Nothing, my stomach was sick and then doing back flips, acid back flips.
-Bowl Swag; Shhh, they don't say. Probably a party at Jerry Jones underground lair. Seriously, Jerry Jones could be a Bond villain.
Who cares - the Spartans got what mattered most.
My pick - Michigan State of course, although I do admit it was for low confidence points.
Citrus Bowl.
#16 Missouri vs. #25 Minnesota
I did not watch this game. Boy #1 did, the third quarter. From the boy, "There were a bunch of turnovers and a couple field goals." Bowl Quest Rule #2 invoked.
Someone call the fire department, the SEC West is ablaze.
#18 Wisconsin vs. #19 Auburn
This was a one quarter game because of two more games coming up within the hour. And since Matt Millen called this game, there's only so much blunder and bluster I can take.
This was more of game that was on instead of me paying a lot of attention. I had to do actual work work, not just this blogging nonsense. Each team put up a score in the first quarter and I was off to the Cotton Bowl (although I would be back).
Cotton Bowl going very poorly for Michigan State, so I checked back in for a tight finish. The Badgers kicked a late field goal for the tie and overtime. They had the ball first, managed a field goal. Not so much for Auburn. Game.
Wisconsin 34 Auburn 31 (OT)
Notes
-So that's now Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State (clanga clanga) and LSU, all from the SEC West, all to have lost. Maybe SEC devotees can tone it down just a hair. "Help us Nick Saban, you're our only hope." We'll find out tonight. How funny would it be if only Arkansas won their game.
-AD Barry Alvarez was back inside the headset for this game. Its like he never left.
Officer Friendly is probably thinking about the free Outback coconut shrimp he'll be eating tomorrow in honor of the Badger win. Make sure to get yours.
Behold, Outback's shrimp girl. One step closer to Hollywood!
-The Outback Bowl website has a visitor's guide section that include a "Where To Eat" page. Guess what's on that page?
-Player swag: Jostens ring! Also
$150 Best Buy gift card; Outback Steakhouse gift card; Fossil watch; cap. Not a bad haul.
All those damn cowbells, must be Mississippi State's bowl game.
The third of the big six bowl games, now sponsored by Capital One. I'm not sure of the theme of Capital One's current advertising - I miss the Vikings.
#7 Mississippi State (clanga clanga clanga) vs. #12 Georgia Tech
The mighty SEC West hasn't had much of a run so far, with LSU and Ole Miss losing. Arkansas did win, but Texas wasn't a great opponent.
Oof, Not much of a crowd despite the announced attendance (tickets sold) of 58,000. Not that you would know the stadium was half empty because of the incessant cowbell clanging of the Mississippi State fans.
And evidently bowl organizers were worried there wouldn't be enough noise so they handed these out.
Great, now Jethro has two things to shake all game.
New Years Eve, the night cap and a completely "defense optional" game. 1,182 yards of total offense - that's ridiculous.
Georgia Tech opened with two touchdowns and we're on blow out alert again. The Bulldogs rallied with three straight scores and then ended the half with a successful Hail Mary. This has been the season of the Hail Mary. Teams should really learn how to defend it.
Mississippi State may have gotten into the New Years Eve bubbly at half time, they let Georgia Tech score three TD's in the 3rd quarter and that pretty much wrapped it up. At least it did for me. I couldn't take the constant din of the cowbells and it was time for my New Years Eve tradition of watching a Grateful Dead video.
This year's choice, The Grateful Dead Movie. Looks pretty good in HD.
Georgia Tech 49 Miss. State 34 (sad clanga)
Notes
-After reaching No. 1 during the season, Mississippi State stumbled home losing their last three. A really sorry day for the state of Mississippi with the blow out loss for Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl earlier in the day.
-At about 11:30 we decided to ring in the new year with Pitbull on Fox. Just a ridiculous show, but Pit has a lot of energy and I can't stand Ryan Seacrest.
We even got access to the men's room with Pitbull. Fresh.
Bowl swag: Tourneau watch, that's it. Attention bowl organizers, young people don't wear watches, they use their cell phones. Stop giving watches as gifts.
What did I eat: Some chicken wings from the Chinese take out that Mrs. Keith and boy #1 had for dinner. Boy #2 was at a friend's house otherwise he probably would have scarfed the wings down.
My pick: Mississippi State (clanga, clonga, loser). Bowl record now stands at 19-7, 2nd place in the bowl picks pool.
This showing so far by the SEC West has to give Ohio State fans some extra confidence in their team against Alabama.
Today's the day - three early games including Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl, then the bowl playoff games in the Rose and Sugar. Savor it, like Lou Holtz does with his pipe.
What, no Tostitos sponsorship? They did bring back the classic Fiesta Bowl script logo.
#20 Boise State vs. #10 Arizona
I have to admit, I didn't have much interest in this game, with a couple teams I have little interest in. I figured one quarter and maybe a look-see later.
Boise State takes the spot of the one non-power five conferences in the new schedule of NYE and NYD bowl games. Arizona makes the first trip to the home state Fiesta Bowl since 1993. There's your history lesson.
The first quarter was underway when I got home so that meant I'd be watching more of this game than planned. Short-ish day at work, taking advantage of technology and voice tracking three hours of my show. I also had to stop and drop my car off at the local mechanic for some overdue repairs, then I walked the half mile home, Figured I could use some exercise after many hours of bowl watching. Good choice. Need to get back to more walking.
Boise State was already up a touchdown and use a great halfback pass trick play to score their second. Then they added a third and I was thinking it was going to be another Peach Bowl style blow-out.
Credit to Arizona, they could have folded but they hung in there with 17 second half points but still not playing much defense. Scooby Wright, where are you?
Much tighter second half, both teams playing better defense - adjustments. Late in the 4th, Arizona had a chance to get a touchdown. 14 seconds to go, 3rd and goal with no time outs and the Wildcats QB Anu Solomon inexplicably scrambles, never throws the ball and gets tackled inbound, game over. Mrs. Keith, Boy #1 and I were all yelling, "Throw the ball" on that play. He didn't hear us.
How bad was that last play? Tell 'em RichRod.
Yeah, that bad.
Boise St. 38 Arizona 30
Notes
-Arizona's great defender Scooby Wright was basically a non-factor.
-Boise State owns the Fiesta Bowl, now 3-0 in this game.
-What did I eat? I still have some of my spicy pecans, so those. Also had a Lagunitas IPA, very good.
