2012-2013 Bowl Thread

[Honolulu_Blue]

That was the first time I have ever seen Johnny Football play. Very impressive and fun to watch!

[gstelmack]

Hey, the SEC won a bowl game!

[Cuckoo]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

Doesn't OU always get blown out in bowl games?

Actually, OU had won 3 straight bowl games before this one, and this is just the 2nd bowl game under Stoops that they have been blown out (more than 20 points). That said, and though I'm not unhappy at all with 32 wins the last 3 seasons, I agree with Matthean to an extent. However, I blame it more on recruiting than "mystic." There seems to be some decline in overall talent level since that 2008 team that went to the National Championship. No 1st round NFL picks last year and probably won't have any this year either. They've won Big 12 Championships 2 of the last 3 years and have been very good with Landry Jones, but they just haven't had those difference-makers to take them to the National Championship level.

Manziel clearly looks to be all he was billed as; however, there's no excuse for that 2nd half for OU, particularly defensively but also offensively.

[PilotMan]

[Abe Sargent]

I watched the championship game PM, and I was a bit surprised that the Championship was on ESPN2 but some absolute scrub bowl was on ESPN Prime.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Cuckoo

Actually, OU had won 3 straight bowl games before this one

Just note those three wins came against Conn.(8-5), Iowa(8-5) and Stanford(7-6.) They are still a very good team, but they have come down a notch.

[Cuckoo]

Far from powerhouses certainly, but can only play who you play.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Cuckoo

Far from powerhouses certainly, but can only play who you play.

Which I fully blame the BCS for.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

I watched the championship game PM, and I was a bit surprised that the Championship was on ESPN2 but some absolute scrub bowl was on ESPN Prime.

I was very frustrated with the inconsistent officiating in the game. There were some plays totally not called and others called that were very marginal, and they had big impacts on the outcome of the game, at least early on.

The second half was very defined, so it overshadowed the frustrations of the first half, but at least the result wasn't in question.

A couple of early holding calls went against SHS early on and negated big runs, including a big TD run in the second half. A couple of missed PI on the Bison helped us as well, but there were some tight PI's against NDSU that really wouldn't have been called either. The turnovers and dominant physical play of the offense in the second half were the difference makers in the game.

[bob]

Final predictions for tomorrow night?

21-17, with Notre Dame's defense making a final stand to win the game at the end.

[Matthean]

Vastly depends on how well ND's run defense really is. Stanford is the closest to 'Bama that the Irish have faced all year. McCarron is too high strung emotionally to be consistent. The title game last year seems like the anomaly versus the norm. If he's comfortable, he fills in nicely. If you put it on his shoulders, odds are he'll struggle.

I think it is closer than people think but 'Bama wins. I just don't see how the Irish hang with 'Bama for four quarters if they commit to the run like they are capable of doing. The Irish offense doesn't scare me either and that's step one to beating 'Bama. If 'Bama shows up mentally as much as they do physically, I'm not sure the Irish are within 20. 'Bama just never shows up that well mentally, see special teams versus Georgia.

[MizzouRah]

I do have a feeling ND will pull it off.. but if I was betting money, I'd say Alabama beats them 31-20.

[Eaglesfan27]

I can't stand the SEC and I think SEC superiority is overinflated by their media partners, but ND has been lucky and is a flawed team. I predict Alabama wins by at least 2 TD's. I'll say 31-14 Alabama.

[sterlingice]

I'd feel differently if this were Oregon but, yeah, Notre Dame is really flawed so I don't like their chances.

SI

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I can't stand the SEC and I think SEC superiority is overinflated by their media partners, but ND has been lucky and is a flawed team.

Reminds me of what people were saying about Ohio State when they won the title in '02. Therefore, I'm going with Notre Dame in 2 OT's.

[Lathum]

I'm putting my money on Brian Kelly and 6 weeks prep time. Dude is an amazing coach

[M GO BLUE!!!]

The National Championship Game is only on ESPN? Well, guess I won't be watching.

I remember a time when bowl games could be watched on regular television...

[spleen1015]

This day and age ESPN is regular television.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

This is very cool, have two former Westview players (Jordan Champion and Chuks Amaechi) on the Bison's squad. Both great kids!!

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

This day and age ESPN is regular television.

Not when you don't have cable.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

Not when you don't have cable.

Amen. I'll get to find something else to do with my evening.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

The National Championship Game is only on ESPN? Well, guess I won't be watching.

I remember a time when bowl games could be watched on regular television...

Celebration Cinema rebuilt an old theater and put in tables, etc where you can get food and beer. They are offering free admission to watch the game on a movie screen. That's where I will be.

[kcchief19]

If and when FBS actually gets a real playoff system, anyone else wish they would go back to ending the season closer to Jan. 1? The bowl season is so spread out now that by the national title game I'm almost burned out.

On top of that, once the NFL playoffs begin, that's the more compelling drama. I'm checking out the top sports web sites and all of them are talking playoff previews of next week or talking about RGIII. You have to get down to SB Nation and Yard Barker before you get to sites focusing on the BCS title game.

This year, an 8-team playoff could have started on Dec. 15 with a championship game on or around Jan. 1. A 16-team playoff could have started Dec. 8.

I think a weekend championship game has a ton of value. There's just no encouragement for title game parties with a game on Monday night. The NFL has staked out Saturday night for its playoff game, so there is probably nothing you could do there. Plus I'm not sure Saturday night is a great time.

But what is wrong with Sunday night? NFL does great numbers with Sunday Night Football. Wouldn't it have been great if we could have finished yesterday with the national title game? You know people would have been talking about it all day, and if you had a watch party that started with the Seahawks-Redskins game? Awesome.

I'm sure the game tonight will do a solid number with the teams involved. But does anyone like the Monday night title game?

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

If and when FBS actually gets a real playoff system, anyone else wish they would go back to ending the season closer to Jan. 1?

Yes. The other part you don't mention is rust: the "best" game of the college football season is over a month after these teams last played? Seriously?

[whomario]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

Yes. The other part you don't mention is rust: the "best" game of the college football season is over a month after these teams last played? Seriously?

yeah, im surprised every year that this isn´t a bigger issue with people.

[Logan]

When you have gone all season with a game every week, and a couple instances where you get a two week break, is 30 days off really much different than 39 or whatever the number is?

Plus it can't be much sooner, these kids have finals to take!

[Matthean]

I'm glad since it gave some key players for 'Bama time to get healed enough to play.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Logan

When you have gone all season with a game every week, and a couple instances where you get a two week break, is 30 days off really much different than 39 or whatever the number is?

Well, I want a playoff, which means it would be like 2 weeks in order for them to get the championship game played on or about Jan 1.

[bob]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

Not when you don't have cable.

That's why assuming no blowout, I'll be at the gym for 3.5 hours tonight.

[Lathum]

Wow, Irish getting screwed by the refs twice early on

[Buccaneer]

What little I have seen of this year's bowls, I noticed a lot of empty seats. Found something on that

Water down the postseason with the likes of San Jose State-Bowling Green (17,835, Military Bowl), Ball State-UCF (21,759, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl) and Central Michigan-Western Kentucky (23,310, Little Caesars Bowl), and attendance will continue to be an issue. Continue to invite nearly 60 percent of FBS schools to fill all available bowl slots — including 6-6 teams and, in one case (Georgia Tech), a 6-7 team — and bowl attendance articles will be an annual rite of winter.

Goes with my long held belief there are waaaaayyyy too many bowls (should be cut in half).

[Izulde]

Nearly 60%? That doesn't sound right.

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Wow, Irish getting screwed by the refs twice early on

Yup. By the way where are the refs from? What conference I mean?

[Galaril]

Boy Bama is so much faster and more impactful at the point of contact than the Irish.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by Galaril

Yup. By the way where are the refs from? What conference I mean?

PAC-12 representing!

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by Izulde

Nearly 60%? That doesn't sound right.

35 bowls = 70 teams out of 124 = 56%

[Izulde]

Hmm I count 128, but that's probably counting the 4 who will officially complete the transition next season.

[Izulde]

Anyway, calling 56% nearly 60% is stretching it. A little over 55% is more accurate.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by Izulde

Anyway, calling 56% nearly 60% is stretching it. A little over 55% is more accurate.

But you have to take out the ineligible teams, so it's probably at least 70/120 off the top of my head.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Goes with my long held belief there are waaaaayyyy too many bowls (should be cut in half).

but why do you care? You can always choose to not watch the games.

The kids seem to love going to them, it gives coaches 15 more practices, seniors get one more game with their team, fans get one more game. Seems like positives all around.

[cuervo72]

Huzzah rewarding mediocrity!

They had a piece on the news tonight on how the level of self-centeredness has gone WAY up among college kids. 1/4 of them could be classified as narcissists. More than ever consider themselves above average in ability, drive, self-confidence. My wife quipped that maybe it's all those trophies we gave them for accomplishing nothing.


edit: but yeah, if they want to have one more game, whatever.

[Abe Sargent]

Originally Posted by Lathum

but why do you care? You can always choose to not watch the games.

The kids seem to love going to them, it gives coaches 15 more practices, seniors get one more game with their team, fans get one more game. Seems like positives all around.

It costs the schools money to go, that's not win-win

[EagleFan]

On the bright side....

HOCKEY SOON!!!!!

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

On the bright side....

HOCKEY SOON!!!!!

#1 vs #2 playing tomorrow night, can't wait!

[Abe Sargent]

Zang!

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

It costs the schools money to go, that's not win-win

But it gives them exposure, which is what it's really about, and why you aren't likely to see the bowl games decline in number significantly any time soon.

[sovereignstar v2]

Mercy!

[EagleFan]

Freeeeeeedommmmmmmmmm....

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Izulde

But it gives them exposure

What better Military Bowl or lost in desert?

[Buccaneer]

Penn States got lots of exposure too; so did USC, Miami, OSU, etc.