Thursday Bowl Blitz Open Thread

by Peter Bean on Dec 28, 2006 3:36 PM CST in Texas Longhorns Football

Three football games! Involving some real schools! Finally, bowl week heats up. Let's race through some previews and get this open thread up for discussion.

Independence Bowl: Alabama vs Oklahoma State
3:30 p.m., ESPN

Coachless Alabama takes on Oklahoma State in a classic offense-defense struggle. The Tide feature one of the nation's better defenses, while Pokie State brings in a talented, if young, offense. Last year's Cotton Bowl, of course, featured stingy defense Alabama against high octane offense Texas Tech, and the Tide won. Today? I'll guess that things stay under control, but the Cowboys win - 24-17.

Holiday Bowl: California vs Texas A&M
7:00 p.m., ESPN

The Holiday Bowl's always a fun one, and this year should be no different. One of the season's better bowl matchups, really. Can Cal slow down the power rushing attack of Texas A&M? Will Stephen McGee complete a forward pass? This is a big game for both teams, but I think it's a troubling matchup for the Aggies. I'll take Cal, 34-30.

Texas Bowl: Rutgers vs Kansas State
7:00 p.m., NFL Network

If they play a game and no one's around to see it, does it count? I suppose. This is trouble for the Wildcats. I'll take Rutgers in a walk, 37-13.

All your gameday comments, observations, and Aggie jokes here.

--PB--

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Fun to watch, tough to bet on

This is why I don't bet on college football and especially not bowl games.

On paper, Rutger should kill K-State, but after coming within a two-point conversion of going to a BCS bowl, how excited could they be to be playing in the Texas Bowl. Ironic that they're playing K-State who are probably best known for the biggest bowl shaft of all time when they went from the doorstep of playing for a national title all the way to the Alamo Bowl in 1998 when A&M upset them in the Big XII Championship. That K-State team went on to lose to Purdue just like Cal lost to Tech two years ago and we lost to Wash State 3 years ago. Who knows what Rutgers team shows up.

I also think Cal will beat A&M, but how good is the Pac 10 this year based on the bowls thus far. UCLA losing last night, ASU getting pounded by Hawaii and Oregon laying an egg against BYU. Maybe the Aggies take all the momentum from Austin and go nuts on an overrated Cal team.

As for Bama/Okie State, again which teams show up. I'd probably take the Cowboys too seeing how Bama has no coach, but maybe the players rally behind the interim guy and maybe Okie State plays two QB's and never gets anything going.

Let the fun begin.

by 54b on Dec 28, 2006 3:10 PM CST reply actions

At least Cal did their part

The only surprise in those first 3 Pac-10 bowl games was how bad Oregon stunk it up against BYU. Even though the Ducks ended up tied for 5th in the conference, I thought they would make it a game - at least for awhile.

ASU doesn't have a coach and has never had a defense, so their 2nd-half collapse against Colt Brennan-led Hawaii was no surprise.

Given my prejudice, I'll reserve comment on the Emerald Bowl.

by Defender90 on Dec 28, 2006 11:31 PM CST up reply actions

Holy crap

Did anyone just see that WalMart SongGirls ad?!? Does that make no sense to anyone else?

by Peter Bean on Dec 28, 2006 3:43 PM CST reply actions

i was frightened.

my favorite part was the girls dancing with the shopping carts.

now i've never been a country music fan, but it seems like there used to be real songs. nowadays, the only country songs i ever hear about are stupid gimmick songs (i.e. "honky-tonk badonkadonk" and anything ever written by that dirty okie toby keith). i don't get it.

by billyzane on Dec 28, 2006 4:18 PM CST up reply actions

fuc ya

Fuck you PB, I got a job. You sittin at home talkin bout Walmart commercials an shit, while the rest of us be bleeding from ours knuckles trying to jew together fiffteen more dollas before Dick Clark be fixin to stroke the fuck out.

As much of a beltsander to the face as it sounds, the Aggie BTO tonight, with the same masterful offensive strategy as used against Texas (+ no slip ups on special teams).

Sadly the jean-shorts-tucked-w/-no-belt muscle shirts reading "McGee for Heisman" begin to explode out of Bryan, but fortunately Kirk Herbstreet agrees; forever dooming Stevie to degree-less undrafted FA status.

by Tbone Stallone on Dec 28, 2006 4:25 PM CST up reply actions

Oh my God!

Did anyone see Joe Kines just then??

by Peter Bean on Dec 28, 2006 5:17 PM CST reply actions

RE:

That was crazy as hell. I wonder if he ever gets asked to say grace at the holidays?

by Hornbud on Dec 28, 2006 5:32 PM CST up reply actions

i was in the other room

and heard the interview and i swear to god i thought it was someone doing an Ed Orgeron impression. I could barely understand a word that came out of his mouth.

by billyzane on Dec 28, 2006 5:37 PM CST up reply actions

Wow, what a voice

that bama coach sounds like an old cookie monster

Know why the OU kid was crying? Brian Van Gorder had just eaten his family.

by SuperBentley on Dec 28, 2006 5:18 PM CST reply actions

When they replayed this

on SportsCenter, I looked away from the television while he was talking, and you're right, he sounds exactly how an aging cookie monster would sound, if he were complaining that his kids don't come to visit him at the home.

by BrooklynHorn on Dec 29, 2006 2:19 PM CST up reply actions

I still can't believe

Rutgers was relegated to the Texas Bowl after such a great season. I was thinking a Texas v Rutgers game would be pretty cool and then pair KState with Iowa. At least the team records would be similar.

Hook'em, bitches.

by Ramzlita on Dec 28, 2006 5:50 PM CST reply actions

I agree

Rutgers and Texas seem more logical. K-State and Iowa are going to get pounded, who wants to see that?

by Gibbs on Dec 28, 2006 7:18 PM CST up reply actions

I do

Know why the OU kid was crying? Brian Van Gorder had just eaten his family.

by SuperBentley on Dec 28, 2006 10:10 PM CST up reply actions

Halftime

A&M down by 4 in the ultimate battle between Liberal (Cal) and Conservative (A&M) ideologies. You can take the metaphor out as far as you want in this one.

K-State was down early but fought back to a 17-10 deficit at half, but no real offense to speak of on the part of the Wildcats.

Texas' two late season losses looking less than explainable thus far.

Kudos to OSU for representing the Big XII and pulling out a win in a game they should have won going away.

by 54b on Dec 28, 2006 8:49 PM CST reply actions

1st-year HC

Schiano is no Mack Brown. He won't be de-pants'd by a Virginia OC....ah...I mean 1st-year HC from Kansas State. This one is a hanging curveball going out of the park. Rutgers wins by 17+.

--- We have pansies scheduling our patsies. ---

by HornChamps on Dec 28, 2006 8:59 PM CST reply actions

Pure comedy gold

The botched trick play, then the half-ass punt. Oh those Aggies!

Vince Young wins football games.

by chief on Dec 28, 2006 9:11 PM CST reply actions

Aggies and Wildcats

are both getting pounded. A&M is down 21. K State is down 27. I didn't see much of either game but the scores make our last two losses all the more painful. What might have been?

--AW--

by awiggo on Dec 28, 2006 10:18 PM CST reply actions

Question

If Marshawn Lynch comes back, will Cal have the best running back unit in the nation?

The New England Patriots are going to find out what we've all been talking about.

by SuperBentley on Dec 28, 2006 10:23 PM CST reply actions

This is a tough one to watch...

How in the hell did we lose to these yuckos from College Station?

The New England Patriots are going to find out what we've all been talking about.

by SuperBentley on Dec 28, 2006 10:31 PM CST reply actions

Same thing with K-State

I'm one of the six people in the country who actually get the NFL Network. Thank you, DirecTV!

PB, your prediction was stunningly accurate. 37-10 Rutgers. A few big plays here and there but nothing to hold my interest, just like the Holday bowl.

by boomhauer25 on Dec 28, 2006 10:47 PM CST up reply actions

So...

I guess this is the "new era" of Aggie excellence that Brazos was talking about.

by boomhauer25 on Dec 28, 2006 10:36 PM CST reply actions

I get the sarcasm but......

Aggie and Excellence in the same post makes my stomach turn... The only bad thing i can say about a Kstate, and Aggie loss is it doesnt make the Big 12 look good. Go pokes for taking one from the SEC though!!

by lalonghorn on Dec 29, 2006 2:57 AM CST up reply actions

Big-12 looks lame

Jeff Tedford 45, Greg Davis 7

1st-Year HC 1, Mack Brown 0

When Oregon State mops the playing surface with Missouri this afternoon the soft Big-12 will sporting a pathetic 1-3 record. Texas Tech had better dig in tonight.

--- We have pansies scheduling our patsies. ---

by HornChamps on Dec 29, 2006 11:30 AM CST reply actions