It appears that through all this good will I figured the Mountain West generated in getting five bowl eligible squads, that Wyoming would get a bowl game, even one as insignificant as the newly fielded Texas Bowl. But alas, I am foreboding the bowl season despite the fact that Wyoming somehow turned around a backward season and ended up 5-3 in conference play which will most likely put them into a tie for third place in which they overide Utah to be the actual third place team in the MWC. BYU, and this seems odd for a team in the standing that it is in (#23) has decided to already accept the Las Vegas Bowl, which slightly confuses me, it seems that they should at least wait until the season is over and see if any other bowls would be willing to bill the top MWC team that is also nationally ranked, but whatever, BYU is going for the sure thing (which would be a sure thing anyways). TCU will receive the Fort Worth Bowl, and they WILL take the bid because they ARE from Fort Worth. TCU I think in effect deserves the bowl that they are given because they certainly managed to turn their season around into something that is very respectable as a program from the beginning of the year being that they were nationally ranked and then proceeded to lose hard and bring themselves back to prominence. And even though Wyoming will have a higher ranking in the conference, Utah will receive the Poinsettia Bowl bid in San Diego because they happen to be 7-5 (unless by some miracle of God, they defeat BYU at home this saturday). However, Wyoming does have a chance in hell of getting a bowl, the New Mexico Bowl. New Mexico is currently poised to take that bowl bid, but one obsticle is left standing, SDSU. The San Diego State Aztecs gave Wyoming more than a handful two weeks ago at home and don't think that the Aztecs are going to roll over for the Lobos. I think that they will be challenged by this game, but will probably win and take the New Mexico bid. I know this may seem unfamiliar, but root for the Aztecs if you love the Cowboys because they are our chance at taking the New Mexico Bowl, root for BYU too, just in case of a Utah/Wyoming tie in the MWC influencing the Poinsettia Bowl bid decisions. Its sad, but Wyoming will probably not make a bowl this year and honestly, they deserve it for the work they've done in the past few months really pulling the college into a winning program.
Now onto the bigger picture:
Boise State @ Nevada:
If there is any game that Boise State needs to win right now, it is this one! If there is any game that Boise State needed Ian Johnson (RB) for, it is this game. Nothing like having the NCAA leader in rushing TDs still out with a partially collapsed lung. A win here almost guaruntees a Fiesta Bowl matchup against the winner of the Big 12, probably Texas and most likely an epic ass-whoopin'. However, a victory here is needed to get to that stage, a loss to the Nevada Wolf-Pack will drop them into a position to play in the only Boise bowl game, MPC Computers Bowl. Even though Nevada would love to come away with a victory here, a loss is just as valuable, given that Hawaii has already accepted the Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu, Nevada would almost automatically receive...that's right, the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, if they will, Boise goes there and Nevada may very well get nothing. Recent numbers have the Wolf Pack winning by a single point, but watch out, Rutgers may have been Cinderella, but Boise is definitely the Snow White of the NCAAFB, let's just hope they don't eat the apple again at Nevada this weekend.
Florida @ Florida State & SEC Championship:
Urban Meyer is about two steps from hopping on the college football playoff train and it could be these two games plus another that make him take over that train. Florida State has had a deplorable season and have done very well to make me want to vomit. After last year's FSU team doing so well and taking it to Penn State all through the night to come into this year and self-destruct is utterly horrid. Florida will most likely win this game handedly, but don't even count out this game, it could be a good one to at least watch. However, the big problem comes in the SEC championship, which will be Arkansas and Florida, and Arkansas will win that game. However, if Florida wins both of these games and ND manages to rip a win off of USC, Florida could be punching a ticket to Glendale, but a USC loss is needed in addition to a win in both of these games. As far as the implications for Arkansas go, they could be huge, if they can defeat both Florida and LSU as the season starts to expire, it could be the type of thing that (with a USC loss) pushes them into a national title game against Ohio State.
Purdue/Oregon State @ Hawaii:
Six touchdowns from tying the NCAA record for touchdowns in a season, Colt Brennan is two games away from rewriting the history books and right now is the most dominant passer in NCAAFB, he has to get four TDs in one game and three in the other to take the top spot of all time, for a man who throws about five TDs a game, this should be an easy feat. Watch for Hawaii to rewrite the record books and decimate whoever rolls into Honolulu for the bowl game this holiday season.
LSU @ Arkansas:
If Arkansas can defeat LSU here, it will signal their next step up and a victory in the SEC championship could be just enough to leap over the winner of the USC/ND game as number three or more especially, number two in the BCS. However, Arkansas will have a tough match against JaMarcus Russell and the Tigers, the Razorbacks have shown that they can take just about anyone on and give 'em one-four. However, the Tigers might present a challenge to this typical domination by the Razorbacks.
Notre Dame @ USC:
I don't think I even need to state the importance of this game, but I will. What is on the line here? A number two spot for USC who is .007 behind Michigan in the overall rankings and a trip to Glendale. For Notre Dame, with a whole lot of goofy needed outcomes for them, a number two spot as well. I won't go into details on the level of mishaps that will have to happen for Notre Dame to climb above Michigan in the overall polls. These two teams haven't forgotten about last year, it was this game last year that cost ND a New Year's Date with Texas in the National Championship. Don't think that Brady Quinn and Jeff Samardzija have not forgotten what happened last year in what I will call the lousiest call ever (since the forward pass of Tom Brady in the NE/Oakland playoff game) that allowed the USC Trojans to slip out of the regular season unbeaten. Both teams are ready and want to defeat the other team no matter the costs. Also, it is a victory that could boost ND's Brady Quinn Heisman caliber over the top of Troy Smith. This game is worth a lot, to a lot of people. And if I had a game that I'd say you have to watch this weekend for sure, it is this matchup.
Which brings me to my final section, which is a dump on the Heisman. The Heisman is easily the most unfair of all of the honors given by NCAAFB because ir relies on team position before anything else. Last year's winner was clear cut, Reggie Bush was the most outstanding player, with a massive number of all purpose yards a game and a great number of touchdowns, he deserved it. And when I hear people who voted in the Heisman say "I wish I'd of given my vote to Vince Young" it makes me sick, Young just was not the better player, just because he and the Longhorns came out on top is no excuse to say "nay" to Bush. However, it brings up an interesting point: Team standing owns the Heisman. Even if Dwayne Jarrett had the most fantastic season with USC this year, upwards of 25 TDs, he'd still lose to Troy Smith, why? Because he heads one of the only two unbeaten teams in NCAAFB. Then secondarily, it goes to player skill, as can be evidenced by the fact that Ian Johnson isn't even a quarterfinalist for the award, not to mention Colt Brennan who is creaming both of these guys in the numbers game. What worries me the most is that even if Brady Quinn, throws a marvelous game in which he has no turnovers and great yards, and completion rating against USC, Smith will still win, even if OSU loses the national championship to whoever. Look at the comparison:
Troy Smith, OSU (QB):
199/297 (67%), 2,507 yds, 8.4 yds/attempt, 30 TDs, 5 INTs, 167.9 (QB rating)
Brady Quinn, ND (QB):
252/387 (65%), 3,004 yds, 7.8 yds/attempt, 32 TDs, 5 INTs, 155 (QB rating)
Look at that! The numbers are almost identical and with one more good game under his belt, Brady Quinn should be the winner of the Heisman! But he will not win, because everyone is starstruck by Troy Smith, his mass of offensive weapons (which resembles a naval battleship) and a strong defense that has allowed him to get the ball more and more. His individual ability relies solely on his team. Brady Quinn's does not, he works with a squad that is good, but does not execute as well as an OSU team could behind his strong arm. This is why the best team is Ohio State, no bones, but the best player is Brady Quinn and its almost disturbing knowing that what defines the best player is not his ability, but his team...fuck you Heisman.
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