7 College Bowl games down, 19 to go. Original Retro Brand CFO Rick Schwartz turned his 0-4 frown upside down, by picking the winner in all 3 contests on the slate this past weekend (Pitt, USC & Clemson). Marc, Cassidy, and Andy each went 2-1, and the standings in the "ORB 12 BOWLS OF CHRISTMAS" contest look like this as the "meat" of the schedule starts tonight, with the Georgia Bulldogs taking on the Texas A&M Aggies in the Independence Bowl:
Andy 6-1 Cassidy 3-4 Marc 3-4 Rick 3-4
It was tough being a Dawg fan this season (annihilated by Florida & Tennessee & losing to Kentucky?). Knocking off in-state rival and eventual ACC Champion Georgia Tech (on the Jackets home turf), did ease some of the pain. The Dawgs have won 10 times in their last 12 Bowl games. This does not bode well for the Aggies, who've dropped three of their last four games. I have to give this one to Georgia. UGA - 35, Texas A&M - 20.
The UCLA Bruins take on the Temple Owls in the Eaglebank Bowl tomorrow afternoon in the nation's capital. After losing their first 2 games of the season, the Owls went on a rampage,winning 9 straight. Freshman workhorse Bernard Pierce rushed for over 1,300 yards including back-to-back 200 yard games against Toledo and Navy. The UCLA offense on the other hand, has no standout player to shoulder the load this year, and were flat out inconsistent the entire season. Temple - 28, UCLA - 17.
The Miami Hurricanes had the unenviable task of opening their season with 4 straight games against ranked teams. After emerging with 3 wins, including a 1-point epic victory over # 8 Oklahoma, the "U" was officially back on the national scene as a legitimate contender for the National title. Sophomore sensation Jacory Harris threw for over 3,000 yards, and the future for the Canes is very bright indeed. The Wisconsin Badgers match up almost identically on paper with Miami in most categories. Running back John Clay is a bona fide stud with over 1,000 yards rushing for the "Greatful Red," but there is one glaring difference between the two teams; Miami knocked off 3 ranked teams, and Wisconsin lost both of their games versus ranked teams (Ohio State & Iowa). Miami - 24, Wisconsin - 20.
This next one has been eating me up on many levels. Arizona vs. Nebraska. I still have vivid memories of one of my favorite college players ever, in Cornhusker Heisman winner Johnny Rodgers. I am friends in "real life" with Jarvis Redwine - the first running back to ever rush for back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons for Nebraska. Red is my favorite color. GO HUSKERS!! Hold on a minute.... The folks I work for all went to the University of Arizona, and dare I bite the hand that feeds me? I was lucky enough to visit the University of Arizona campus about 25 years ago, and I still can't understand how kids get any work done there. Palm trees & plush manicured lawns with the majestic Catalina Mountains for a backdrop, seem an unlikely place to do anything but go on vacation. A vacation is where the Wildcats football team seems to have been the past ten years, before putting together back-to-back 8 win seasons in 2008-2009. The Cats let a huge victory slip through their fingers against Oregon, but really showed they had heart by closing out the season with impressive wins against home state rival Arizona State, and the equally hated USC Trojans. GO CATS!! I really like both teams, but I am still bitter that Ndamukong Suh didn't win the Heisman Trophy this year. Nebraska was also one tic away from knocking off # 2 Texas and for those reason's I'm picking Big Red to win in a close one. Nebraska - 27, Arizona - 24.
Despite picking the Cornhuskers, I believe I will still have a job tomorrow, enabling me the opportunity to bring you more bowl picks. Enjoy the game tonight, and HONKER DOWN YOU HAIRY DAWGS!!
