We Stink

The Chick Fil A Bowl ended and I've come to the conclusion that we are really bad forecasters.  Only Joe and Olive (the cat) predicted the Clemson victory.  The rest of us sided with Les Miles and his LSU crew from Baton Rouge. That means we went 2-14.  We have the same three at the top: Chris, Kathy, and Margaret.  BUUUUUUUUTTTTTT many of us are within striking distance in the second half of the contest. We have six games tomorrow.  If I wake up early enough I'll prepare previews.  Happy New Year!!!

New Years Eve Bowls

We are picking three of the four bowls tomorrow. In the Music City Bowl Vanderbilt plays North Carolina State.  Vanderbilt is from the SEC.  Evidently the SEC has become so powerful that every SEC team in a bowl is favored.  NCSU just fired its head coach and has an interim for the bowl game; Vandy is basically playing a home game and hasn't lost since opening 8 and 4.  So, obviously NCSU will win.

I love Georgia Tech's offense, but every time I watch them live they lose.  USC is without former Heisman Award candidate and starting quarterback Matt Barkley.  USC is still the favorite because of their depth of talent.  Their coaching on the other hand has proven to be subpar. C'mon Ramblin' Wreck.

The head coach of LSU Les Miles turned down a hefty offer from Arkansas to leave the beautiful town of Red Stick for the hills and natural beauty of Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Go figure, he stayed in Red Stick (Baton Rouge).  Clemson absolutely got obliterated in their bowl game last year by West Virginia.  Hopefully they'll give LSU a game.  Heck with Les Miles' often bone headed coaching, Clemson just may win this game.

Leaders of the FBP so far include Chris Ross (who is trying desperately to post on this blog with no success - sorry man, blame Google), Margaret Candace Key, and my mother Kathy Smith.  We will be half way through at the end of tomorrow.  I hope I can at least beat one of the cats.  

What a Fourth Quarter!!!!

We stunk it up for three quarters and then came back. Yesssss!

But, let's face it.  The most impressive team yesterday was Arizona State.  What a performance.

Alamo Bowl

I'm depressed and because the Longhorns are sooooo bad, I may not post for a while.... sorry.

Pinstripe Bowl Snow

You're not a real football fan if you don't want to be in the crowd for this.  Heck, I want to play.  Too bad it's a blowout.

Pinstripe - Alamo - Buffalo Wild Wings Previews

Three more bowls occur on Saturday. The Pinstripe Bowl features West Virginia and Syracuse. The Orangemen had a resurgence behind a QB named Nassib. He went on a hot streak and Syracuse went on a 5 win, 1 loss roll. West Virginia has a great offense run by the former Heisman trophy front runner Geno Smith. They won their five first games, then lost five, and then won their last two. Why did this happen? Because their defense is hoooorrrrrribbbbblllllleeeeee. They even let Texas score a bunch of points for crying out loud. Look for a shootout in New York in the house that Steinbrenner built.

The Alamo Bowl features my Longhorns versus the Oregon State Beavers. When I was a kid, Texas would schedule Oregon State as a patsy before conference play. Now OSU has a rather respectable athletic department and really they should win this game. As an alum, I couldn't pick against the Longhorns, but the Mack Brown run has turned sour. As I write this two of the supposed leaders of the team were sent home as they have been accused of sexual assault. Mack is losing his grip. If you picked Texas... well, sorry.

I love Buffalo Wild Wings. The Caribbean Jerk sauce, the Parmesan Oregano, the Desert Heat dry rub, and the Screaming Nacho burger are four reasons why. Who cares who wins? Let's go eat wings while we watch. TCU has a freshman QB and an awesome coach, but half the team was caught using dope in the summer. Michigan State is in the Big 10. That's all I really know.

Enjoy a great football Saturday!

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

Usually I root for Navy. My father was in the Navy and every year I would watch the Army v. Navy football game and root for Navy and usually they would win. They also had really cool uniforms. Then they started to run the wishbone. Then they beat Notre Dame. Man, I was a Navy freak!... But then, Arizona State offered my daughter a huge scholarship to go to their honors college. They flew her out for a visit, let her sit in on a freshman seminar, and visit with a chemistry professor. Fear the fork, I say. Let's go Sun Devils!

Navy runs the wishbone. It's a running offense. ASU plays in the Pac 10 and has a balanced offense. After a four game losing streak, ASU ended on a two game winning run. Navy won eight games including the Commander and Chief Trophy (that means they beat Air Force and Army). But they lost to teams like Troy and San Jose State. This game is in AT&T Park in San Francisco. Wish I could go.

Hey, don't look now but Monique Smith is tied with Chris Ross for the FBP lead.

The Russell Athletic Bowl features Rutgers versus Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech has had a disastrous year. They give up a lot of points. Their best player is their quarterback Logan Thomas. But I have personally watched his bad attitude through the year. A team that was supposed to challenge for the ACC title had their worst record since 1992. That's what they get for having such an awful color scheme and mascot. Why would any kid go there? Money and babes is all I can figure.

Well, I guess you could be stuck at Rutgers.  Rutgers had a good year but blew two chances to be the Big East representative in the BCS. Rutgers has a good running game, but the quarterback throws a lot of interceptions. Their defense has played pretty well this season, and they pick off a lot of passes.

Who has who?
Can't tell you.  Haven't got complete entries from everyone yet.  Anyone seen Alexander Walker, Matt Baker is still asleep, and Pat is taking a nap.

I have New Jersey State University.

2012-13 Begins

Well, I'm back from Vegas and, no, I didn't win any money.  But I had a blast and I encourage you to look at pictures of our trip - especially the Red Rock Canyon ones - on Ana, Matt, and Pat's Facebook pages.

People have been clamoring for blog posts, so as I sit here in my living room watching a Shipping Wars marathon before today's bowl games, I will open this year's running commentary. Yesterday, Baylor and Cincinnati both won their games.  You will notice we have an abbreviated schedule this year as there were vociferous complaints that last year's contest featured too many games.  So, hey, I can be reasoned with.  There are 21 games for us to choose this year.  Let the best gambler win.

And those gamblers appear to include two pets this year.  Well, that's what happens when you make a joke on the official entry form and people read the joke.  They take advantage of it.  So the California contingent has entered Olive and Alex into the contest.  Could there be a feline winner for the first time in bowl history? Meow.

As the Commissioner and defending champion, I welcome you to this year's contest.  Coming up, this year's first game previews....

Roll Tide... Roll Will

With humility, I report to you that I have won the 2011-12 Family Bowl Pool.  Mom, send me the plaque.  Your two year reign is over.  Return the plaque to Texas.  Alec, you have had a hell of a run.  Two years in the Bowl Pool and two second place finishes.  Have a beer on me to drown your sorrows.  I'd like to thank West Virginia, SMU, the Stanford place kicker, the Nebraska secondary, Illinois, and, of course, my Longhorns.  Hook 'em!

I think I'll watch my DVD of the 2006 Rose Bowl to celebrate.

It comes down to this...

Well, well, well

I thought after Virginia Tech choked it was all over, but I ran off three straight and tied Alec the Great.  So, it comes down to the National Championship game.  I have Alabama and Alec has LSU.  I have called Coach Saban to let him know there is added pressure on him now.  He seemed shaken, but promised me he would do his best.  I'm sure Alec has called Coach Miles to let him know the same. 

Matt and Moriah will battle for the Stinky Shoe.  Given to the worst picker, the Stinky Shoe contest will feature an actual award this year.  Stay tuned.  Matt has LSU and Moriah has Alabama.

Roll Tide.

Almost Heaven

West Virginia.  Blue Ridge Mountains. Shenandoah River...

WVU keeps me alive.  Believe it or not the SMU v. Pitt game is a huge match up.  Alec can win it on Saturday.

Watch the ESPN movie on the SMU death penalty and you'll see why this game is a fascinating contest between the Ponies and the Panthers.

Frank Beamer Hates Me

I really think Frank Beamer found out I was getting close to Alec the Great and that's why he tried a fake punt in the fourth quarter with the game tied and his defense totally dominating Michigan.  Why not pin Michigan deep in their own end and play field position?  I have no idea.  He gets the bonehead coaching move of the bowl season so far, taking the title from the Air Force coach who tried a two point conversion at the end of his bowl game instead of kicking the tying extra point.  Frank Beamer... arggghhhhh.


Tonight it's the Orange Bowl.  Alec the Great still leads.  Clemson v. West Virginia.  Woody Hayes is watching from above Clemson ready to punch you if you get out of line.

Close Shaves

Sports, as I found out yet again at the Wynn Sports Book in Las Vegas, can drive you crazy if you are a gambler.  Take Tim Smith today.  Tim is in contention for the title and if two kickers had not choked he would be in the driver's seat today.  First, the Georgia kicker misses a chip shot field goal in the first OT of the Outback Bowl, and Tim misses a golden opportunity to gain on pretty much everyone in the pool with the exception of Margaret and Joseph.  Then, in the nightcap, the Stanford redshirt freshman kicker from Westwood High School in Austin, Texas (I dated a girl from Westwood High School), misses a chipshot field goal in regulation as time expired and then missed another field goal in OT and allowed Oklahoma State (who never led in the game until the OT) to escape with a victory.  The events of the day allow yours truly to move back into contention with Alec the Great.  Why I picked Nebraska to win their game is beyond me.  In the last two years the Big Ten has been beyond bad.  They are like 1 and 11 going into the Sugar Bowl tomorrow night.  Michigan reps the Big Ten and they will face the ACC's own Va Tech.  Alec has Michigan and I have Va. Tech.  Alec will either go up two, or we will be tied.  What action.  Tim has Va. Tech and Chris has Michigan.  Should be interesting.  Tune in to see who wins. 

By the way, RC had an incredible day of picks and got out of the cellar.  Matt Baker now has that spot.  The last place finisher will win the Stinky Shoe.  Stay tuned for more details.  C'mon Matt, you don't want to be stuck with the Stinky Shoe.

Alec the Great

Well, I imploded on Saturday.  Most of us did.  Three didn't for sure: Timothy Smith, Chris Ross and Alec Walker.  I think Alec is a ringer.  Alec, do you have a bookie?  Two years in the Family Pool and Alec's record for making picks is out of this world good.  We're all chasing the new guy. 

Six Bowls on Jan. 2:

Houston v. penn st.  in the I wish they weren't playing Ticket City Bowl.  I picked Houston on principle.

Michigan St. v. Georgia in the Outback Bowl.  Mich. St. just always seems to get in the bowl picture.

S. Carolina v. Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl.  The Ol' Ball Coach versus Bo Pelini (who is a certifiable nut case in my opinion).

Ohio St. v. Florida in the Gator Bowl. Ohio St. cheats and Florida stole our (Texas) Head Coach In Waiting (Will Muschamp).  How is Ohio St. eligible to play in this game?

Wisconsin v. Oregon in the Rose Bowl.  Oregon sponsored by Nike cheats folks.  Bad.  They'll be the next program in my opinion to get the NCAA inspection.

Stanford v. Oklahoma St. in the Fiesta Bowl.  The Fiesta Bowl stinks folks.  The state of Arizona is full of right wing nut jobs that are as corrupt as they come.  Read this: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Scandal-plagued-Fiesta-Bowl-forced-to-justify-it?urn=ncaaf-wp405.

Of course the Arizona DA cleared all the pols of any wrong doing.  Bleah.