Marvetta is the winner!!!

Marvetta beat us all. Sorry, I had to go back to work so I was not able to update results. But, with Oklahoma beating Auburn, Marvetta can expect the plaque to be heading her way!!!

What a Rose Bowl!

Tim was so close to eliminating Matt and me. But USC makes the comeback of the bowl season and now we are all tied along with... Marvetta! If Oklahoma wins, Marvetta wins. If Auburn wins, Tim, Matt, and I will be tied. Let's watch some SUGAR Bowl. As I write this, Auburn is up 7 - 0.

That Rose Bowl was awesome.

We Have a New Leader

Tim Smith has taken the lead at 12 - 7 with the Iowa loss and the Wisconsin win.

However, we have several folks still alive in the Pool including out of nowhere one Matthew Baker. He has won SEVEN games in a row!

( A young Matthew stands in the foreground.)

The Last Four Games

Well tomorrow is the day. And, thankfully, I have confirmed I have the day off to watch it all. Marvetta (I NEED A PICTURE) is ahead by one game over Tim, Will and Kirsten. Another group is two games back. It should be a fun day. I have yet to examine who needs what to win. Remember, if there is a tie, I will contact the folks in the playoff and use the Alabama v Clemson championship game as the tiebreaker (winner and points). Let's preview the match-ups.

The Outback Bowl has the Iowa Hawkeyes versus the Florida Gators. This is a virtual home game for Florida, but Iowa has a way of upsetting SEC teams in this bowl. The Hawkeyes have a great fan base that travels well usually. This will be a defensive battle as both teams have good to great defenses and mediocre to poor offenses. Florida is the three point favorite.

Surprisingly, most of us have picked Iowa. This is Tim's chance to move up and tie Marvetta and leave Kirsten and Will behind.

Iowa has a great writing school and many famous writers have come out of the Hawkeye institution. Tennessee Williams, the great playwright, went to Iowa in the late 30's just before writing The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire in the 40's. Pretty impressive Iowa. But, the University of Texas holds the archive at the Harry Ransom Center (we like to steal thunder).

It was hard to find an alumnus of Florida that was not connected to sports or a Republican politician. I don't feel like being controversial at this point so I'll go with Kate DiCamillo. She is a children's author who won the Newberry Medal for a book called Because of Winn Dixie. It was made into a movie that had Dave Matthews in it. So Patricia and I automatically think it's good.

Battle of the writing schools? Maybe a stretch there Florida.

Poor Wisconsin gets to play in this year's You Better Not Lose This Bowl as they play Western Michigan in the Cotton Bowl. Really? The Cotton Bowl features Wisconsin and Western Michigan? Where is it being played? Milwaukee? 

Wisconsin is a 7.5 point favorite. They won 10 games and won the Big 10 West by playing Wisconsin smash mouth football. They will try to run the ball down the Western Michigan throats. Western Michigan has a hot coach in PJ Fleck and ran through their conference, pulled a big upset over Northwestern, and ended the regular season undefeated. They have a solid quarterback/receiver combination with Zach Terrell/Corey Davis. We will see if David can beat Goliath again. It usually happens in one bowl.

Man, Wisconsin has some great alumni. Madison is a special place. But, have you ever been to Muir Woods? It is absolutely my favorite place in this country. Named after the great John Muir who founded the Sierra Club and did so much for preserving wilderness in this country. He took his first botany class at Wisconsin - Madison. Environmental stud.

Western Michigan produces some acting talent. I like some of Tim Allen's movies like the Toy Story stuff and the first The Santa Clause. He also starred in a famous TV comedy called Home Improvement. But, if you have not watched Galaxy Quest do yourself a favor and watch it today. It is the perfect parody of Star Trek. Allen does a great job portraying a lead actor too full of himself to notice much of anything else. For me it is one of those stop, sit down, and watch movies whenever it is on. "Miners not minors!"

Marvetta took Western Michigan. What does she know? Does she put it away with the Cotton Bowl?

Let's look at the Rose Bowl. Penn State, not Ohio State, won the Big Ten championship. They are famous for a big play offense and they did beat Ohio State and Wisconsin. USC did NOT win the Pac 12. Washington did and got into the College Football Playoff, so screw Colorado (the runners up), we want USC to put some butts in seats in Pasadena. USC ended the year by winning 8 straight in the Pac 12 (and Notre Dame). The question is... does that mean anything? The Trojans are 6.5 point favorites.

Speaking of Star Trek, Star Trek the Next Generation star Jonathan Frakes went to Penn State. He plays Commander Riker on the series and in the movies. Meh

OK, USC is full of famous acting alumni. So let's pick a true space man, not a fake one from Western Michigan or Penn State. USC has this man as a famous alumnus...

Neil freaking Armstrong. Can't get much better than that for famous, huh? First man on the moon. One of my first heroes. 

Tim picked Penn State... Hmmmmm... what does this former Californian know...

Sugar Bowl is last. Oklahoma and Auburn battle it out in the Crescent City (New Orleans). Oklahoma won the Big 12. They have a good quarterback in Baker Mayfield who is from freaking Austin (no comment). He once was a walk-on but now leads the Sooners. He has a great receiver in Dede Westbrook. Both guys wound up as Heisman finalists. Auburn will have to deal with them. However, OU is facing turmoil due to the domestic violence scandal brought on by one of their running backs. How much of a distraction will it be?

Auburn won eight games in the always tough SEC West. They had a rash of injuries at the end of the year. Their offense can be potent and they are usually a good bowl team. Oklahoma is a three point favorite. Marvetta has the Sooners.

Do you like westerns? Do you like Gunsmoke? Do you like McCloud? I loved watching McCloud. So I will forgive the great Dennis Weaver for going to Oklahoma... I guess...

Auburn has produced this man...

His name is Tim Cook, and my father is convinced he is currently ruining Apple as its CEO. The reviews for his reign at Apple are not good. Stale products, declining sales, and declining quality. Kind of like Auburn football under Will Muschamp. 

Well that's it. I'll check in tomorrow during the football "palooza." I hope you enjoyed this year's theme of famous alumni. I did. Happy bowling.