Two Bowls to Start Us Off

 Cheez-It Bowl: Oklahoma State versus Miami

The Cheez-It Bowl is in Orlando, Florida. I was in the Camping World Stadium last year for the Citrus Bowl so I know the stadium pretty well. It's an aging facility, but I can still taste those delicious chili dogs. 

Oklahoma State and Miami face off in this clash. Vegas either has Miami as a one point favorite or Oklahoma State as a one point favorite depending on which book you choose. In this weird time (I so want to resist writing the words "virus" or "COVID" or "Corona"), Oklahoma State has had an up and down year. They started strong only to lose to a struggling Texas team at home in overtime. They ended their year with a win a Baylor (good). Mike Gundy is a loud-mouthed, arrogant offensive-minded coach who is inconsistent in my opinion. Sometimes he appears to be a genius and other times he appears to be making things up on the fly, more worried about his haircut than football. 

Miami had things going pretty well until North Carolina walloped them in their last game (I bet Mack Brown enjoyed that for reasons I'm about to highlight). Miami is coached by Manny Diaz. I remember when Manny Diaz was fired by Mack Brown after Texas lost to BYU in embarrassing fashion. You see, Manny was briefly Mack's defensive coordinator at Texas. BYU's quarterback Taysom Hill, current super sub quarterback with the New Orleans Saints, ran all over Manny's defense that night. How Manny wound up head coaching at Miami is a testament to his perseverance or to the merry-go-round that is the coaching fraternity, or maybe both. I'll be interested to see how long Manny lasts at Miami. Should be an interesting game.

Alamo Bowl:  Texas versus Colorado

Speaking of Texas and coaching controversies, let's talk Tom Herman. Tom can win bowl games. His Longhorns are 7.5 favorites versus Colorado tonight. He has won all three of his bowl games at Texas: the Texas Bowl (I was there), the Cotton Bowl, and the Alamo Bowl. However, he has a problem beating Oklahoma, TCU, Baylor, and non-conference opponents during the regular season. So, the most arrogant fan base in college sports is demanding a change. Why my fellow Longhorns think they are in the class of other big time college programs is beyond me. All hat and no cattle to borrow a cliché. Good program historically, but not great. Texas fans think they should win every game and win the national title every year. It's not going to happen. At least not as long as they are in what Bill Walton calls "a truck stop conference." That Bill Walton, so weird and wise.

Texas has Sam Ehlinger at quarterback but tons of other players have opted out of the bowl, including three starters on the offensive line. Their best player is Bijan Robinson the freshman running back. If they can get a running game going, look out. That takes the pressure of Ehlinger to do too much with his arm and feet. Sam is good, not great. He's tough, but he is not accurate enough to be the second coming of Colt McCoy. As usual, the fan base set their expectations way too high on one player. You need a team to reach the levels of greatness the fans expect.

Colorado surprised this season. They have young talent that came through and put together a nice season. Look for the Buffs to try and throw long through Texas' poor secondary. Tons of Texas' defenders are out of the game too. Might lead to a shootout. But this is bowl season so it will probably be a defensive struggle. 

I wish I was going to the game, but the positivity rates are sky high here. The Mayor has added new restrictions beginning today. I'll be curious to see how big the crowd is.