Your Turkey Weekend Viewing Guide

Let us give thanks that there will be a college game tonight, even if it is Boston College – Miami. I want to fall asleep every time I watch an NFL game, and I was watching the FOX pregame show earlier for the 4:30 game and just remembered how much I really hate Joe Buck.

As I mentioned, we have BC-Miami tonight on ESPN for the usual Thursday night time slot. You’ll probably see that Doug Flutie hail mary about 20 times, but that aside BC shouldn’t need any miracles against a down-and-out Miami team.

Since there’s games on Friday and Saturday, I’ll do a double feature for them. Since I’m at home, this’ll reflect games shown here, but times will still be Eastern.

Friday, noon – Texas A&M @ Texas (ABC): If there were at Kyle Field, I might give the Aggies a chance. Otherwise, Texas should roll. But what a way to start off the day!

2:30 – LSU vs. Arkansas (CBS): Doesn’t count for the SEC standings, but possibly were the SEC stands in terms of BCS bids. LSU might be able to sow one up if they win, but it looks better if Arkansas heads into the SEC title game with 1 loss.

3:30 – Colorado @ Nebraska (ABC): Nothing at stake here, Huskers roll.
Oregon @ Oregon State (FSN): The Civil War has some bowl position at stake here – OSU has proven to be the better team since their victory over USC. A win or loss for either team doesn’t effect USC that much.

9:00 – Fresno St. @ Louisiana Tech (ESPN2): Uh, okay. I think this was schedule back when no one had any idea Fresno St. would suck as badly as they do this year.

Saturday, noon:

  • Florida @ Florida State (ABC): FSU lost 30-0 to Wake a couple weeks ago at Doak Campbell. Is there really anything else to say here?
  • South Carolina @ Clemson (ESPN): It’s been a relatively disappointing season for both these teams. Clemson looked like a legit top-10 contender after destroying GT, but got destroyed themselves @VPI. South Carolina lacks a signature win this season, and I have my doubts they’ll be able to get it in Death Valley.
  • USF @ West Virginia (ESPN2): Uh, okay.

12:30 – Kentucky @ Tennessee (local SEC station): Will Tennessee suffer another devastating loss to the dregs of the SEC East this year? Kentucky is bowl-eligible this year and not completely horrible. Tennessee shouldn’t have any issues, but we’ll see what happens.

2:30 – Oklahoma @ Oklahoma St. (FSN): This is one of those throw-out-the-record book rivalries. Always at stake and always insane. Does OU still remember the 2001 season, where a 4-7 OSU team beat Oklahoma? OSU is 6-5 this year, but they always get up for this game (to continue using bad cliches).

3:30:

  • Georgia Tech @ Georgia (CBS): Hopefully we’ll run all over them like they’re Wake Forest or Maryland or somebody.
    I’ll serenade you with some songs. The second two correspond to the two played in the video.
    To hell, to hell with Georgia!
    To hell, to hell with Georgia!
    To hell, to hell with Georgia!
    The cesspool of the South!
    —–
    Oh well, it’s…..
    Up with the White and Gold
    Down with the Red and Black
    Georgia Tech is out for a victory
    We’ll drop our battle axe on Georgia’s head
    When we meet her our team is sure to beat her!
    And down on the farm there’ll be no sound
    ‘Till our bow-wows rip through the air!
    And after the battle, Georgia’s team will be found
    With the Yellow Jackets swarming ’round!
    ——
    I’m a Ramblin Wreck from Georgia Tech and a helluva engineer
    A helluva, helluva, helluva eingeer
    Like all the jolly good fellows
    I drink my whiskey clear
    I’m a Ramblin Wreck from Georgia Tech and a helluva engineer

    Oh, I wish I had a daughter sir
    I’d dress her in the White and Gold
    Put her on the campus to cheer the brave and bold
    But if I had a son sir
    I’d tell you what he’d do
    He’d yell, “TO HELL WITH GEORGIA” like his daddy used to do!

    Oh, I wish I had a barrel of rum and sugar three thousand pounds
    A college bell to put it in, a clapper to stir it ’round
    I’d drink to all the jolly good fellows who come from far and near
    ‘Cause a I’m a ramblin’, gamblin’, HELLUVA ENGINEER, HEY!

  • Louisville @ Pittsburgh (ESPN): Pitt isn’t horrible this year, but they’re not good either and UL should win this one going away.

4:15 – Boise St. @ Nevada (ESPN2): This is the best (and last) chance for BSU to lose. Should, they? No. But the Wolfpack is a pretty decent team and with the game in Reno they should stand a chance to pull the upset.

6:00 – Arizona St. @ Arizona (FSN): Each of these teams has had their ups and downs this year, but this is always a pretty decent game, and with each team at 6-5, this year should be no exception.

7:45 – Wake Forest @ Maryland (ESPN): This for all the ACC Atlantic marbles. I think I spelled it out below, but I’ll do it again: If Wake wins, they’re in. If those lose, then if BC wins tonight they’re in. If BC loses, then and only then could UMD go.

8:00 – Notre Dame @ USC (ABC): This is always one of those where I’m not sure who to root for. USC does have the song girls, and a USC loss to ND doesn’t help anyone. For maximum BCS chaos, USC needs to beat ND but lose to UCLA, which knocks both USC and ND out of the title game picture (though their loss to Michigan really hurts ND’s chances anyway).

That’s all folks. I hope you enjoy your turkey tonight and give some thanks. I don’t really recommend shopping tomorrow because, after all, it’s cold, the traffic is bad, and hey, there’s football on!

And TO HELL WITH GEORGIA!

Bowl Predictions, Week 6

Perhaps it’s my fever-induced state, but I just convinced myself that Auburn still has a good shot at a BCS Bowl bid.

Imagine the expected OSU-USC matchup shakes out. The Rose gets the first two picks, so naturally they take Michigan first. But who else does the Rose pick? The SEC title game loser? If that’s Arkansas, they would probably get hammered in the polls. If West Virginia beats Rutgers, I think the Rose wants a conference champion, and they can get that in WVU. (Of course, what the rose really wants is OSU-USC, but oh well.)

So the next to pick is the Sugar. The Sugar gets UF as the SEC title game winner. Notre Dame is still available, so the Sugar picks them.

Next is the Orange, and this is where it gets interesting. Provided Boise State beats Nevada, they get a BCS bid. Since none of the bowls actually want Boise St., they will fall all the way to the Fiesta. Auburn is currently 12th in the BCS standings, and at 10-2 they meet both of the criteria for at-large selection. Ahead of them are the following teams likely to lose in the next few weeks (whereas Auburn is done): LSU, Arkansas, and Notre Dame. ND won’t fall that far when/if they lose this weekend, whereas LSU probably will (3rd loss) and Arkansas will face the usual title-game loser curse. Based on what I’ve said, the Orange could select from a pool of Arkansas, Louisville, Boise State, Auburn, and maybe Oklahoma. If I’m a bowl game committee chairman, I want people in the seats, so I want a SEC team. Arkansas is far away and will be coming off a loss, whereas Auburn is closer and just beat their arch-rival. Auburn is not likely to fall any further despite not playing. (Especially if UF wins the SEC title.)

As usual, I refuse to predict Tech to win the ACC, though I like our chances.

I’m pleasantly surprised by the number of eligible teams this year – especially from the Big 12 and SEC, which I thought might not make it. The Big 12 even has an extra team this year, and plus their weakness sorta helps them (in the sense they won’t get 2 BCS bids). The Big Ten will fall short, but Cincinnati should be able to go to the Motor City, and Washington State isn’t that far away from Boise.

Anyway, I’m tired and sick and heading back to Madison later today. And To Hell With Georgia.