[NU Sports] football and brains

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> The Big Ten website lists the bowls in
> Rose-Citrus-Outback-Alamo-Champs-Insight-Motor City order,
> but only gives dates and logos.

I dunno - the rules seem to change fast with bowls, especially with them adding new ones every year! :) I know other leagues have allowed mid-tier bowls to alternate picks annually to avoid stagnation (another sign that this sacred bowl tradition is dying out) and having the same team every year ("can't spell Citrus without UT" :) ). Wherever we go will be fine!

> Rose - PSU/Oregon St (If the Beavers win out, and lock out
> the Trojans, won't the Rose Bowl people be horrified ?)

Actually, they probably will be thrilled.
- First, USC's been there so many times recently I'm sure their fans are not as enthusiastic for the game anymore with ticket sales
- Second, Oregon State will bring a truckload of fans (the only downside would be the PSU rematch) from out of town where SC fans are mostly locals.
- Third, it would all but guarantee the Pac 10 gets to BCS teams and more money with SC being selected at-large (and probably hurting the Big Ten)
- Finally, would you want to put up with SC fans every year? Something tells me the Rose Bowl committee folk are praying for a change! :)

> Fiesta - OSU/Texas

Heck of a matchup there! I wouldn't count out a side deal with the Sugar and Fiesta, though, to bring Utah to Phoenix (more fans will travel there and New Orleans was stuck with Hawaii last year) while OSU plays Bama in the Sugar.

But again, if Oregon State heads to Pasadena, USC will get scooped up by the Fiesta folk far before Ohio State.

> Cap One - MSU/Georgia

Great matchup of running backs!
> 
> Outback - Iowa/S Carolina (The Des Moines Register was
> already predicting this also)

Yup - looks like we'll have to wait on the "Nerd Bowl" as Vandy's fallen off pace and Iowa will be chosen ahead of us if they win out after the big PSU win (even though WE BEAT THEM!).

> Champs - NU/Miami

I don't like this at all. I don't want to face Florida punks in Florida. I want Kansas in Phoenix. Or Mizzou in San Antonio. But like I said, it's a bowl, so we can't be too choosy. :)
> 
> Alamo - Wisconsin/Missouri

Winner of the Axe game probably heads here and Minny's in a tailspin. An interesting clash of styles here. On one hand, Chase Daniels will pick apart UW (or NU) in the secondary ... but on the other hand, Mizzou (and most of the Big XII) gives up tons of points themselves so it could be fun.
> 
> Insight - Minnesota/Kansas
> 
Phoenix had the Gophers a couple years ago, so they may try and get out of this (especially if Minnesota tanks the end of the year and it's seen as a disappointing season because of the finish, even though it should be seen as a great turnaround year), but I'm not sure they can get out of having the Gophers visit.
> 
> Motor City - Illinois/Central Michigan

Don't count out Western Michigan and a rematch!

> Yarina also has us beating Michigan in the Big House this
> week 23-20, and Illinois losing to OSU 31-23.  Since
> he's making Illinois Bowl bound, that means he expects
> them to beat us in Evanston...oh well

The reverse is probably more likely ... but getting that 8th win is big for confidence and sweeping for win #9 would make it really tough for some of the bowls to pass on us.

It's nice to be back in the discussion again. Now we have to prove the doubters wrong and show up with a solid performance to move up the respect ladder for future years' bowls.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT