[NU Sports] PIGSKIN PICKS - Bowl pool reminder

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

A quick reminder that bowl pool picks are due by kickoff Tuesday.
My picks for the bowls are below the entry form.
GO CATS!!! Go Big Ten!!!

PIGSKIN PICKS – BOWL POOL
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Name: 

BIG TEN
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GAME  1: Ohio State vs. Oregon (Rose Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME  2: Iowa vs. Georgia Tech (Orange Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME  3: Penn State vs. Louisiana State (Citrus Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME  4: Wisconsin vs. Miami-FL (Champs Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME  5: Michigan State vs. Texas Tech (Alamo Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME  6: Minnesota vs. Iowa State (Copper Bowl)
WINNER: 

NATIONAL
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GAME 7: Alabama vs. Texas (BCS Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME  8: Boise State vs. Texas Christian (Fiesta Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME  9: Cincinnati vs. Florida (Sugar Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME 10: Mississippi vs. Oklahoma State (Cotton Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME 11: Florida State vs. West Virginia (Gator Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME 12: Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech (Peach Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME 13: Oklahoma vs. Stanford (Sun Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME 14: Arizona vs. Nebraska (Holiday Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME 15: Georgia vs. Texas A&M (Independence Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME 16: Clemson vs. Kentucky (Music City Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME 17: Boston College vs. Southern Cal (Emerald Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME 18: North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh (Queen City Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME 19: California vs. Utah (Poinsettia Bowl)
WINNER: 

GAME 20: Brigham Young vs. Oregon State (Vegas Bowl)
WINNER: 

MY PICKS
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ROSE BOWL: Ohio State 24, Oregon 21
- The Granddaddy could be the best of ‘em all this year in a classic O vs. D struggle. The Quack Attack will be tough to stop, but the Bucks haven’t been here in a long time and want to win one – without the SC mental block across the field, their D keeps Oregon in check and Tressel gets back to winning big games.

ORANGE BOWL: Iowa 34, Georgia Tech 17
- The key here is that the Hawkeyes have had a month to both heal physically and prepare defensively for the Jacket option attack. With all that time, the team that started the year 9-0 returns, jumps up early and coast to victory.

CITRUS BOWL: Louisiana State 10, Penn State 9
- This may well be a game where the first touchdown wins as the defenses are solid but the offenses are lifeless. PSU had two of those this year and once they fell behind, they seemed to lose confidence. I hope JoePa can turn it around here, but I think the Tigers get that key interception or kick block late to win.

CHAMPS BOWL: Wisconsin 38, Miami 34
- This should be another good game in Orlando, but it will be a battle of offenses here. Wisconsin should be able to pound it down Miami’s throat and the Canes should be able to pass all over the Badgers. Fewest turnovers wins, and after being embarrassed last year by FSU, Bucky comes out fired up and hangs on.

ALAMO BOWL: Texas Tech 49, Michigan State 13
- Does Sparty have anyone left who’s eligible? This will be an ugly game for the Big Ten, no matter which Tech team shows up. If it’s the focused Red Raiders, they could hang 60 on the outmanned Spartans.

INSIGHT BOWL: Minnesota 21, Iowa State 10
- This one all depends on the Gophers’ will – which was absent in November this year, as usual. Last year, Minny chose to use the bowl to try their new ground-oriented offense and were more interested in learning a new system for the outdoor stadium than winning. This year, they come to the Valley to win, and do.

BCS BOWL: Texas 20, Alabama 16
- I don’t feel as sure about this after the title games, but I’ve picked the Horns from day one and will stick with ‘em. The last time they were in Pasadena for a title game, everyone told them they had no chance against the Team of the Century from SC with the Heisman winner. This year, I thought it would be Florida as the Team of the Century, but you still have the Heisman winner and overwhelming odds with Bama. Saban’s a master with time to prepare, but Colt McCoy goes out on top in a classic.

FIESTA BOWL: Texas Christian 28, Boise State 21
- Should be a good game in the desert, but it’s a shame we can’t see these two teams face up against the big leagues, as both have legit claims at the title and beating the other just don’t make the case for a split title.

SUGAR BOWL: Florida 56, Cincinnati 10
- There’s a reason Brian Kelly left town in the middle of the night with his tail between his legs … his team was a collection of smoke and mirrors – all offense and no defense playing a soft schedule in an overrated league (so he’ll fit right in at South Bend). The team that’s left gets to become Gator Bait for a five-hour love letter to Tim Tebow. The game’s not in doubt – the only question is what’s the over/under on baby pictures, shots of parents, finding out what Tim had for breakfast that day, downloading what’s on Tim’s iPod and hearing about his latest mission.

COTTON BOWL: Oklahoma State 24, Mississippi 14
- Intriguing game between my preseason darkhorse and everyone else’s preseason darling. I was right about the Rebs being overrated, but my early good feelings on the Cowpokes soured quickly, even in an overrated Big XII. Still, I like Okie State to salvage some of their pride at Jerryworld.

GATOR BOWL: Florida State 38, West Virginia 31
- What’s more nauseating than a five-hour Tebow lovefest? A week of hearing what a good guy po’ ole “echo of the whistle” “international rules” “free shoes” grampa Bowden was … or how his team of Florida recruits beating a Big East team is considered an “upset.”

PEACH BOWL: Virginia Tech 23, Tennessee 12
- Wonder if Lane has any more stones he’d like to throw before heading back into his glass house of recruiting scandals? His D will be well coached, but Tech’s entire team will be well coached and wants to beat the SEC in Atlanta this time.

SUN BOWL: Oklahoma 20, Stanford 13
- This could be the best matchup El Paso has had in decades, but with the time to prepare, the Sooners will be ready for the bruising attack of the Cardinal and clamp down on defense.

HOLIDAY BOWL: Arizona 16, Nebraska 10
- Tough call as this game is usually an offensive shootout, but Nebraska’s offense couldn’t score if they had three extra players … yet their defense is amazing. Still, the Pac 10 has been underrated and the Big XII overrated all year and I can’t pick the Sooners and Huskers to both win, can I? 

INDEPENDENCE BOWL: Georgia 35, Texas A&M 24
- Coach Sherman’s best strategy would be to pay the Dawgs to wear burnt orange uniforms.

MUSIC CITY BOWL: Clemson 28, Kentucky 20
- The Tigers should coast, but as we saw when they matched up against South Carolina, they don’t always rise to the occasion.

EMERALD BOWL: Southern Cal 42, Boston College 14
- Something tells me the Eagles’ near-perfect bowl record in the last few decades will take a hit from a bunch of Trojans who should be embarrassed to be playing in this minor bowl.

QUEEN CITY BOWL: North Carolina 30, Pittsburgh 26
- Flip a coin here, as both of these teams played great one week this year and then looked awful the next. I refuse to believe in either, but I do think Butch has a coaching edge over the Wannstache.

POINSETTIA BOWL: Utah 36, California 27
- Southern California may not have a pro football team, but between the two games in Pasadena and two in San Diego, they’re the best spot for college football fans this year, as the second-tier San Diego bowl has a better matchup than just about anybody. The Utes pull away late in an exciting one.

VEGAS BOWL: Oregon State 45, Brigham Young 33
- Should be a fun shootout in Vegas with two good teams here as well.

And off the board …

OUTBACK BOWL: Northwestern 35, Auburn 31
- I’m hoping this is the year … it will be tough with the high-powered Tigers, but with time to get healthy, the Cats should come out strong against their suspect defense and hang on late after the halftime adjustments to start New Year’s Day off right. I hope. I hope.

Remember, picks due by kickoff Tuesday in Vegas!
Go Big Ten!!!
GO CATS!!!
-SjT


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STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!