[NU Sports] Well ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

... looks like we'll get to play on New Year's Day again - in Dallas.

Disappointing effort in front of what was probably our biggest audience of the season.

Not so much the offense - Watkins wasn't that bad for a first-time starter (though here's a hint son, find Mr. Ebert and Mr. Dunsmore as often as possible!).

What was disappointing was our defense. We just got mauled and we didn't have anything left in the second half. We should have been KO'd early in this one, but we hung in for a half ... but then coming out so flat on O and D after halftime really sealed it.

Looking ahead to playing in Camp Randall with the Badger running game, our inability to tackle and a classless coach who is trying to keep a lead in the B(C)S computers by running up the score ... ouch.

But we need to be honest, after Persa went out, the air really went out of the season. Now it's about getting Watkins some reps, the extra bowl practice, making another bowl game and hopefully winning it.

Around the league ...

* Nice comeback by MSU, but with Iowa's late collapse and a weak showing against Purdue, I don't like their chances in Happy Valley next week.

* WISCONSIN rolled and is breathing easier with OSU beating Iowa. They should be playing for Roses next week in Madison.

* OHIO STATE got a gutsy win ... take the defense-less and overrated SEC if you want, I'll take this year's two BIG TEN games in Kinnick with the Badgers and Hawkeyes and OSU-Iowa -- now THAT's Big Ten football!

* Did PSU and IU even play today?

Latest bowl guesstimate ...

* TITLE: Oregon vs. TCU - Would rather have Boise
* ROSE: Wisconsin vs. Stanford - A great physical slugfest!
* SUGAR: Auburn vs. Boise State - Go Blue! Sugar will have BIG pressure to pick Boise here and Orange will have choice between Bama and Bucks
* ORANGE: Virginia Tech vs. Ohio State - Big Ten tops SEC this year
* FIESTA: Nebraska vs. Pitt - They should hang their heads in shame
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* CITRUS: Michigan State vs. Alabama - Saban Bowl could be ouch for Sparty
* OUTBACK: Penn State vs. South Carolina - Classic coaching matchup
* GATOR: Iowa vs. Florida - Should fill some seats in Jacksonville
* INSIGHT: Michigan vs. Oklahoma St. - Could be a fun shootout
* TEXAS: Illinois vs. Texas A&M - Two Jeckyl/Hyde teams
* DALLAS: Northwestern vs. Baylor - Hope for the underdogs?

On the plus side, we may have saved the Zooker's job today. Ugh.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
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