Bowl projections are going pretty well going into the homestretch, with an overall winning percentage of 60%. As we head into the BCS games and the major bowl games that present the most exciting matchups, I thought I’d look at what have been the most disappointing teams for me this bowl season:

ARIZONA STATE

Dennis Erickson’s team opened the Holiday Bowl playing as flat as a two week old bottle of Mountain Dew rolling around the floor board of your car. Though I was never a believer in the idea that Arizona State ever deserved to be mentioned among the elite of college football, I fully expected the Sun Devils to come out and play motivated football against an inconsistent Texas team but my hats off to Mack Brown, who got his guys up for that game and they got embarrassed Arizona State on national television. This season may have been a step forward for the Sun Devil program but giving up 52 points on national television and getting outplayed in every aspect of the game is never good for business.

CENTRAL FLORIDA

I was a big believer in UCF going into the bowl season after watching Kevin Smith, the nation’s leading rusher, slice and dice the Tulsa defense in the Conference USA championship. But they got caught playing Bulldog football. The 10-3 win Mississippi State got in Saturday’s Liberty Bowl is exactly the kind of win Sylvester Croom’s team has gotten all year.  To George O’ Leary’s credit, he tried to go with what got him there, handing the ball to Smith 35 times but Mississippi State clamped down on the run, forcing the Knights to turn to quarterback Kyle Israel. And that’s when things got a little ugly. Israel threw for just 88 yards and three interceptions. You have to give some credit to Sylvester Croom for getting this Mississippi State team, one of the most offensively ugly teams I’ve ever seen, to eight wins. I fully anticipate a return to mediocrity for the Bulldogs in ‘08 but their ‘07 campaign is as good a story as any in college football.

5. Heroes 

Another show that could be irreparably damaged by the writer’s strike after having a hasty ending to what many, myself somewhat among them, considered to be a disappointing sophomore season for one of television’s most popular shows last year. Yes, the show has problems. Yes, the writing is sometimes bad and the acting exacerbates things but I’m still holding onto hoping that creator Tim Kring will right the ship and make this show a must-see again.

4. The Office  

The only thing I don’t absolutely love about The Office is that it is no longer airing new episodes. Everything about this show is pitch perfect, clever and well done. There have been a complete recent pitfalls for me (the last episode before the show went dark was really bizarre) but I love this show and know that when the show comes back on, it will be equally brilliant as it has been in its first three seasons. Let’s just hope that’s sooner rather than later.

3. Boy Meets World 

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found that few television shows that I loved as a kid are anywhere near as good as I remember them. Saved by the Bell and Thundercats come most readily to mind but Boy Meets World is a show that I enjoy every bit as much as 24 as I did when I was 12. What I love most about the show, above all else, is its authenticity and its heart. Far more than any sitcom of its sort, you really believe that these people are a family and really care about each other and it gives the show an endearing warmth. Sadly, the show is no longer airing on syndication on ABC Family and the Disney Channel, let us hope that is only temporary.

2. Scrubs

Really sad to see this show go this year but it has been an incredible run for what I feel to be the best medical show, comedy or drama, in the history of television.  If there is ever a day that I pass on watching Scrubs, I hope someone has the decency to kill me. It will break my heart if this show ends without a proper series finale, as rumor has it. A show that has been this strong for this long really deserves an ending with some closure, both for those involved in the production and those who have loved the show for the duration of its run.

1. Sportsnight 

My steadfast rule when I started making this list is that whatever lands on my list, or particularly at the top of the list, I wanted it to be shows that I’ve watched and love to watch and will watch again and the discontinued Sportsnight is the epitome of that philosophy. I’ve seen every episode of Aaron Sorkin’s pre-West Wing dramedy about life on a Sportscenter-esque late night sports show. The show really introduced the world to Peter Krause, who had previously done a few bit roles including the role as a white supremacist handler on Seinfeld and Felicity Huffman. It would have been so easy for this show to be hokey and terrible but it is tremendously well-written, well-acted (save Sabrina Lloyd who plays Natalie, who has since been found stinking up Numb3rs and Ed).

As my TiVo can certainly attest, I am a man who loves television. The genesis for this latest list came when my girlfriend and I were sitting on the couch, watching (guess what?) television when she suggested that I make a Top 10 list of my favorite television shows. Together, we racked our brains to assemble the list and rank them in their proper order. Shows like The OC and One Tree Hill were staples of her list but regrettably, as you will find, were left off mine. The first half of the list will run today with the finale happening tomorrow. I may even solicit some list from a few more friends.

10. Sleeper Cell

Thank goodness for TV shows on DVD. Had it not been for the release of seasons one and two on DVD, I would have never gotten to see this show and my life certainly would have been the lesser for it. Frankly, Sleeper Cell is a smarter, better acted 24. It’s equal parts action and smart political drama. The show’s lead Michael Ealy from Barbershop finally got a Golden Globe nod for his work in the show and the nomination is well deserved as Ealy turns in one of the best performances I’ve seen on any television show in a long time. It helps that the show is on Showtime and has a little more leeway by way of violence, language, etc. I can’t imagine a diluted version of this show being on network television. It might look a little bit more like… well, like 24.

9. Six Feet Under

After the first three seasons of this show, I would have thought that this show would have certainly landed somewhere in the top five. The story lines were interesting, compelling and moving and the performances were wonderful. And then the end of the show happened and I’m not just talking about the final episode, which I believe to have had one of the best final sequences of any show ever, I’m talking about the end of the show as a whole. The writers, in an attempt to make the characters more interesting after four seasons just made them more flawed and unrelatable. By the end of the show, I had gotten so tired of all the characters and their abhorrent behavior that I was ready for it to end. None the less, the show is one that I loved intensely for years and thus makes an appearance.

8. Rescue Me

I have never been a Dennis Leary fan but he is unbelievably, spectacularly amazing as New York City firefighter Tommy Gavin in Rescue Me. On top of Leary’s performance, the show is help by a great supporting cast and great writing. I’ve only watched the show on DVD and I’ve heard some critical things about the fourth season but it would take an awful lot to throw me off the horse at this point.

7. Lost

Yes, the show is overly complex and has more story arcs than it probably needs but few shows have the following and the cult interest that Lost has. Season three returned and saved the show after what some (not myself, mind you) dubbed a disappointing season two. But my interest in this show is waning and will likely continue to do so this year as ABC will air the first eight episodes of season four in late January followed by, what could be, a year break before the viewers get to see how the season ends. A favorite since I started watching the show on DVD a couple years ago, this could be the year that Lost cements in position on my list or gets the old heave-ho.

6. Top Chef 

It was Bravo’s reality cooking series that really put competitions of this sort on the map and I think brought a whole new level of awareness to cooking and haute cuisine. The new season of Top Chef in Chicago starts soon and I’m ecstatic to see Top Chef finally come to the Midwest. And besides, any show that makes Eric Ripert a household name is ok by me.

Back in Destin after a chilly trip back to Indiana. The bowl picks are fairing alright at 3-3 going into today’s Motor City Bowl. No real surprises though I was happy to see Howard Schellenberger and FAU get a big bowl win over Memphis in a game that was never really close. I am kind of surprised by the effort Chris Petersen’s Boise State team gave in the Hawaii Bowl, just seemed like Skip Holtz’s ECU Pirates wanted it more and won a close one. So before I left, my girlfriend and I were kicking around some new top 20/top 20  lists and I’m definitely interested in doing that and, of course, getting your lists in return so keep an eye peeled for that. I haven’t forgotten about the Patties and will likely do those after the bowl season (the way they should award the Heisman).

Ok, so now it’s officially Christmas and I’d like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Holiday. The Bottom Line will return tomorrow as I return from my tundra-like homeland of Indiana.

I consider Christmas to be here when Christmas Eve rolls around so Merry Christmas from everyone at The Destin Log and The Bottom Line!

The Bottom Line will be dark for a couple days as I get ready to head back to Indiana for Christmas. I hope everyone enjoys the Christmas holiday and gets a chance to watch some football.

Monday, Jan. 7 - Allstate BCS National Championship

Ohio State vs. LSU

Before last year’s BCS National Championship game, some foolish, young sportswriter wrote this about Ohio State:

“No offense Florida faced this year is packed with the kind of dynamite the Buckeyes will have when Troy Smith … lines up under center… The difference between the two teams … is that Ohio State has Troy Smith and Florida doesn’t.”

Yes, I can admit when I’m wrong and boy, was I wrong. What followed was a humbling lesson in prognostication as Florida’s defense pressured Smith all night and limited him to less than 50 yards passing, winning the national championship easily.

So here we are again.

The Ohio State team that heads down to New Orleans is very different from the juggernaut that I, and many others, thought last year’s Buckeyes to be. This year’s Ohio State team is coming in a little under the radar but needless to say, I won’t be going that far out on a limb for Jim Tressel’s team against this year. Especially not against LSU.

The key for LSU will be finding a weakness in the nation’s best defense, a task that will prove tricky, particularly considering how bland the Tiger offense has looked at various points this year. Without question, the strength of the LSU offense lies with Jacob Hester and their ground game. I wonder how Les Miles will respond if Ohio State stuffs the run early and LSU has to take to the air against the nation’s top-ranked pass defense. Having Matt Flynn back in the lineup will help LSU changes things up on offense and use backup Ryan Perriloux strategically and not as an every down quarterback. LSU will have to find Vernon Gholston on every snap and will likely double team Gholston, who finished fourth in the country with 13 sacks.

Without question, this game will be won or lost for both teams when Ohio State has the ball. It will be the ability of junior Todd Boeckman to stay patient and poised in the pocket and make feet with his feet when he has to as he will likely see an exotic combination of blitz packages from a defense loaded to the gills with NFL-caliber talent. If you’re a fan of great offensive and defensive line play, this is the game for you because when Ohio State has the ball, the tempo of the game will be decided by the big guys up front. If Ohio State can control the tempo of the game and the line can open holes for Beanie Wells, the national championship trophy will be headed to Columbus but if the LSU line can confuse Ohio State into missing assignments and not account for blitzing defenders, Boeckman will turn the ball over and the Buckeyes will lose. I have to wonder what effect the departure of defensive coordinator Bo Pelini for Nebraska will have on his unit or whether it will be business as usual for this quick, ball hawking defense.

In the words of the President, “fool me once, shame on me, fool me.. you can’t get fooled again.” I’m going with Ohio State in this one. I question Les Miles’ decision making, especially in a close game and this LSU team has been living on the edge all year long. Todd Boeckman at QB for Ohio State scares me but he has weapons in Robieski and Hartline and one of the best young running backs in the country in Beanie Wells at his disposal. I’ve just seen LSU’s offense flounder so horribly against teams with much worse defenses than Ohio State’s to believe they are capable of moving the ball up and down the field on this Buckeye defense.

Saturday, Jan. 5 - International Bowl

Ball State vs. Rutgers 

I’ll never understand why bowl games like the International Bowl and the GMAC Bowl position themselves after the BCS bowls but before the national championship but the second-ever International Bowl could be an interesting game. The game features a matchup between two head coaches who were both mentioned for the Michigan head coaching job in Rutgers’ Greg Schiano and Ball State’s Brady Hoke. Rutgers has been a steady, if not unspectacular football team, after becoming a household name last season. Offensively, Rutgers strategy has been simple: Hand the ball to Ray Rice. Rice finished first in the Big East and third nationally in rushing yards and Ball State may try to load the box to stuff the run and make Mike Teel, he of 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on the year, beat them. Defensively, the Cardinals haven’t had too much success stuffing the run, allowing almost 200 yards rushing a game, 99th best in the country. My hats off to Brady Hoke for the job he has down turning around this Ball State team but I don’t forsee one of the weakest rushing defenses being able to slow down one of the country’s most prolific rushers. I’m going with Schiano and Rutgers in this one. Look for Rice to rush for at least 125 and for Rutgers wideout Tiquan Underwood to have a big day going up against a mediocre Ball State secondary, which will likely be focused primarily on stuffing the run.

 Sunday, Jan. 6 - GMAC Bowl

Bowling Green vs. Tulsa 

Those not familiar with Tulsa and quarterback Paul Smith had better get acquainted. The senior is every bit as good as Colt Brennan and is leading an offense that finished the season averaging 542 yards per game, tops in America. Nationally, Smith ranks in the top 10 in the country in pass efficiency, passing yards per game and total passing yards. Ranked second only to Heisman winner Tim Tebow, Smith is 2nd in America in points responsible for, accounting for more than 25 points a game, .12 points less than Tim Tebow. Truthfully, I don’t see how Bowling Green competes in this one. Giving up more than 413 yards per game on defense and averaging 416 yards on offense, I don’t think the Falcons can keep up in a shootout. The most BG can hope for is a soggy day in Mobile that might limit the ability of Smith to throw the ball or hope that the NCAA amends the rules prior to kickoff and begins allowing 14 men on the field on defense. I saw Paul Smith play in the Conference USA Championship game against UCF and was very impressed with his poise in the pocket and his accuracy and if Bowling Green gives him time in the pocket, he will put up 60. No surprise here, Tulsa in a rout.

NOTE: I’ll be posting my pick for the National Championship game in tomorrow’s Pick ‘Em. Along with a wrap up of all my picks.

Anyone who watched any of the NFL action this past Sunday definitely felt like doing so in front of a roaring fire. After watching teams and fans brave whiteouts and swirling winds in stadiums north of the Mason-Dixon line, I couldn’t help but feel like weather is as much a part of the game as anything else. As a sidenote, the coldest I’ve ever been in my entire life was at a football game. When the Bears were playing in Champaign, my dad scored some Eagles/Bears tickets and it was rainy and windy and about 22 degrees and had it not been for the fact that we were at the very top of the stadium, which allowed us to stand for most of the game, we surely would have become hypothermic. I found some awesome photos on NFL.com from this weekend’s wintery action.

(AP/Tony Dejak)

(Getty Images/Chris McGrath)

(Getty Images/Rick Stewart)

(Getty Images/Jim Rogash)

*Sidenote: The cutline on NFL.com identified this gentleman as a worker. That is not a worker. That is a fan with a shovel. Well done, sir.