Hawaii vs. Georgia

The Warriors travel to the Mainland in their first BCS game in school history to try to prove that they are worth of their BCS berth after going undefeated while playing one of the weakest schedules in all of college football. Unfortunately for Hawaii, they aren’t playing another undeserving team (like Kansas), they have to play Georgia, one of the hottest team’s in the country. Georgia must be sure not to get follow the trend set by other teams that narrowly missed their chance to play for the National Championship, only to get upended in their bowl game (Ask Michigan about that). Defensively, I don’t think Hawaii has what it takes to hang with the Bulldogs as long as they don’t turn the ball over. Knowshon Moreno’s Heisman candidacy in 2008 will begin in New Orleans, expect the redshirt freshman to run for at least 150 as Hawaii has never gone against a line as big or as physical as Georgia’s all year. For Georgia’s offense, the play of true sophomore quarterback Matt Stafford will be the key. Stafford’s a gunslinger and his decision-making has been questionable at times last year and this year and limiting his brain farts will be huge for Georgia’s offense. But the game will truly be won or lost on defense for UGA. Georgia’s corners don’t match up well against Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullen and the unit has failed to force defensive turnovers all year, ranking just 85th in the country in turnovers forced. Willie Martinez’s unit is extremely physical and has been a solid run-stopping team all year, a skill that won’t come in particularly handy against an offense that has run the ball just 261 times all year. Still, I like Georgia’s physicality in this game and given how poorly Hawaii has played on the road this year (narrowly winning at Louisiana Tech, at Nevada and at San Jose State), I’ll take Georgia in what could be the most entertaining of all the BCS bowls.

Wednesday, Jan. 2 - Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

Oklahoma vs. West Virginia 

A second consecutive trip to the Fiesta Bowl and I’m guessing that Bob Stoops and the Sooners hope this one ends better than their last visit to Tempe. A year removed from losing one of the greatest bowl games in college football history to Boise State, the Sooners come into this year’s game against West Virginia riding high off a schlacking of Missouri in the Big 12 title game. Facing one of the most explosive offenses in the country, and one of the most underrated receivers in the country in Darius Reynaud, the Sooners will be without All-Big 12 first-teamer Reggie Smith, who broke his big toe in the Big 12 Championship game and will miss the Fiesta Bowl. For West Virginia, the game will be a test to get their offense back on the rails after they were completely dominated by Pittsburgh, scoring a season-low nine points, in their dream-shattering loss at home. The Mountaineers will need Pat White to prove that he has recovered from a dislocated thumb that kept him out of most of the game against Pitt and Steve Slaton will need to show that he can be the game-changing back everyone expected him to be at the beginning of the year, a feat that will prove to be most difficult against all-universe linebacker Curtis Lofton and a stout Oklahoma defense that finished in the nation’s top 20 in total defense that gave up less than 100 yards a game on the ground all year long. The game will rest squarely on the shoulders of Pat White for West Virginia. Oklahoma isn’t likely to give up much on the ground, much to the chagrin of the Mountaineers, who finished the season averaging 292 yards per game on the ground. White will need to exploit an Oklahoma secondary that, even with Smith, finished 68th in the country against the pass. On offense, Oklahoma will have to play mistake-free football when they line up against a West Virginia defense, led by All-Big East defensive tackle, Keilen Dykes, who finished in the nation’s top 10 in passing and rushing defense. I’m going against my instincts on this one and taking Oklahoma. Bob Stoops finds a way to get his guys motivated for the big games and I didn’t like what I saw from West Virginia last week.

Thursday, Jan. 3 - FedEx Orange Bowl

Kansas vs. Virginia Tech 

If I am to miss a single BCS snap this year, they will likely all accumulate in this one game. In one corner, you have Virginia Tech, a team with a brilliant defense and a something-less-than-brilliant offense and Kansas, a completely fraudulent BCS team, who has no business playing in this game given that they loss to the other viable opponent they played all season. Virginia Tech will need to get pressure on Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing, something they have shown little problem doing this year, finishing in the top ten in the nation in sacks. Offensively, Virginia Tech has been one of the most frustrating teams to watch all year as they putter down the field like an old lay in the grocery store when you’re trying to pick up a few things on the go. But they seemed to have found a way to minimize Sean Glennon’s horrible-ness and mix a two quarterback system with the aforementioned Glennon and freshman Tyrod Taylor splitting snaps. It’s hard to gauge what kind of a chance Kansas has in this one given that they have only played one legitimate opponent all year (and got it handed to them). I’ll take Virginia Tech in a close one. Neither of these teams are particularly great and it could be a game of field possession and turnovers. Too bad The Office isn’t air new episodes.

California vs. Air Force 

If you would have told me after Cal’s week one blowout of Tennessee that the Golden Bears would be finish the year in the Armed Forces Bowl, I would have suggested a trip to the Betty Ford clinic should be somewhere in your future. Injuries paired with inconsistent efforts in Pac-10 conference play (not to mention a pair of three-game losing streaks) earned Cal a trip to Fort Worth to play Air Force on New Year’s Eve. On name recognition alone, but you overlook the 9-3 Falcons of the Air Force Academy at your own peril. For Cal, the key to winning this game could be whether or not sensational junior wide receiver DeSean Jackson plays (Jackson missed time this year with a thigh contusion, including Cal’s inexplicable loss to a three-win Stanford team in The Big Game). When healthy, Jackson is the most electrifying player in college football by far but the receiver has struggled to get open this season, pulling in just 60 receptions for less than 700 yards and 5 touchdowns on the year. Cal quarterback Nate Longshore and his ability to be accurate in the passing game could be the key for the Golden Bears. Longshore and a trio of talented receivers that include Jackson, seniors Lavell Hawkins and Robert Jordan might have a big day against this Air Force pass defense, which ranked dead last in the Mountain West. On defense, Cal will have to figure out a way to stop the run. Air Force’s offense, led by senior tailback Chad Hall, is averaging a jaw-dropping 293 yards a game on the ground, which doesn’t bode well for a Cal defense giving up 152 yards a game against the run. With Jackson in the lineup, I like Cal by air in this one.

Monday, Dec. 31 - Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl 

Georgia Tech vs. Fresno State

In this one, the Yellow Jackets, far and away, have more talent on both sides of the ball than Pat Hill’s Fresno Bulldogs but the coaching situation at Georgia Tech is anything but settled. Chan Gailey got shown the door after a seven-win season, Tech hired a great coach in Navy’s Paul Johnson but Johnson won’t coach the team in their bowl game and the team’s interim coach, Jon Tenuta, the team’s defensive coordinator, has been named in connection with both the Michigan head coaching job and the recently vacated LSU defensive coordinator position. Still, you gotta like Georgia Tech in this game. Senior tailback Tashard Choice has been consistently great all year, finishing the season with 1,400 yards on the ground and Tenuta’s defense features an explosive pass rush, which lead the ACC with 47 sacks. Fresno State must protect quarterback Tom Brandstater and give him time to find open receivers, which they have done thus far, allowing fewer than 20 sacks on the year. Still, with a rushing defense that was second to last in the WAC against the run matching up against such a prolific runner in Choice, the Bulldogs can’t be feeling good about their odds. Look for Tashard Choice to have a big day and the Ramblin’ Wreck to take it on the blue turf up in Boise.

Monday, Dec. 31 - Brut Sun Bowl 

South Florida vs. Oregon

Two teams that, at various points in the year, had their sights set on a trip to the national championship land west of New Orleans in El Paso, Texas. For Oregon, the key will be scoring points.. any points on offense. After the Ducks lost senior quarterback Dennis Dixon, they struggled mightily to generate any type of offense.  To win, Oregon must predict whichever freshmen (the battle between Cody Kempt and Justin Roper is being decided in practice) starts at quarterback from George Selvie, one of the nation’s elite pass rushers. For USF, the key will be letting quarterback Matt Grothe do what he does best — improvise and make plays with his feet. Grothe finished the season averaging 275 yards per game in total offense and actually finished sixth in the Big East in rushing. If Oregon can keep Grothe in the pocket and force turnovers, they have a very good chance of winning this one. With a freshman quarterback lining up under center and one of the nation’s best pass rushers coming off the edge, I just don’t like Oregon’s chances in this one. I’ll take USF in a close one.

Monday, Dec. 31 - Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl 

Kentucky vs. Florida State 

Rich Brooks returns to the scene of last year’s bowl win against Clemson that helped the Wildcats get to 8-4 and will look to do the same thing against Bobby Bowden’s Seminoles in Nashville this year. Let’s face it, for the most part Florida State has been a hideously bad football team all year wrong and somehow lucked into their win against Boston College, nine times out of 10 BC wins that game. Kentucky senior quarterback Andre Woodson may very well be playing for his NFL draft stock against the Seminole on New Year’s Eve. I fully believe Woodson will slice and dice the Florida State defense with the help of tailback Rafael Little, receiver Keenan Burton and tight end Jacob Tamme and exploit mismatches in the Florida State secondary. Though Kentucky is giving up an average of 390 yards a game in total offense, Florida State’s offense has been anemic at best, managing just 350 yards a game in total offense. I’ll take Woodson’s senior leadership and the ‘Cats in a big win.

Monday I mentioned seeing the trailer for The Kingdom and being really excited about it. One of the other trailers before the Bourne Ultimatum was for Ridley Scott’s American Gangster staring Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe and… Common. Check it out.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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No, seriously…

A 10-year-old accidentally locked himself in a gun safe at a Massachusetts’ Sam’s Club.

An Australian cattle rancher spent a week in a tree after falling off his horse in a swamp chock-full of alligators.

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ESPN has launched bracket-style tournament to decide which conference will be strongest in 2007.

• ACC vs. Big 12
• Pac 10 vs. Mountain West
• WAC vs. Conference USA
• WAC vs. SEC

SI writer says USC freshman Joe McKnight is the second coming of Reggie Bush.

Fanhouse’s Pac 1o preview.

• Coaches on the hot seat.
• The teams not named USC or Cal.
  
• Top 5 games.
  
• Most underrated players.

A member of the Rutger’s Women’s Basketball team is suing Don Imus for defamation of character. This woman doesn’t have a snowball’s chance of winning this suit because her attorneys will have a very difficult time showing that she was specifically damaged by a comment that was made about a group of individuals, comments where no one was named individually. It would be the equivalent of someone saying that all Destin Log reporters were illiterate and possibly in-bred and then me trying to sue that person for defamation. You can’t sue someone for hurting your feelings — at least not yet.

John Smallwood on why it’s ok to overreact about the Eagles’ preseason snooze-fest. The Eagles are apparently not worried.

The New York Times says the greatest threat to Michael Vick’s future in the NFL may not be dogfighting specifically but rather the money he may or may not have gambled on dogfighting.

Giants rookie wideout Steve Smith has the Giants very excited.

Indiana football players will wear a helmet decal and a patch on their jerseys in memory of Coach Hep.

Photo: Sam Riche/ Indianapolis Star

The AJC’s Tony Barnhart lists his must-watch games of 2007.

With a bunch of youth and inexperience, the Orlando Sentinel’s Dave Curtis says Florida will experience some growing pains in ‘07.

Going to Broncos’ games help Darrent Williams’ mother cope with her son’s death.

Ankle problems seem to be plaguing Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin.

An interesting piece on hetero-lifemates, Urban Meyer and Billy Donovan, which features this photograph:

Whoever pranked neanderthal tight end Jeremy Shockey is officially my new hero.

Dan Patrick is back on ESPN radio for the next three days and word is Colin Cowherd will not be taking his place.

Peter King’s All-Future team.

Apparently there was a confrontation at a UCLA pick-up game between Baron Davis and USC FRESHMAN O.J. Mayo. You don’t think this kid’s going to be a total headache, do you Tim Floyd? Good luck.

The AJC’s Terence Moore thinks if Michael Vicks takes a plea deal, he’ll likely be banned from the NFL for a long time.

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Well-rounded news… 

An interesting take on journalistic objectivity and politics.

Peer-to-peer file sharing network Lime Wire appears to be going legit.

My So-Called Life movie not likely, says Claire Danes.

The Knocked Up dvd will hit stores Sept. 25 with three editions.

Daft Punk is looking to release a live CD.

Site of Coachella 300 years overdue for a massive earthquake.