Round one of the holiday season goes to gluttony. Will power faded badly in the first quarter and never really had a chance, much like those teams who faced the Tigers and Tide this year. We enjoyed a Thanksgiving afternoon at our home with our kids. It was a grand afternoon, one for which I give thanks.
Also there was Mom (a.k.a. Jean, Mimi, Aunt MJ), Arthur Bowen (a.k.a. Professor, Mr. Artie) Randy Morley, my nephew Dawson and his girlfriend Makala, Don Althoff and Kate and Emily Althoff. I dozed in and out of the Cowboys game after doing the dishes, waking just in time to see them pull one out against Miami in a rematch of Super Bowl VI. It didn’t live up to the hype. Then, while the kitchen countertops were still moist from their sponging, it was back to the fridge for a turkey sandwich, some dressing and olives on the side and, yes, someone had to eat that last piece of pumpkin pie. No shame when taste buds are involved. Friday rolled around and it was time to see if our No. 3 Hogs could knock off No. 1.
We couldn’t, but when we returned that fumble recovery for a touchdown, I did believe. Then of course, came a punt return and a fumble; and LSU seemed to figure out who they were and where they were playing. Oh well, 10 wins and a pretty good bowl awaits us. I guess we won’t ever really know who the No. 3 team in the country is. I heard Craig James say on ESPN last Sunday night during the BCS ranking show, that he had kept Arkansas No. 3, even after the loss. His point was that our two losses were to No. 1 and No. 2, on their home fields. I would like our chances against anyone, other than Alabama and LSU, that is. I’ve seen enough of those guys. Let them have it out in 2013. So as the No. 8 team in the BCS, we are headed to Dallas or Orlando to play another team snubbed by mean old BCS. I went to the 2000 Cotton Bowl.
It was against the Longhorns in the old stadium. We broke Major Applewhite’s leg, and Phil Simms’ son played the rest of the game, but our defense, along with Clint Stoerner and a freshman running back named Cobbs, made the Longhorns look very un-Texas like. We were happy with the win and happier the Y2K predictions of mass chaos were premature. Here are my BCS Bowl match ups and predictions: Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Wisconsin – I think the best team from the Pac (insert No. here) is on probation. And look for Wisconsin to beat Michigan State in their rematch, then lose to the Ducks in Pasadena.
Sugar Bowl: Michigan vs. Houston – This game features the second and third most exciting QBs in the country, (If you want to see No. 1, you can do so tomorrow afternoon when Baylor plays Texas). Everyone outside of Michigan will be pulling for the Cougars. But I remember when we played Michigan in the Capital One Bowl a few years back and could tell during their warm-ups we were doomed. I pick Michigan. Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Stanford – OSU will have two losses when they get their revenge in Tempe against the soon to be Luck-less Cardinals.
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Louisville – I’m happy for Arkansas native Charlie Strong for taking the Cardinals to a BCS Bowl, but no way do they deserve to be going. The Hokies will prove me right.
BCS National Championship: LSU vs. Alabama – While it’s true most movie sequels are lousy, I’m thinking this might be another Godfather Part Two, ending with LSU sleeping with the fishes. I think the Hogs will end up in Orlando on January 2, where they will play the No. 2 from the Big Ten, Michigan State. The Spartans get a lot of sacks so it could be closer than we like. Homer says Hogs 38, MSU 24.
(My friend Fred made it through his double-bypass and is said to be mending nicely. Get well soon bud.)