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Let's Go Bowling! - Part III

© Grimace Boyer

Like it or not, the BCS is here to stay for now. Probably for at least ten more years. And this year's edition is not without stories, that's for sure. Nebraska's selection over Oregon and Colorado have turned heads. BYU isn't even involved. Of the eight BCS teams (Illinois, LSU, Colorado, Oregon, Miami, Nebraska, Maryland, and Florida), twenty-five percent didn't even win their division, much less their conference. Three lost two or more games. Heck, one lost three games! But here they all are, in all their glory.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl - Oregon vs. Colorado (1/1)

Boy, Colorado's fired up. They beat Nebraska and won the Big 12, but still finished behind the Cornhuskers in the BCS race. On the bright side, the winner of the Fiesta Bowl could end up with a share of the National Championship should Nebraska beat Miami in the Rose Bowl. Honestly, I'm not sure where Colorado fans find the room to complain. They lost two games - one to a team that lost to Boise State! Sure, they're a great team, but they never played Oklahoma, lost in week one, and lost to a conference opponent. And they lost to Fresno State, who got beat by Boise State! But I digress...

At 10-2, Colorado won the Big 12. Much has been made of the decision to start Bobby Pesavento over Craig Ochs at quarterback, but I don't place too much stock in it. Only three people matter in the Colorado offense, and they are Chris Brown, Bobby Purify, and Cortlen Johnson, the trio of running backs who have bowled opponents over all season long. Oregon (10-1), however, isn't going to be afraid. They can match Colorado yard-for-yard and point-for-point with the arm of their golden boy quarterback, Joey Harrington. They aren't without a running game, either. Both Maurice Morris and Onterrio Smith bring a huge presence to the game. In the end, I think all the Buffalos' crying will be for naught. Oregon is going to tear them apart in a very high-scoring contest.

Nokia Sugar Bowl - Illinois vs. LSU (1/1)

Had you told me in August that Illinois and LSU would be playing each other in a BCS bowl, I'd have laughed at you. When I found out they were playing each other, I still laughed. LSU is 9-3, and yet they somehow magically won the SEC. Not Tennessee. Not Florida. Not Auburn. LSU. Illinois (10-1) somehow found themselves magically on top of the Big Ten. Who knows how these things happen? Ohio State gift-wrapped the Big Ten title for Illinois by beating Michigan in the last game of the season. And now Illinois and LSU face off against each other.