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Let's Go Bowling! - Part 3

© Grimace Boyer

FedEx Orange Bowl - Iowa (11-1) vs. USC (10-2)
Jan. 2, 2003, 8pm (ABC) - Miami, FL
Carson Palmer versus Brad Banks. That's the headline, and it's a good one. Two of the country's best passers, including Heisman winner Carson Palmer. The best tight end in the country in Iowa's Dallas Clark. One of the best running back groups in the country on USC's side. Two decent defenses. What does that add up to? A pretty darn good game, that's what. A lot of people think that Iowa was the best team in the Big Ten, and that this is the real Rose Bowl this year. I'm not one of those people. I think USC has far too much talent for Iowa's defense to match up against, and I think that USC can do just enough to hold Iowa. USC, convincingly. Pac 10: 4-3. Big 10: 2-4.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl - Ohio State (13-0) vs. Miami (12-0)
Jan. 3, 2003, 8pm (ABC)- Tempe, AZ
There's going to be a lot of talk about this National Championship game, but I think it's important to realize that this Ohio State team is a lot better than the Nebraska team that got demolished by Miami in last year's Rose Bowl en route to Miami's National Championship. This game reminds me a lot, actually, of the Patriots-Rams Super Bowl. Think about it: Defending champs with the country's most prolific offense square off against a pretty unheralded, scrappy, defense-oriented team with a good running game but an unproven quarterback (from the state of Michigan.) Let's get a few things straight here: Miami's Willis McGahee is better than Ohio State's freshman phenom, Maurice Clarett, even though it may not show in this game, as Miami's run defense has struggled this year. Ken Dorsey, who will go in the first or second round of the draft, is not - I said not - as good as Ohio State's Craig Krenzel, who may not be flashy, but he's smart and makes good decisions. Plus he's mobile. Miami's defense is underrated, but they're not quite as good as Ohio State's. I think that this game is going to come down to the ability of the quarterbacks to spread the ball around, and the tight ends are going to become massively important. That puts Ben Hartsock of Ohio State against Miami's Kellen Winslow, Jr. Come on. Kellen Winslow's spirit lives in his son - this kid isn't the best, but he's real good. Ohio State's kicking duo, Placekicker Mike Nugent and punter Andy Groom, may be the best tandem in the country. And that's good, because it may come down to them. If you're betting against the spread, take Ohio State. If you just want to pick the winner, sorry. It's going to be Miami. 38-35. Big East: 4-1. Big 10: 2-5.