Bowl Games 2010: Auburn Tigers To Camhandle Oregon Ducks?

[Week 14 Crappy Record: 4-2]

[Regular Season Crappy Record: 56-27-1]

After raising hell throughout the regular season, I look to replicate such clairvoyant success throughout the Bowl Season: Where college football handicappers go to die.

Good thing I'm not technically a college football handicapper.

Crappy Video of the Year: Boise State kicker Kyle Brotzman's missed 26-yd field goal with two seconds left in regulation.


Here's what I know will happen...

I know Wisconsin (+3) will cover vs. TCU in the Rose Bowl.

TCU's inflated statistics against inferior competition have led many to believe they've been hosed out of a national championship bid.  The Horned Frauds are to the BCS what (the abuse of) welfare is to capitalism, as they have made it all the way to a big boy bowl by taking advantage of a schedule that reads like a who's who of who's that?

The Badgers are slightly overrated in their own right with many believing they are the best team in all of college football, and that simply isn't true.

However, in this battle of the overrated, I'm going with the devil I know, and the devil who plays power-six teams on a more regular basis.  Wisconsin could literally run away with this game as their rushing offense is one of the best, if not the best, in the nation.  The Horned Frauds have just been placed on "blowout alert."

I know Stanford (-3) will cover vs. Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl.

Stanford runs an NFL-style offense that Beamer ball just does not see in the decrepit ACC.  Jim Harbaugh may be auditioning for a future coaching upgrade (Michigan?), and Andrew Luck will look to solidify his status as a can't miss No. 1 draft pick should he decide to leave for the pros.

VA Tech fails to perform against top five teams, and unluckily for them, Stanford is ranked fifth.  Virginia tech isn't alone in its categorical floundering against top five opponents.  In fact, at the beginning of this season, the entire ACC was 11-87-1 against top five opponents out of conference.

Take the Hokie's cute little win streak to end their season for exactly what it was: A cute little win streak.  When the Cardinal come to town, it'll be but a distant memory both figuratively and literally (the game is just under a month away).

Here's what I think will happen...

I think Auburn (-3) will cover vs. the Oregon Ducks in the BCS National Championship.

The Oregon Ducks have proved to be unstoppable, for the most part, all year.  But I want to see what they can do against Nick Fairley and an Auburn defensive line ripe with NFL talent, not to mention a certain Auburn quarterback who could step on one of their linemen if he isn't careful.

Size will play a big factor in this game, and the Auburn Tigers have the advantage in that department.  There could definitely be a silver lining for Duck fans—that the big, fat Tigers will be too slow for Oregon, but Auburn happens to be just as fast to boot.

The SEC dominates BCS games, namely Championship games, as they have gone 6-0 in National Championship games (winning four straight).

Oregon will be able to score on Auburn, but when it's all said and done, Auburn will be able to control the game with an underrated running game that will be the difference in a high scoring affair.  I think.

I think Ohio State (-3.5) will cover vs. Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl.

In a battle of two teams notorious for disappearing in big games, I'm once again going with the devil I know.  With a Rose Bowl win over Oregon last season, and slightly improved out of conference play (Miami?) this season, the Buckeyes seem to have shaken the "Tressel is a choker" tag, at least for now.

The Arkansas Razorbacks just aren't used to playing on this big of a stage, and despite playing (but losing) in the vaunted SEC, I don't think they are ready for a for this big of a bowl game at the moment.

Ohio State pulls away late after the Razorbacks fail to make big plays when it counts.  I think.

Here's what I'm probably wrong about...

I'm probably wrong, but UConn (+17) will cover vs. OU in the Fiesta Bowl.

Oklahoma has been very mediocre in big games in recent memory, especially BCS games, in which they've lost five straight.  What's worse is that they've been crummy as a big favorite as recently as this season, struggling to beat the likes of Utah State (+34.5), Air Force (+16.5) and Cincinnati (+14).

In a big game in which the Sooners have underachieved as of late and against a big underdog against whom the Sooners have underachieved as of late, I fully expect UConn to go into the Fiesta Bowl guns blazing in one of those Boise State situations.  OU has to actually win a BCS game for a change before I start buying into this "run up the score" crap.

I'm probably wrong but Notre Dame (+3) will cover vs. Miami in the Sun Bowl.

Preparing for a transition in their coaching staff has to be a distraction for Miami, and up against an upstart Notre Dame club that will be looking for something to build on going into next season; it's advantage Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl.

Look for turnover-prone Miami to struggle mightily against Notre Dame, which will have the better coaching staff by default.  Hopefully, the mediocrity to be put on display in this one is far from a preview of the return of Catholics vs. Convicts.

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