TSN's 12.5: half the size, twice the sizzle

TSSN's 12.5 Half the size, twice the sizzle

                                                         TV (all times
Rk. Team (last week)    W-L    Next up                   Eastern)

1. USC (1)              12-0   Oklahoma, Orange Bowl,    8 p.m., ABC
                               1/4

A word to the wise: Oklahoma's a wee tad bit better than UCLA.

2. Auburn (2)           12-0   Virginia Tech, Sugar      8 p.m., ABC
                               Bowl, 1/3

For good measure, shouldn't the bullies in charge of the BCS give
Tommy Tuberville a wedgie?

3. Oklahoma (3)         12-0   USC, Orange Bowl, 1/4     8 p.m., ABC

Now that OU has withstood the devastating Colorado offensive attack,
USC should be a breeze.

4. California (4)       10-1   Texas Tech, Holiday       8 p.m., ESPN
                               Bowl, 12/30

What is there to say? The system's a bear. We wouldn't want to be the
Red Raiders.

5. Utah (5)             11-0   Pittsburgh, Fiesta        8:30 p.m.,
                               Bowl, 1/1                 ABC

Urban Meyer says his first-stringers could play with anybody. But could
Florida's?

6. Texas (6)            10-1   Michigan, Rose Bowl,      4:30 p.m.,
                               1/1                       ABC

The big question now: Are fans from the state of Texas too tough to
attend the sissy Rose Parade?

7. Louisville (7)       10-1   Boise State, Liberty      3:30 p.m.,
                               Bowl, 12/31               ESPN

Now this would be a Big East BCS team we could live with.

8. Virginia Tech (10)   10-2   Auburn, Sugar Bowl, 1/3   8 p.m., ABC

The Hokies have won eight straight and are mauling opponents on "D." If
only there were a playoff.

9. Georgia (8)          9-2    Wisconsin, Outback        11 a.m., ESPN
                               Bowl, 1/1

A 10-win season would be nothing to be ashamed of. It isn't their fault
we picked 'em No. 1.

10. Iowa (12)           9-2    LSU, Capital One          1 p.m., ABC
                               Bowl, 1/1

Quick, name three Hawkeyes. You can't, can you? That's why Kirk Ferentz
is one of the best.

11. Michigan (11)       9-2    Texas, Rose Bowl, 1/1     4:30 p.m.,
                                                         ABC

Couldn't the BCS have kicked Michigan out of the Rose Bowl instead of
Cal?

12. Boise State (-)     11-0   Louisville, Liberty       3:30 p.m.,
                               Bowl, 12/31               ESPN

Look out, Louisville--a team with a real, live offense is coming at
you now.

12.5 Jeff Tedford

He had his quarterback take a knee, and Cal paid for it. The classy
coach deserved better.

TOP 5 'LITTLE GUYS'

1. Utah (11-0)

2. Louisville (10-1)

3. Boise State (11-0)

4. Memphis (8-3)

5. Fresno State (8-3)

TOP 5 STORY LINES

1. Trojans, Sooners seal the deal

2. Pollsters seal Auburn's fate

3. Texas gets lucky--really lucky

4. Heisman race gets all crazy

5. Notre Dame job, anyone?

TOP 5 GAMES

1. USC 29, UCLA 24

2. Auburn 38, Tennessee 28

3. Cal 26, Southern Miss 16

4. Virginia Tech 16, Miami 10

5. Toledo 35, Miami (Ohio) 27

BOTTOM 5

Flip-floppers. Anybody who watched Cal-Southern Miss knows the Bears played their butts off. The lazy pollsters who looked at nothing but the final score should be ashamed.

Notre Dame. It's not shame so much as humiliation.

The Big 12 title game. In a word: hideous.

Pittsburgh on New Year's Day. In a word: ridiculous,

Miami. Remember way back when the Canes mattered?

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COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning