Content provided in partnership with

The best: so many bowls, so little time: no worries—we're here to make sure you catch

Sporting News, The, Dec 23, 2005 by Tom Dienhart

BEST DAY

It has to be January 2. You'll have plenty of time to sober up for Iowa-Florida in the Outback, Virginia Tech-Louisville in the Gator, Wisconsin-Auburn in the Capital One, Georgia-West Virginia in the Sugar and--the biggie--Ohio State-Notre Dame in the Fiesta. Sorta makes you wanna get out to the Tiki Lounge and form a conga line, doesn't it?

DAY TO MISS

Go ahead and hit the snooze button on December 31. Hit it twice, if you want, and roll over. You'll want to be well-rested for a night of New Year's Eve reveling. Besides, you can catch the highlights of the Meineke (South Florida-N.C. State), Liberty (Tulsa-Fresno State) and Houston (TCU-Iowa State)--if you get up in time on January 1.

Most Popular Articles in Sports: The first family: Archie, Peyton and Eli are incredibly famous, immensely ...; The growing gap: driving distances are skyrocketing on the PGA Tour. So why ...; Which pistol caliber for self defense? Four different people come to four ...; Drag racing - National Hot Rod Association; The world's most popular .22: the Marlin Model 60 just keeps on ticking; More »

BOWL TO MISS

Check out the Fort Worth(less) Bowl: 6-5 Houston vs. 6-5 Kansas. One word: woof.

BEST COMEBACK STORY

You probably remember George O'Leary. He's the guy who had the Notre Dame job, then lost it after it was revealed he had fudged on his resume. Not good. After a brief stint-in-hiding in the NFL, O'Leary landed at Central Florida. Not good. The Golden Knights went 0-11 in 2004, O'Leary's first in Orlando. Now, the Knights will play Nevada in the Hawaii Bowl. This will look good on his resume.

GLIMPSE OF WHAT'S TO COME

If you didn't get enough of Charlie Weis' mug this fall--and who didn't?--wait 'til next fall. Notre Dame's defense figures to improve, and the talent of the skill players on offense will be formidable. The key: developing the offensive line. In Weis we trust.

BEST PLAYER NOT IN A BOWL

Jerome Harrison, RB, Washington State. Go back and watch some highlights of the nation's leading rusher. You'll swear he chases a package of Pop Rocks with a can of soda pop before hitting the field. Yes, he's that explosive. And he's about as big as a burp.

BEST PLAYER, WORST BOWL

Garrett Mills, TE, Tulsa. You've never heard of him, but NFL scouts have volumes of information on Mills. They probably know whether he's boxers or briefs. You don't need to know that, but know this: He's the best tight end in the nation. He also may be the most versatile player--he lines up as a fullback, a receiver or a wing. Tulsa plays Fresno State in the Liberty Bowl. Check out Mills.

BEST TEAM NOT IN A BCS BOWL

Quick shout-out to 10-1 Oregon. Loved your work. Sorry about the BCS snub. But Auburn deserves a tighter sympathy hug. Here's hoping the university is picking up Tommy Tuberville's psychiatrist bills. Ol' Tubs' 13-0 Tigers were shut out of the BCS title game last year. This season, the Tigers finished 9-2 and are the highest-ranked SEC team in the country--they're No. 7, look it up--but were sitting on the curb during the league title game. What's it all mean? Auburn is headed to the Capital One Bowl to play overmatched and overrated Wisconsin--and Tuberville is blabbering to himself even more.

BEST COACH

Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia. Who's the most influential coach in America? It isn't Joe Paterno or Bobby Bowden, no matter what your grandpa tells you. It's Rodriguez. He's credited with popularizing running out of spread sets. Oh, and he wins a lot, too. His Mountaineers have claimed at least a share of the past three Big East titles. Next up: a date with Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, West Virginia's first BCS spot. Spread the word and run with it.

BEST BCS VENUE

Arriba! The Fiesta Bowl has it all--sun, desert vistas and great buzz days leading up to the game. Think of it as a fun-filled burrito with two dashes of Tabasco. Many fans stay near the stadium, which creates a festive and rollicking atmosphere up and down nearby Mill Avenue. Sadly, this is the last year the Fiesta Bowl will be played in Sun Devil Stadium on the Arizona State campus. Next year, the game moves to the Arizona Cardinals' new digs--which are in the middle of nowhere. It'll be like going to a mall--drive in, park, go to the game, drive home, eat at Applebee's.

BEST NON-BCS VENUE

Alamo Bowl. No bull; this bowl is a blast. The famed Riverwalk--Paseo del Rio--is where it's all happening. Restaurants, bars, boat tours on the San Antonio River and lots of rowdy fans trading (mostly) friendly barbs. And when they're done shouting at one another from across the river, they can walk--or stagger--to the Alamodome.

BEST 6-5 TEAM

Is this a good or bad thing? Let's call it a bad thing. Sorry, Kansas, you get this dubious distinction. The Jayhawks won three of their last four games to become bowl-eligible---and each victim is going to a bowl. Not bad. Come on! Wave the wheat! OK, never mind.

BEST OFFENSE VS. DEFENSE MATCHUP

Notre Dame hasn't seen a defense like Ohio State's. Brady Quinn, meet A.J. Hawk. Yeah, the Fiesta Bowl ought to be a blast.

BEST BET FOR A DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE

Miami and LSU have talent on offense. Problem is, each team has more of it on defense. So feel free to leave your seat often during the Peach Bowl. You won't miss much, unless you like sacks and tackles for loss.

BEST TEAM NOT BOWLING

Let me get this right: Northern Illinois goes 7-5 and plays in the MAC title game but it doesn't get a bowl bid? This is a joke, right? Is Joe Novak getting punk'd? Where's Ashton Kutcher?

The best: so many bowls, so little time: no worries—we're here to make sure you catch

Sporting News, The, Dec 23, 2005 by Tom Dienhart

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: Reference

Most Popular Articles in Sports

Most Popular Publications in Sports