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Fumigation
Published: 1/11/2011 2:41 PM
Last Modified: 1/11/2011 2:44 PM

Talk about an appropriate end to a farce.

The field for the last game was unfit. Players couldn't perform to the best of their abilities. Vacant lots have better traction.

The play calling was horrendous.

Auburn has cheap-shot artists on its squad. Bye-bye Auburn. It will be in the Petunia Bowl next year.

Who could beat Auburn? TCU and Stanford, to name two, Oregon to name a third.

This wasn't a national championship. A national championship is open to all players. This was an invitational tournament, closed to all but the elite.

But as the Godfather said, this is the life we chose. These are the rules that the fat-cat university presidents dictated. So on to next year.

There has seldom been a team thought to be as strong as OU in 2011. Between now and the first game, there will be seven hundred and thirty......hold on, more data is becoming available.....there will be 1,125 columns, articles and PR releases proclaiming OU as a national title cinch. What fun. It will afford Medium Game Bob a chance to get his Big back.

Here is a clip-and-save. Our first prediction for the 2011 season. September 17, OU at Florida State, we like the Seminoles by 4.

Here is the only bowl season story worth reflection.

Here are the results for the 35 bowls. Favorites won 17 times, underdogs 16, two ties. Finishing 17-16-2, that's why Vegas is Vegas.

In the last game, Oregon should have covered the three point spread. Auburn should have won by two. The two-point throw-back, cross-country conversion was mind-boggling. Auburn dominated, but only in the middle of the field. Oregon's play calling was pitiful. Auburn's secondary was terrible. Running a deep snap play in your own end zone, that was a nine-point turnaround.







Reader Comments 9 Total
bjorn2run (2 years ago)
With the long layoff between regular season and the Championship game, do you think we will ever see 2 sharp offenses in the Championship game? Especially with the spread type of offense? Power defense, and power- type offense seem to rule in most BCS Championship games...b2r
wgspost (2 years ago)
The stronger a team looks in pre-season, the slimmer the chances are for a national title. The only team that has gone wire-to-wire in the polls from late August through New Years to win the national title was Florida State in 1999. So, odds are not good for the early favorite son. And unlike the statement in the Godfather, this system is certainly not one that either I or anyone I know has chosen. I never thought I'd live to see the day when I would yearn for the days of a wild bowl round robin like we knew throughout the mid- and late-twentieth century (pre-BCS...Christ, do I feel old). The BCS is an illegitimate child, born of good intentions but having what could prove to be a ruinous effect on the sport.
Gene M (2 years ago)
Since we are on the subject of predictions for 2011, I'll offer the following. If OU is in the BCS Championship the BCS will be proclaimed to be the most logical and fair way to select teams to play at that level.
traija50 (2 years ago)
I went 20 - 14 and 1. I can prove that by posting a report for the last 45 days from a certain website. I placed more emphasis (real money)on certain games. Very, very profitable bowl season and, in my opinion, very entertaining, although I DO want a playoff! How 'bout the Tennessee vs. North Carolina game. Can you imagine the officials coming out and announcing the game is over and the Volunteers have won and the field is covered with celebrating fans! Then, a full 5 minutes later, those same officials, in the middle of that crowd, announce "the last play is being reviewed." They review. They overturn. The game goes into overtime and North Carolina wins. If that were my team that lost I would put my foot through this 48" HD TV!! But funny and entertaining, since I didn't care about anything except the bet, which I won...... as usual.
Hedged (2 years ago)
Tank Carter would have destroyed $cam Newton all night long.
Top Flight (2 years ago)
Who cares about the field? They warmed up on it so they should have known about it. You play with the conditions no matter what. Oregons offense wasnt what everyone thought it was. Both QB's were not that accurate. I think there were a few teams who could have beat both of them.
The Picker (2 years ago)
Gene, you're one of the best in sports history.
The Picker (2 years ago)
Taija, if you bet 35 bowls, been nice knowing you, better get that in while there's still time.

Usually, some of those games are harder to pick before they're played.
Don's World (2 years ago)
Have to go with Top flight on the field pick, OU and Conn had same problem a week previous. The game itself? Come on Pick, it was highly entertaining. Auburn was a dirty little team though weren't they? Mean. Only team I saw approaching that all year was Boise, those spud eaters are vicious. That just adds to the fun. You have said it yourself, the powers that be whine about questionable hits, but then make money hand over fist promoting it in highlight reels, let's face it pick we love it.
You are right about Oregon they should have won, but their coaches and one of their players, no.58 the defensive end, I won't give his name, called and played (bless his heart) one of their worst games ever.
The play in the end zone wasn't my faves, it never is, but the decision not to kick field goal was one of the worst decisions I have ever seen, that is totally on coaches. See what I keep telling you about how genius is in coaches getting out of their own way?
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Out Pick The Picker

The Picker began entertaining – and infuriating – sports fans in 1993. Each week during football season, he writes about his picks of college and NFL games in his Thursday Sports column. He's never afraid of sharing his opinions about the game and the personalities who play it. Readers have a chance to go against him each season in the Outpick the Picker contest. He welcomes the competition.

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