The Sports Headliners pick is Ohio State but Gopher coach Tim Brewster likes LSU to win the national championship on January 7 in New Orleans. Brewster told Sports Headliners that the game will be a “great match-up” but he favors LSU because of the Tigers’ speed and athleticism. He also thinks the best team in college football right now isn’t playing in the national championship game.
Brewster acknowledged LSU has had “distractions” because of rumors that head coach Les Miles might go to Michigan and defensive coordinator Bo Pellini is the new head coach at Nebraska. With or without the distractions being a factor, I am going with OSU because I think coach Jim Tressel is a better coach than Miles and I often prefer underdogs in bowl games. The Buckeyes have extra motivation after their humiliating 41-14 loss to Florida in last season’s national championship game.
Brewster noted that in the previous two years Illinois was 4-19 and now the Illini, coming off a 9-3 season, are in the Rose Bowl where they have the task of meeting USC next Tuesday, New Year’s Day. No doubt Brewster, who was 1-11 this season, wants to not only copy the Illini’s explosive spread offense but also the success of challenging for a Big Ten title and earning a trip to Pasadena. With all of his Big Ten loyalty, though, he isn’t predicting a win by the Illini over the Trojans. He said “facing probably the best team in college football” means a long day for Illinois.
I agree with Brewster about the Rose Bowl. I also wouldn’t wager a Buckeye leaf that Michigan will beat Florida in Lloyd Carr’s last game as the Wolverines’ coach. Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow, only a sophomore, is the future; Carr is the past. On New Year’s Day in the Capital One Bowl the athletic Gators will make the present go very fast for Carr and Michigan. Brewster agrees with my pick, noting it’s “going to be hard for Lloyd and his kids.”
The best of the bowls on New Year’s Day could be the Outback Bowl with Wisconsin and Tennessee. Brewster foresees a competitive game and said the offenses are similar including use of play action passes. The Badgers are impressive in bowl games, 9-3 since 1993. I say Bucky will give the Big Ten its only win on New Year’s Day.
The best storyline of the bowl season to many observers is Indiana. The historically horrible Hoosiers are playing in the Insight Bowl on Monday night against Oklahoma State. It’s Indiana’s first bowl game since 1993 and only the 10th in school history. Part of what drove the Hoosiers to bowl land was the team’s dedication to coach Terry Hoeppner who died before the season. Brewster said the former IU coach “will be watching up above” and predicted the Hoosiers’ emotion will carry them to a win over the Cowboys.
Tomorrow night Joe Paterno’s Penn State team plays Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl. Looks like a close match-up but I like Paterno to win in what will be the 500th game of his young career. I can’t wait to see the ageless one in game No. 1,000. Brewster is an admirer of Aggie quarterback Stephen McGee who he likens to the Gophers’ Adam Weber. McGee, just like Weber, led the Aggies in passing and rushing for the season.
Michigan State isn’t given much chance in tonight’s (Friday) Champs Sports Bowl against Boston College and quarterback Matt Ryan, a Heisman Trophy hopeful earlier this season. But, then again, remember underdogs often surprise in bowl games and this season of college football has delivered some of the most stunning upsets in memory.