FrontRowSportsReport.com: Sports Blog

The 2008 College Football Senior Bowl ended in dramatic fashion as Florida Gators wide receiver Andre Caldwell scored on a 2-yard end around to give the South a 17-16 victory.

Caldwell was handed the ball by Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Erik Ainge, who took the place of Louisville’s Brian Brohm. Ainge drove the south 86-yards in 14 plays on the final drive, finished the game with 159 yard passing yard and earning the south offensive MVP honors.  “It’s fun to end your college career like that,” said Ainge. “I’ll remember handing the ball to a Gator to win for the rest of my life.”

Most of the game was dominated by the defense who made the majority of big plays, including USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis sacking Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Andre’ Woodson for a safety.

The North were led by Michigan Wolverines quarterback Chad Henne who threw for 2 touchdowns and earned the north offensive MVP award.

Tulane running back Matt Forte won the overall MVP award, Forte ran for a game high 59 yards and had 38 receiving yards.

I don’t think many people were surprised by the outcome of the Georgia / Hawaii and USC / Illinois games. It was clearly obvious that both USC and Georgia are top tier teams, while Hawaii and Illinois might be teams on the rise but would be drastically over matched by true BCS worthy teams.

The Georgia Bulldogs and their defense didn’t give Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan any chance yesterday during the Sugar Bowl as he was sacked 8 times, threw 3 interceptions and fumbled twice - one fumble was returned for a touchdown. Brennan, a Heisman Trophy finalist, finished with just 169 passing yards, I am sure this wasn’t how he envisioned his college football career ending. Meanwhile the Bulldogs combined their suffocating defense with a well rounded offense attack. After this game, Georgia will have to be a pre-season top 5 next year. and a favorite for another BCS bowl game

In the Rose Bowl, USC showed everyone why they are much better then their ranking / record shows in dismantling the Illinois Fighting Illini 49-17. The USC Trojans looked good, no great, putting up 633 yards and led by John David Booty (255 yards passing, 3 touchdowns) and freshman running back Joe McKnight (125 yards rushing, 1 touchdown). The Illini were able to move the ball putting up 445 total yards but couldn’t score on the Trojans.

So what did we learn from these 2 games? Illinois is overrated, Hawaii is not Boise State, USC running back Joe McKnight is going to be awesome next year and of course College Football needs a playoff.

With most of the secondary college football bowl games complete it is now time to pick the winners of the big bowl games (and a couple not so big ones) that are starting tomorrow January 1st.

College Football Bowls

Tuesday, January 1st

Sugar Bowl
#10 Hawaii vs #5 Georgia
My Pick: Georgia
I am really excited to watch this game because I have always enjoyed watching Colt Brennan throw the ball. I would love to pick an upset here and hope that Hawaii can become this years Boise State, but I just don’t see it. Georgia is looking to make a statement and prove they are a better team, I expect both teams to come out swinging for the fences but in the Georgia’s depth will outlast and outgun the Rainbow Warriors.

Cotton Bowl
#6 Missouri vs Arkansas
My Pick: Arkansas
Is Missouri for real? Yes, I think that they are – but that doesn’t mean they can beat a good Arkansas team. Darren McFadden is going to have a career day and set the pace for a big Arkansas win.

Rose Bowl
#13 Illinois vs #7 USC
My Pick: USC
I see this game being the most lopsided of all the BCS bowl games. Illinois is a good team but USC has so much more talent. USC, playing almost a home game, will throw, run and do anything they want against Illinois.

Capital One Bowl
Michigan vs #12 Florida
My Pick: Florida
Remember that loss to Appalachian State? Remember their coach issues? Remember Tim Tebow and his Heisman Trophy? Florida wins this game, but it will be close.

Outback Bowl
#16 Tennessee vs #18 Wisconsin
My Pick: Tennessee
Both teams are good, but not great. This is going to be the closest one of the day.

Gator Bowl
Texas Tech vs #20 Virginia
My Pick: Virginia
Virginia’s defense is really good and Texas Tech wont be able to do much.

Wednesday, January 2^nd

Fiesta Bowl
#9 West Virginia vs #4 Oklahoma
My Pick: West Virginia
Another great game, the deciding factor for me is that West Virginia will be coming out with major motivation and will try and prove they are the best team in the nation – despite losing to Pittsburgh. The only thing the Mountaineers need to be careful of his keeping focused with the whole Rich Rodriguez moving to Michigan.

Thursday, January 3^rd

Orange Bowl
#8 Kansas vs #3 Virginia Tech
My Pick: Virginia Tech
Just like Missouri, Kansas will be looking to show that they belong. They will make it a came but I do believe that Virginia Tech’s talent is too deep and athletic for Kansas to stay with them all game.

Saturday, January 5^th

International Bowl
Ball State vs Rutgers
My Pick: Rutgers
Rutgers in a toss-up. Remember when we all thought the Scarlet Knights were a BCS contender going into the season?

Sunday, January 6^th

GMAC Bowl
Tulsa vs Bowling Green
My Pick: Tulsa

Monday, January 7^th

BCS Championship Game
#2 LSU vs #1 Ohio State
My Pick: LSU
Oh the big game everyone will be waiting for, the good thing of this match-up is that once LSU roles over Ohio State there wont be any argument as to whom is the real national champion. I have said all season that Ohio State is over-rated and LSU will prove me right. Go Tigers!