College Bowl Madness Begins

The first semester is wrapped up at school, and I look forward to two weeks of rest and relaxation with my family.  Now my attention turns to collegiate football post-season action that resumes tomorrow afternoon.  We open up the thirty-five bowls on Saturday afternoon.  Some of the names defy description and beg for an explanation.  I long for the voice of Howard Cosell as he announced "the Ahr-rang Bowl" (Orange Bowl) before it became the FedEx Orange Bowl. Yergh.

1. The Gildan New Mexico Bowl featuring Colorado State and a .500 team Washington State.  Both teams are rebuilding.  With Mike Leach at the helm of Washington State, the Cougars will mount a formidable attack. They may squeak by with a win this time. 
2. The Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl has Fresno State squaring off against the USC Trojans.  The Bulldogs have the better record and more stability in the front office.  USC wants to show its new coach that they're worth the work and effort after the departure of Kiffin and the interim coach Ed Orgeron.  Bulldogs triumph. 
3. The Famous Idaho Bowl has the Buffalo Bulls against the San Diego State Aztecs.  Buffalo isn't the laughingstock it formerly was.  The Aztecs are playing in their fourth consecutive bowl.  Sigh.  Girls, you're both pretty. Buffalo takes this one this year in the final drive of the game to come from behind.
4. In the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, LA-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns make a little road trip, chere, to take on the Tulane Green Wave who call New Orleans home.  They play in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to a largely hometown crowd. We'll see how Joe Montana's son Nick Montana does and if that shoulder is recovered after he injured it earlier this year.  Separated shoulders are rumored to hurt like the blazes, but I've no intention to speak first-hand, ever.  The teams break even on stats; one team shows strength where the other shows weakness. The Cajuns have had more recent bowl experience and success and win this year's New Orleans Bowl, too.

A quick sidenote or two must be made about the NBA.  Kobe is out for several weeks with a knee injury.  Coach Popovich rested some of his best players and still won against Golden State.  Yowza.  The Toronto Raptors, of all teams, beat the Mavericks tonight 109-108 in overtime.  Yergh. I don't think D-Rose returns to the hardwood this season after he sat out last year trying to recover.  He recently turned twenty-five and wants to be ambulatory in his mid-forties.  Lady Grid out.