By Steve Harvey
Chief Copy Editro
Bowls
"An Event Like No Other," bragged a brochure handed out to the media by Sun Bowl officials earlier this year.
It's true. The Sun Bowl is the only post-season classic that had to file for a waiver to get permission to invite a team to play in this year's game. That's because the team_Georgia Tech_actually lost more games than it won.
No wonder 6-7 Tech is known as the Ramblin' Wreck.
Its opponent is USC (7-5), which also has a distinction, being the first team in 48 years to start the season ranked No. 1 and end the season unranked.
Other exciting bowls include the Minnesota-Texas Tech match, which will answer the age-old question: How would a Big Ten team ranking 7th in the conference in victories do against a team that tied for 4th place in the Big 12?
In the Little Caesars Pizza bowl, it's Central Michigan against Western Pepperoni.
Louisiana-Monroe (8-4) and Ohio (8-4) clash in the Independence Bowl, which has lost much of its luster since it was the Poulan Weed-Eater Independence Bowl.
Finally, Liberty Bowl rivals Iowa State 6-6) and Tulsa (10-3) are rated even, reportedly because the teams are so obscure no one has the slightest idea which will win.
Bowls..............................Duds
1. Sun.............................. Georgia Tech (6-7) vs. USC (7-5)
2. BBVA Compass ..........Pitt (6-6) vs. Ole Miss (6-6)
3. Little Caesars Pizza...... Central Michigan (6-6) vs. Western Pepperoni (7-5)
4. Belk*............................ Duke (6-6) vs. Cincinnati (9-3)
5. Meineke Car Care........ Minnesota (6-6) vs. Texas Tech (7-5)
6. Pinstripe ........................Syracuse (7-5) vs. West Virginia (7-5)
7. Independence................ La. Monroe (8-4) vs. Ohio (8-4).
8. Woes Bowl ...................Stanford (11-2) vs. Wisconsin (8-5)
9. Go-Daddy.com**..........Kent State (11-2) vs. Arkansas State (9-3).
10. Buffalo Wild Wings.... Michigan State (6-6) vs. TCU (7-5).
*Belk is a department store chain. Or maybe it's Duke that's the department store chain.
**Among those disinterested in the Go-Daddy bowl are the Kent State and Arkansas State coaches, both of whom resigned their positions.
At least he didn't get the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl: The Aug. 20 cover of Sports Illustrated (see below) said that USC quarterback Matt Barkley had decided to stick around for his senior year with one goal in mind. (And it wasn't the Sun Bowl, either.)
Semi-Pros
The No. 6 N.J. Jets had just managed to nip No. 1 Arizona (4-8) when unemployed receiver Braylon Edwards decided it was time to speak up for the Gang Green. "Don't blame (QB Mark) Sanchez (for the team's troubles)," he tweeted. "I played there. Blame the idiots calling the shots."
Edwards later apologized but the Jets were also slammed by Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who said that Jets coach Rex Ryan "can't decide who their quarterback is going to be. That's the same problem the Republicans are having."
Reid no doubt was having a bit of fun at the expense of Jets owner Woody Johnson, who said earlier he'd rather that Mitt Romney had a winning year than the Jets.
Anyway, imagine what would be said if the Jets had lost!
Outside the Beltway, Arizona and Philadelphia each stretched their losing streaks to 8 games. Jacksonville (2-10) fell to No. 8 in the ratings but could bounce back nicely with a loss to the Jets and their quarterback, who ever it may be by the fourth quarter.
Edwards later apologized but the Jets were also slammed by Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who said that Jets coach Rex Ryan "can't decide who their quarterback is going to be. That's the same problem the Republicans are having."
Reid no doubt was having a bit of fun at the expense of Jets owner Woody Johnson, who said earlier he'd rather that Mitt Romney had a winning year than the Jets.
Anyway, imagine what would be said if the Jets had lost!
Outside the Beltway, Arizona and Philadelphia each stretched their losing streaks to 8 games. Jacksonville (2-10) fell to No. 8 in the ratings but could bounce back nicely with a loss to the Jets and their quarterback, who ever it may be by the fourth quarter.
Wreck, Record........... Last Loss.................. Next Loss
1. Arizona (4-8)........... 6-7, N.J. Jets.............. Seattle
2. Oakland (3-9)........ 17-20, Cleveland......... Denver
3. Philadelphia (3-9)....33-38, Dallas.............. Tampa Bay
4. Carolina (3-9)......... 21-27, Kansas City..... Atlanta
5. Kansas City (2-10).. Def. Carolina, 27-21...Cleveland
6. N.J. Jets (5-7); 7. San Diego (4-8); 8. Jacksonville (2-10); 9. Detroit (4-8); 10. Cleveland (4-8).
Fantasy Flops: New Orleans QB Drew Brees threw five interceptions vs. Atlanta but the figure was misleading. He actually could have had six passes picked but one was erased because of a penalty.
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