Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Bowl Preview: Outback Bowl

Outback Bowl
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay
Iowa vs. South Carolina

Date: Jan. 1
Time: 11 a.m.
TV: ESPN
Line: Iowa -4

About Iowa: In an effort to continue their reign as college football’s most boring team, the Hawkeyes still run an endless supply of stretch plays and QB boots with incomplete passes. Kirk Ferentz is often rumored to take this boringness to the NFL where boring is a Sunday ritual.

Intangibles:

Chuck Long: +2
Hayden Fry: +1
Pink locker rooms: +2
Iowa City: -4

About South Carolina: After a brief resurgence under Lou Holtz, the Gamecocks have become comfortingly crappy under Steve Spurrier. Under a defensive genius like Spurrier, South Carolina has become known for its tremendous defense only to be hampered by a horrible offense and terrible quarterback play. Perhaps they should think about bringing in a new offensive coordinator.

Intangibles:
90 percent of fans think wearing “Cocks’ hat hilarious: -5
50 percent of fans talk like Foghorn Leghorn; -3
20 percent of fans look like Civil War general: -1
Weather: +5

Impact Player: Iowa running back Shonn Greene looks like a human fireplug. Amazing how much one good running back can make a sickly offense seem adequate.

Bowl slogan: “Outback” Rewarding mediocrity in football – much like our steaks.”

Little known fact:
Only bowl game with a pirate ship.

Watchability (1-5): 3

The Pick:
Iowa 24, South Carolina 12

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