Bowl Preview: Outback Bowl

Outback Bowl
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Northwestern vs. Auburn
Date: Jan. 1
Time: 11 a.m.
TV: ESPN
Line: Auburn -8

About Auburn (7-5): The Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsmen brought in a new coach in Gene Chizek and after being a complete disaster at Iowa State, Chizek was at least passable in his first year at Auburn. The T/WE/P have crazy Gus Malazahn's wacky offense and score lots of points.

Intangibles:
Bo Jackson: +4
Brent Fullwood (look it up, kiddies): -2
Terry Bowden: -2
Terry Bowden in that hat and tie: -4

About Northwestern (8-4): This is probably the biggest bowl for NOrthwestern since the Wildcats went to the Rose Bowl in the mid-90s. NU doesn't do anything great, but they aren't bad at anything. Pat Fitzgerald, who was one of the dirtiest MFers you ever saw play, is a decent coach.

Intangibles:
Pompous alumni: -3
Windy as hell off lake: -2
1980s: +3

Impact Player: Northwestern QB Mike Kafka. This is where I make some witty Franz Kafka reference to show how well-read I am. Except I don't really remember anything by Kafka that I might have read. Maybe something about a jungle? Anyway, Kafka - good runner. Needs to complete some passes too.

Bowl slogan: "We're got a Pirate Ship!"

Little known fact: This game is a complete academic mismatch. I'll let you figure out which way.

Watchability (1-5): 3.6

The pick: Northwestern 35, Auburn 30

Preseason: SEC rankings

As we have already mentioned, it is way too early for preseason predictions. But since we started here's our look at the SEC.

East
1. Florida
Key players: QB Tim Tebow, LB Brandon Spikes, DE Carlos Dunlap, CB Joe Haden, RB Jeffery Demps, S Dorian Munroe, OT Omar Hunter
Predicted record: 12-0
This is easy. The Gators are the most imposing team in the SEC, if not the nation. UF's defense is faster and more talented than last year's group that manhandled the offensive juggernaut Oklahoma in the national title game. Even the special teams look better. I don't see Florida losing any games during the regular season and then winning the SEC Championship. The only possible loss is a matchup with USC or Texas in the title game.

2. Georgia
Key players: WR A.J. Green, QB Joe Cox, OL Clint Boling, OT Trinton Sturdivant, LB Rennie Curran, DT Geno Atkins, DE Justin Houston
Predicted record: 9-3
When expectations are high in Athens it's best to pick against the Bulldogs. When expectations are down bet on UGA. Mark Richt has his work cut out for him, but this is when he's at his best. A.J. Green needs someone else to step up at receiver to help cut down on the double teams, and replacing first-round picks Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno is important. The offensive line should be able to open holes, though. A weakness last season, the line is a strength in 2009.

3. Tennessee
Key players: QB Jonathan Crompton, S Eric Berry, TB Bryce Brown, DT Montori Hughes, DL Chris Walker
Predicted record: 7-5
Tennessee wasn't as bad as their 5-7 record of last season. The defense should be stout again this fall, and if Jonathan Crompton can play within the system the Volunteers should win a few more close games than they did last year. If first-year coach Lane Kiffin can coach as well as he verbally spars UT could win 8 or 9.

4. Vanderbilt
Key players: CB Myron Lewis, WR Terence Jeffers, RB Jared Hawkins
Predicted record: 6-6
The Commodores were the talk of college football through six weeks last season. Vandy could be bowl eligible again this season and that would be a major accomplishment for coach Bobby Johnson. This is still a team of unknowns outside of Nashville, but they won't sneak up on any SEC team this year.

5. South Carolina
Key players: QB Stephen Garcia, CB Stephon Gilmore, OLB Eric Norwood, DT Ladi Ajiboye
Predicted record: 6-6
The Ol' Ball Coach didn't realize winning outside of Gainesville could be so tough. His South Carolina teams have been mediocre at best. The interesting thing is the Gamecocks have been great on defense during the Steve Spurrier years, and sluggish on offense. Spurrier has settled on Stephen Garcia at quarterback and that could pay dividends this season.

6. Kentucky
Key players: CB Trevard Lindley, LB Micah Johnson, DE Jeremy Jarmon, QB Mike Hartline, RB Moncell Allen
Predicted record: 3-9
I'm not as high on the Wildcats as others are around the nation. Some are saying Kentucky is a seven- or eight-win team. I don't see it. I like the Wildcats defense, but the offense could struggle to score all season. Mike Hartline had a nice spring and should provide stability.

West
1. Alabama
Key players: QB Greg McElroy, WR Julio Jones, LB Rolando McClain, NG Terrence Cody, CB Javier Arenas, LB Dont'a Hightower
Predicted record: 11-1
The Tide are loaded on defense and the unit is led by lineman Terrence Cody. This is why I think they'll edge out Ole Miss in the West. Plus I can't pick against Nick Saban. Greg McElroy may actually be an upgrade over John Parker Wilson at quarterback, but Alabama needs to find some offensive lineman to protect him.

2. Ole Miss
Key players: QB Jevan Snead, RB Dexter McCluster, OT John Jerry, DE Greg Hardy, DT Jerrell Powe, DE Marcus Tillman
Predicted record: 10-2
Jevan Snead may be the second-best quarterback in the conference and could lead the Rebels to the SEC championship game. Right now I see Ole Miss just missing that game. The Rebels real strength will be the defensive front, possibly the best in the SEC. Even if they don't make the SEC title game, a 10-win season is nothing to frown about in Oxford.

3. LSU
Key players: QB Jordan Jefferson, OT Ciron Black, RB Charles Scott, WR Brandon LaFell, S Chad Jones
Predicted record: 9-3
Uncharacteristically, the Tigers struggled on defense last year. That has to be a concern this season unless first-year coordinator John Chavis can turn this unit around. Count on it. LSU is also one of the more athletic teams in the SEC, maybe second to Florida. The West is stacked when you consider the Tigers could win this division.

4. Auburn
Key players: DE Antonio Coleman,
Predicted record: 7-5
I'd feel much better about Gene Chizik's first season on the Plains if he had found a quarterback during the spring, especially when you're trying to run the spread (see Michigan 2008). However, the Tigers defense is solid and should get them a few more wins than they had in Tommy Tuberville's final campaign.

5. Arkansas
Key players: QB Ryan Mallett, WR Joe Adams, WR Jarius Wright, TE D.J. Williams, RB Michael Smith, DT Malcolm Sheppard
Predicted record: 6-6
The Razorbacks are a popular pick to really move up in the SEC this fall. They have offensive genious Bobby Petrino and Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett at quarterback. But it's tough to put the Hogs anywhere else because of their untested defense.

6. Mississippi State
Key players: RB Anthony Dixon, WR Chad Bumphis, DT Pernell McPhee, WR Brandon McRae
Predicted record: 3-9
Don't expect too much in the first season for coach Dan Mullen. The Bulldogs will be counting on plenty of newcomers to step up this season and that is just too much to survive in the SEC. Better luck in 2010.

Ready for the prom

So what is Auburn's Gene Chizik trying to accomplish?

When he took over the Tigers program he promised an all-out, aggressive approach to recruiting. One of those goals is to re-establish the Auburn brand in Alabama. I guess showing up at high schools in a stretch limousine is all it takes. So either there is someone important in that limo or its prom-time in the south.

Now Chizik can't visit the schools in the limo (per NCAA restrictions), but this has his redneck fingerprints all over it. The Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register reported, seven Auburn assistant coaches piled into a limo decorated with Auburn decals and flags and headed south to Mobile, an important in-state recruiting ground for the Tigers.

And it appears this road show is not over. Similar visits in other Alabama communities are expected to take place this week, according to the newspaper.

I've seen more class from Virginia Tech fans. Let's face it. This is so SEC.

Gene Chizik all day, every day

We know the folks in the SEC are crazy about their football. But as I follow college football news around the nation, I can't decide if I'm impressed with the endless stories, videos and coverage of SEC football.

The Birmingham News and its stable of beat writers does an excellent job of covering Alabama, Auburn and SEC football in general. While the Tide remains the main focus, Auburn gets its fair share of coverage. Gene Chizik usually makes a daily appearance in the paper and online.

Above is a recent interview with Chizik that appeared on the Auburn blog on the Birmingham site, who may have been a good choice. He's put together a pretty good coaching staff and if given time might get Auburn back to the top of the SEC. He looks a little annoyed to have to do another interview, but he'll either get used to it in The Plains or flame out in a few years.

Iowa State irony

So is this Jamie Pollard’s idea of a joke?

If it is, I love this guy.

A week after losing his head football coach to Auburn University, the Iowa State Director of Athletics is introducing Paul Rhoads as his new head coach of the Cyclones. Why is this so funny?

Well, Rhoads was the defensive coordinator for the Tigers last season, a job Gene Chizik held just a few years ago.

Let’s be honest, Rhoads does not have the coaching cred that Chizik had when he arrived in Ames. But don’t overlook the good work Rhoads has done. He did an excellent job at Pittsburgh, with minimal talent. He also put together the scheme that kept West Virginia out of the BCS Championship last year with that magnificent defensive performance in Morgantown in the season finale.

His Auburn defense was also strong this season, but the offense was so bad the job he did was overlooked. That seems to be his curse. While his defenses do well the teams he is with are usually bad.

A factor that could make him a better fit than Chizik ever was at ISU is that fact that Rhoads is an Iowa native, coached the secondary for the Cyclones in the late 1990s and he understands the challenges of Iowa State.

Joke or not, this is a pretty good hire. Iowa State may have gotten the better end of this deal. And $750K from Auburn to top it off.

TNT buddies take jabs at Barkley

I saw this at The Quad on the New York Times site. Pretty funny job of mocking Charles Barkley on the TNT NBA set, and using the shoe-throwing incident with President Bush. For those who don't know, Barkley has been pretty outspoken about his alma mater's hiring of Gene Chizik instead of Turner Gill at Auburn.

Easy decision

Let's make this easy on Jamie Pollard.

All Iowa State's Director of Athletics needs to do is call, email, text or Twitter Turner Gill and welcome him back to the Big 12 as the new football coach of the Cyclones. He'll make you like a genius and Auburn gets stuck with the dud Gene Chizik.

See, it's Gill who should have gotten the job at Auburn, Syracuse, Clemson or Tennessee. He should be the "It" coach like Urban Meyer was a few years ago and Lane Kiffin was this year. So why has Gill gotten the interviews, but no offers?

He's charismatic, knowledgeable, good recruiter, and has resurrected a Buffalo Bulls program that was at the bottom of the Mid-American Conference—one of the least respected FBS conferences. So why is Gill still in Buffalo getting his team ready for the International Bowl to face UConn?

It comes down to one simple fact: he's black.

Even as we get ready for the first African American President in U.S. history, there are still colleges and universities who won't or can't put a black football coach on the sideline because of the underlying racism that exists within the alumni.

Look Ball State's Brady Hoke got to San Diego State (a job he has earned), and Chizik go to Auburn (a job he has no business getting).

Iowa State isn't shedding any tears over the loss of Chizik to Auburn. Heck, the Cyclones will get $750K from Auburn as part of his buyout. Use that money to lock up Gill now. If he can win a conference title at Buffalo, think of the magic he could do with the resources of ISU and the clout of the Big 12?

It's really that simple Jamie.

First impressions

We noted yesterday that the hiring of Gene Chizik as Auburn's replacement for Tommy Tuberville caught us off guard. Clearly the reaction of the Tiger fans (OK, maybe just one fan) at the airport Saturday wasn't a great start.

Dr. Saturday at YahooSports.com noted today that this is in stark contrast to the welcome that Nick Saban received when he became Alabama's coach.

Wow. didn't see this one coming at all...

Well, there's no way Gene Chizek can go 5-19 in the next two years at Auburn, right?

So, Turner Gill takes Buffalo, BUFFALO?, to a bowl game and the War Eagle/Tigers/Plainsmen hire this guy?