Bowl Preview: MAACO Las Vegas Bowl

MAACO Las Vegas Bowl
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
Oregon State vs. BYU
Date: Dec. 22
Time: 8 p.m.
TV: ESPN (who else?)
Line: Oregon State -2.5

About the Beavers: For the second straight year the Beavers were a game away from the Rose Bowl. Last year they ended up in El Paso. This year, Vegas. A slight step up. OSU is led by a pair of midget brothers, Jacquizz and James. Seriously, how do you name one kid James and the other JACQUIZZ. Either both the kids get crazy names or neither.

Intangibles:
"Beaver" jokes: +1
Mike Riley as coach: +3
Mike Riley as Chargers coach: -4

About BYU: The only school in Division I that has a coach named after a horse (Bronco Mendenhall), BYU once again beat the living beJezus out of the crap-ass dog teams on its schedule, such as Utah State, San Diego State and Oklahoma. Although the Cougars did beat rival Utah, but losing to FSU — at home? Ouch. Makes you want to take a two-year mission to Australia.

Intangibles:
Special underwear: +2
No caffeine, alcohol, tobacco or cursing: -6
Mormonism/Scientology possibly same religion?: -2

Impact Player: BYU QB Max Hall. In the grand tradition of former BYU quarterbacks such as Steve Young, Robbie Bosco, Ty Detmer and Marc Wilson, Hall should try to not be a complete dog in the bowl game. Especially Detmer who has both shoulders separated by Texas A&M after winning the Heisman. Ha. Both shoulders. That still makes me giggle. Does that make me a bad person?

Bowl slogan: "What stays in Vegas is your money, suckers."

Little Known Fact: One of the sponsors of the Las Vegas Bowl is a ventriloquist named Terry Fator, who has a puppet named "Winston, the Impersonating Turtle." Sinatra would be proud.

Watchability (1-5): 3

The Pick: BYU 29, Oregon State 24

Video: Cal's Best lands ugly on head

Just saw this on ESPN and then found it on YouTube. Cal RB Jahvid Best landed ugly on his neck after a crazy leap over an Oregon State defender for a touchdown this evening. According to ESPN, the game was halted form 16 minutes and Best had to be carted off the field. Let's hope that was just a precaution and everything is OK.

UPDATE: AP is reporting that paramedics removed his jersey and were administering oxygen to Best as he left the stadium.

SECOND UPDATE: AP is reporting that Best suffered a concussion, just a week after having a minor concussion, and is at the ER for observations.

Pac-10 catches SEC ref fever

It is now the Pac-10's turn to suspend an official (or officials). Following the footsteps of the SEC, the Pac-10 isn't naming names, but league representatives have said the following about Taylor Mays' decapitation of Oregon State's James Rodgers:

“Our members expect a high level of officiating in all our sports and the Conference office shares that expectation. We have taken this action in light of the blatant and dangerous nature of the missed call. We have full confidence in our highly trained and qualified staff of football officials, but they, like the coaches and players, are accountable and must meet the high expectations placed upon them.”

Suspension may be the right call, but let's not forget these guys are not like Major League umpires. There's no union and just a weekly paycheck. Sure, most of them have other jobs, but this is a cut in pay. We all want them to do a better job, but they are also human.

Preseason: Pac-10 rankings

Yes. Way too early, but what the hey. I really, really wanted to pick someone other than USC. But, in reality, I just can't.

1. USC
Key players: QB Aaron Corp, RB Joe McKnight, RB C.J. Gable, FS Taylor Mays, DE Everson Griffen, WR Ronald Johnson
Predicted Record: 10-2
Yeah, I said it. Two losses. At Ohio State and at Oregon. Wishful thinking? Probably. Trojans will still win the Pac-10 though. Too much depth, too much talent, too much everything. All they need is solid play out of Corp and the offensive line to hold up.

2. Oregon
Key players: RB LeGarrette Blount, QB Jeremiah Masoli
Predicted record: 9-3
Chip Kelly takes over and the Ducks will score lots of points and I think they'll knock off USC at home. But somewhere along the way they'll just be too inconsistent on defense.

3. California
Key players: RB Jahvid Best, CB Syd'Quan Thompson, DE Tyson Alualu, DE Cameron Jordan, LB Mike Mohamed.
Predicted Record: 8-4
The Bears may actually have a functional defense this season with a lot of returning talent. Best is a great RB, but questions will still persist at QB.

4. Oregon State
Key players: RB Jacquizz Rodgers, WR James Rodgers, QB Lyle Moevau, QB Sean Canfield.
Predicted Record: 8-4
The Beavers have a lot coming back on offense and with the healthy Rodgers brothers coming back, should be able to move the ball. Defensively, OSU loses a lot from last year, but is traditionally solid, if inconsistent.

5. Arizona
Key players:RB Nic Grigsby, RB Keola Antolin, QB Matt Foles, QB Nick Scott, DT Earl Mitchell, LB Xavier Kelly.
Predicted record: 7-5
An interesting year for the 'Cats as Mike Stoops finally reached a bowl game last year, now real expectations follow and there's a QB battle. But the defense should be solid and the running game improved.

6. Stanford
Key players: QB Andrew Luck, QB Tavita Pritchard, RB Toby Gerhart, S Bo McNally.
Predicted record: 6-6
It could be a big year for Jim Harbaugh and the Cardinal if they can stop somebody, anybody. With Gerhart, Stanford has a nice big back and the competition between the talented Luck and experienced Pritchard will be interesting. But Harbaugh seems to have Stanford headed in the right direction, they're just a year away from being a nine-win team.

7. Arizona State
Key players: QBs - any of them, LB Mike Nixon, DT Jonathan English, DE Zach Brown
Predicted record: 5-7
Nobody's sure what to make of the Sun Devils, who disappointed last season after an initial high ranking. The defense returns some very good players, but a huge hole at quarterback and on the offensive line might relegate ASU to another second-division finish.

8. UCLA
Key players: QB Kevin Prince, QB Kevin Craft, OL Micah Kia
Predicted record: 5-7
While Rick Neuheisel had a nice recruiting haul and seems to have people excited about UCLA again, the Bruins have major problems at QB and OL. Not a good combination. At QB Kevin Craft is back, but is untalented. Patrick Cowan is back and is slight less untalented. Kevin Prince has some talent but no experience. UCLA will be improved simply because they'll have better depth to keep some games close.

9. Washington
Key players: QB Jake Locker, CB Quinton Richardson, S Nate Williams
Predicted record: 3-9
Not sure if Steve Sarkisian was aware what he'd bitten off when he took the UDub job. The Huskies are in disarray with questionable commitment from the athletic department. Jake Locker's back, but that doesn't mean much. Three wins would be a nice showing this year.

10. Washington State
Key players: QB Whoever it is, any DBs, anybody really.
Predicted record: 2-10
Wazzu might have been the worst BCS team in history last year, unless it's this year's team. Two wins might be a stretch.

Sun Bowl highlights

You decide. Which one of these highlights of the Brut Sun Bowl highlights are more accurate?



Or this one?

Bowl Preview: Brut Sun Bowl

Brut Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Tx.
Oregon State vs. Pittsburgh
Date: Dec. 31
Time: 2 p.m.
TV: CBS
Line: Oregon State -2.5

About Oregon State: The Beavers almost went to the Rose Bowl. Heck, they even beat USC. Instead, they're in El Paso for the holidays. Although, I guess when you're from Corvallis, El Paso doesn't seem so bad.

Intangibles:
Mike Riley is a really nice guy: +2
Mike Riley is your coach: -2
Dennis Erickson era: -4
Chad Johnson "attended" OSU: -3
Beating USC: +4

About Pittsburgh: Dave Wannstedt took over his alma mater and has quickly led them all the way to El Paso. With the exception of RB LeSean McCoy, who somehow let Wannstedt waste his talent at Pitt, the Panthers are so boring it hurts.

Intangibles:
Peppi's North Side: +8
The 'Stache: +3
Play in Heinz Field, not near campus: -4
Pierogies: +2

Impact player: Jacquizz and James Rodgers will have the biggest impact, since neither of these miraculous midgets is playing for Oregon State. That hurts. Much like their tiny, tiny shoulders.

Little Known Fact: The Village People are performing at halftime (absolutely freaking true). Between that and the reek of Brut, this should be the Studio 54 Bowl.

The Pick: Pitt 24, Oregon State 17

Uh, Tress...about that tie...

Obviously Jim Tressel is concentrating so hard on Penn State that he's neglecting his wardrobe choices. Meanwhile, the yapping begins from Happy Valley.

That's okay. While Penn State - Ohio State is big, it's not all that's going on in college football.

Notes:

- Don't look now, but if USC and Oregon State win out, who goes to the Rose Bowl? Uh, not so fast, Trojans...

- What's left of Michigan takes on a downtrodden Michigan State squad this weekend in the rivalry game that's never meant less. What's nice though, is that either team can beat the snot out of their hockey player.

- This is old, but still interesting to those of us who never really get a peek into the inner workings of college football. USC WR Vidal Hazelton's father was less than pleased with his son's treatment this year and let Pete Carroll know about it.

USC-Oregon State Live!

1:19 4th - that was quick. TD USC. 27-21. Big kickoff return and four passes from Sanchez and now SC has to onside kick. Oregon State recovers the onside kick. SC only has one TO left.

2:39 4th - TD Oregon State. It's 27-14 with 2:39 left. SC will need a minor miracle now. A quick TD and an onside kick. 186 yards for Jacquizz Rogers.

Side note: the eye black where the players get to write their own messages should be against the rules. Just cause I find them annoying.

2:43 4th - Sanchez overthows a WR and gets picked off. Returned all the way to the 2.

3:15 4th - Gotta love college football. Oregon State's punter is terrible. His last two punts have also been terrible. And both ahve somehow ended up inside the USC 5. Amazing, really.

4:01 4th - interesting strategy by USC to take its timeouts now instead of waiting until the last two minutes. third and 6 for the Beavers, and they run the ball. not a bad call. USC will get the ball back with about 3:30 to go.

4:48 4th - who in the FREAKING HELL is Jacquizz Rogers??? this kid's gotta have 170 yards rushing and he is the size of my ring finger. USC is taking timeouts. This is the part of the game that is greatly affected by the clock changes. the period from 5 minutes down to 2 minutes left. You can really take time off the clock now.

6:52 4th - Beavers waste a great drive with a blocked FG. Shockingly, I find myself agreeing with Craig James about running the fooball on third down. You take another minute off the clock with that and that RB has looked awfully slippery tonight.

12:51 4th - Oregon State finally holds. Gotta wonder if the Beavers can manage another score or if they're just going to have to hold on and run as much clock as possible.

2:56 3rd - and it's 21-14 as Sanchez hits Damian Williams for a TD. OSU has to take a shot downtown. SC is just going to continue to stack the box. It's not looking good for the Beavers though. SC seems to have found a little offensive rhythm.

7:21 3rd - Here comes SC. Sanchez hits a long TD pass after it appeared a penalty would push the Trojans out of range. Oregon State managed one first down, but had to punt. Big series coming up for the OSU defense.

Half - OSU 21, USC 0. Okay, I'm excited. But how in holy hades does USC run a direct snap to Joe McKnight on 3rd and 7? Poor play call. Nice call by Mike Riley to go ahead and go for the TD instead of settling for the FG right before the half. You've got #1 at home and you're up, you've GOT to be aggressive there. Sure, they got lucky. But, what the heck.
Actually, I should be angry, this game has now completely ruined my sleep plans.

7:38 2nd - I am STILL not getting excited, even though it's 14-0 Beavers. Great playcalling by OSU. This tiny, tiny RB of OSU is hard for USC's defense to even find much less to tackle. It looks like a bunch of giants chasing a jackrabbit. Looks like OSU's jet sweep motion is throwing off SC's defensive front. The Trojans look very tentative up front.

start of 2nd qtr: THIS is the somewhat shaky, inexperienced USC offense I was hoping to see two weeks ago in the Coliseum. Crap.

8:24 1st - I will not get excited about OSU's 7-0 lead.
I will not get excited about OSU's 7-0 lead.
I will not get excited about OSU's 7-0 lead.
I will not get excited about OSU's 7-0 lead.

(And forgive me if this isn't totally live. I gotta clean for a visit from my Dad.)