Bowl Preview: Champs Sports Bowl

Champs Sports Bowl
Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando
Wisconsin vs. Miami
Date: Dec. 29
Time: 8 p.m.
TV: ESFREAKINGPN
Line: Miami -3.5

About Wisconsin (9-3): After completely falling apart last year, Wisconsin recovered by beating such powers as Northern Illinois and Wofford in 2009. The Badgers started the season 5-0 and then quickly came back to earth. As it tradition at Wisky, they run the ball and run it and run it some more and really hope they don't have to pass. Because that's bad.

Intangibles:
Darrell Bevell; +2
That guy who played QB last year: -3
Ron Dayne NCAA career rushing leader on 15 million carries: -2

About Miami (9-3): Randy Shannon was feeling the hot seat before the 2009 season and saved his butt by hiring offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, who turned the 'Canes offense around. Lots of TV yappers like to ooh and aah over Jacory Harris, but it's Miami's ability to run the ball effectively that sets up the pass game. That and Patrick Nix no longer calling the plays.

Intangibles:
Da 'U: -2
Da U ESPN salute to 20 years of thuggishness and general stupidity: -3
Gloria Estefan: +7
Miami Sound Machine: -4

Impact Player: Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien. Unfortunately for the Badgers, at some point they're going to have complete some passes to have a chance in this game. Tolzien should really attempt to not throw them to the other team. He hasn't been so good at that in the second half of the season.

Bowl slogan: "Remember those stupid jersey that said "05" on them? We totally sold that to you."

Little Known Fact: Both of these schools like to pretend they're important in the college football scene. (Hint: Important teams don't play in the Champs Sports Bowl.)

Watchability (1-5): 3.4

The Pick: Miami 24, Wisconsin 23

Podcast: Episode 41

We have a special guest this week on An 'Eye and an 'Eer: College Football Podcast. We welcome Mike Eisenberg from Eisentower30.com and big-time Miami Hurricanes' fan. Eisenberg, a former minor-league baseball player, is now a film student in Chicago. He provides us a little insight into UM's big road test in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech. The 'Eye and the 'Eer take a look at last week's interesting outcomes, as well as look into our crystal balls as we consider some of the possibilities this weekend. We also discuss Pete Carroll, Bobby Petrino, the lackluster Florida Gators, Matt Grothe and Penn State.

Podcast: Episode 39

The Big Ten has two big games this weekend that could help enhance its image. First, of course, is Ohio State's shot at redemption against USC at Ohio Stadium. Will the atmosphere of a night game at the Shoe be enough to rattle the freshman QB Matt Barkley? Then there is Michigan's shot at Notre Dame. Both teams need this win in the worst way, but the Irish have more experience, and probably a lot more riding on this game. We also look at the biggest surprises and disappointments from Week 1 (Can you say Iowa and Oregon?), as well as which coach's seat just got a little hotter (Hint: Al Groh).

For our friends on Facebook who want to hear the podcast, just click here.

Miami-FSU highlights

No matter who you root for, last night's Miami-FSU game was truly a classic and a real treat for any college football fan. What a way to end the long weekend. Above are some highlights from the game.

I'm not sure the Hurricanes are all the way back to being considered a national title contender, but Jacory Harris and the rest of the Young Canes put on a show. I'm not sure FSU has much to be embarrassed about either.

That was by far the best-played Miami-FSU game in the past decade. Maybe Randy Shannon will save his job this year.

Randy Shannon ... this is reality... have we met?

Coaches, God love 'em, are bastions of positivity about the ability of their players right before the season starts. Miami coach Randy Shannon is proof. According to the Miami Herald, 'da U (shudder), wanted to extend Shannon's contract with a small raise, but Shannon has put talks on hold. Why would a coach who has a lifetime record of 12-13 and an ACC record of 6-10, NOT accept an extension?

Cause Randy Shannon thinks he's going to hit the coach lottery once 2009 is over:

He believes privately that Miami can go 9-3 or even 10-2, get into a major bowl and set up his young team for a realistic run at a national championship in 2010.

That means he believes UM can hold its own in the opening stretch of 19th-ranked Florida State, 15th-ranked Georgia Tech, No. 7 Virginia Tech and No. 3 Oklahoma -- the toughest first month in college football.

Randy, here's some advice, with a first four-game schedule like that, you might want to go ahead and sign that extension. That way, when you go 1-3 or 0-4 it won't seem like a COMPLETE disaster.

And yes, for typical Hurricanes yapping about their, uh, dominance in college football, you can read the link for details about Jacory Harris' pink suit he's wearing to the Heisman ceremony.

Can Randy Shannon survive 2009?

With two consecutive outstanding recruiting classes in the books it would appear the Miami Hurricanes could be a national player again real soon.

But Miami is still relatively young (while experienced) and Coach Randy Shannon is turning over the offense to a tested Jacory Harris, who is a true sophomore. Defensively Miami should be solid with great team speed and unlimited potential. However, the Canes knack for playing undisciplined could be costly. Another concern is the the turnover on the coaching staff.

With all of that said, the biggest obstacle for UM in 2009 is a tougher-than-usual schedule. Eight of Miami's 12 opponents played in bowl games in 2008. Those teams are Florida State (Champs Sports Bowl), Georgia Tech (Chick-Fil-A Bowl), Virginia Tech (Orange Bowl), Oklahoma (BCS title game), Clemson (Gator Bowl), Wake Forest (Eagle Bank Bowl), North Carolina (Meineke Car Care Bowl) and South Florida (St. Petersburg Bowl).

The Canes also open the season in Tallahassee against an improved, but reeling Florida State following NCAA sanctions.

So if you give Miami wins against Florida A&M (Oct. 10), at Central Florida (Oct. 17), Virginia (Nov. 7) and Duke (Nov. 21)--and let's be realistic UM has struggled with the Cavaliers and Blue Devils--what kind of record could we expect from Miami?

At this point it would be hard to see the Canes defeating FSU, Georgia Tech (Sept. 17), at Virginia Tech (Sept. 26) or Oklahoma (Oct. 3). So we're at 4-4. I'll give them Clemson (Oct. 24) because of the Dabo Swinney effect (similar to Bill Stewart last year) and at South Florida (Nov. 28) since the Bulls seem to dive at the end of the season. Record now is 6-4.

What's left? Two tough ACC road games with Wake Forest (Oct. 31) and North Carolina (Nov. 14). Please, someone tell me how Miami is going to win either of these games? So at 6-6 does Randy Shannon survive another season?

I don't think so.

Bowl Preview: Emerald Bowl

Emerald Bowl
AT&T Park, San Francisco
California vs. Miami, Fla.
Date: Dec. 27
Time: 8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Line: Cal -8

About Miami: Watch Miami run. Fast, Miami, fast! Watch Miami stretch. Stretch, Miami, stretch! Watch Miami warm up. Run, Miami, Run! Watch Miami play football. Oooh. Never mind, Miami. Go home, Miami, go home.

Intangibles:
The Rock: +5
Michael Irvin: -6
Glenn Sharp pass interference in 2002: +50
Bernie Kosar wearing #20: +4

About Cal: Good running back. Rest of the team. Eh. Does it make Jeff Tedford a good coach that he has hardly any talent and has a good team or does it make him a poor coach that he doesn’t have any talent?

Intangibles:
Berkeley: +3
Oakland: -4
USC “challenger” in Pac 10: -6
Jeff Tedford QB genius: -5

Impact Player: Miami QB Jacory Harris gets his first shot at running the show as Robert Marve won’t be there for the Canes.

Bowl slogan: “Cramming two mediocre football teams into a baseball field ill-suited for football since 2002!”

Little known fact: Miami defensive coordinator is Bill Young. That SOB. One word, Bill – Biakabutuka.

Watchability (1-5): 4

The Pick: Cal 31, Miami 21

Podcast: Episode 18

Because of the holiday season, Phil and Tom are podcasting a little early this week. Our Christmas edition is still full of interesting discussions on college football, including how Jacory Harris and the Hurricanes will do going across the country to face Cal in the Emerald Bowl.

We also discuss the bowl games that have already been played, as well as how much conference records in bowl games really determine the strength of each league. Also, how important is the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl for the future of Charlie Weis and Notre Dame? We also dish out some holiday cheer. Thanks again for tuning in to the best College Football Podcast out there.

We hardly knew ye

Robert Marve, another all-everything quarterback coming out of high school, may be done at the University Miami. It's been rumored that Marve, from Tampa, was transferring to South Florida.

On Thursday, he told the Associated Press that he won't be playing in the Emerald Bowl on Dec. 27 when the Hurricanes (7-5) play California (8-4) because he violated "team academic rules." That's a nice way of saying he didn't go to class.

Marve's career was derailed when he was seriously hurt in a car accident before his first practice. After sitting out last season, Marve earned the starting job over true freshman Jacory Harris. However, Randy Shannon may not be that upset to see Marve fade away as Harris performed better this season and he may have favored him over Marve next fall.

While Marve started the final 11 games, Harris played in all 12 games. Marve completed nearly 55 percent of his passes for 1,293 yards and nine touchdowns. Harris, who threw about 50 fewer passes, completed 61 percent for 1,001 yards and 10 scores.

While I've been a big Marve fan, he didn't show signs of improving at all this season. Harris, on the other hand, got better each week and played like a champion. This is the best scenario for Miami.

It could also work out well for Marve if he truly goes to USF, where he could sit out next season as Matt Grothe plays his final season as the Bulls quarterback. Not the storybook career Marve was looking for, but there's still time for a few good chapters.