Flippin' Freak

South Florida's Jason Pierre-Paul is a freak.

Just watch him do 13 back flips during a contest with teammate Kion Wilson after a practice for the International Bowl in Toronto.

I thought George Selvie was an amazing defensive end, but Pierre-Paul may have passed him as the most-coveted defensive end in this spring's NFL Draft.

Don't worry, neither the 'Eye or the 'Eer will try to out do them.

(Hat tip: Shootin' the Bull)

Bowl Preview: Allstate Sugar Bowl

Allstate Sugar Bowl
SuperDome, New Orleans
Cincinnati vs. Florida
Date: Jan. 1
Time: 8:30 p.m.
TV: FOX
Line: Florida -13

About Cincinnati (12-0): The Bearcats escaped close games all year by outscoring everyone. Brian Kelly thanked them and promptly took the Notre Dame job. So, Tony Pike can throw the ball and Mardy Gilyard can catch it. Defense? nah. Running game? Occasionally.


Intangibles:
Oscar Robertson: +3
Art Long punching a horse (never gets old): -3
Cincinnati Reds: -4
Skyline Chili: +3

About Florida (12-1): Is there really anything I can say about Florida that everyone doesn't freaking know? Urban Meyer is on a pseudo early retirement play/leave of absence. Tebow, Brandon Spikes, Gonzalez. blah, blah, blah.

Intangibles:
Mohammed: +1
Buddha: +2
Jesus: +3
Tebow: +5

Impact player: Cincinnati QB Tony Pike, or more likely, his offensive line. UC can get guys open on the Gators, but Pike needs to be standing upright.

Bowl slogan: "Have a hurricane, Cincy fans. Have two, have three. It will ease the pain."

Little known fact: Call this one the "coaching clusterf*ck". Urban Meyer is on a leave of absence. Brian Kelly took the Notre Dame job. Jeff Quinn is coaching Cincy, but is actually the Buffalo coach. And Butch Jones, the new Cincy coach, is just watching. uh. okay.

Watchability (1-5): 4

The pick: Florida 41, Cincinnati 24

Bowl Preview: Rose Bowl presented by Citi

Rose Bowl presented by Citi
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
Ohio State vs. Oregon
Date: Jan. 1
Time: 4:30 p.m.
TV: ABC
Line: Oregon -4

About Ohio State (10-2): The Buckeyes discovered a running game in the second half of the year. Good thing, because the passing game has been missing all year. QB Terrelle Pryor didn't take the giant leap forward people were expecting. Instead it's been very small steps. Jim Tressel remains his ever-boring, ever-conservative self.

Intangibles:
1997 Rose Bowl: +3
Rest of David Boston's career: -2
"Rivalry" uniforms: -5

About Oregon (10-2): The Ducks' offense has been on fire the second half of the season, lighting it up with their wacky spread and wackier uniform combinations. What's this week? Retro - a salute to October 2007? Anyway, Chip Kelly's done a nice job since LeGarrette Blount coldcocked a Boise player.

Intangibles:
Phil Knight: +$120 million
Phil Knight's soul: -3
Chip Kelly in visor: -4

Impact player: Oregon RB LaMichael James. OSU needs to slow this little shit down to have a shot.

Little known fact: The Rose Bowl used to be very important back when Nixon was President and wide collars were in.

Watchability (1-5): 4.9

The Pick: Ohio State 31, Oregon 27

Bowl Preview: Capital One Bowl

Capital One Bowl
Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando
LSU vs. Penn State
Date: Jan. 1
Time: 1 p.m.
TV: ABC
Line: Penn State -2

About Penn State (10-2): Joe Paterno will claim his greatest victory after Friday's game, having outlasted that dastardly Bobby Bowden. Paterno, 145, will coach again next year unless someone forgets to recharge his animatronic soul over the summer. The Nits are okay. Decent defense but the offense struggles to run the ball which puts too much on Darryl Clark at quarterback.

Intangibles:
Non-conference schedule: -3
White Out: +1
Isn't anything involving students at Penn State a "white" out?: -2

About LSU (9-3): Les Miles is quickly wearing out his welcome in Baton Rouge, losing three games this year (including one in stunningly stupid fashion.) LSU is all over the place inconsistent. Sometimes they can run the ball, sometimes they can't. Sometimes they play great defense, some times they don't.

Intangibles:
Tiguh Bayyt: -2
Game clock, Les: -3
The Hat: +3

Impact player: Penn State RB Evan Royster. PSU has to run the ball. HAS TO.

Bowl slogan: "Citrus? Pfft. This country was founded on high-interest debt for people who can't afford it!"

Little known fact: I attended the 1993 Citrus Bowl. Somewhere in that little lake outside the stadium probably still reside some possessions of mine.

Watchability (1-5): 4.3

The pick: LSU 24, PSU 17

Bowl Preview: Konica Minolta Gator Bowl

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl
Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.
West Virginia vs. Florida State
Date: Jan. 1
Time: 1 p.m.
TV: CBS
Line: West Virginia -2.5

About West Virginia (9-3): The Mountaineers of the sweater-vested and slightly confused Bill Stewart have been very close to being very good. They've also been very close to being very bad. Which I guess puts them about where they should be.

Intangibles:
Coach not retiring: -2
Chick as mountaineer: +2
Pat Lazear rap sheet: (redacted)

About Florida State (6-6): Bobby Bowwden is retiring (sniff, sniff) - about eight years too late of course. The 'Noles finally put together a somewhat effective offense this year and the pass defense sucked. geesh. Of course, FSU has no business being in this game but due to St. Bobby's "retirement" road show, they get a New Year's Day Bowl.

Intangibles:
Terry Bowden: -1
Tommy Bowden: -2
Jeff Bowden: -3
Dadgum: -1

Impact player: Noel Devine. This midget needs to get the ball more. Gotta feed the kids, ya know?

Bowl slogan: "We'll fill the seats no matter how ridiculous it may seem."

Little known fact: Chris Rix no longer plays for Florida State. I miss those days.

Watchability (1-5): 2.8

The pick: Florida State 28, West Virginia 24

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

Bowl Preview: Chick fil-A Bowl

Chick fil-A Bowl
GeorgiaDome, Atlanta
Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee
Date: Dec. 31
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Line: Virginia Tech -5

About Virginia Tech (9-3): Typical Va. Tech. Run the ball, defense, special teams. Don't pass well and have a self-inflated team ego because they hammer crap teams in the ACC. And hell, they couldn't even win that league this year.

Intangibles:
Blacksburg: -1
Bruce Smith: +2
Corey Moore: -1
Michael Vick: -2
Marcus Vick: -4

About Tennessee (7-5): Our boy, Lane Kiffin, did a decent job with a Vols team that was questionable at some key positions. Tennessee managed to win seven games essentially without a passing game. Now, if Lane could just keep his big mouth shut. And not violate an NCAA rule every five minutes. That would be good.

Intangibles:
Daddy working for you: -1
Stupid NCAA with their "rules": -4
All Orange Unis: -4
Vol Ladies: +3

Impact Player: Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton. Seriously, dude, complete some passes and your team has a good chance to win. Play the way you normally due and, well...

Bowl slogan: "Winner, winner, chicken dinner."

Little Known Fact: Phil Fulmer really loves Chick Fil-A.

Watchability (1-5): 4

The pick: Tennessee 21, Virginia Tech 18