MCR – Survivor edition

You have to hand it to the bowl people, they sure do now how to take a good thing and turn it into crap. Whose brilliant idea was it to sandwich two also-ran bowls between the Sugar bowl and championship bowl? These four teams seem like castoffs from Survivor trying to escape the island. When January rolls around on the calendar there shouldn’t be teams that include “Western” or “Southern” in their names in bowl games. Having these games at this time is equivalent to your partner asking you to stop for foreplay right before climax – it’s just unnatural. Then again, who am I to complain, these games will probably be better then the Sugar Bowl. As always we start by reminding the class of our scientifically calculated ranking system.

International
Western Michigan (8-4) vs. Cincinnati (7-5)
Jan. 6, Noon - ESPN2

Cincinnati head coach Mark Dantonio bolted to take the Michigan State job leaving the Bearcats high and dry. Adding to the fracas is new coach Brian Kelly who has chosen to install his system BEFORE the bowl game to get a jump on next year. That’s a tough challenge for any team. The Broncos have a bit of a tighter team as QB Ryan Cubit is coached by his dad Bill Cubit the head coach of Western Michigan. RB Mark Bonds is a power back (hmmm Bonds & power in the same sentence) who has surpassed the 1,000 yard mark this season. Neither team is lights out on offense or defense, but both teams bring a tenacious D.

+1 chance to see new Sparty coach’s old team
+1 it’s football and it’s on TV
-1 Christmas Cookie factor – after stuffing yourself with x-mas cookies (bowls) the last couple weeks one more may make you puke

MCR 1 (Woman’s Heart)

GMAC
Ohio (9-4) vs. Southern Miss (8-5)
Jan. 7, 8 PM - ESPN

Our old drunk pal and erstwhile Nebraska coach Frank Solich has created a MAC East champion team in only two seasons. In typical Solich fashion, the Bobcats run a conservative offense with physical RB Kalvin McRae leading the way. Ohio hasn’t lost a game when McRae rushes over 100 yards so expect to see a lot of him. On the other hand the Golden Eagles have done a good job of stopping the run and have a good weapon at RB as well. Frosh RB Damion Fletcher has rushed for 1330 yards despite being slowed by a knee injury and QB Jeremy Young had done a good job of game management. Furthermore, Southern Miss does a good job of protecting the ball.

+1 possibility of seeing Solich drunk, high, or on a date rape drug
+1 two 1000 yard backs going head to head
-1 possibility of seeing Solich completely sober and as usual, unanimated

MCR 1 (Woman’s Heart)