After all the hoopla and the cussing and fussing about how Cincinnati, TCU, and Boise State all got screwed this year when it comes to the BCS Championship Game, I’ve come to this conclusion: neither one of these teams would have beaten Alabama or Texas.
Don’t get me wrong, all three of these teams had a great season, but let’s be truthful about it, after watching the three teams play, I wasn’t really that impressed.
Cincinnati got CRUSHED by Florida. Now, I’ve heard all kinds of excuses for why the Bearcats looked so bad including the lame excuse that they lost because Bryan Kelly wasn’t there. But let’s get real shall we. They were this bad defensively BEFORE he left.
How many close calls did the Bearcats have at the end of the season? And at one point they were down by double digits to Pittsburgh because their defense couldn’t stop them. The only thing that stopped the Panthers was their kicker, it sure’s hell wasn’t the Cincinnati defense.
And now people are SHOCKED that the Gators whupped the stew out of them? Please. Florida could have named their number against Cincinnati; trust me it was that easy.
Tonight, outside of the BCS Championship game, the Fiesta Bowl was so suppose to be the end all be all bowl. We were suppose to see the teams that SHOULD have been playing in the BCS Championship Game according to BCS busters, some media types and fans of both TCU and Boise.
What we got was one boring ass game. There was nothing exciting about this game at all. Oh I know we were supposed to see that great TCU Horn Frogs offense who turned out to be duds along with the Boise State offense as well.
I will give both their defenses credit though for keeping the offenses in check, but neither one of these teams looked like they could be on the same field as Texas or Alabama. TCU supposedly would have given Alabama one helluva game, but if Boise States’ defense (which isn’t known as being a “great” defense) could shut them down, hold them to 10 points and intercept the Horn Frogs quarterback three teams, what could Alabama have done or for that matter Texas?
It took a fake punt for Boise to score in the end or we’d still be watching this boring game. Thank God for trick plays.
Don’t get me wrong, TCU and Boise State both had great years, but the reality is, the two best teams will be playing for the national championship Thursday night in Pasadena.
2010 Fiesta Bowl Odds: Boise State Broncos vs. TCU Picks
The Fiesta Bowl on Monday, Jan. 4, features Boise State and TCU in a matchup of unbeaten teams. However, unlike other years, this game between unbeaten teams in the Fiesta Bowl is not for the National Championship game.
This game defines what is wrong with the BCS system as two teams that have beaten everyone that they have faced will not have a chance to win the title.
However, there is still a lot riding on this game as it is one of the top bowl games in the country. You can bet the Fiesta Bowl online at BetUs.com and get a special 100% deposit bonus up to $500 which is like betting with the sportsbook's money.
The big story in this one is the offense. We’re not really sure if there will be any defense played in the game this year.
Boise State brings with it the No. 1 offense in the country averaging over 44 points per game. The TCU Horned Frogs bring with them the No. 4 offense, averaging over 40 points per game.
If you just go by the averages, that means they’re planning on putting up over 80 points in this one. You might use the term “shootout” to define this one with TCU favored by 7.5 points at most top online sportsbooks .
These two teams actually met last year on a much smaller stage in the Poinsettia Bowl. The Horned Frogs came out with a one point win with a final score of 17-16.
This year, they are expecting a little bit more scoring in the game. It’s on a much bigger stage than last year with new players.
This one should be really fun to watch. It’s not quite the National Title game, but it is definitely the next best thing.
Check out the 2010 Fiesta Bowl Odds and our Experts Boise State Broncos vs. TCU Picks to gain insight of who will win this Bowl game.
TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes might be the best senior prospect no one is talking about. The reason? He plays at TCU and rarely gets any kind of national exposure.
However, trust me when I say this: Hughes knows how to rush the passer. He currently has 11.5 sacks this season after leading the nation with 15 last year.
Hughes is a bit undersized at 6'2", 257 pounds, but he plays with impressive bend and leverage on contact, uses his hands well to shed blocks and consistently is able to reach the corner with his first step.
Plus, he looks so natural dropping his pad level, maintaining his balance and flatting out around the edge that you can’t help but think he’s going to be an impact pass rusher at the next level. He’s one guy definitely worth keeping an eye on tonight, and I expect him to play well in a much-deserved prime time game.
Senior supreme
Coming into his senior year, TCU linebacker Daryl Washington had all of two starts to his name and was being asked to replace former defensive standout Jason Phillips. However, Washington has done nothing but impress in 2009.
At 6'3", 234 pounds, he displays the range of a safety, is fluid in space, and is quickly able to get after the football. His ability to run sideline to sideline and close in pursuit is one of the main reasons the TCU defense plays so fast: He makes it very difficult for opposing running backs to consistently reach the edge.
He’s only a first-year starter and still needs some time to work on his instincts and overall feel for the position, but the upside is there for him to mature into a starting-caliber linebacker at the next level. He could also develop into a very good special teams player as he develops at the position.
Mr. Shutdown
Boise State also knows how to play some defense, especially in the back end, and features one of the nation’s top cornerback prospects in Kyle Wilson.
Wilson is an undersized defender at 5'10", 186 pounds, but showcases impressive body control and balance in his drop with the footwork/burst to quickly close on passes in front of him. He also displays the type of deep speed to turn and run with wideouts down the field and is very difficult to gain separation from.
He consistently is able to stay in the back pocket of receivers out of their breaks and routinely puts himself in position to make plays on the ball. Wilson is a guy I expect to see completely blanket one side of the field tonight and eventually to mature into a starter in the NFL.
He knows how to score
Boise State wideout Austin Pettis is expected to play tonight and, according to head coach Chris Petersen, “he’ll be a factor somehow, some way.”
Pettis currently has 14 touchdown catches this year and has quickly emerged as one of the nation’s top red-zone threats. He’s a big target at 6'3", 202 pounds, but it’s his body control and coordination when asked to go up and get the football that make him so difficult to cover.
Pettis isn’t a burner down the field, but he picks up speed as he goes and displays the short-area quickness to gain a step on corners and use his big frame to box them out. He looks like the quintessential possession-type receiver at the next level, and if he’s somewhat healthy for this game, I expect him to be a factor.
You don’t need a big name to make an NFL roster
OG/OT Marshall Newhouse, TCU (6'3", 320)
A three-year starter at left tackle and possesses an impressive blend of body control and overall athleticism for a lineman his size. Lacks the length needed to play on the blind side at the next level but makes for an intriguing guard prospect.
OT Marcus Cannon, TCU (6'5", 348)
A king-sized right tackle prospect who displays good pop in the run game and consistently is able to win on contact.
RB Jeremy Avery, Boise State (5'9", 173)
He’s only a junior and is undersized, but every time he gets his hands on the ball, the tempo of the Boise State offense picks up. He’s dangerous in space, can make plays out of the backfield and looks like an intriguing third down type of back in the NFL.
SS Jeron Johnson, Boise State (5'1"1, 195)
A ball-hawk in the secondary who showcases good instincts and loves to lay the wood on contact. However, he lacks range and ideal size and might have a tough time finding a spot in an NFL secondary.
Justin Bieber rumors continue to swirl. Stories have circulated around the web saying that Bieber, a pop singer who was discovered on YouTube, committed suicide on July 31.
So did Justin Bieber die? Uh, no.
There have been no official statements from any reputable source stating that Justin Bieber has died. The only evidence seems to be a series of internet stories making the rounds. Many rumors were accompanied by what appeared to be a TMZ story that confirmed the Justin Bieber death? The article appears to be a hoax as no story about Just Bieber's death appears on the TMZ site.
The Justin Bieber death rumor is the latest in a long line of celebrity death rumors that seem to circulate endlessly on the web.
That's right, I said it. The Broncos of Boise State are the best team in college football. At least, until after the BCS National Championship is over.
Boise State has just completed the second ever 14-0 college football season. They did it with a team known for offense winning a defensive battle.
Who they played is not all that important. What is important is that great teams find ways to beat whoever they are scheduled. To go undefeated this season Boise State had to beat all different types of teams. And they had to do it with a target on their backs.
Oregon featured a mobile QB and a plenty of athletes who wouldn't stoop so low as to admit to being recruited to play in Idaho. They beat a bad Miami OH team that was more of a pass oriented teams. Pass happy Hawaii and Bowling Green were blown out. Ryan Mathews went off for rush oriented Fresno State but the Bulldogs couldn't defeat them. And Nevada and Utah State with mobile QB's also stood no chance this season.
Along the way, Boise State did have a couple of close games, as great teams sometimes do. Tulsa made the Broncos come back down to reality, but the Broncos pulled out the road victory. The trip to Ruston La, wasn't easy. LaTech won 4 games this season, all of their victories coming at home. Only BSU was able to make that long trip and come back a winner.
Through it all Boise State had to play through the drama that is the BCS. They would be passed up by TCU, a team that nearly every college football writer felt deserved to be ranked higher. They had to deal with the pressure of winning every single week, because one loss meant that the Broncos BCS hopes were over. Even if they won out, they weren't assured a BCS spot.
Despite what who didn't watch call a weak schedule, the Broncos have surely accomplished something special. They won fourteen games and lost none. They did it with a quarterback who measures a 6 feet 0 inches, a dwarf by todays standards. This same quarterback threw thirty-nine touchdowns and only three interceptions, a record for best ratio in NCAA history.
They managed this despite losing one of the biggest offensive weapons in the third week of the season. Running back D.J. Harper suffered an injury against Fresno State and Boise simply replaced him with safety Doug Martin.
If I had a vote perhaps I would wait until after Texas and Alabama play. But for right now, I could definitely pencil in Boise State as the best team in country.
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Boise State pulled "Riddler" out of its bag of tricks.
Presto: the Broncos stunned Texas Christian in a Fiesta Bowl duel of unbeaten BCS busters.
After a gutsy fake punt at the Broncos' own 33-yard line, Doug Martin scored the decisive touchdown to give No. 6 Boise State a 17-10 victory over third-ranked TCU on Monday night.
For the second time in four years, the Broncos (14-0) won the Fiesta Bowl with a YouTube-worthy play.
"I think that's what they expect us out of us, so we're happy to deliver," said Boise State coach Chris Petersen.
Last time, the victim was Oklahoma. This time it was TCU (12-1), which fizzled in its BCS debut.
A 10-10 stalemate came alive with a play straight out of Boise State's goofy playbook.
It's called "Riddler," and TCU couldn't solve it.
Petersen called it on fourth-and-9 at the Broncos' 33. Punter Kyle Brotzman hit wide-open Kyle Efaw with a 30-yard strike on fourth-and-9.
TCU coach Gary Patterson said the Horned Frogs had worked on the fake in practice, but they were caught flat-footed.
"The fake punt was a great call," Patterson said. "They outcoached us on that play."
Brotzman said he was certain the play would work as he surveyed the Horned Frogs' return formation.
"For us to run a fake like that is gutsy," said Brotzman, who also hit a 40-yard field goal. "That's Boise State football."
TCU never recovered. Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore, who threw for 211 yards, connected on three straight passes to move Boise State to the TCU 2-yard, and then Martin vaulted over a tackler from 2 yards out to put the Broncos up 17-10 with 7:21 to go.
"That was huge, an emotional play," TCU All-America defensive end Jerry Hughes said. "They obviously had the momentum on their side."
The trickery evoked memories of Boise State's BCS debut three years ago, when it pulled out a passel of gadget plays to defeat Oklahoma on the same field.
"Our coaches are creative and they dial stuff up and it works a lot of the time," said Efaw, whose team became the second in modern history to go 14-0, joining Ohio State in 2002.
Unlike the thriller against OU, this game offered little drama for the first three quarters.
It was the first time two schools from conferences without automatic BCS bids have met in one of college football's biggest bowls. But for long stretches TCU and Boise State played as if they belonged in the Poinsettia Bowl, site of TCU's 17-16 victory over Boise State in December 2008.
Boise State entered as the nation's highest-scoring team (44.2 points per game), and the Horned Frogs were fourth (40.7). But their expected offensive duel turned into a tedious series of punts.
Neither team could muster an offensive touchdown until the final minute of the first half, when TCU's Andy Dalton hit Curtis Clay for a 30-yard score to make it 10-7 at halftime.
TCU's Ross Evans kicked a 29-yard field goal to tie it at 10 heading into the fourth quarter.
The game appeared to be dragging toward overtime until Petersen's gutsy call. After taking the lead, the Broncos called on their unheralded defense to lock up the win.
TCU took over at its own 1 with 1:06 remaining and marched to the Boise State 30 before cornerback Brandyn Thompson disrupted a pass by Dalton, and Winston Venable picked it off with 18 seconds remaining.
Thompson had two interceptions. He returned the first 51 yards for the game's first score, and his second one set up the Broncos' winning drive.
Dalton had thrown only five interceptions in 279 pass attempts during the regular season, when he earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors. But the Broncos put pressure on Dalton from the start; late in the first quarter, unblocked defender Kyle Wilson blitzed and flattened Dalton, who came out for one play.
"We stressed all week just swarming to the ball, collectively as a defense," Thompson said.
Dalton finished with 272 yards and a score through the air, but was intercepted three times.
Western Athletic Conference champion Boise State earned its second BCS victory -- as many as Michigan, Penn State and Alabama have combined.
The Broncos are one of only three remaining unbeatens, along with Texas and Alabama, which will play for the national title on Thursday night.
Petersen has resisted entering the national title debate, but it's clear he thinks his spunky team can play with anyone.
"I just know that these kids have the most unbelievable heart," Petersen said.
Some wondered whether the Broncos deserved a shot at the national title. On this night, they were just barely good enough to edge Mountain West champion TCU, snapping the Horned Frogs' 14-game win streak.
Asked if he thought Boise State should be No. 1, Efaw replied, "Probably not. But I mean, maybe next year. I don't know. We have a great team and we fight hard and we're undefeated."
While news that “Johnson and Johnson Heiress Dies” hit the internet last night, girlfriend Tila Tequila was Twitter crazy with messages over the tragedy.
A spokesman for the Johnson family confirmed that Johnson & Johnson heiress Casey Johnson, 30, died Monday. The cause of death is still not confirmed.
Tila Tequila took to Twitter to send her love to the fallen heiress – Tequila and Johnson had recently announced they were engaged:
“Everyone please pray 4 my Wifey Casey Johnson. She has passed away. Thank u for all ur love and support but I will be offline to be w family.”
Later, Tequila tweeted conflicting news that Casey was in a coma:
“I know u can feel me Casey! Dot let go! I’m almost home baby please hang on! We have a beautiful life planned out for us! I LOVE u! Hang on!”
Tila’s final Twitter update: “R.I.P my Angel. @caseyjonsonJnJ u will forever be in my heart! I love u so so much and we will Marry when I see U in Heaven my Wifey.”
TMZ.com reported Johnson’s death, with police officers said to have responded to her Los Angeles home around 11:51 a.m. Monday; paramedics had already pronounced her dead.
The Johnson family released a statement that said it “is mourning its tragic loss, and asks for privacy during this very difficult time.”
