2009 Bowl Pick'em Challenge - Official Post (Post-New Years Games)

1/1/10 8:05 PM Update: I'm still playing catch up from my New Year's excursions. Here goes nothing...

Don't forget to relive all 34 games by rereading the pre-Xmas games and pre-New Year's games.

Click to enlarge. Last updated 1/7/10 11:09 PM.

1/1/10 8:10 PM Update: In an attempt to catch up, I'm condensing the posts for today's games.

1/1/10 11:23 PM Leader Board Update

Game: Outback Bowl - Tampa, FL - Raymond James Stadium
Score: Northwestern - 35, Auburn - 38 OT
Current Points Leader: JHa, I Will Beat Bob and Gary - 210 (breaking KZ's 6 game streak... but only by 1)
Current Statistical Leader: KS, DonkeyStyle

Game: Konica Minota Gator Bowl - Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
Score: (16) West Virginia - 21, Florida St. - 33
Current Points Leader: KZ, Suck it #15 - 218 (back on top after a 1 game break)
Current Statistical Leader: KZ, Suck it #15

Game: Capital One Bowl - Orlando, FL - Florida Citrus Bowl
Score: (13) Penn St. - 19, (12) LSU - 17
Current Points Leader: KZ, Suck it #15 - 218 (back on top after a 1 game break)
Current Statistical Leader: KS, DonkeyStyle

Game: Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi - Pasadena, CA - Rose Bowl
Score: (8) Ohio St. - 26, (7) Oregon - 17
Current Points Leader: KZ, Suck it #15 - 218
Current Statistical Leader: KH, Mr. Smokey Pants

Game: Allstate Sugar Bowl - New Orleans, LA - Superdome
Score: (5) Florida - 51 , (3) Cincinnati -24
Current Points Leader: KZ, Suck it #15 - 256
Current Statistical Leader: KH, Mr. Smokey Pants

Collective Game Thoughts: (placeholder, in case I have any)

Collective Beverage Thoughts: (placeholder, in case I have any)

1/1/10 10:15 PM Update: Hold up... Tebow cam?!? C'mon Fox.

1/2/10 2:23 PM Leader Board Update
Game: International Bowl - Toronto, Canada - Rogers Centre
Score: South Florida - 27, No. Illinois - 3
Current Points Leader: JHa, I Will Beat Bob and Gary - 264
Current Statistical Leader: KH, Mr. Smokey Pants
Game Thoughts: The best part about this game was the story about the players needing passports... and all the Doug Flutie talk... not so much the actual game.
Beverage Thoughts: You know what's good? Dr. Pepper.

1/2/10 4:58 PM Leader Board Update
Game: Papajohns.com Bowl - Birmingham, AL - Legion Field
Score: South Carolina - 7, UConn - 20
Current Points Leader: KZ, Suck it #15 - 275
Current Statistical Leader: KH, Mr. Smokey Pants
Game Thoughts: I didn't watch this terrible game, but I guess it answers what happens when you match up a decent team in a crappy conference with a crappy team in the SEC.
Beverage Thoughts: You know what's not good? Papa John's pizza. What the hell happened? They used to make pretty good pizza. They prided themselves on fresh ingredients. I think it's time to admit they've changed the "formula" several times by dialing the quality notch down to the Gatti level.

1/2/10 5:06 PM Leader Board Update
Game: AT&T Cotton Bowl - Dallas, TX - Cotton Bowl
Score: (19) Okie St. - 7, Ole Miss - 21
Current Points Leader: KZ, Suck it #15 - 291
Current Statistical Leader: KH, Mr. Smokey Pants
Game Thoughts: So let me get this straight, the "Cotton Bowl" isn't played in the Cotton Bowl stadium anymore, but the Cotton Bowl stadium still hosts games. One thing that became more obvious then where you look to find the clock in Jerryworld was that no one wanted to win this game. I also noticed it was a battle of two QBs that garner a lot of media hype but mostly dissappoint. This game was so frigging boring that Daryl Johnston (color analyst) yelled after an incompletion in the 4th quarter of the 7-7 game: "Somebody make a play already!!" Whoops.
Daryl Johnston yelled “somebody make a play already!!” He later followed with “I don’t know if anyone wants to win the Cotton Bowl this year.” Apparently Ole Miss won. I lost interest with several minutes remaining.
Beverage Thoughts: I wish I would have been drinking for this game. It was not for the sober.

1/2/10 11:22 PM Leader Board Update
Game: Autozone Liberty Bowl - Philadelphia, PA - Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Score: Arkansas - 20, East Carolina - 17
Current Points Leader: KZ, Suck it #15 - 304
Current Statistical Leader: KH, Mr. Smokey Pants
Game Thoughts: Sportscenter tells me that the East Carolina kicker pretty much blew this game. 2 missed FGs near the end of regulation and one in OT (he was 1-5 overall). He's lucky he's not a Colombian soccer player.
Beverage Thoughts: During my drunken Central Market run chronicled on my New Year's Eve game entries, I picked up a sixer of Real Ale's Phoenixx Double ESB. I was especially excited 1.) Because was focused enough to discover it on the shelves and 2.) I thought this was a draught only beer. This is an Americanized version of a traditional British style beer (double = more malt, higher ABV; more hops). ESB's are usually boring to me, but this offering is very good. The toffee and caramel notes are complimented nicely by the prominent, but not overbearing, hops. Pick this up folks... It's a winter seasonal... just make sure to drink it fast.

1/3/10 12:09 PM Leader Board Update
Game: Valero Alamo Bowl - San Antonio, TX - Alamodome
Score: Michigan St. - 31, Texas Tech - 41
Current Points Leader: DW, Bevo XIV - 337
Current Statistical Leader: KH, Mr. Smokey Pants
Game Thoughts: The constant coverage of James-gate got pretty annoying. Also, was it me or was this game not interesting until near the end. Finally, Ruffin McNeil seems like a good freaking dude. I'd have him in my living room. Oliver is a pretty chunky dude, even if he's only 18 months.
Beverage Thoughts: My Dad's wine cooler is getting kind of full. Luckily his wine purchasing has overwhelmed his ability to store or drink his stock (seriously guys, I think that semi-custom cooler he has holds 1000+). During my last visit he handed me a bottle of '05 Havens Merlot. If names of grapes don't mean anything to you, Merlots are pretty solid red wines, but typically mature early and are more middle of the road in flavor than most wines that I like. In other words, there are a lot of pedestrian Merlots in my opinion. But despite being several sentences in to this thought, I want my Havens story to be about the time I visited the winery. First of all, our reservation was at like 10AM or something... sweet. It was private... super sweet. And, it wasn't long after founder Michael Havens had sold the place to "the big boys," whoever that is. The best part was after the tasting I kind of wandered off to take random pictures and when I was around back taking grape vine pictures, I heard Biggie's "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems" booming from inside the work-floor area of the winery. Awesome. (**hint, they just sold out... get it?**). Sadly, Havens shut the doors for good this year. I'm going to miss this Merlot. Fk.


1/4/10 11:13 PM Leader Board Update
Game: Tostitos Fiesta Bowl - Glendale, AZ - University of Phoenix Stadium
Score: (6) Boise St. - 17, (4) TCU - 10
Current Points Leader: DW, Bevo XIV - 341
Current Statistical Leader: KZ, Suck It #15 (edited scorecard for mistake 1/5 3:11PM)
Game Thoughts: If I had a nickel for every crowd shot of a Boise or TCU fan flashing the "we're #1" hand signal... I'd at least be able to pay off that busted virtual bet I made on TCU -7. But speaking of camera work, I made up a drinking game during the Fiesta Bowl. Every time they showed a TCU girl, you must drink (if anyone played this game, they wouldn't be able to go into work tomorrow). I may be biased because I bet TCU, but they really sucked this game. Where was their high powered offense and defense? TCU fan may point to the D, but seriously, Boise's "O" was sht too. Just a few final thoughts: 1.) Thank you BCS for matching these teams together... people b!tched, but it was a good choice and the game proved it, and 2.) Neither of these teams can complain about being left out of the big show... just sayin'... but I would have liked to see both lose in the first round of a playoff.
Beverage Thoughts: Tonight I made a roasted red pepper and bacon pasta sauce. The best part about this sauce, aside from the 6 slices of bacon, is that it calls for 2 tablespoons of red wine. 2 freaking tablespoons... awesome. It's the perfect excuse to open a bottle, and while it's Monday, I decided to open up a Tuesday wine. "Tuesday wines," if you don't remember, are good quality but value priced wines. As far as I know, my parents made up this term for the wines that they open when it's not Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or a special occasion (you can stop laughing now). My selection today was actually the wine I most associate with the phrase "Tuesday wine," because it was the one my parents opened when I first heard them use it. Tonight's wine is a Newton Claret (red label, '07) from Napa County. The wine is $16.78 (cash) at Specs, but this wine easily tastes like a mid-20s wine. A Claret is a Bordeaux blend, and for those that are interested, check out more at wikipedia. For those that are looking to get me a present, Bordeaux blends are my favorite wines... just please send something that isn't a Tuesday wine.

1/5/10 3:30 PM Update - Bowl Challenge Potential Outcomes

Games Remaining: Orange Bowl - (10) Iowa vs (9) GA Tech, GMAC Bowl - Central Michigan vs. Troy, BCS Championship - (2) Texas vs. (1) Alabama

I have run all of the possible scenarios and here are the following paths to victory.

DW wins if: Iowa wins and either C. Mich OR Texas win.
KZ wins if: Troy wins and either 'Bama OR GA Tech win.
KH wins if: GA Tech & C. Mich win... then Kirby can sit back and enjoy the BCS Championship game, b/c he'll already have the Bowl Challenge championship locked up.


1/5/10 10:34 PM Leader Board Update
Game: FedEx Orange Bowl - Miami, FL - Dolphin Stadium
Score: (10) Iowa - 24, (9) Georgia Tech - 14
Current Points Leader: DW, Bevo XIV - 344
Current Statistical Leader: DW, Bevo XIV
Game Thoughts: Holy cr@p! How much sh!t football do I have to watch this bowl season. First of all, it was one of the most boring Jan 1 days that I can remember, and now day after day we get games where neither team want to win. Fk, at least in the Florida game they came out and flexed their muscles. Is it possible that most college football games suck and the fact 437 of them are on TV every Saturday, which makes up for the bad games?
Beverage Thoughts: Tonight was a Crown (Reserve) & Coke night. Possibly a little pedestrian to a few of you, but it is pretty delicious. Crown & Coke is like a Tuesday cocktail... maybe. Here's a little copy/paste of my thoughts on this drink from our "Name Your Drink" bonus question:
Crown Royal and Coke may be the most drinkable liquor cocktail that doesn't come with an umbrella. I love this choice, and have accidentally emptied entire bottles of Crown Royal Special Reserve with this magical concoction. I mean, once you open a Coke, you can't stop before the can is empty. That is wasting a good Coke, and there are thirsty kids in China.

1/6/10 10:08 PM Update: DW, Bevo XIV WINS THE BOWL CHALLENGE!! Have fun in Pasadena. Don't read this.

1/8/10 3:27 PM Update: My bad on the lack of updates. Dave's locking up of the game and the upcoming championship game gave me the excuses I needed to procrastinate. Catching up though... here we go.

1/8/10 3:28 PM Leader Board Update (late update)
Game: GMAC Bowl - Mobile, AL - Ladd Peebles Stadium
Score: Central Michigan - 44, Troy - 41
Current Points Leader: DW, Bevo XIV - 355
Current Statistical Leader: DW, Bevo XIV
Game Thoughts: This was actually a good game. In my opinion, we went on a good game drought from the Dec 30th Roady's Humanitarian Bowl to this oddly scheduled GMAC Bowl. But, the most important part of this game was that Dave locked up the contest championship. Interestingly enough, given 'Bama's win in the big game, Kimsey would have won if Troy had pulled it this one out then she would have won the Bowl Challenge.
Beverage Thoughts: I'm going to make this short. Delirium Tremens. If you don't know you betta aks somebody.

1/11/10 2:07 PM Leader Board Update (late update)
Game: Citi BCS National Championship Game - Pasadena, CA - Rose Bowl
Score: (2) Texas - 21, (1) Alabama - 37
Current Points Leader: DW, Bevo XIV - 355
Current Statistical Leader: DW, Bevo XIV