Auburn 22, Oregon 19

If you thought this game (which had an over/under of 75) would feature 41 total points, a game winning field goal, 2 goal line stops, and the same number of turnovers as touchdowns, you should consider quitting your day job and betting sports for a living. This game wasn't the shootout predicted by the experts, but it was just as exciting.

And the big difference was Auburn's defense. Their line was able to come up with some huge plays, like a safety, like a goal-line stand, like pressure that resulted in an interception, and so on.

I think Auburn's rigorous SEC schedule prepared them for such a tight contest. In that league, especially in their division, you have to be able to win tough games against good opponents. Repeatedly.

Oregon averaged a 30.9 point margin of victory this season. Auburn averaged an 18.2 margin, which was inflated by a few blowout wins. The Tigers played 5 games decided by 7 points or less. Oregon played in 1 such game. That might make Oregon sound better, but in hindsight, it makes Auburn seem more capable of winning close games. At the very least, they came in with more experience in them.

It's not that Oregon choked in this close game, just that Auburn didn't play with anxiety in that last drive.

This is the 5th straight BCS title for the SEC, and their 7th overall. Don't forget, Auburn went 13-0 in 2004 and were excluded from the BCS title game, so it's almost like #8 for the SEC.

It was a great end to another interesting and thrilling season. Auburn's schedule was full of instant classics, and they deserve their Championship. There were a few loose ends, with an undefeated TCU team floating around. "Power conferences" like the Big East and ACC downright sucked this season. And radical realignment of all conferences seems to be on the horizon.

Ultimately, I'm happy that the stupid, jersey changing team from Eugene has one set of apparel they'll probably never don again.

This guy must feel like an idiot.



Although he's probably felt like an idiot before.

-The Commodore

College Bowl Picks/Previews: Part 9

The last three games. Two bowls that very few people care about, then the big enchilada in the desert. I'm 17-14 in my picks so far, and have selected each BCS game correctly.

Saturday - 12:00 PM - ESPN
BBVA Compass Bowl - Birmingham, AL
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Kentucky Wildcats
This would be a really good basketball game. Football? Not so much. Pitt can salvage their season with a win here. Kentucky was the SEC's whipping boy, going 2-6 in conference play, beating Vanderbilt and upsetting South Carolina. Wins against Western Kentucky, Akron, and Charleston Southern inflated their record. Pitt should walk.



Sunday - 9:00 PM - ESPN
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl - San Francisco, CA
#15 Nevada Wolfpack vs. Boston College Eagles
Nevada only lost one game. They beat Boise State and won the WAC. They averaged over 42 points and 300 rushing yards per game. They'll face a BC defense that was actually 19th in the country, and might give them a fight. But BC was also 109th on offense, and so will ultimately lose. Though it might be close.



Monday - 8:30 PM - ESPN
Tostitos BCS National Championship Game - Glendale, AZ
#2 Oregon Ducks vs. #1 Auburn Tigers
The Ducks scored 49.3 points per game (#1 in the country), and allowed 18.4 (#14). But that was in a very shallow Pac-10. Oregon's biggest road win was at USC. I think this game will be close, and Auburn has more experience in close, difficult games. Oregon is a great team, and perhaps more talented all around. Cam Newton is such a load-carrying player, though. And his teammates play with character. They've proven so much more than Oregon.

Auburn wins, 31-27.









-The Commodore

37 Bama, 21 Texas

Mark Ingram will not be in the long list of Heisman winners to take the L on the National Championship. Bama got the win and deserved the National Championship, unfortunately this game will always have the what if question surrounding it, as Colt McCoy got injured with some sort of shoulder injury and didn't come back into the game.

Replacing McCoy was 18 year old freshman Gareett Golbert. Gilbert had a game to forget as he started the game going 1-8 for -4 yards. But he started to right the ship at the end of the game and brought it to three points in the third at 24-21. Unfortunately, on the next drive he got hit ridiculously hard by a blindside hit as Eryk Anders forced a fumble, then recovered by Bama. Mark Ingram scampered in endzone for his 2nd touchdown, he also had 116 yards and the MVP of the game. Texas couldn't recover, and Bama just killed the clock and got their first Championship since 1992.

Roll Tide Roll

Demarco Murray To Miss BCS Championship Game

Oklahoma Sooners running back DeMarco Murray will have surgery to repair a partial rupture of his left hamstring tendon and will not play in the BCS National Championship Game against the Florida Gators.

This is a huge loss for the Sooners. Without Murray, Sam Bradford is going to have to prove he can win a game without his star, much like Tebow did without Percy Harvin. Without Murray this game should get a little bit closer, however I think Oklahoma's offense is better than Florida's offense and that is all that is going to matter in this game.