Redshirt Diaries bowl picks roll on -- WVU and the weekend action!
The bowl season rolls on and thus far, the Redshirt Diaries crew is taking a beating with their picks. The standings so far:
- Paul Zeise: 3-5
- Ray Fittipaldo: 2-6
- Ron Musselman: 1-7
- Chuck Finder: 1-7
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Saturday, Dec. 27
Meineke Bowl: North Carolina (8-4) vs. West Virginia (8-4), 1 p.m.
FITTIPALDO: The Tar Heels are locks to win another national championship in men's basketball in March, so let's give the West Virginia faithful something to cheer about for once this season.
ZEISE: Pat White's last game? Forget about it -- the Tar Heels haven't seen anything like White when he is running at top speed. This should be one of the best games of this day's docket, though looking at the docket, that isn't saying much. West Virginia wins, of course, win or lose Bill Stewart will say he's proud of them.
MUSSELMAN: Formerly the Continental Tire Bowl. Enough said. Go with West Virginia.
FINDER: The last hurrah of Patrick White figures to prominently feature him, and the guy is 3-0 in bowl games after all. The Tar Heels make it interesting, but White goes out a winner with West Virginia.
It's unanimous for West By God Virginia. And if it wasn't, the gents above would want a word with us.
Champs Sports Bowl: Florida State (8-4) vs. Wisconsin (7-5)
FITTIPALDO: Bobby Bowden's kids keep losing jobs. When is 8-4 not good enough for the administration in Tallahassee? I'll go with Florida State.
ZEISE: OK, where do we begin? One team needed every ounce of energy and then some to beat something called Cal-Poly Tech. The other team needed to play two Division I-AA teams in order to get to eight wins. This game could end 3-2 as both offenses stink. Pick: Wisconsin
MUSSELMAN: Bobby Bowden inches closer to Joe Paterno in career victories with a Florida State win.
FINDER: After losing four of five games, the Badgers rallied to win last three in regular season -- including a one-pointer over Cal-Poly (hey, they're good). Clarksburg, W.Va.'s Jimbo Fisher begins his ascent to Florida State head coach with an offensive show and triumph.
Admit it -- you were hoping for a gratuitous shot of Jenn Sterger and the Florida St. cowgirls. Instead you get this goof in a Badgers hat.
Emerald Bowl: California (8-4) vs. Miami (7-5)
FITTIPALDO: If this was an academic bowl the Bears would win by shutout. What ever happened to the U anyway? I'll take the Fightin' Jeff Tedfords. Cal wins.
ZEISE: The "U" is now more like the "L," as in the Hurricanes lose a lot more than they ever have before. Meanwhile, every year California is 'supposed' to finally take the world by storm, win the Pac-10 and show USC who is boss out there and yet, at the end of every year they seem to be just another eight or nine win team heading to a mid-level bowl game with plenty of regrets. Pick: California.
MUSSELMAN: The Golden Bears’ campus is 13 miles from AT&T Park. California wins.
FINDER: Which conference stinks less, the Bears' Pac-10 or the Hurricanes' Atlantic Coast? In this case, Cal will be less aromatic, thanks to Miami's leaky defense.
Once again, you're hoping for Miami co-eds. Fail! Oskie the Bear must suffice.
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Sunday, Dec. 28
Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech (7-5) vs. Northern Illinois (6-6)
FITTIPALDO: I gotta be honest. I can't name a player on either team. So let's pick a team out of a hat ... It's Northern Illinois.
ZEISE: Northern Illinois is another one of those 6-6 teams we love but in their (rather weak) defense, the MAC West was very strong this year and they are a little better than their record. Louisiana Tech lost to Army. 'Nuff said. Pick: Northern Illinois.
MUSSELMAN: This very well could be renamed the Boring Bowl. Take Louisiana Tech.
FINDER: If anybody puts a wager on this game, report directly to rehab -- and take Amy Winehouse with you. Louisiana Tech is my pick, only because Terry Bradshaw went there and I like Coach Derek Dooley, whom I knew when he helped out his dad at Georgia, Vince.
Don't be fooled: Lousiana Tech also gave us Troy Edwards