Wrapping it up

I guess I need to put a bow on BowlQuest.  Alabama just beats the enthusiasm out of you despite a great second half in the game.

Alabama vs. Georgia

I was in for the full ride here, pulling for the Dogs to keep a trophy away from Alabama for the second straight year.

Through the first half, it certainly looked that way.  Georgia found its footing in the 2nd quarter and put up 13 points.  Alabama's offense was stuck in first gear and I texted Boy No. 2 Bryant that the back up was coming in for the Tide if Jalen Hurts didn't play better to start the second half.  Hurts never saw the second half.

Evidently Tricky Nicky had seen enough and brought in Tua Tagovailoa and opened up the entire playbook.  ESPN also felt it necessary to remind viewers about 187 times that Tua and Georgia QB Jake Fromme were FRESHMEN!!!

After maybe their best half of offense all season, the Tide were in position to win but kicker Andy Pappanastos kicked it wide left and it was overtime.  If Alabama lost old Andy was going to need to change his phone number and shut down his twitter feed.

You know the outcome by now.  Alabama somehow baited Georgia on a 2nd and 26 and threw a 41 yard pass for the winning score.  What will be forgotten by most fans was the clutch 51-yard field goal made by Georgia's Rodrigo Blankenship in overtime that should have been for the win if Georgia's defense could have benefited from the 1st down sack of Tua.

But there he was, Tricky Nicky holding another national championship trophy.  I was hoping that during the trophy presentation the real national champions would enter the stadium, maybe rappelling from the roof top.

Alabama 26  Georgia 23

My Pick:  I had Oklahoma and Clemson in the title game.

What Did I Eat:  Macaroni and cheese, a salad.  

Bowl Game Swag:  Technically this isn't a bowl game, but the players do receive an "Iconic Gift" whatever that is but at least it sounds awesome. 

Top Three Bowl Swag Gifts:

3.  Fiesta Bowl (PS4 Pro Bundle, Fossil Watch, Ogio backpack)
2.  Peach Bowl ($300 Visa Gift card, Wonderboom speaker, Fossil watch and Football)
1.  Championship Game (The Iconic Gift)


Congrats to the Big 10 for the nearly perfect bowl game record of 7-1, looking at you Michigan. The Pac 12 needs to regroup, a horrendous 1-7 record, the only win going to Utah. 

Just 232 days until the season starts. 

Rose/Sugar Bowls

The final two bowl games, let's make it quick.

Georgia vs. Oklahoma

What a scene - so much red, the greatest field in the game, the awesome fly-over.  The Rose Bowl does it better than anybody else.  They even force ESPN to show the marching bands at half time.  

I watched all of this game and there was a lot, going to double overtime.  

In the end, the Georgia defense had a little more than the Oklahoma offense.  Easily the best game of bowl season. 

Georgia 54  Oklahoma 48

My Pick:  Oklahoma, it was that kind of day. 

What Did I Eat:  Some cheese and meats, and then stuffed clams and crab cakes. 

Bowl Game Swag:  Gift suite, Fossil watch, Ogio backpack, New Era 9Fifty snapback adjustable hat. 

Fun Fact:  Will Farrell and Mollie Shannon played fake hosts covering the Rose Parade.  If you have access to Amazon Prime video you can still watch it.  It was pretty funny.  Of course some people didn't get the joke and hit the show with one star reviews, thinking "Cord and Tish" were real hosts.

Clemson vs. Alabama

After 38 bowl games, my belly was full.  But you can't crap out with one to go, so it was on to New Orleans.  

Clemson had no answer for the Tide's defense and it looked like a foregone conclusion at half time, which is when I tapped out and went to bed.  Tuesday was a back to work day and it was apparent how much Deshaun Watson meant to the Tigers.  Alabama wins with defense and special teams. 

Alabama 24  Clemson 6  

My Pick:  You guessed it, Clemson.  Idiot, again.  I finished 21-18, that's not good. 

What Did I Eat:  Nothing.  This game didn't start until after 9pm. 

Bowl Game Swag:  Gift suite, Fossil watch, blah blah blah.  Same stuff. 

Fun Fact:  TCU beat LSU in the 1936 Sugar Bowl, the score 3-2.  That sounds about as much fun as the 2018 edition.

Outback/Peach/Citrus Bowls

I guess we continue on after the questionable ruling on the Fiesta Bowl.  Thanks to Boy No. 2 Bryant for watching and college friend Pam Harrison Appicelli who created a third rule and said a BowlQuest reader could take one game.  

The three appetizers before the playoff games.

Michigan vs. South Carolina

I'll leave this right here.

Nice job Wolverines, you had one job, win and give the Big Ten a perfect 8-0 bowl season record.  On the upside, since South Carolina won you can get a free Bloomin' Onion at Outback Steakhouse on January 2nd.  I have a feeling I know where our friend in maize will be going Tuesday.

Slow start to the game, neither team could do much of anything.  I watched the first quarter and would be back for much of the second half.

Michigan got it rolling a bit and was up 19-3, and then let South Carolina score 23 straight points.  How close were you to a "big win" coach? 

I would say his seat in Ann Arbor will start to heat up if UofM doesn't beat Notre Dame on September 1st.

South Carolina 26  AAJC 19

My Pick:  The Wolverines, my record now 21-14.  Idiot.

What Did I Eat:  Queso Dip (On The Border cheese sauce, Herdez salsa and Secret Aardvark hot sauce) and some Frontera chips. 

Bowl Game Swag:  Jostens ring, Fossil watch, $125 Best Buy gift card, Outback Steakhouse gift card, hat.  Do college guys wear rings?

Fun Fact:  Jim Harbaugh's record as a head coach in bowl games is now 2-3, which is better than his record against Ohio State and Michigan State, which is 1-5.  Did I mention something about a hot seat?

Central Florida vs. Auburn

This was the game I picked up after a fast first quarter at the Outback Bowl.  First quarter live and then again back for the finish. 

Perfection for the UCF Knights.  This team went 0-12 two years ago.  Good to see head coach Scott Frost stay to coach the team to the win before he leaving for Nebraska. 

Auburn had a chance to tie the score on their final possession after a missed field goal by UCF but they wound up turning it over on an interception. 

UCF 34  Auburn 27

My Pick:  Auburn, record 21-15. 

What Did I Eat:  Nothing

Bowl Game Swag:  $300 Vanilla Visa gift card by InComm, Ultimate Ears Wonderboom bluetooth speaker, Fossil watch, football.

Fun Fact:  This year's edition of the Peach Bowl was the 50th.  The most exciting game was probably in 2013 with Texas A&M beating Duke 52-48 with the Aggies led by Johnny Manziel.  The least exciting game, the 1974 edition when Texas Tech and Vanderbilt played to a 6-6 tie.  Here are the highlights.

Hard to believe this lasts more than three minutes, but hey, B.T.O.!

LSU vs. Notre Dame

Picked this game up with a live second quarter and saw some of the finish.  The first half was a real dud, 3-0 lead for the Irish at the half.  Not much to see in the second half.

Noted hothead and Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly ignited a quarterback controversy swapping out Brandon Wimbush who started every game this season for Ian Book in the second half.  Book played better and Wimbush never came back in the game.  The Irish won.

Notre Dame 21  LSU 17

My Pick:  You guessed it, LSU - record now 21-16 

What Did I Eat:  Half a peanut butter cookie

Bowl Game Swag:  $400 Best Buy shopping trip, Timely Watch Co. watch,

Fun Fact:  This game was originally the Tangerine Bowl, established in 1947.  Toledo ripped off three straight Tangerine Bowl wins, beating Davidson, William & Mary, and Richmond from 1969 to 1971. Chuck Ealey was the Rockets quarterback for all those wins.  Ealey's son Damon would go on to play for Toledo in 1995.

The SEC's bowl record is now 2-5, may not bode well for Georgia and Alabama.