Car Care Bowl Open Thread
Good morning, CFB fans!
ESPN will kick off another full day of bowl games at noon EST with the Meineke Car Care Bowl, featuring Texas A&M (6-6) and their "we're so pissed, we fired our coach" baggage and a Northwestern (6-6) team that prides itself on being the perennial trap game of the B1G.
I took Texas A&M in the first half myself, with Northwestern making a strong showing in the 2nd half as the Aggies fade, but not enough to lose to the Wildcats. The official line is pointing to Texas A&M as well, I believe.
So you know what is coming, here is today's lineup:
2 PM on CBS - Sun Bowl (G-Tech versus Utah)
3:30 PM on ABC - Liberty Bowl (Cincinnati versus Vanderbilt)
3:30 PM on ESPN - Fight Hunger Bowl (UCLA versus Illinois)
7:30 PM on ESPN - Chick-Fil-A Bowl (Virginia versus Auburn)
December 31st, 2011 at 11:11 AM ^
Request: Please pretty please call it the Peach Bowl in the open thread.
December 31st, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
Or alternatively, "Damn Sponsors Bowl Open Thread"
December 31st, 2011 at 11:16 AM ^
Its called the Car Care bowl? And then there's a Fight Hunger Bowl as well? tremendous.
December 31st, 2011 at 12:26 PM ^
Do you mean the Houston Bowl and the San Fran Bowl?
December 31st, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^
What's the status on the Northwestern QB situation? Dead? Partially dead? Walking wounded? Zombie QB, get the shotgun?
December 31st, 2011 at 12:26 PM ^
Zombie QB (Persa) in the shotgun.
December 31st, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^
The random car parts bowl makes me sad cause Jordan Mabin is injured and cannot play. His dad is a close friend of mine and I tried every way I knew how to get Lloyd to offer him back in 2007 but he refused cause Jordan was too short and the only DB slot they had left (allegedly) was reserved for T Wolf. When Northwestern offered his dad shut down the recruiting process (he was a DBack himself at Louiseville) and accepted. My thinks Jordan would've looked very good in a winged helmet over the past few years and would've helped the decimimated secondary a bunch. But we'll never know.
He's a great, great kid who is going to graduate this year and while this year didn't turn out as good as he planned he's still hopeful of getting an invite to the combine by which time he should be fully recovered.
GO WILDCATS!
December 31st, 2011 at 11:47 AM ^
Is it just me or do this bowl season's matchups really suck? I'm not interested in watching the vast majority of these bowls, and the games between teams like UCLA and Illinois are just laughable. Illinois went 0-6 in the second half of the season, and not only are they going to a bowl, but the coaching staff is pissed because they got fired.
I guess there are two watchable games - GT vs. Utah (I love watching the option) and Virginia vs. Auburn (Gus Malzahn's offense is fun, even though he's headed elsewhere).
December 31st, 2011 at 11:51 AM ^
That's what people were saying about the whole bowl season, but most of the games have turned out to be very entertaining - or at least, very close.
December 31st, 2011 at 12:31 PM ^
I love watching the triple option too. My friend doesn't understand my fascination with it, but if you know the reads, it's fun to know where the ball is going beforehand. NW is generally pretty fun to watch too, if only because I can actually root for the Big Ten.
December 31st, 2011 at 11:48 AM ^
You gotta believe Persa's going to shred the nation's 114th ranked pass defense (worse than Baylor!!). I could see the game being fairly low scoring (20 point range), though, as TAMU has been in a late-season swoon. Go Cats!
December 31st, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
They're running an ad trying to sell tickets to the game we're watching?
December 31st, 2011 at 1:04 PM ^
You still feeling confident Mr. Big 12? NW will give you a run for your bowl pick em' money today however I don't know if that will equal a win.
December 31st, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
December 31st, 2011 at 12:33 PM ^
The "much-maligned TAMU defense" allows 2nd and 23 to become 1st and 10.
The same defense just facemasked someone too - 1st and 10 again!
December 31st, 2011 at 12:32 PM ^
Pat Fitzgerald has the best WTF face I've ever seen. I can't wait for the pictures of that to hit the internet.
December 31st, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
"Play the percentages and punt...." From their 40 yard line?
./headasplosion
December 31st, 2011 at 12:38 PM ^
He played just a couple hours from Ron Zook, The Puntmeister. That knowledge rubs off on you.
December 31st, 2011 at 12:39 PM ^
Are watching the genesis of Texas A&M's SEC speed or a bad Northwestern secondary?
December 31st, 2011 at 1:19 PM ^
Let's be fair, Northwestern's secondary isn't bad, it's really bad.
As I type, A&M scores on a 30ish yard pass.
December 31st, 2011 at 12:44 PM ^
http://gif.mocksession.com/2011/12/confused-fitzgerald/
Confused Pat Fitzgerald is confused
December 31st, 2011 at 12:47 PM ^
December 31st, 2011 at 1:01 PM ^
Defense In Alamo Bowl <<<<<< Smell of Burning Rubber?
EDIT: Nice dead run by Persa there. Northwestern is having its way with this defense.
DOUBLE EDIT: I wonder if this is part of Texas A&M's Master Plan to collapse in the 1st half this time, and this drive is meant to throw everyone for a loop.
December 31st, 2011 at 1:22 PM ^
As soon as I saw this live I thought about asking someone on the blog to gif it. his face was priceless.
December 31st, 2011 at 1:09 PM ^
It doesn't feel like a 2-QB system - this is more like 1 and 1A.
December 31st, 2011 at 1:20 PM ^
December 31st, 2011 at 1:30 PM ^
Is that the play where the whole D-line finds itself behind a still-erect Tannehill?
December 31st, 2011 at 1:30 PM ^
Coach Fitz says "buckle up"
December 31st, 2011 at 1:32 PM ^
Pat Fitzgerald just told the half-time reporter to buckle up. Guess he reads MGoBlog.
December 31st, 2011 at 1:40 PM ^
Fowler was about to drop "Uh Oh! Better get Macco!' That would have been priceless.
December 31st, 2011 at 1:44 PM ^
Come on NW! I have no personal issue with Texas A&M, but I would like to see the B1G have a good bowl season (though I am not overly optimistic).
December 31st, 2011 at 1:52 PM ^
Does anyone else think the fact that A&M is 6-6 makes their "here we come, bitches" commercial sound really stupid?
December 31st, 2011 at 1:56 PM ^
They obviously don't remember the second half of almost every game they played.
December 31st, 2011 at 1:53 PM ^
Is it just me or can Persa only throw the ball about 30 yards.
December 31st, 2011 at 2:04 PM ^
This must be what zone coverage with really big zones looks like. More non-existence in the Wildcat secondary.
EDIT: Just like that - TD Texas A&M. So far, the B1G is in "wounded puppy" mode this bowl season.
December 31st, 2011 at 2:02 PM ^
Wow, the Big Ten looks bad :(
December 31st, 2011 at 2:02 PM ^
Wow....Northwestern is outmatched in every phase of the game and at every postion on the field.
December 31st, 2011 at 2:03 PM ^
This is depressing. But it would be more depressing if it wasn't how all of Texas A&Ms wins started
December 31st, 2011 at 2:04 PM ^
I guess being in the SEC does do something to a team.
December 31st, 2011 at 2:07 PM ^
You get the rare pleasure of scheduling McNeese State as a non-conference game, looking at their schedule in 2012.
December 31st, 2011 at 2:09 PM ^
Persa sacked even though he saw the blitz coming from half a mile away. Time for me to switch to the Sun Bowl in hopes of an ACC win.
December 31st, 2011 at 2:10 PM ^
representin'!
December 31st, 2011 at 2:10 PM ^
Two yard passes, two straight sacks and a 30 yard punt. Unbelievable.
December 31st, 2011 at 2:12 PM ^
...without a coach
December 31st, 2011 at 2:12 PM ^
I think Pat is going to cry!
December 31st, 2011 at 2:14 PM ^
the Big Ten
December 31st, 2011 at 2:33 PM ^
Nebraska will beat south carolina and MSU can beat georgia.
Watching northwestern choke yet again is not suprising. there is a reason they have'nt won a bowl game since 1946 or whatever.
December 31st, 2011 at 2:19 PM ^
Will Northwestern ever win a bowl game?
December 31st, 2011 at 2:22 PM ^
Northwestern definitely came to play...someone else.