Ticketcity Bowl Open Thread
Happy New Year's Day (Observed) to all!
I know it's early, but there's quite a bit going on today in the world of bowls, so I figured an early start might be warranted.
At noon on ESPNU, we will have the Ticketcity Bowl, featuring a 12-1 Case Keenum (Houston) versus 9-3 Penn State.
Incidentally, Ticketcity.com has tickets available for its own bowl, so if you're within an hour or so of Dallas and can get to a computer right now, there's still time!
I don't know what to really say about this - this might very well be the first time Houston has actually played a team of note this year, or at least a team that can actually mount a concerted effort on the defensive side of the ball. I have a feeling that offense might be a big part of this game, and if that is the case, Penn State is in trouble if they let even a few TDs happen, for the Nittany Lions have had trouble with offense, needless to say. You may laugh at me for this, but I picked Houston in this game - PSU defends well, but Houston scores just enough to best a usually pathetic PSU offense.
NOTE: If you do not have ESPNU, this will be on ESPN3.com as well.
Other games today:
1 PM, ABC - Outback Bowl - Michigan State versus Georgia
1 PM, ESPN - Capital One Bowl - Nebraska versus South Carolina
1 PM, ESPN2 - Urban Meyer (Gator) Bowl - Ohio (yes, that one) versus Florida
5 PM, ESPN - Rose Bowl - Wisconsin versus LaMichael James' Legs (Oregon)
8:30 PM, ESPN - Fiesta Bowl - Stanford versus Oklahoma State
...and don't forget:
Tomorrow at 8:30 PM, man....GO BLUE!
January 2nd, 2012 at 10:59 AM ^
Are there going to be 6 "insert bowl name here" threads...or are we going to do 1PM bowl threads...
I'd vote for the 2nd choice, but I don't really care. This Magic Hat #9, Buffalo Wild Wings carry out, my girlfriends amazing taco dip and the 2 TVs and 2 Laptops I'm going to have rolling is where it's at. I just think it would be nice to have it all in one thread.
January 2nd, 2012 at 11:21 AM ^
The 1 PM games get a collective thread - tentative title: "1 PM Bowl Cluster**** Open Thread", but I am sure I can come up with something friendlier.
January 2nd, 2012 at 11:24 AM ^
I'm torn. It would be nice to have a thread for each B1G game but I would like some MGoUpdates from some that I may not have tuned in at that particula time. If we have one thread for all of them it may become a monster 400+ post thread.
January 2nd, 2012 at 11:31 AM ^
One thread to rule them all sounds like a bad idea.
January 2nd, 2012 at 11:51 AM ^
I've spent the last 15 minutes sitting on the sofa watching "Bubble Guppies" with the kids and mulling this over. Because the 1 PM games involve the B1G, I may very well split them up now because I am thinking that enough people will be watching each game that we may get some great discussion going for each one.
Here's what I think I might do, and feel free to tell me if this is a bad idea - I'll start with the one and monitor it. If it blows up (as in 100 replies half way through the 1st quarter), I will quickly create threads for each game with score and situation.
January 2nd, 2012 at 11:58 AM ^
Start with one...
If it goes crazy like a chat...then just leave that one as the B1G thread and make 4 seperate game threads.
This is definitely a GOOD problem to have!!!
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:06 PM ^
advice: make a separate bubble guppies thread, 'cause those discussion get CRAZY.
January 2nd, 2012 at 11:00 AM ^
that I think PSU can score 30. Run will set up play action. A high school QB ought to be able to put up points in that situation. PSU still has superior athletes across the board vis vis Houston.
January 2nd, 2012 at 11:30 AM ^
Silas Redd is healthy and will run for piles of yards. Houston is very similar to the Hawaii team that went to the Sugar Bowl and got obliterated. They had a lot of trouble beating UCLA, who we now know is terrible, and who managed over 30 points against Houston.
January 2nd, 2012 at 1:00 PM ^
PSU will be lucky to manage 30 yards.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:54 PM ^
Worst. Prediction. Ever.
January 2nd, 2012 at 11:49 AM ^
January 2nd, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
January 2nd, 2012 at 1:13 PM ^
Do what you want to do: watch football. It's easier to get forgiveness than permission.
January 2nd, 2012 at 11:54 AM ^
Who is playing qb for psu in this game?
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:01 PM ^
I heard Bolden is starting. And for below I've got PSU, OSU, MSU, SC and Oregon. That said, I'm sticking it up with my 14-year old daughter well ahead of me, so take it for what it's worth.
January 2nd, 2012 at 11:54 AM ^
I got both our rivals winning today, anybody else got the same thing?
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:01 PM ^
But I wouldn't be surprised to have the best MSU team in decades roll over to the SEC for a second straight year.
(Especially since I bet on them.)
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
Book it.
Georgia 31 - Sparty 24 (if that)
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:02 PM ^
One minute into the broadcast and we're already on Sandusky. See PSU, this is why no major bowl wanted anything to do with you. This is also why you need to shut the hell up and lie low for a few seasons.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:05 PM ^
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:07 PM ^
Wow, ESPNU. I think even the Under Armour high school game gets to be on ESPN.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:22 PM ^
The under armour game is on ESPNU, as well.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:13 PM ^
I'm not sure we should be happy or sad we missed Houston. On one hand that offense scares me, on the other hand it could have been awesome to watch Denard floor the pedal in a shootout.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:16 PM ^
Very happy. Michigan plays Alabama in their next game, and dumping on a team that could barely handle UCLA wouldn't be doing us any favors going into next year, we get enough of that already. Time for some more big time competition.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^
Penn state looks turrible.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^
Did I really just see the PSU President grovel on national TV in an ad...?
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:24 PM ^
I couldn't watch the whole thing myself.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:22 PM ^
Is awful. Just awful
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:29 PM ^
Wow, this is embarrassing for PSU.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:30 PM ^
If you're going to claim you got screwed with the bowl you were assigned, you'd better at least win that bowl. Houston's looking really good so far.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:32 PM ^
The crazy thing is that Houston looks like they're running in sand and Penn State still can't stop them/move the ball. Houston isn't very good, but neither is Penn State.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:31 PM ^
....that Rob Bolden's entire game will be summarized by 'just short of the 1st down"?
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:32 PM ^
Houston is actually playing some defense.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:41 PM ^
I'm actually kind of impressed. I suppose it's a lot easier when you put 9 in the box, because literally the air will be able to defend the pass, but still, I wasn't quite expecting that.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:37 PM ^
PSU finally forces a punt and proceeds to flub the kick and recover inside the 5. Ugh.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:38 PM ^
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^
has the rules committee made a few changes re: exchange of possessions after scores b/c I've tuned in 3-4 times and I haven't seen psu with the ball yet.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
I know you're being a smartass, but it's worth stating anyways. 3 drives, 9 plays, 19 yards, 0 first downs. They're not awesome.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
Dont blink. They have it now for another 30 seconds
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^
I think Houston just put this one out of reach. 17 points may as well be 70 with Bolden at QB.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
Houston TD and the receiver was "hungry" like Denard. That celebration has really spread this year.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
Of all the games, this is the only one I thought the Big Ten would have absolutely zero chance of winning, especially when McGloin went down.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
Ummm... PSU looks like shit. Completely agree, if they score 17 I'll be shocked.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^
AND punt.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:47 PM ^
This has to be one of the worst game plan's ever assembled by the Penn State defensive staffs. There is absolute no pressure on Keenum as Penn State is constantly rushing only the 4 down lineman, and there is no disruption to the Houston receivers as Penn State is playing soft coverage. When you are playing a rhythmic, timing passing game wouldn't you want to mess up the timing? Penn State is embarrising the B1G.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:47 PM ^
I hope Armani is watching this game and realizes what a tire fire PSU has become.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:49 PM ^
2 minutes to go in the 1st quarter, Houston has 200 passing yards and a 17 point lead, meanwhile psu has is 0-4 passing and can't hit a screen pass, Keenum is on pace for 800 yards, will probably ease up around 600 and start working on the clock.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:51 PM ^
Did Fowler say on Gameday that a lot of the PSU players didn't want to go to the bowl game? It's pretty obvious which players. All of them.