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Hey, BC! Hope everything is starting to settle down for y'all... All the shopping done, family arrived safe and sound, etc. I have quite a write-up so I'll give you my pick first:
3 units - NOTRE DAME -2
1 units - Hawaii/ Notre Dame o48.5
Statement: "Hawaii has played well down the stretch and gave Cincinnati all it could handle." -per ESPN & others
Part I: Hawaii has played well down the stretch
Hawaii went 4-2 in its last 6 games of the season. On the surface, all looks good in support of Part I of that statement. But who did they beat? [A wildly inconsistent] Nevada [at home, in a game they needed to have to keep bowl hopes alive]! New Mexico State and Idaho [historically two of a handful of the worst Div-1A programs in the NCAA]! Washington State! Their losses: Utah State! Everyone here, and nationally, rags on ND for losing to the 'cuse, but dude, Hawaii lost to Utah *bleepin'* State! They also lost to Cincinnati (see below).
Part II: Hawaii gave Cincinnati all it could handle
I was at the game, so I'll tell you what I saw. I saw a lethargic, uninterested Cincy team. This was a team who locked up their conference; who locked an extremely lucrative BCS bowl bid; who was exceptionally indifferent. For the better part of 3 quarters, their sideline was lifeless; the bench was littered with players and their towels draped over their heads. Coaches had no fire. Players were strolling around. Then a whole grip of bright, scholarly UH fans decided it would be great to chant "OVERRATED!" with 12:29 left to go in the 4th Quarter! Cincy woke up, showed their stuff, and in a matter of minutes a 14-point lead vanished! Does that sound like a team that got all they could handle? Sell sell sell!
The difficulty of capping bowl games is trying to judge the desire and motivation of a team. Head coach Greag McMackin had 3 goals at the start of the season: 1) Graduate all seniors (check); 2) Win the WAC (uh, you're a slice of bread shy of a sandwhich if you thought that was possible); and 3) Get to a bowl game (check). Win or lose, Hawaii has demostrated some stability after losing a great coach in June Jones and one of the best college QBs (statistically) of all time.
Weis is essentially pushing all his chips in by announcing that he will call the plays for the game. I believe this ND team will be extremely motivated. They will give their best effort.
Lastly, what's the one edge Hawaii has over ND. I'd tend to guess you'd say that they are playing at home. Hell, even McMackin stated that. But I believe there is a difference between a regular season WAC conference home game with about 37,000 people (of which 36,500 are your fans) and a hyped bowl game with (last time I checked) 44,000+ tickets sold where the crowd will be more even. There will be THOUSANDS of ND fans there. It might rattle Hawaii to hear what I expect to be a large, boisterous ND crowd on their home turf.
Good Luck! Happy Holidays!
-Peanutgallery
(a cynical Hawaii "fan")
3 units - NOTRE DAME -2
1 units - Hawaii/ Notre Dame o48.5
Statement: "Hawaii has played well down the stretch and gave Cincinnati all it could handle." -per ESPN & others
Part I: Hawaii has played well down the stretch
Hawaii went 4-2 in its last 6 games of the season. On the surface, all looks good in support of Part I of that statement. But who did they beat? [A wildly inconsistent] Nevada [at home, in a game they needed to have to keep bowl hopes alive]! New Mexico State and Idaho [historically two of a handful of the worst Div-1A programs in the NCAA]! Washington State! Their losses: Utah State! Everyone here, and nationally, rags on ND for losing to the 'cuse, but dude, Hawaii lost to Utah *bleepin'* State! They also lost to Cincinnati (see below).
Part II: Hawaii gave Cincinnati all it could handle
I was at the game, so I'll tell you what I saw. I saw a lethargic, uninterested Cincy team. This was a team who locked up their conference; who locked an extremely lucrative BCS bowl bid; who was exceptionally indifferent. For the better part of 3 quarters, their sideline was lifeless; the bench was littered with players and their towels draped over their heads. Coaches had no fire. Players were strolling around. Then a whole grip of bright, scholarly UH fans decided it would be great to chant "OVERRATED!" with 12:29 left to go in the 4th Quarter! Cincy woke up, showed their stuff, and in a matter of minutes a 14-point lead vanished! Does that sound like a team that got all they could handle? Sell sell sell!
The difficulty of capping bowl games is trying to judge the desire and motivation of a team. Head coach Greag McMackin had 3 goals at the start of the season: 1) Graduate all seniors (check); 2) Win the WAC (uh, you're a slice of bread shy of a sandwhich if you thought that was possible); and 3) Get to a bowl game (check). Win or lose, Hawaii has demostrated some stability after losing a great coach in June Jones and one of the best college QBs (statistically) of all time.
Weis is essentially pushing all his chips in by announcing that he will call the plays for the game. I believe this ND team will be extremely motivated. They will give their best effort.
Lastly, what's the one edge Hawaii has over ND. I'd tend to guess you'd say that they are playing at home. Hell, even McMackin stated that. But I believe there is a difference between a regular season WAC conference home game with about 37,000 people (of which 36,500 are your fans) and a hyped bowl game with (last time I checked) 44,000+ tickets sold where the crowd will be more even. There will be THOUSANDS of ND fans there. It might rattle Hawaii to hear what I expect to be a large, boisterous ND crowd on their home turf.
Good Luck! Happy Holidays!
-Peanutgallery
(a cynical Hawaii "fan")
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