Let's get to it.
AS THE TIGERS TURN
Has there been a bigger soap opera in the SEC than the Auburn Tigers? During this amazing run to the SEC title and a spot in the BCS, the Tigers have been at the center of the storm on the field (they are ranked No. 1 in the BCS) and off it.
Starting with "The Cam Newton Saga", and truthfully if you don't know about Newton's back story by now, well, send us an e-mail and someone from the 5-at-10 will stop by your office and hit you in the head with a tack hammer - it's been full speed ahead for Auburn.
Now as they approach the chance for the program's first national title since 1957, news has surfaced that offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn may be a hot name for the Maryland coaching job. Malzahn flirted with Vandy earlier this month before signing an extension with Auburn.
Will it be a distraction? Who knows, but it does seem that there are some other things going on in Auburn besides getting ready for the Oregon Ducks, doesn't it.
AP: Auburn's Malzahn could be a candidate for Maryland position
BIG BOWL OF GOODIES
News from around the world of college football in case you missed it:
- Christian Ponder will start for FSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl against South Carolina. This game is puzzling from a pick-angle. When trying to pick bowl games, motivation/distractions has to be weighed heavily. Will the Gamecocks be excited to play in the Georgia Dome, or are they flummoxed after getting whipped there in the SEC title game.
AP: QB Christian Ponder set to start for Seminoles
- Russell Wilson and N.C. State thumped West Virginia last night. Tip of the 5-at-10 fedora to SportTalk's Dr. B (aka Gary Haskew) who pegged that picked lock, stock and barrel yesterday afternoon.
AP: NC State tops WVU 23-7 in Champs Sports Bowl
- Ohio State players apologized Tuesday for their NCAA violations . Terrelle Pryor and his four Buckeyes teammates. Unlike most of these mea culpas, Pryor's apology seemed heartfelt and contrite. They seemed sorry for their acts, rather than getting caught for said acts.
AP: Suspended OSU players apologize
ON TO THE PICKS
There are three bowl games tonight, and two of them have real distraction/motivation potential.
- First, Maryland is a 7-point favorite over East Carolina in the Military Bowl. It's in Maryland's backyard in Washington, D.C., but how motivated will the Terps be after the drama that cost Maryland's Ralph Friedgen his job after he was named this year's ACC Coach of the Year. Sure, the Terps aim to send the Fridge out with a win, but something tells me after the first hiccup, the Terps go into their shells.
AP: A pair of dynamic duos for East Carolina
- Oklahoma State and Arizona play in the Alamo Bowl, and the high-flying Cowboys have had coaching drama too. Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen was named the West Virginia OC and head-coach-in-wating, and we saw how well that worked for the Mountaineers in last night's bowl game. OSU should win - they are loaded offensively - but should has never cashed a winning ticket.
AP: Eight wins is enough: Arizona not dwelling on skid
- Illinois faces Baylor in the Texas Bowl in another game that will have some homefield edge for the Bears. No good feel on this one, but if you have to bet on it - and I mean you are the type of gambler that is betting on spring training games and in high-dollar fantasy golf leagues - well go with the Bears.
AP: Finley is poised to set Baylor rushing record
FISHER HARDLY KING
My column on Jeff Fisher generated some reaction, and most of it surprised me.
Most of the response agreed with the premise that Fisher's time has come and gone. Interesting, huh? The 5-at-10 thought the veteran Titans coach had strong support among the fan base, but the overwhelming sentiment was that Fisher is a good guy and an average coach.
Some offered more support for that theory. RESEARCH ALERT: Consider this, if not for the Music City Miracle, Fisher would have all of two postseason wins in his 16-plus years with the Titans. Crazy, right?
VICK TRAIN COMES TO A HALT
Last night's somewhat surprising Vikings' 24-14 win over the Eagles carried a lot of meaning.
- It finalized the Pennsylvania governor's claim about the sissification (I made that word up) of the country.
- It sealed the deal for the most dramatic conclusion in fantasy football history. Think about this, normally Week 16 is the Super Bowl for most fantasy leagues. This dragged the decisive game out until Tuesday at 11:45 p.m., and with starts like Mike Vick, Adrian Peterson, et al., in the game, the drama was there for league champions around the country. Of course, around the country, they are sissies according to the Pennsylvania governor.
- Vick's sprint toward the MVP appears to have been derailed last night. He fumbled twice, was picked one - and could have been picked a half-dozen times - and was stunningly inaccurate. He still deserves to be the Pro Bowl starter but the MVP appears out of reach now.
- Well, Brett Favre's career has come full circle and now he can retire in the familiar place that players walk away - he was replaced. Vikings youngster Joe Webb looked good in the win over Philadelphia - and an argument could be made that was the single best quarterbacked game for the Vikings this season.