Yesterday’s bowls were brutal. The Alamo Bowl was maybe the best game of the lot, despite a nearly unwatchable broadcast. The rest are recapped here.
Saturday’s Bowls: Neither Full of Sugar Nor Anything Sweet
Mississippi 21, Oklahoma State 7. The whooshing sound you heard yesterday was Dexter McCluster, on the above 86-yard scamper, producing the only interesting play of the Cotton Bowl. The rest of the game sounded more like a whoopie cushion: The Rebels and Cowboys combined for 12 turnovers, and every Oklahoma State drive in the fourth quarter ended in one. These were BCS contenders at the beginning of the season. Really. Somehow.
Connecticut 20, South Carolina 7. It was awfully sporting of South Carolina to show up in the fourth quarter and score a touchdown to get rid of UConn's shutout. Otherwise, the record books may have wondered whether the Gamecocks even played this one. Both teams combined for 458 yards of offense and 519 yards of punting. At least the game gave us Kashif Moore's catch and Andre Ware in a Snuggie.
Arkansas 20, East Carolina 17. The Pirates win the Most Excruciating Loss of the Bowl Season Award. Kicker Ben Hartman missed four field goals, three in a span of about ten minutes in the late fourth quarter and overtime. Shame, too, because the Purple People outplayed the Razorbacks: Arkansas was outgained by over 100 yards, did not convert a single third down, and saw Ryan Mallett complete just 15 of 36 passes.
South Florida 27, Northern Illinois 3. I did my chortling at the passport troubles USF had before this game. The Huskies probably wish they had been more serious. Mike Ford had 207 rushing yards for the Bulls, and they limited NIU to just three drives of over 20 yards.
It suffices to say that if you missed any or all of these games, you didn't miss much.
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