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 I held out no hope that we would be spared from the usual laughinstock Big Ten bowl season.  Now I'm getting a bit tired of this whole "conference" thing in the first place, as if one is genetically superior because they live in SEC country, for example.  Still I can't help but feel relieved that I don't have to explain anything to anybody this year.  Here were my shameful predictions before the bowls started:

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL- WI vs. UMiami - Please.  Does anyone seriously think Wisky will be ready to play at the same pace as Miami?
Obviously anyone who did seriously think Wisky would be ready were absolutely right.  I was way off.

INSIGHT BOWL-  MN vs. Iowa State-  This might, just might be a close one, but I have to take a 6-6 Big 12 team over a 6-6 Big 10 team (especially one that didn't even show up in their last game). I was right on this and only this.

CAPITAL ONE BOWL- PSU vs. LSU-  PSU can't beat the top tier in the Big 10.  How are they going to beat a top tier SEC team? They're going to beat them by having Joe Paterno as their coach.  And apparently the top tier of the Big 10 is better than I thought.

ROSE BOWL-  OSU vs. Oregon-  This might, just might be a close one, if OSU doesn't get blown out in the first half.  They just won't be ready and will have to play catch up, count on it.  Ok, I was wrong, and I'm glad I was.  That doesn't change the fact that Buckeye fans are among the most paranoid and irrational I have ever seen from any team.  Just ask Jim Tressell.

OUTBACK BOWL-  Northwestern vs. Auburn-  Please, please.  Northwestern beating an SEC bowl eligible team? Please, please, I was an idiot for saying this would be a "please, please" game.  Northwestern coulda and shoulda. 

ALAMO BOWL-  MSU vs. Texas Tech-  MSU shouldn't even be wasting anyone's time after 10 players were dismissed. This was the biggest surprise to me.  Yeah, MSU lost, but they wasted no one's time.  Let's get that straight.  Couldn't have looked like more of a COMPLETE MORON on this one.

ORANGE BOWL-  IA vs. Georgia Tech -  I thought Georgia Tech looked very good against Clemson in the ACC title game.  Iowa is reeling even though they beat MN in their last game.  Tech's secondary is darn good, and Stanzi, even top form and healthy, won't be able to avoid INT's. I was right about Stanzi not avoiding bonehead INT's, except it was only 1, and except Stanzi threw some brilliant TD's.  Couple that with an Iowa defense that absolutely dominated, and by golly Iowa was not nearly the pretender I thought they were. 

I was so wrong.  And I am so glad I was.