The Pat on Sports: Time to go Bowling
BY PATRICK PEBLEY

It’s bowl season again. Actually it has been since the first of December, but we are finally getting down to the bowls that matter and that people will actually watch on TV.
I used to be a bowl addict and watch all of them. I am now recovering and only watch the ones that come one New Year’s Day and beyond. I did almost slip and watch the Emerald Bowl but then saw the high school sized stadium they were playing in and realized that Florida State and UCLA weren’t so great this year.
We actually have an extra bowl this year in the BCS title game. I actually do like that aspect of it, as the big bowls are usually pretty good.
The Gators of Florida and the Buckeyes of Ohio State clash this year for the national title. Florida has already taken a basketball victory over the Buckeyes and would like to sweep them.
Both teams have a lot going for them and I am going to use that knowledge to predict a winner in the game.
Ohio State has several statistical advantages. Offensively Troy Smith leads a potent Buckeye attack. He has thrown 30 touchdowns this year and has only been intercepted five times. Antonio Pitman is a potent runner for the Buckeyes with over 100 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Florida isn’t too bad in the offensive category themselves. Chris Leak has thrown for a shade under 3000 yards this year. He has 22 touchdowns to his credit. Where Smith truly has the advantage over Leak is in the INT category. Leak has been picked off 13 times this year. Tim Tebow could be the x-factor that puts them over the top offensively. Florida could have an advantage in the rushing category if Deshawn Wynn is back to full strength for the game.
Florida played a tougher schedule that Ohio State. The SEC had a better year than the Big Ten. Michigan is the only school that really challenged them and is also the only school with a winning record the Buckeyes played in the later part of the season.
Defense will live up to the old adage of “offense wins games but defense wins championships this year”. The Gators have a terrifying front seven that will really put the pressure on Smith. The Buckeyes have a young defense this year that was decimated by the NFL draft at the end of last season. These young guns have proved themselves admirably this season. In fact one of these linebackers is the offspring of Road Warrior Animal. In my book anybody who has the same genes as a member of the Legion of Doom must be pretty darn tough. The Buckeyes also have a better secondary than the Gators.
I feel this will be one of the better title games since the BCS began. I also think that the Buckeyes will come out of this game with a hard fought win.
I hate to see an SEC school lose to a Big Ten school but it is tough to go against a Road Warrior’s kid. I just hope he doesn’t dig out the spike shoulder pads.

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