During last weekend’s game between the Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints, the Wife observed on the striking resemblance between Brad Childress, the Minnesota head coach, and Les Grossman, Tom Cruise’s character from Tropic Thunder.

I had to agree.

Going into the BCS championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Texas Longhorns, if you had told me that with four minutes left in the game, we would be down by three points and have the ball, I would have said I liked our chances. If you had told me that we would get there with our true freshman quarterback, I would have told you that you were nuts.

After a very ugly first half, most of America thought the Longhorns would be blown off the field in the second half. I’ll admit that I was worried it was going to get ugly.

Instead, the Longhorns dug deep and were playing for the win late in the game. And while the final score differential as seventeen (thanks for showing your ass, Coach Saban), Texas proved their strength of heart and depth of talent on that field.

BCS National Championship Game
Texas Longhorns vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
January 7, 2010, 7pm Central
Pasadena, California
Network: ABC/ESPN Radio

I’m the first to admit that I’m biased when it comes to the Texas Longhorns. But after countless hours spent reading online articles, blogs, and forms, watching sports broadcasts, and listening to podcasts, I’m having a hard time predicting tonight’s outcome.

Part of that is because both teams have been inconsistent this year. Everyone talks about Texas’ close game with Nebraska because it was the most recent game. The Texas offense was essentially shut down in that game and against Oklahoma. And the Texas defense was totally absent for the Texas A&M game.

Don’t forget that if Tennessee had a halfway decent field goal kicker, Alabama wouldn’t be in the championship game. And that they barely slipped by a four loss Auburn team. But when Alabama struggles, people say that is just what happens in the SEC.

Alamo Bowl
Michigan State Spartans vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders
January 2, 2010, 8pm Central
San Antonio, Texas
Network: ESPN/ESPN Radio

Fourteen Michigan State players suspended. One Texas Tech head coach fired. Two programs in turmoil. The winner will be the one that can pull things together to field a cohesive team.

The challenge to Michigan State is straight forward, but significant. On the other hand, they’ve had a month to prepare replacements for those lost.

For Texas Tech, however, this is brand new, and there are lots of unknowns. Some players have indicated that things will be better without Mike Leach, and there were certainly signs earlier this season that he had lost the team. They very well could be better without the pirate on the sidelines.

Cotton Bowl
Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Ole Miss Rebels
January 2, 2010, 1pm Central
Arlington, Texas
Network: Fox

This should be one of the better games of the bowl season. Both teams are balanced and evenly matched. I only hope Fox and Time Warner let me see it. At the moment, they’ve agreed to a temporary extension, but it’s not clear how long that will last.

Insight Bowl
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Iowa State Cyclones
December 31, 2009, 5pm Central
Tempe, Arizona
Network: NFL Network

It seems that the departure of Gene Chizik did Iowa State some good. The Cyclones managed just five wins over the last two seasons, but went 6-6 this year. While they only went 3-5 in conference play, things are clearly headed in the right direction.

Texas Bowl
Navy Midshipmen versus Missouri Tigers
December 31, 2009, 2:30pm Central
Houston, Texas
Network: ESPN

Even after losing Chase Daniel and a number of other key players, many thought 2009 would be a great year for Missouri. They seemed to be living up to expectations, going 4-0 against the patsies at the beginning of their schedule. Then they saw three straight loses to ranked teams. They pulled it back together and won four of their last five, for a 8-4 season.

Sun Bowl
Oklahoma Sooners vs. Stanford Cardinal
December 31, 2009, 1pm Central
El Paso, Texas
Network: CBS

Oklahoma fielded their worst offense in the Bob Stoops era this year. Injuries kept Sam Bradford out for most of the season, and the offensive line has as many holes as a TSA security plan.

Prior to this morning’s hearing to address the injunction Mike Leach filed yesterday, Leach’s attorney Ted Liggett received a letter from Texas Tech president Guy Bailey terminating Leach’s employment for cause, effective immediately. As a result, the court hearing never occurred (I assume because Leach no longer had standing for the injunction).

Ted Liggett stated that a lawsuit against Texas Tech would be coming soon.

Holiday Bowl
Arizona vs. Nebraska
December 30, 2009, 7pm Central
San Diego, California
Network: ESPN/ESPN Radio

The Holiday Bowl has a reputation for shootouts, but the 2009 game will likely be a struggle dominated by defense.