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	<title>MANjr &#187; NCAA Football</title>
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		<title>Bonnie Bernstein explains how Campus Insiders takes fans deep inside college sports</title>
		<link>http://manjr.com/2013/sports/bonnie-bernstein-explains-how-campus-insiders-takes-fans-deep-inside-college-sports/</link>
		<comments>http://manjr.com/2013/sports/bonnie-bernstein-explains-how-campus-insiders-takes-fans-deep-inside-college-sports/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jul 2013 04:26:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Art Eddy III</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[app]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bonnie Bernstein]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Campus Insiders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iPad]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iPhone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NCAA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NCAA Football]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[smart phone]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://manjr.com/?p=7705</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
A new mobile app launched by Campus Insiders takes fans deep inside college sports with game highlights, interviews and a behind-the-scenes perspective of the trending stories of the day, from on-camera hosts Bonnie Bernstein and Seth Davis, as well as top college analysts, former coaches and special contributors.
Campus Insiders is the online destination and leading]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/campus.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7706" title="campus" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/campus.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="222" /></a></p>
<p>A new mobile app launched by <a href="http://www.campusinsiders.com/" target="_blank">Campus Insiders</a> takes fans deep inside college sports with game highlights, interviews and a behind-the-scenes perspective of the trending stories of the day, from on-camera hosts Bonnie Bernstein and Seth Davis, as well as top college analysts, former coaches and special contributors.</p>
<p>Campus Insiders is the online destination and leading digital content syndication source for college sports fans. The app is free and now available for <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/campus-insiders/id634149986?mt=8" target="_blank">iPhone, iPad </a>and Android devices. It provides an interactive user experience that enables college sports fans to access the same content available at CampusInsiders.com, along with the insight and perspective of Campus Insiders’ stable of experts, including broadcasters Bonnie Bernstein, Seth Davis and the nearly 100 Insiders from college campuses across the country.</p>
<p>The Campus Insiders app features breaking news and video alert, video on-demand, filtered by sport, and daily original programming, including live programming (starting this Fall) featuring Bonnie Bernstein and Seth Davis.</p>
<p>I had the great pleasure to speak with Bonnie Bernstein about the Campus Insider website and app, her career in sports journalism, and much more. Be sure to click on the link below to listen to the entire interview.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/ci.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7709" title="ci" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/ci.jpg" alt="" width="270" height="480" /></a>Art Eddy: You and your team at Campus Insiders created a very cool app. Tell me about the app and why people should download it to their smartphone or tablet? </strong></p>
<p>Bonnie Bernstein: The app is one of the many Campus Insider platforms we have. Of course we have the website, we have the app available for your mobile, your smartphone, and iPad. Just like the network that was in its fledgling stages we have written editorial and video, but we are really emphasizing the video right now.</p>
<p>All of the different segments that we create during our live shows will also be available on demand on the app. In the event you miss my show or Seth Davis’ show you can find it any time. We have a whole written editorial side Pete Fiutak, our managing editor, he is terrific.</p>
<p>One of the really exciting pieces is that we are shooting for by the time the college football season starts, the ability to live stream games. We have exclusive digital rights to some of those smaller conferences like Mountain West, West Coast Conference. We are working on the Patriot League. We are in discussions with some other conferences. Just like so many people go to their television to watch games, you are going to be able to watch it on your app or online at Campus Insiders.</p>
<p><strong>AE: One of the cool things I like about the app is the behind-the-scenes content. What made you guys decide to do that? </strong></p>
<p>BB: We really wanted to our name to as a literal extent as we can. The whole premise of Campus Insiders is that we will have our “insiders” embedded on campuses all over the country. If there is a breaking story ESPN, CBS, or Yahoo would send a reporter to that site. We are going to have our insiders embedded on campuses, embedded with the teams, dealing with the coaches on a daily basis.</p>
<p>We are really encouraging to break their news with us. These are play by play guys, color guys, beat reporters, newspaper reporters. They are all the reporters that are covering these teams. We are incentivizing them to break stories with us. Give us that inside look. What is going on in practice and send us an Instagram photo. If you are on sideline and there is a star player who is questionable because he tweaked his ankle, get that information to us.</p>
<p>We really want to take our viewers and our fans inside what we do as a network. We are in this day and age where we are all trying to get our heads around what is it that make a video go viral. What my sense is that it is not the polished journalistic video unless of course you are breaking news. It is that raw behind the scenes how are you making the sausage kind of video. We want to take people inside our production meetings and let them see how it is that we are deciding what we are going to be talking about during my show. Go into the control room and see how the producers are working. See how the directors are working the shots. That is a really exciting part of what we are doing and it is kind of unique.</p>
<p><strong>AE: Tell me about the site Campus Insiders itself. What was the catalyst to start up that site? </strong></p>
<p>BB: Campus Insiders is a partnership between IMG College, which is America’s largest college sports marketing firm, and Silver Chalice. (Silver Chalice) is a digital media company that was founded by Jerry Reinsdorf, who owns the White Sox and Bulls.</p>
<p>Silver Chalice has already had success, most prominently with the ACC Digital Network, which fairly recently superseded the SEC Digital Network as the number one most viewed college sports site. IMG College was looking for a way to take all of their great properties and the relationships they have with their schools and create content with it.</p>
<p>So IMG College spent a year talking to the AOL’s, the Yahoo’s of the world and trying to find the right digital media partner and came upon Silver Chalice. After a lot discussions they felt as though we were the best fit. They understand the extraordinary production value that we bring to the table and we partnered up.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/featured_bio1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-7710" title="featured_bio1" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/featured_bio1.jpg" alt="" width="324" height="248" /></a>AE: What drove you to get into sports journalism?</strong></p>
<p>BB: I have always maintained that you are a product of your own environment and both of my parents are die-hard sports fans. It is basically that simplistic. When I was a kid we didn’t have remote controls that you could steal from mom and dad and put on whatever you wanted to watch. You physically had to walk up to the television and change the channel. If you knew my dad you know that he is tall and imposing. Whatever dad wanted to watch, the kids are watching.</p>
<p>It is not just my dad, my mom is a die-hard sports fan. Both of them grew up in Brooklyn. Die-hard Dodgers fans. When they moved out west and the Mets came into town. We are a baseball family. We are a football family. My parents are more passionate about the NBA and my mom in particular with hockey than I am.</p>
<p>When I would be out covering games for the NFL on CBS I would call my mom. You are covering the game and you can’t keep an eye on everything else that is going on. My mom would be the human sports ticker. The Jets lost. The Giants lost. This one threw for four touchdowns. Because I was exposed to sports at such an early age it was just something that naturally rubbed off on me.</p>
<p>I did a lot of creative writing. I remember the third grade and fourth grade I have always been an athlete. I played soccer when I was five and gymnastics, my primary sports, when I was seven. I did that for fourteen years all the way to the University of Maryland.</p>
<p>I realized very early on that not only did I love sports, but I loved writing. I decided to find a career that enabled me to tap into both of those passions. I wrote about sports in my high school’s paper and specifically went to the University of Maryland because of the reputability of their journalism school. Wound up gravitating toward broadcast, which wasn’t really in the plan. I really wanted to write for Sports Illustrated, but I loved the TV classes at Maryland and I sort of stuck with it. Twenty plus years later here we are. I feel very blessed that I established a dream early on and I have really been able to achieve it.</p>
<p><strong>AE: How tough was it and is it still today to be a woman in sports journalism? </strong></p>
<p>BB: Well relatively speaking I think it is easier. The Lisa Olson’s, the Lesley Visser’s, and the Christine Brennan’s of the world paved the way for us. Years ago women were not allowed to be in locker rooms. So just that very fact that we are enables us to do our job.</p>
<p>I think the thing that people don’t realize is that we are not going into locker rooms because we want to. The simple fact of the matter is that we are on deadline. Once the game is over you have to get in. You don’t have time to wait for players to take their showers, to put their jewelry on, their suits on and walk outside and be all relaxed. You got to a story to write or you got a TV show to get ready for. So more than anything it is a matter of time.</p>
<p>In terms of the perception of women in the business I think that it has gotten better overall. To a certain degree I think that it is an individual thing. I think it is incumbent upon any woman who wants to get into sports journalism to take pride in her work. I hope that fans make their judgment on sort of a case by case basis. If you are good at what you do and you do it well consistently, then there is really no room for people to criticize. Unless they simply don’t feel that women have any business covering sports that they haven’t played.</p>
<p>People are certainly entitled to their own opinion. The one thing that I don’t think that fans understand is that there are many, many men, who cover sports, who haven’t played that sport as well. When you take that into consideration, the fact that I played a Division I sport, from a psychological and preparatory stand point puts me on par with anybody. I know what the mental process is like to prepare and to be in the heat of competition and the amount of focus that it requires. So when I am formulating questions they are coming from experience.</p>
<p><strong>AE: What advice would you want to give women who are thinking about a career in that field? </strong></p>
<p>BB: Well I would say don’t just watch sports, but really listen. By that I mean don’t watch the big game on a Saturday night with a bunch of friends at a bar. If you really want to learn about sports not only do you learn by watching, but by listening to what the play by play, the color announcer, the sideline reporter are talking about. You would be amazed at how much you can learn about sports.</p>
<p>Watching the games. Watching the specialty shows, like College Football Live, there are so many shows out there. The other thing that I would really recommend is networking. If you are in college right now or in high school, make sure you seize all the opportunities. Intern or serve as a runner for the networks when they are coming to cover the events. Show them that you have that passion and that you are willing to take that initiative. Collect those business card and stay in touch with those people. You never know that those folks that you meet along the way can be a tremendous resource in helping you get a job.</p>
<p><strong>AE: You have covered a ton of great sporting events like a few Super Bowls. Is there an event that stands out more than others? </strong></p>
<p>BB: I would say two in particular. The very first Super Bowl I covered which was down in Tampa in 2001. The Ravens Giants (game). New York kind of got pounded, but it was the first Super Bowl that I have done sideline for. It just so happened that I was assigned to the Giants sideline.</p>
<p>I had to interview Jim Fassel before the game. Just having access to the team and the coaches before the game and I remember the day before the game. The Giants has their final run through. I walked with Fassel from midfield to into the tunnel as he was going into the locker room. Just having the ability to have that conversation with a coach about what is going on in his mind as he is preparing his team to play in the “holy grail” of NFL events. I really took the time to soak that up.</p>
<p>The other big one was the Maryland run to the 2002 National Basketball Championship. I went to Maryland and I was there from late 80s early 90s. I call it the dark days of Maryland basketball. I got there and we were not too far removed from Len Bias. My freshman year the basketball team the coach there got nailed for all of these NCAA recruiting violations.</p>
<p><a href="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bonnie-qa3.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7708" title="bonnie-qa3" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bonnie-qa3.jpg" alt="" width="325" height="266" /></a>Gary Williams came in my sophomore year. He was faced with probation, TV bans, and postseason bans. It really was a mess. I did stuff for our school. I did campus newspaper, campus radio station, and campus TV station. I had the chance to meet Gary Williams when I was a sophomore in college.</p>
<p>So to see all of his hard work culminate in a National Championship, when I got the opportunity to cover every single one Maryland’s games with Jim Nantz and Billy Packer. To be standing on the court at the Georgia Dome watching the players standing on the podium. Watching themselves in highlights of one shining moment was so surreal. I sort of felt like very few people in that arena that night that could appreciate how monumental of a moment that was because where the program came from. It was really, really special to me.</p>
<p><strong>Since Bonnie is well versed in every aspect of sports I asked her opinion on the whole Johnny Manziel situation. To listen to her take on that issue, challenging Dan Le Batard and his father to a showdown with Bonnie and her mother on a sports show, and the entire interview <a href="http://soundcloud.com/dad-at-work-interviews/art-interviews-sports-reporter" target="_blank">click here.</a> </strong></p>
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			<wfw:commentRss>http://manjr.com/2013/sports/bonnie-bernstein-explains-how-campus-insiders-takes-fans-deep-inside-college-sports/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>2010 College Bowl Preview</title>
		<link>http://manjr.com/2010/sports/2010-college-bowl-preview/</link>
		<comments>http://manjr.com/2010/sports/2010-college-bowl-preview/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:39:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>James Sheldon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2010]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BCS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bowl Games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NCAA Football]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Preview]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://manjr.com/?p=3127</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Outside of the NFL playoffs, it may be the greatest multi-week sports season of the year&#8211;in fact it is the harbinger of the playoffs for the pros. It surrounds the Christmas and New Year holidays, and it even spurs annual debate through crowning a Champion without a playoff system. Oh yeah. It&#8217;s time to go]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Outside of the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/" target="_blank">NFL playoffs</a>, it may be the greatest multi-week sports season of the year&#8211;in fact it <em>is</em> the harbinger of the playoffs for the pros. It surrounds the Christmas and New Year holidays, and it even spurs annual debate through crowning a Champion without a playoff system. Oh yeah. It&#8217;s time to go bowling!</p>
<p>If you feel there are too many bowl games, get over yourself! Why? Is it <em>too much</em> football for you? Are you paying taxes for these games? C&#8217;mon! Get in the holiday spirit, Scrooge.</p>
<p>I don&#8217;t care who the bowl sponsor is, or who&#8217;s playing in it&#8230;I&#8217;ll watch it and enjoy it. At first glance a couple weeks ago, I thought the match-ups looked pretty uninteresting, yet after careful consideration, the potential for some great football games is undeniable.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s break &#8216;em down in play order:</p>
<h3>12/18 &#8211; New Mexico Bowl: BYU vs. UTEP</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3133 aligncenter" title="UTEP" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/UTEP-e1292376625439.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="600" /></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">BYU is a pretty easy favorite in this match-up. UTEP QB Trevor Vittatoe is a difference maker, yet his ankle is busted up, and he&#8217;s less than four days from having to put it to the test. If he&#8217;s somehow able to play through the pain, the Miners could make it interesting.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">12/18 &#8211; Humanitarian Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3135 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Fresno.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="387" /></p>
<p>Northern Illinois put up an impressive 10-3 season, losing a heart breaker in the MAC Championship. Now they&#8217;re meeting a Fresno team led by veteran coach Pat Hill who has been given multiple weeks of preparation. This promises to be a battle, and picking either team would be a logical decision. The vast majority of the nation is going with the bulldogs, but I&#8217;m taking the Huskies.</p>
<h3>12/18 &#8211; New Orleans Bowl: Ohio University vs. Troy</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3136 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Boo-Jackson-OhioU-e1292378277401.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="342" /></p>
<p>Ohio QB, Franshaw &#8220;Boo&#8221; Jackson. He can be exciting when he&#8217;s hitting on all cylinders, yet I was unimpressed with the MAC this season. I&#8217;m going against the populous once again on this one, and sticking with the team from the south. I see another battle, and Troy coming out on top.</p>
<h3>12/21 &#8211; St. Petersburg Bowl: Southern Miss. vs. Louisville</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3137 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/SouthernMiss.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="368" /></p>
<p>Didn&#8217;t ya hear? Brett Favre found a game of NCAA eligibility and is coming out of collegiate retirement. I just couldn&#8217;t pass up the opportunity to use the image. Look at the young gun slinger&#8230; Call me insane, but I&#8217;m going against the majority again with this pick. I feel like Louisville has the slight edge. It has the potential to be another close one.</p>
<h3>12/22 &#8211; Las Vegas Bowl: Utah vs. Boise State</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3138 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/KellenMooreBoise.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="312" /></p>
<p>Aside from a couple missteps vs. TCU and Notre Dame, Utah put together an impressive season. They won close games down the stretch and earned this match-up vs. powerhouse, Boise State. The Broncos BCS dreams were crushed in the NCAA game of the year vs. Nevada, yet a week later they went back to work and took care of business. I have a feeling that Kellen Moore is going to go off in Vegas like a 21 year old with their multi-millionaire father&#8217;s credit card. &#8230;that Kellen Moore is going to go off in Vegas like a fat dude at the <a href="http://www.circuscircus.com/dining/circus_buffet.aspx" target="_blank">Circus Circus buffet</a>. He may opt for both options&#8211;I know I would. BSU is the team that I would never bet against. You shouldn&#8217;t either.</p>
<h3>12/23 &#8211; Poinsettia Bowl: Navy vs. San Diego State</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3139 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Ricky-Dobbs-NAVY.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="310" /></p>
<p>Navy is impressive&#8230; but San Diego State is possibly the best 8-4 team in the country. They have played <em>everyone</em> close. Everyone. Their 4 losses were by a combined 15 points. I think the Navy option attack might give them headaches, and I&#8217;m rolling with the Midshipmen&#8230;as of now. I reserve the right to change my mind due to the factual evidence listed above. It&#8217;s worth noting, this is the final game for Navy QB Ricky Dobbs&#8211;the kid is a stud. He has always played well in big games, and probably loves the thought of being the underdog.</p>
<h3>12/24 &#8211; Hawai&#8217;i Bowl: Hawaii vs. Tulsa</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3143 aligncenter" title="Hawaii" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Hawaii-e1292390690856.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="331" /></p>
<p>Hawaii at home? Check. Hawaii with a devastating passing attack? Check. Tulsa with a suspect secondary? Check. Tulsa with the ability to score a lot of points? Check. Could be a shoot out, but this one is going to the Warriors of Hawaii.</p>
<p><span id="more-3127"></span></p>
<h3>12/26 &#8211; Little Caesars Bowl: FIU vs. Toledo</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3145 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/TimBeckmanToledo-e1292390916838.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></p>
<p>These two teams. Geez. How many times did you see either of these teams play this year? Exactly. FIU is scary because they&#8217;re a new program, and they just don&#8217;t know better than to score 50 points in some games. Still, I&#8217;m hitching my wagon to the Rockets of Toledo and the best coach you&#8217;ve never heard of, <a href="http://www.utrockets.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18000&amp;ATCLID=3691260" target="_blank">Tim Beckman</a>. Don&#8217;t be surprised when Toledo is cracking the Top 25 in another few years&#8230;if they can keep Beckman around.</p>
<h3>12/27 &#8211; Independence Bowl: Air Force vs. Georgia Tech</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3146 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/JoshNesbittGeorgiaTech.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="312" /></p>
<p>This battle has options. How&#8217;s that for a play on words? GT QB Joshua Nesbitt is a guy with the potential to take over the field. It would be awesome to see him have the game of his life in the Independence Bowl. Even so, I don&#8217;t know that the Yellow Jackets have the moxie to dogfight with the Air Force. I&#8217;m going with the Falcons.</p>
<h3>12/28 &#8211; Champs Sports Bowl: West Virginia vs. NC State</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3147 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/noel-devine-WV.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></p>
<p>The Champs Sports Bowl will mark the end to the collegiate career of WV star running back, Noel Devine, and if he can rush for 114 yards in the contest, he&#8217;ll go over 1,000 yards for his third consecutive season. QB Geno Smith has offered a stamp of legitimacy to his sophomore season, and I&#8217;m excited to see him after multiple weeks of rest and preparation. If the Mountaineers come into the contest focused, which I believe they will, NC State will have their hands full&#8211;unfortunately, WVU has not played well in bowl games without a fella by the name of Pat White under center.</p>
<h3>12/28 &#8211; Insight Bowl: Missouri vs. Iowa</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3148 aligncenter" title="Blaine-Gabbert-Missouri-Tigers" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Blaine-Gabbert-Missouri-Tigers-e1292392509939.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="280" /></p>
<p>Mizzou flaked for two weeks this season. They sat in the drivers seat, took it to Oklahoma in convincing fashion, but couldn&#8217;t get themselves up for the inevitable battles vs. Nebraska and the inferior Texas Tech. After getting the wheels back on track, they finished the season strong. Iowa&#8217;s Ricky Stanzi is a joy to watch. 25 TDs to 4 INTs in 2010&#8211;flat out, impressive! He led the Hawkeyes to compete in every game, yet they dropped their final 3 only two weeks after knocking off #5 Michigan State. In this contest, Stanzi will be without a couple weapons who have been suspended for off-the-field issues. We&#8217;ll see if the Hawkeyes can fill those gaps. In this border war on neutral ground, I gotta go with Missouri. MIZ-ZOU.</p>
<h3>12/29 &#8211; Military Bowl: East Carolina vs. Maryland</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3156 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Maryland-e1292395736293.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="359" /></p>
<p>Nothing like two state schools battling in the Military Bowl. ECU started the season off well at 5-2, then dropped 4 of their last 5. QB Dominique Davis will have his hands full vs. Maryland, who is disciplined, talented and oft disrespected on both sides of the ball. I&#8217;m going Terps all the way in this first ever meeting between these two teams.</p>
<h3>12/29 &#8211; Texas Bowl: Illinois vs. Baylor</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3150 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/robert-griffinBaylor-e1292393352278.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="583" /></p>
<p>Do yourself a favor and check out at least a visual snippet of this game. Baylor will play with the relative home field advantage, and will look to cap the season on a positive note after dropping their final three games. Baylor QB <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUDvLUqwF1I" target="_blank">Robert Griffin III</a>, and Illinois RB Mikel Leshoure are two to watch in this battle. I&#8217;m going with the Baylor Bears in their first bowl appearance since 1994.</p>
<h3>12/29 &#8211; Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Arizona</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3151 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/JustinBlackmonOSU-e1292393858530.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="303" /></p>
<p>Two words. Justin Blackmon. The Arizona defensive game plan will be to shut this guy down. If I were Mike Gundy, and I were a man&#8230;who was forty&#8230;two&#8230; I would ensure that Blackmon receive 10 touches in this contest, even if they&#8217;re triple teaming the guy&#8211;OSU has to get him the ball. Can you believe Dez Bryant and this dude played together? How&#8217;d we miss that? Arizona can compete, and they can also fall flat in the second half of big games; however, you know the Stoops boys are sharing information on how to stop common foes. Regardless, this game belongs to the Cowboys.</p>
<h3>12/30 &#8211; Armed Forces Bowl: Army vs. SMU</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3152 aligncenter" title="SMU" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/SMU.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="399" /></p>
<p>Can SMU stop Army&#8217;s option attack? I believe that they can. It&#8217;s so nice to see SMU back in the mix after years of football obscurity&#8211;I thought last season might have been a fluke, but it seems they&#8217;re really on the upswing. June Jones will certainly have a few wrinkles in the game plan with so much time to prepare. Army will move the ball and will score some points, but when it comes down to it, they&#8217;re inability to pass the ball effectively will hurt them vs. the Mustangs.</p>
<h3>12/30 &#8211; Pinstripe Bowl: Kansas St. vs. Syracuse</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3153 aligncenter" title="bill-snyder-KSU" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/bill-snyder-KSU-e1292394624356.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="618" /></p>
<p>Bill Snyder is letting Syracuse know, &#8220;Oh yeah, we&#8217;re coming to New York, and we&#8217;re gonna put it down! Meet us at Yankee Stadium, Orangmen!&#8221; How can you pick against Bill Snyder? I know I can&#8217;t.</p>
<h3>12/30 &#8211; Music City Bowl: North Carolina vs. Tennessee</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3167 aligncenter" title="TaurenPooleTennessee" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/TaurenPooleTennessee-e1292399099390.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="336" /></p>
<p>To many Tar Heel fans, this will be the season that &#8220;could have been.&#8221; Broken rules + Player suspensions = Disappointing season. Tennessee, with all Kiffinesque things considered, had an amazing season&#8211;competing deep into games with some of the nation&#8217;s most elite talent. I think Derek Dooley is going to do amazing things at UT! You hear that Colin Cowherd? Yeah, bro, I remember you dissing him earlier this season. He took Lane Kiffin&#8217;s mess and is going to a bowl game&#8230;and the Volunteers will win.</p>
<h3>12/30 &#8211; Holiday Bowl: Nebraska vs. Washington</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3154 aligncenter" title="jake-locker-Washington" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/jake-locker-Washington-e1292395215407.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="422" /></p>
<p>Jake Locker might wish he had declared for the draft after last season. The Huskies just didn&#8217;t offer much support to the talent under center. Locker will have his hands full vs. a well prepared Bo Pelini/Nebraska defense. I&#8217;ll honestly be surprised if Washington scores more than 13 points in this game. If you haven&#8217;t seen Nebraska play this year, have a look-see. Roy Helu Jr. and Taylor Martinez are an exciting offensive duo.</p>
<h3>12/31 &#8211; Meineke Car Care Bowl: South Florida vs. Clemson</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3155 aligncenter" title="KyleParkerClemson" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/KyleParkerClemson-e1292395520539.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" /></p>
<p>I really don&#8217;t have much to say about this one. It&#8217;s not that I don&#8217;t care, it&#8217;s just that I don&#8217;t care very much. Clemson put up yet another sub-par season, and the Bulls of South Florida are still trying to find their way under new leadership. Slight edge to the Tigers.</p>
<h3>12/31 &#8211; Sun Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Miami</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3157 aligncenter" title="TommyReesNotreDame" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/TommyReesNotreDame-e1292395993738.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="398" /></p>
<p>The season in South Bend was riddled with tragedy. Am I about to go out on a limb? I certainly am. Yes, I believe Notre Dame will win this bowl game, but I also believe that Notre Dame has turned the corner under Brian Kelly. Regardless of how I feel, Miami is the popular favorite, and is sitting at -3.5 where you can pay to play. I&#8217;m a little shocked by the line, considering the firing of Randy Shannon. Can&#8217;t really explain my confidence on this one, but I think the gold hats prevail.</p>
<h3>12/31 &#8211; Liberty Bowl: Georgia vs. UCF</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3158 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/AJ-GREEN-Georgia.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></p>
<p>A.J. Green watched the beginning of the season in street clothes. That was the difference in Georgia&#8217;s season. This Georgia squad proved that they could compete with the best when they went to war with Auburn. They fought hard for their sixth win to enjoy this extra game. I believe they&#8217;ll take full advantage of it vs. the UCF Golden Knights. If you like NFL talent, tune in to enjoy <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKTm9oFWJNg" target="_blank">A.J. Green</a>.</p>
<h3>12/31 &#8211; Chick-Fil-A Bowl: South Carolina vs. Florida State</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3160 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/marcus-lattimore-south-carolina-e1292396817797.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="347" /></p>
<p>Want to see the best Freshman running back in the nation? He wears #21 for the Gamecocks. South Carolina playing at their best takes it to Alabama. South Carolina missing the mark gets hammered by Auburn. When I say South Carolina, yes, I mean QB Stephen Garcia&#8211;it comes and goes with his play&#8211;when he plays within the system and minimizes his mistakes, he&#8217;s dangerous. Not only that, he&#8217;s surrounded by talent. RB Marcus Lattimore, WRs Alshon Jefferey and Tori Gurley: These three are Sunday players. I like the Gamecocks&#8211;I like Steve Spurrier over Jimbo Fisher.</p>
<h3>1/1 &#8211; TicketCity Bowl: Northwestern vs. Texas Tech</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3161 aligncenter" title="TaylorPottsTexTech" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/TaylorPottsTexTech-e1292397203255.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="290" /></p>
<p>Northwestern hasn&#8217;t won a bowl game since the 1948 Rose Bowl. I don&#8217;t think that streak is going to end vs. this Texas Tech team. Tommy Tuberville has quietly taken a messy situation in Lubbock, TX, and worked a few wonders. As much as I love NW coach Pat Fitzgerald&#8217;s mojo, I think the Red Raiders will be slingin&#8217; their guns in this battle.</p>
<h3>1/1 &#8211; Outback Bowl: Florida vs. Penn State</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3162 aligncenter" title="urban-meyer" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/urban-meyer.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></p>
<p>Farewell, Urban. As an LSU fan, I&#8217;m supposed to loathe you, but I don&#8217;t. You&#8217;re probably as confused as I am about your 2010 Gators squad. This Florida team just seemed unfocused, grossly lacking that on field leadership that Tim Tebow offered the previous four years. Making matters worse is Florida QB John Brantley who is considering a transfer after the season. If I could offer a bit of advice&#8211;just play one game at a time, young man, and stay where you are. What can <em>you</em> offer to the program? Where could <em>you</em> lead it? I foresee the squad focused for Urban&#8217;s final game on the UF sidelines. Penn State will be no pushover, but they simply don&#8217;t have the firepower to run with the Gators, even if both squads are firing on both cylinders.</p>
<h3>1/1 &#8211; Capital One Bowl: Alabama vs. Michigan State</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3163 aligncenter" title="markingramAlabma" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/markingramAlabma-e1292398330265.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="525" /></p>
<p>How did Alabama lose three games this season? I still believe they&#8217;re the most talented team in the country. Rarely do a I look at a coach like Nick Saban and question personnel decisions, but I felt Mark Ingram was underutilized all season, considering the early season knee issue. Yes, I&#8217;m an outsider&#8211;perhaps both Ingram and Trent Richardson are headed to the draft, in which case, I get it. I hope to see Ingram get 20+ carries in the Capital One Bowl. The Tide will roll in this match-up. Yeah, I&#8217;m biased&#8211;I love the SEC, and can&#8217;t stand the Big 10.</p>
<h3>1/1 &#8211; Gator Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Michigan</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3164 aligncenter" title="Denard-Robinson-Michigan" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Denard-Robinson-Michigan-e1292398764413.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></p>
<p>It&#8217;s another SEC vs. Big 10 match-up. Hmmmm&#8230;wonder which way I&#8217;m going? I do love watching Denard Robinson play, but after facing Cam Newton, Mississippi State will feel like they&#8217;re playing against Newton&#8217;s little brother. Mississippi State is a very good football team, and they&#8217;ll come off the field with the hardware.</p>
<h3>1/1 &#8211; Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs. TCU</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3168 aligncenter" title="andy-dalton-TCU" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/andy-dalton-TCU-e1292399196883.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="343" /></p>
<p>If the regular season was any indication, these two teams could merit an U/O of 100. I see a clash of the titans in the 2011 Rose Bowl game. I feel like TCU learned an incredible lesson in their loss to Boise State last bowl season&#8211;they haven&#8217;t lost since, and they&#8217;ve left nothing on the field since. I&#8217;m taking the Horned Frogs over the Badgers, and to finish #2 in the final BCS standings.</p>
<h3>1/1 &#8211; Fiesta Bowl: UConn vs. Oklahoma</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3169 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/OU-DeMarco-Murray-e1292399981861.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="371" /></p>
<p>Worst bowl match-up ever? We&#8217;ll see. This is definitive proof of the failure that is the BCS. Sure, the Fiesta Bowl has a tendency to turn Oklahoma into Choklahoma, but not with this squad, and not vs. UCONN. I pity the Huskies. I know they&#8217;ll come to play, but I feel as if the OU Stoops crew will be looking to send a message to the BCS and their computers.</p>
<h3>1/3 &#8211; Orange Bowl: Stanford vs. Virginia Tech</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3170 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/AndrewLuckStanford-e1292400895341.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></p>
<p>This match-up has the makings of a solid game. After their early season falter, Virginia Tech put together an impressive run&#8211;11 straight wins. Stanford&#8217;s only loss was to Oregon, and it could easily be argued that the Cardinal (yes, Cardinal&#8211;color, not animal) weren&#8217;t playing their best ball until late in the season. I&#8217;d go so far as to say that they could beat Oregon if they played tomorrow. I like Jim Harbaugh&#8217;s boys in this battle. If you tune in, be prepared for the ongoing booth dialog about Andrew Luck as an NFL prospect. I would suggest that the Jr. stick around, considering the NFL season in 2011-12 will probably be 9 games long, beginning in November.</p>
<h3>1/4 &#8211; Sugar Bowl: Ohio State vs. Arkansas</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3171 aligncenter" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/PryorOSU-e1292401173619.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="388" /></p>
<p>Another Big 10/SEC match-up? Terrelle Pryor is an exciting athlete. Ryan Mallett is a better QB. Sorry OSU fans. I enjoy watching TP, but I don&#8217;t think you realize what you&#8217;re up against in Arkansas. The <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyY8oUXaTio" target="_blank">Hogs</a> played with everyone in the SEC only losing to Alabama and Auburn&#8211;Alabama by 4, and Auburn in a shoot-out with a score grossly misrepresenting how close the contest actually was. I&#8217;ll stick with the SEC in this one. I know&#8211;shocker.</p>
<h3>1/6 &#8211; GoDaddy.com Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs. Miami (OH)</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3172 aligncenter" title="DwightDasherMTSU" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/DwightDasherMTSU-e1292401966658.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></p>
<p>Perhaps a slightly disappointing season for senior MTSU QB Dwight Dasher. The guy can make plays, but missing multiple games at the beginning of the season forced him to try and find mid-season form with no action under his belt. Things won&#8217;t get easier for him vs. a Miami (OH) Redhawks squad that was on the verge of death a year ago. The &#8216;hawks are flying high and should dictate all aspects of this match-up.</p>
<h3>1/7 &#8211; Cotton Bowl: LSU vs. Texas A&amp;M</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3173 aligncenter" title="PatrickPetersonLSU" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/PatrickPetersonLSU-e1292402334317.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="281" /></p>
<p>I&#8217;ll try to keep it short and sweet. A die hard Tiger fan, I&#8217;m thoroughly excited for this match-up vs. Texas A&amp;M in Dallas. LSU has struggled offensively nearly all season long, simply due to inconsistent QB play. Running back Stevan Ridley may be one of the best kept secrets in the NCAA. The defense, led by DT Drake Nevis and CB Patrick Peterson are as close to an NFL style defense you&#8217;ll see at the collegiate level. A&amp;M kicked their season up a notch by going to Frosh QB Ryan Tannehill early in the season&#8211;he became their difference maker. He saw some decent defenses in the Big 12, but he&#8217;s never seen a defense with this speed and strength of this LSU squad&#8211;fully rested and ready to roll. If LSU QB Jordan Jefferson can begin to play to his potential, this could cap a nice season for the Bayou Bengals. I LOVE LSU in this one. You should love them, too.</p>
<h3>1/8 &#8211; BBVA Compass Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Kentucky</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3174 aligncenter" title="randall-cobb-Kentucky" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/randall-cobb-Kentucky-e1292402772920.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="361" /></p>
<p>You heard about Kentucky QB Mike Hartline getting suspended, yes? This could actually be beneficial for the Cats, as they&#8217;ll more than likely go to sophomore QB Morgan Newton. Perhaps Wildcats coach Joker Phillips may also show more wildcat looks with the best player you&#8217;ve probably never heard of, Randall Cobb. The smart choice here is probably the Pitt Panthers, but I&#8217;m going with Kentucky in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhgaIWWh0QE" target="_blank">Randall Cobb</a>&#8217;s final game in UK Blue&#8211;SEC over an average team from a pretty weak Big East conference.</p>
<h3>1/9 &#8211; Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Nevada vs. Boston College</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3175 aligncenter" title="KaepernickNevada" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/KaepernickNevada-e1292403317403.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></p>
<p>How can you not love Colin Kaepernick? Nevada&#8217;s pistol attack is absolutely deadly. When they get down, they can come back in a hurry. When they&#8217;re up, they can bury a team just as quickly. Don&#8217;t believe me? Just ask Boise State. The Boston College defense may be one of the better units Nevada has faced, excluding Boise State, yet I don&#8217;t think the Eagles can handle the Wolf Pack attack for all four quarters. Sticking with Kaepernick, leading Nevada to the best season in school history!</p>
<h3>1/10 &#8211; BCS National Championship: Oregon vs. Auburn</h3>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="500" height="385" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iOi2hj_sjyY?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="385" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iOi2hj_sjyY?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<p>VS.</p>
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Can Oregon possibly stop Auburn? I don&#8217;t think so. I don&#8217;t think there&#8217;s any way that they can stop all facets of Auburn&#8217;s offensive attack, led by Heisman award winner, Cameron Newton. If you haven&#8217;t seen Cam Newton play this season, you&#8217;ll have to take my word. My opinion on this matter is worthy of the pundit stamp.</p>
<p>There is no <em>known</em> way to contain him for four quarters. Even when Alabama found a way to contain him for a couple of quarters, he just kept coming. Add to that fact a tremendous supporting cast who also just keeps coming, and Oregon is probably shifting their mindset towards a shoot-out.</p>
<p>Can Auburn slow or stop Oregon? I believe Auburn can, and will. Put it this way: Oregon will have to beat Auburn by putting the ball in the air. Auburn&#8217;s weakness has been in the secondary, yet they&#8217;re much improved. With five weeks to prepare for this game, they&#8217;ll be even better. I just don&#8217;t see Darron Thomas executing that kind of a passing attack.</p>
<p>I foresee the Auburn defensive game plan focused on stopping LaMichael James. The Auburn defensive front, led by Nick Fairley, will wear on Oregon as the game goes on, and they&#8217;ll get to Thomas. The difference may be in what Thomas can offer once a play begins to break down.</p>
<p>I don&#8217;t see this one playing close for very long. It&#8217;s going to be incredibly interesting to see what happens if the Ducks get down early, playing from an unfamiliar position. For this game to go the distance, Oregon needs to run out front, and score a lot of points.</p>
<p>I like Auburn&#8211;clearly. I think once the nervous energy subsides on both sidelines, and both teams get down to business, the contest will end with Auburn raising the Waterford Crystal, BCS Coaches Trophy. Every Auburn fan who booed the hiring of Gene Chizik will happily eat some crow&#8230;and it&#8217;ll taste sooo good.</p>
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