Chicken Wings and Oil Changes
Two games on the day after Christmas, the ACC involved in both.
Miami vs. Louisiana Tech
For long time BowlQuest readers, my disdain for Shreveport is well documented. It's just not a great destination for a bowl game. The city's young mayor appeared in several tourism ads and he seemed enthusiastic and earnest in wanting you to come to visit his city - there is just no reason to go there unless you're involved with the petrochemical industry. The ads mainly featured some local music performers and statues of Leadbelly, Elvis and someone else.
There were also lots of ads for Walk*Ons, a growing chain of higher end sports bars partly owned by Saints quarterback Drew Brees who appears in the ads. The places look nice, unfortunately the closest location is in Louisville or Lexington, too far to drive either way.
Why so much about the ads in the game? Because it was a massive dud, a candidate for worst bowl game of the season. The AD of Miami had to issue an apology for the second year in a row following a bowl performance. Evidently Manny Diaz's job is safe, for now.
The Bulldogs scored once in the first half and once late and the second score wasn't necessary. The Hurricanes may not have converted once on 3rd down. They used three quarterbacks including Ohio State transfer Tate Martel who was not good. And somehow this game went well over three hours thanks to punts, nine from Miami. I think ESPN went to a spot break after every punt.
LA Tech 14 Miami 0
My Pick: Miami, obviously.
My Bet: I took the under of 49 points, about as safe a bet as I'm going to have.
Game Notes:
Louisiana Tech became the first Group of Five team to shut out a Power Five team in a bowl in the BCS era.
What Did I Eat: Some spicy nut mix (pecans and peanuts) that I make myself.
Bowl Swag: Trip through the gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, beanie, football, History Of the Bowls: Celebrating the Good of the Game book. There was no good in this game especially for Canes fans.
On to the nightcap.
Pittsburgh vs. Eastern Michigan
For anyone who claims there are too many bowl games didn't stay up until about midnight to watch the Quick Lane Bowl.
No, Quick Lane did not have a contest to coach EMU, that's head coach Chris Creighton who literally took on the oil change employee ethos in sideline apparel. He tried to up sell the side judge on a new air filter and a set of wipers. Creighton is channelling that P.J. Fleck kind of energy.
In addition to EMU's coaches dressed as mechanics, the Eastern players came out onto the field carrying sledgehammers, Pitt scored a 96 yard touchdown and EMU's starting quarterback Mike Glass was kicked out of the game after punching an official after throwing punches at two Pitt players and then taking a dive. Probably not the way to end your college career.
Pittsburgh scored for the win on a beautiful catch with less than a minute to play.
Pitt 34 EMU 30
My pick: Pittsburgh, the record improves to 8-5, not great.
My bet: Pitt -7 in the first half. Wrong.
Game Notes
Pitt has a nice group of younger players and could be pretty good in 2020, maybe good enough to avoid a bowl in Detroit on December 26th.
What did I eat: A small bag of Hen Of The Woods buttermilk and chive flavored potato chips and a couple chocolate chip cookies my youngest son made. Both were very good.
Bowl swag: Best Buy gift card, JBL over the ear headphones by Harman, Sticker Genius life-sized PhotoSlap decal for each player in their likeness, hoodie, t-shirt, pom hat, backpack and tag, football, mini helmet. Quite a haul and EMU QB Mike Glass's Sticker Genius decal should be him taking that post punch flop.
More ACC to start a five game day Friday with North Carolina in action against Temple. The Big 10 also gets their bowl season going with Michigan State taking on Wake Forest and our first ranked matched up with No. 22 USC taking on No. 16 Iowa.
Miami vs. Louisiana Tech
For long time BowlQuest readers, my disdain for Shreveport is well documented. It's just not a great destination for a bowl game. The city's young mayor appeared in several tourism ads and he seemed enthusiastic and earnest in wanting you to come to visit his city - there is just no reason to go there unless you're involved with the petrochemical industry. The ads mainly featured some local music performers and statues of Leadbelly, Elvis and someone else.
There were also lots of ads for Walk*Ons, a growing chain of higher end sports bars partly owned by Saints quarterback Drew Brees who appears in the ads. The places look nice, unfortunately the closest location is in Louisville or Lexington, too far to drive either way.
Why so much about the ads in the game? Because it was a massive dud, a candidate for worst bowl game of the season. The AD of Miami had to issue an apology for the second year in a row following a bowl performance. Evidently Manny Diaz's job is safe, for now.
The Bulldogs scored once in the first half and once late and the second score wasn't necessary. The Hurricanes may not have converted once on 3rd down. They used three quarterbacks including Ohio State transfer Tate Martel who was not good. And somehow this game went well over three hours thanks to punts, nine from Miami. I think ESPN went to a spot break after every punt.
LA Tech 14 Miami 0
My Pick: Miami, obviously.
My Bet: I took the under of 49 points, about as safe a bet as I'm going to have.
Game Notes:
Louisiana Tech became the first Group of Five team to shut out a Power Five team in a bowl in the BCS era.
What Did I Eat: Some spicy nut mix (pecans and peanuts) that I make myself.
Bowl Swag: Trip through the gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, beanie, football, History Of the Bowls: Celebrating the Good of the Game book. There was no good in this game especially for Canes fans.
On to the nightcap.
Pittsburgh vs. Eastern Michigan
For anyone who claims there are too many bowl games didn't stay up until about midnight to watch the Quick Lane Bowl.
No, Quick Lane did not have a contest to coach EMU, that's head coach Chris Creighton who literally took on the oil change employee ethos in sideline apparel. He tried to up sell the side judge on a new air filter and a set of wipers. Creighton is channelling that P.J. Fleck kind of energy.
In addition to EMU's coaches dressed as mechanics, the Eastern players came out onto the field carrying sledgehammers, Pitt scored a 96 yard touchdown and EMU's starting quarterback Mike Glass was kicked out of the game after punching an official after throwing punches at two Pitt players and then taking a dive. Probably not the way to end your college career.
Pittsburgh scored for the win on a beautiful catch with less than a minute to play.
Pitt 34 EMU 30
My pick: Pittsburgh, the record improves to 8-5, not great.
My bet: Pitt -7 in the first half. Wrong.
Game Notes
Pitt has a nice group of younger players and could be pretty good in 2020, maybe good enough to avoid a bowl in Detroit on December 26th.
What did I eat: A small bag of Hen Of The Woods buttermilk and chive flavored potato chips and a couple chocolate chip cookies my youngest son made. Both were very good.
Bowl swag: Best Buy gift card, JBL over the ear headphones by Harman, Sticker Genius life-sized PhotoSlap decal for each player in their likeness, hoodie, t-shirt, pom hat, backpack and tag, football, mini helmet. Quite a haul and EMU QB Mike Glass's Sticker Genius decal should be him taking that post punch flop.
More ACC to start a five game day Friday with North Carolina in action against Temple. The Big 10 also gets their bowl season going with Michigan State taking on Wake Forest and our first ranked matched up with No. 22 USC taking on No. 16 Iowa.
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