Libertarian Librarian

Finally a National Championship showdown that actually lived up to the hype. Great game last night-- though I'm glad the bowl games are over. I've been staying up far too late the past few evenings.

Random musings on the Rose Bowl:

• Best venue for a football game anywhere, Lambeau Field included (though it's close).
• If Vince Young enters the draft this year (he still says he won't), would you take him or Reggie Bush? Before last night I would've said there was nobody who was even close to Bush-- but now? Now, I think I might take Young. Michael Vick athleticism combined with an accurate (What a concept!) arm and a very fast release. Plus a Michael Jordanesque desire to win and to carry his team if necessary. Young was simply phenomenal last night.
• Having said that, my goodness Reggie Bush is good. Here's his stat line: 13 rushes for 80 yards and a TD, plus 6 receptions for 94 yards and another 1oo yards in kickoff returns. 174 yards from scrimmage with a highlight reel TD thrown in for good measure. The kicker: Keith JACKson noted that Bush was having a fairly quiet night-- and he was right. Bush had 174 yards from scrimmage and a TD on an off night! Having said that, the lateral Bush attempted was just stupid and may have cost SC the three-peat. You can do that against Fairfield Tech in high school, Reg. You absolutely can not do that in the national championship game. You just can't.
• I wish either, or both, of these teams had played Penn State this year-- it would be fun and fascinating to see how the awesome offenses of SC and Texas would do against the awesome defense of the Nittany Lions.
• Which makes you think: although it will never happen, wouldn't a playoff system be fun?

Which brings us to the playoff system that will happen and is fun-- the NFL! It will be strange watching the playoffs without the Packers in them (been a while-- we've been spoiled up here in Wisconsin), but there are some great games coming up. My picks this weekend?

Giants over Carolina
Washington over TB
NE over Jax
Cincinatti over Pittsburgh

The smart money is, of course, to take the money line the other way.