Look, I understand that not everyone loves college football as much as I do. You've all got "careers," and "friends," and "loved ones," which is nice, it really is. I'm definitely jealous.

With that said, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't appreciate bowl season. It really is the most wonderful time of the year.

I mean sure, only one game counts, but ultimately that's not what the bowls are about. What they are about, is rewarding players for a decent season, giving fans an excuse to go somewhere warm during December and January, and allowing coaches an extra dozen or so practices. Plus, the bowls give you a nice excuse to get out of anything during the holiday season. You know, pull the old, "Look, honey, I'd love to take the kids to see Santa at the mall. You know I mean that. But sweetheart, the Beef O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl is on. If I don't watch, how will I be able to show my face at work on Monday. You go without me. I'll come next year, I promise." You know you've pulled that. I certainly have, and I don't even have a wife or kids.

But still, I know what you're thinking, "Aaron, is there really an excuse to watch every game?" I think so. Which is why I put together the Aaron Torres Sports Ultimate Bowl Viewing Guide.

Sure some games are more exciting than others, but that's never, not an excuse to watch.

Enjoy the guide, and while we're here, don't forget to sign up for the Aaron Torres Sports Bowl Pick 'Em Challenge. I'll be giving away autographed goodies from Erin Andrews and Joe Montana, plus a copy of the new and controversial book, "Death To The BCS." Make sure to sign up.

Now, let's get to the guide!

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Who’s ready for some bowl games?

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Wow, so it’s really over? After 14 weeks, hundreds of games, and thousands of Les Miles jokes, college football season pretty much is done huh?

Not to go all Rich Rodriguez and get emotional here, but I’ve got to admit that there are some mixed feelings this morning. For one, I’m kind of glad the season is over actually. It’s hard to explain the amount of hours I put into this site over the course of the week, and the course of the season. Not just watching these games, but thinking about them, writing and editing. It’s something I love, but by right around Halloween does become pretty exhausting.

At the same time, I mean come on, its college football! For all the sport’s flaws (and we saw plenty this year), college football is still, for my money, the greatest sport on the planet. If you’re a sports fan, there’s no way you could’ve watched the intro to the SEC Championship Game and not gotten chills yesterday when the two teams ran out of the tunnel. Except we see that same scene from September to the first week of December, every Saturday, all across the country. The people who don’t watch the sport because “there’s no playoff,” will never understand that every weekend is one.

So with that said, what will I remember most about the 2010 season? In no particular order, here are a few things: Cam Newton, and his ability to turn Jordan-Hare into a rock concert every Saturday (and by the way, with all due respect to all the Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio State fans and everyone else who reads this site, I think that Jordan-Hare might’ve been bumped to No. 1 on the “Damn, I’ve got to see that stadium before I die,” list.). I’ll also remember all the joy I derived from Les Miles, all the bickering over Boise, and all the confusion surrounding Michigan this year. I’m pretty sure Rich Rodriguez and I broke up and reconciled at least 11 times this year.

I’ll remember Jim Harbaugh spitting a wad of dip on the ground of Notre Dame Stadium and Urban Meyer looking like my grandma trying to navigate the internet after he lost to Mississippi State. I’ll remember Year One of the Derek Dooley Era, and Year 101 of the Joe Paterno era. I’ll remember Bo Pelini yelling (although I think you’ll be able to say that about any season really), Bret Bielema smirking (after his team put up another 70 points), Syracuse bowling, and North Carolina’s defensive line walking around with more jewelry around their necks than 50 Cent.

And since I know there’s plenty I’m missing, I ask you, what are you going to remember from this year? I encourage you… no insist you share below.

Also, a couple other quick things. First off, once the bowl pairings are revealed this evening, I’ll go ahead and announce the prizes for the AaronTorres-Sports Bowl Pick’Em Challenege. If you just can’t wait to enter, you should be able to sign up for the contest right now by clicking here.

Finally, and most importantly, I want to thank each and every person who takes the time to read this site, comment, e-mail me, argue with me, whatever. I can’t explain in words how much I enjoy doing what I do, or how much pleasure I derive pleasure from talking football all season long. I can’t thank you all enough.

Again, didn’t mean to get all emotional on you there. Now, let’s talk about yesterday’s games.

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Well, well, well. This introductory paragraph was supposed to be my glowing, enthusiastic, borderline uncomfortable response to the Miami hiring of Jon Gruden. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. The whole courting process turned into one of those awkward Match.com first dates, and ended with Gruden going Groundhog’s Day on us. You know, meeting with Kirby Holcutt, seeing his own shadow, then returning to the Monday Night booth to yuck it up with Ron Jaworski for six more dreary weeks. Good times.

Besides Gruden, the other big story this week was obviously the NCAA coming down with a decision on “you know who,” and his Bible-thumping, money-laundering father. I’ll address that issue more when I discuss the SEC Championship Game later on, but let me tell you what I’ve already said many times: If the world does indeed come to an end in 2012, it’ll have a lot more to do with something Jim Delany, Mike Slive and Larry Scott did than anything the Bible predicted. The fact that Cam got off scot free, really does show that when Slive wants to swing his you-know-what around, he’s still the biggest power player in college football.

Anyway, let’s get to this weekend’s picks. The column is a little shorter than usual, because honestly, what can I say about the Conference USA Championship that hasn’t already been said?? Seriously though, you know the drill, 10 games, against the spread, with witty and occasionally factually correct commentary thrown in.

Also, be sure to check back Sunday for a quick recap column, and late Sunday for information on the Aaron Torres Sports Bowl Pick ‘Em challenge once all the bowl matchups are announced.

Until then, let’s get to this weekend’s picks!
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Yesterday was a fun cap, to a fun weekend of college football. Sure nothingon the level of “Nevada beating Boise State,” happened, but still. Anytime Urban Meyer gets his pants pulled down on National TV by somebody named “Jimbo,” it’s never a bad thing.

Anyway, let’s get to the weekend recap. It’s a little briefer than usual, for two reasons. The first is that I already wrote about the Iron Bowl Saturday morning, and two, because at this point in the season, there’s only so much to say about these teams. Of course after yesterday, there's still plenty to discuss.

Also, be sure to keep lurking around AaronTorres-Sports.com. It’s going to be a fun week, with a few columns, podcasts and other stuff going up (For updates, you can always follow on Twitter or Facebook). And once the bowl matchups are announced next weekend, look out for the AaronTorres-Sports.com Bowl Pick ‘Em Challenge. I’ve lined up some cool prizes, that I think all of you will enjoy.

Of course there’s still a lot to talk about between now and then, starting with yesterday.

Let’s get to it.

Beginning with…

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This is why I get paid the big bucks. Ok, so maybe I don’t really get paid big bucks, or much of anything actually. But if I did, it’d be because of articles like this. For my ability to put an interesting spin on Saturday’s Alabama-Auburn game.

Now don’t get me wrong, the game was great. It was everything we could’ve hoped for: A hard-fought, back-and-forth blood-bath, that ended with one of the greatest comebacks in the series history. It was one of the three or four best games in college football this year.

The problem is, if you watched these two teams all year, the final outcome probably wasn’t all that surprising. Auburn thrives on making epic comebacks, and Alabama hasn’t played a complete 60 minutes, well, maybe all year. Sure they’ve been as great for quarters and halves, maybe the best team in the country in spurts. But not great for a full 60 minutes. Friday wasn’t any different.

So with that said, here are five thoughts from Friday’s wild, yet somewhat predictable Iron Bowl.

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Forget Thanksgiving, because I’ve got five words for you: Best…weekend…of…college football…EVER!!!! Ok, maybe that’s six words, but you get the point. Either way, the college football Gods are smiling upon us.

With the Big Ten moving their biggest games back a week, the Pac-10 moving theirs up, along with a host of already exciting rivalries, it’s safe to say that this is the most exciting weekend of college football I can remember in a long time.

And (sadly), for the second to last time this fall, it's time to get to this weekend’s picks.

As always, home teams are in CAPS, and point spreads provided by our friends at BetUS.com.

And oh, by the way, Happy Thanksgiving!

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It's Sunday, and there's no time to waste. It's time for the College Football Weekend Recap, and...

1. I Guess I Should Start With: Well, actually, where should I start? Usually there's some headline, feature story, big upset, something for me to open with. But as good as Saturday’s games were, there really wasn’t that one big story that jumped out above all others. No major upset. No big Auburn or Oregon win. Not even a goofy Les Miles mishap worth documenting. If you were trying to recap Saturday’s football, where would you begin??

And that’s what made the day so weird. None of the top four teams played. Neither did Alabama. There were only two matchups of Top 25 teams (Iowa-Ohio State and Nebraska-Texas A&M), neither of which you’d describe as “must see.” By comparison, next Friday alone has three matchups of Top 25 teams (Auburn-Alabama, Arizona-Oregon and Boise State-Nevada), with two more to follow on Saturday (LSU-Arkansas and Oklahoma-Oklahoma State). Not to mention all the ancillary rivalries that don’t seem to be quite as big as usual. I’m talking Florida-Florida State, Clemson-South Carolina and Michigan-Ohio State.

Either way, what yesterday lacked will certainly be made up for this weekend. As the great philosopher Terrell Owens once said, “Getcha popcorn ready!!”

2. Onto The First Game of The Day: And onto this weekend’s edition, of “Boy was Aaron wrong about.” This week, I’d like to admit that I was wrong on the Ohio State Buckeyes. I just hope Terrelle Pryor doesn’t get mad and call me out on Twitter for it.

Saturday proved that the Buckeyes are a lot of things I wasn't sure they were. Physically, they’re much tougher than I gave them credit for. I wasn’t sure they’d be able to handle Adrian Claybourn, Christian Ballard and the rest of Iowa’s frontline. Yet the Buckeyes just kept putting up yards on the ground, and picking up first downs all day long.

Mentally, Ohio State is just as tough too. They went on the road, in their opponent’s biggest game of the year, and rallied in the fourth quarter for a win. This was the second weekend in a row that they trailed at halftime, and came roaring back to defeat a really good team. The Buckeyes might not have significantly better than Iowa on Saturday, but were better when it mattered the most. At winning time in the fourth quarter.

And really, this all comes back to Pryor. To be honest, he didn't really play all that well for three and a half quarters Saturday, but did make the plays down the stretch, when his team need them.

On the final drive- the biggest drive of the Buckeyes season- Pryor was again a man. He put a third down pass right in the hands of DeVier Posey for the go-ahead touchdown, a pass that Posey proceeded to drop. One play later, wiith the game on the line, Pryor picked up the first down yardage with his, keeping the drive- and Ohio State’s Big Ten title hopes- alive. From there, he, Dane Sanzenbacher and Boom Herron did the rest. Again, Pryor wasn't necessarily great all game long. But with the way he can make plays with his feet and arm, there aren't many people more scary with the ball, in the closing minutes of a football.

At the same time, you can’t talk about any Ohio State win, without mentioning…

3. Jim Tressel: And as I watched The Senator walk off the field Saturday, after another impressive win, in a career filled with them, I thought to myself: Is there a more underappreciated coach in any sport?
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Call it the “Cam Newton Free,” Weekend Preview if you please.

That’s right, with Auburn off this week, we can all rest the Cam Newton talk, and just focus on the stuff on the field. Finally.

And while I wouldn’t exactly call the slate of games this weekend “enticing,” “appealing,” or dare I say even “remotely interesting,” make sure to enjoy them none the less. Remember, you’re going to be stuck with family for the better part of next week. Baylor-Oklahoma won’t seem nearly as bad when your Aunt Mildred is drunk off cheap wine and babbling about her ex-husband, and grandpa’s complaining about what turkey does to his bowel movements. Trust me.

Anyway, let’s get to the weekend picks. As always, home teams are in CAPS and the point spreads provided by our good friends at BetUS.com.

Also, one more quick announcement. I wanted to let everyone know that as the season winds down over the next few weeks, I’m going to be putting a “Bowl Pick ‘Em, Challenge.” I haven’t exactly ironed out all the details yet, but I did hear from a sponsor last night, and there will be some really cool prizes to give away. So whether you’re a regular reader of the site or not, be sure to check back over the coming weeks for that (For updates, be sure to follow on Twitter @Aaron_Torres)

Now, let’s get to the picks!


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Let's skip all the foreplay, and jump right into discussion about yesterday's games. Because I've got to be honest, I haven't had that much fun watching college football in a long time, and there's a lot to cover.

As always, I encourage you to tell me why I'm an idiot, by commenting below, or on Twitter @Aaron_Torres. Also if you're an iPhone or Androi user, download the AaronTorres-Sports.com App for FREE, to get updates every time I put up another article, podcast or announce a giveaway.

Now, let's talk some football. And...

1. I Think It’s Best We Start With Cam Newton: And I think it’s best we stay on the field. If you want to crack jokes, go ahead. That’s your prerogative. But I’m here to talk football. All the other stuff will come to light soon enough, especially with the FBI now on the case. Again though, on the field, I mean, what can you say?

I guess what’d I’d have to say is, that as impossible as this sounds, as far-fetched as it seems, Cam Newton, the runaway freight train of a Heisman Trophy lock, is…gulp…getting better. Which has to be pretty scary for Alabama, South Carolina and some unsuspecting bowl team, right?

In my humble opinion, Newton had his best game of the season Saturday afternoon. The numbers might not entirely reflect that, but if you’ve watched this team all year, you know what I’m talking about it. The place it was most evident was the running game, where it seemed like offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn used Newton differently than he has all year. Previously, Newton has been a luxury, a guy who can pick up big chunks of yards after the defense has been ground to a pulp by Michael Dyer, Onterio McCalebb and the rest of the running game. Newton running the ball, was like a nice glass of wine to finish off a hard day’s work. Nice, but not really a necessity.

Well on Saturday, Newton was in fact a necessity. He was the featured back. Malzahn skipped Dyer and McCalebb for big parts of the game, and instead used Newton to pick up just enough yardage to keep Georgia’s offense off the field, and the clock moving.

Of course, to talk strictly about the running game, would be to take away from Newton’s passing Saturday. Newton was spectacular there too. We’ve seen him rip off the occasional laser through traffic, but Saturday he did it three or four times, squeezing balls through impossible windows. And much like the running game, he didn’t do it just to show off. He did because that was the exact play that Auburn needed at that exact moment. And I’m not sure how many other guys in college football, if any, could’ve made those plays.

As for everything else Auburn, I’ve got a few more thoughts…
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