After last night's showdown between Penn State and Florida State went into triple overtime, I think the Rose Bowl is going to have a tough time beating that.  All I can say is wow!

  A few notes on the game:

First, the scoreless first overtime shouldn't have been scoreless.  Penn State should have won that first time around.  They made a huge mistake in playing for the field goal right away after FSU missed.  You don't bet anything on a field goal after your freshman kicker misses from 29 yards out.  That may have been a fluke, but they should have at least gotten closer.  Kelly (PSU's kicker) hasn't nailed one from 40 plus yards this year, and the attempt was from 38.  Get closer! 

Second:  FSU's missed extra point ultimately cost them the game, at least if it would have played out the same on everything else.  17-16 Florida State would have been a huge upset.

Third:  Penn State missed some opportunities to put the game away in the second half.  A turnover at the five yard line cost them at least 3 points, if not more, and that turnover also led to FSU's tying field goal.  Much of that offense may have come from the momentum from the turnover.  Another missed field goal from 29 yards let the game go into overtime tied at 16.  Assuming FSU doesn't get the field goal (to tie) and doesn't give up the safety (stupid mistake), and Penn State converted on those opportunies, the score would have been 24-13 (or 14 if you like, FSU shouldn't have missed the XP), or at least 20-14.  However, the mistakes made it go into overtime, and produced the best bowl game of this year, rather than a relatively boring defensive battle won by Penn State.

Finally, I do agree with PSU's decision to go for three when Kelly decided that he was ready.  It was a 29 yard field goal, and the best time to kick is when your kicker is feeling confident.  If Kelly walked out on the field, he was obviously feeling comfortable with the kick.  Even if he missed from 29 and 38 earlier, you let him try again for the win, especially if it is only second down, and you have two more downs to work with.  Imagine how shaken Kelly's confidence may have been if PSU hadn't let him try from 29 yards.  That would show absolutely no confidence in the kicker, and he may have missed any further field goals in the game.  Good move by PSU.

Unfortunately, I missed most of the first half of the game due to my job as a busser.  I have tivoed it, so I will get back to further overanalysis after I watch the first half, at least if it's worth it.  But I think that is likely the best bowl game we're going to see this year.