The Kiss of Death Invitational

The Contestants

 OldSkewler (12-12)--Tiebreaker: OSU-9, LSU-7

 Avsfreak24 (11-13)--Tiebreaker: OSU-6, LSU-3

 dmw1216 (15-9)--Tiebreaker: OSU-12, LSU-7

 bobn12 (15-9)--Tiebreaker: OSU-7, LSU-5

 FlatulentOne (13-11)--Tiebreaker:OSU-7, LSU-4

 DWINDY1 (9-15)--Tiebreaker: OSU-6, LSU-5

 MoonDogLeft (15-9)--Tiebreaker: OSU-5, LSU-3

 Redburr (12-12)--Tiebreaker: OSU-7, LSU-3

 HSKRSPAZ (14-10)--Tiebreaker: OSU-9, LSU-6

 mattp908 (9-15)--Tiebreaker: OSU-8, LSU-5

 bc525 (8-16)--Tiebreaker: OSU-5, LSU-3

 *nostradomus (9-13)--Tiebreaker: ?? , ??

* Nostradomus is playing because I have taken his picks off of his blog.  He does not know he is playing.

** The first team listed is the favorite

Champs Sports Bowl - Orlando

Boston College (+5) vs Michigan State

OldSkewler - Boston College

Avsfreak24 - Boston College

dmw1216 - Boston College

bobn12 -Boston College

FlatulentOne - Boston College

DWINDY1 - Boston College

MoonDogLeft - Boston College

Redburr - Boston College

HSKRSPAZ - Michigan State

mattp908 - Boston College

bc525 - Boston College

nostradomus - MSU

BC won, but MSU covered the #

 

Texas Bowl - Houston 

TCU (+6.5) vs Houston

OldSkewler - Houston

Avsfreak24 - TCU 

dmw1216 - TCU

bobn12 -TCU

FlatulentOne - TCU

DWINDY1 - Houston

MoonDogLeft - TCU

Redburr - TCU

HSKERSPAZ - TCU

mattp908 - TCU

bc525 - TCU

nostradomus - Houston

 TCU won and covered

 

Emerald Bowl - San Francisco

Oregon State (+5) vs Maryland

OldSkewler - Oregon State

Avsfreak24 - Maryland

dmw1216 - Oregon State

bobn12 - Maryland

FlatulentOne - Maryland

DWINDY1 - Maryland

MoonDogLeft - Oregon State

Redburr - Maryland

HSKRSPAZ - Oregon State

mattp908 - Maryland

bc525 - Maryland

nostradomus - Maryland

 Oregon State won and covered

Meineke Bowl - Charlotte

Wake Forest (+1.5) vs Conneticut

OldSkewler - Wake Forest

Avsfreak24 - UConn

dmw1216 - Wake Forest

bobn12 - Wake Forest

FlatulentOne - Wake Forest

DWINDY1 - Wake Forest

MoonDogLeft - Wake Forest

Redburr - Wake Forest

HSKRSPAZ - Wake Forest

mattp908 - Wake Forest

bc525 - Wake Forest

nostradomus - Wake Forest

 Wake Forest won and covered

Liberty Bowl - Memphis 

UCF (+3) vs Mississippi State

OldSkewler - Mississippi State

Avsfreak24 - UCF

dmw1216 - Mississippi State

bobn12 - Mississippi State

FlatulentOne - Mississippi State

DWINDY1 - Mississippi State

MoonDogLeft - Mississippi State

Redburr - UCF

HSKRSPAZ - Mississippi State

mattp908 - UCF

bc525 - Mississippi State

nostradomus - MSU

  Miss. St won and covered

Alamo Bowl - San Antonio

Penn State (+5) vs Texas A&M

OldSkewler - Penn State

Avsfreak24 - A&M

dmw1216 - A&M

bobn12 - Penn State

FlatulentOne - Penn State

DWINDY1 - A&M

MoonDogLeft - Penn State

Redburr - Penn State

HSKRSPAZ - A&M

mattp908 - A&M

bc525 - Penn State

nostradomus - A&M

 PSU won and covered

 Independence Bowl - Shreveport 

Alabama (+3.5) vs Colorado

OldSkewler - Alabama

Avsfreak24 - Colorado

dmw1216 - Colorado

bobn12 - Alabama

FlatulentOne - Alabama

DWINDY1 - Alabama

 MoonDogLeft - Alabama

Redburr - Alabama

HSKRSPAZ - Alabama

mattp908 - Colorado

bc525 - Colorado

nostradomus - Alabama

Alabama won and covered

Armed Forces Bowl - Ft. Worth

California (+3.5) vs Air Force

OldSkewler - Air Force

Avsfreak24 - Air Force

dmw1216 - California

bobn12 - California

FlatulentOne - Air Force 

DWINDY1 - California

MoonDogLeft - Air Force

Redburr - California

HSKRSPAZ - California

mattp908 - Air Force

bc525 - Air Force

nostradomus - AF

Cal won and covered 

Humanitarian Bowl - Boise

Georgia Tech (+6) vs Fresno State

OldSkewler - Georgia Tech

Avsfreak24 - Georgia Tech

dmw1216 - Georgia Tech

bobn12 - Georgia Tech

FlatulentOne - Georgia Tech 

DWINDY1 - Fresno State

MoonDogLeft - Fresno State

Redburr - Georgia Tech

HSKRSPAZ - Georgia Tech

mattp908 - Georgia Tech

bc525 - Georgia Tech

nostradomus - Fresno State

Fresno State won and covered

Sun Bowl - El Paso

South Florida (+6) vs Oregon

OldSkewler - Oregon

Avsfreak24 - South Florida

dmw1216 - Oregon

bobn12 - Oregon

FlatulentOne - Oregon 

DWINDY1 - South Florida

MoonDogLeft - South Florida

Redburr - South Florida

HSKRSPAZ - South Florida

mattp908 - South Florida

bc525 - South Florida

nostradomus - South Florida

Oregon won and covered 

Music City Bowl - Nashville

Kentucky (+10) vs Florida State

OldSkewler - Kentucky

Avsfreak24 - Kentucky

dmw1216 - Kentucky

bobn12 - Kentucky

FlatulentOne - Kentucky 

DWINDY1 - Florida State

MoonDogLeft - Kentucky

Redburr - Kentucky

HSKRSPAZ - Kentucky

mattp908 - Florida State

bc525 - Kentucky

nostradomus - Kentucky

Kentucky won but did not cover 

Insight Bowl - Tempe

Oklahoma State (+4) vs Indiana

OldSkewler - Oklahoma State

Avsfreak24 - Indiana

dmw1216 - Oklahoma State

bobn12 - Oklahoma State

FlatulentOne - Oklahoma State 

DWINDY1 - Indiana

MoonDogLeft - Indiana

Redburr - Oklahoma State

HSKRSPAZ - Oklahoma State

mattp908 - Oklahoma State

bc525 - Indiana

nostradomus - Indiana

OSU won and covered

Chick-fil-A Bowl - Atlanta

Clemson (+2.5) vs Auburn

OldSkewler - Auburn

Avsfreak24 - Auburn

dmw1216 - Auburn

bobn12 - Auburn

FlatulentOne - Clemson 

DWINDY1 - Clemson

MoonDogLeft - Auburn

Redburr - Clemson

HSKRSPAZ - Auburn

mattp908 - Auburn

bc525 - Clemson

nostradomus - Clemson

Auburn won and covered

Outback Bowl - Tampa

Tennessee (+2) vs Wisconsin

OldSkewler - Wisconsin

Avsfreak24 - Tennesee

dmw1216 - Tennesee

bobn12 - Wisconsin

FlatulentOne - Tennessee 

DWINDY1 - Wisconsin

MoonDogLeft - Tennessee

Redburr - Tennessee

HSKRSPAZ - Wisconsin

mattp908 - Wisconsin

bc525 - Wisconsin

nostradomus - Wisky

Tenn won and covered  

Cotton Bowl - Dallas

Missouri (+3) vs Arkansas

OldSkewler - Missouri

Avsfreak24 - Missouri

dmw1216 - Missouri

bobn12 - Arkansas

FlatulentOne - Missouri 

DWINDY1 - Arkansas

MoonDogLeft - Arkansas

Redburr - Missouri

HSKRSPAZ - Missouri

mattp908 - Missouri

bc525 - Missouri

nostradomus - Arkansas

Mizzou won and covered 

 

Capital One Bowl - Orlando

Florida (+10.5) vs Michigan

OldSkewler - Florida

Avsfreak24 - Florida

dmw1216 - Florida

bobn12 - Michigan

FlatulentOne - Florida 

DWINDY1 - Florida

MoonDogLeft - Florida

Redburr - Florida

HSKRSPAZ - Florida

mattp908 - Florida

bc525 - Florida

nostradomus - Michigan

Michigan won and covered 

Gator Bowl - Jacksonville

Texas Tech (+6) vs Virginia

OldSkewler - Texas Tech

Avsfreak24 - Virginia

dmw1216 - Texas Tech

bobn12 - Texas Tech

FlatulentOne - Texas Tech 

DWINDY1 - Texas Tech

MoonDogLeft - Virginia

Redburr - Texas Tech

HSKRSPAZ - Texas Tech

mattp908 - Texas Tech

bc525 - Texas Tech

nostradomus - Virginia

Tech won but did not cover 

Rose Bowl - Pasadena

USC (+13.5) vs Illinois

OldSkewler - Illinois

Avsfreak24 - USC

dmw1216 - USC

bobn12 - USC

FlatulentOne - Illinois 

DWINDY1 - USC

MoonDogLeft - USC

Redburr - USC

HSKRSPAZ - USC

mattp908 - Illinois

bc525 - Illinois

nostradomus - USC

USC spanked that butt 

Sugar Bowl - New Orleans

Georgia (+7.5) vs Hawaii

OldSkewler - Georgia

Avsfreak24 - Georgia

dmw1216 - Georgia

bobn12 - Hawaii

FlatulentOne - Georgia 

DWINDY1 - Georgia

MoonDogLeft - Georgia

Redburr - Hawaii

HSKRSPAZ - Gerogia

mattp908 - Georgia

bc525 - Georgia

nostradomus - Georgia

Woodshed-like beating of Hawaii 

Fiesta Bowl - Glendale

Oklahoma (+6.5) vs West Virgina

OldSkewler - OU

Avsfreak24 - OU

dmw1216 - OU

bobn12 - WVU

FlatulentOne - OU 

DWINDY1 - OU

MoonDogLeft - OU

Redburr - OU

HSKRSPAZ - OU

mattp908 - OU

bc525 - OU

nostradomus - OU 

OU was decimated 

Orange Bowl - Miami

Virginia Tech (+3.5) vs Kansas

OldSkewler - Virginia Tech

Avsfreak24 - Kansas

dmw1216 - Kansas

bobn12 - VT

FlatulentOne - Kansas 

DWINDY1 - VT

MoonDogLeft - VT

Redburr - VT

HSKRSPAZ - Kansas

mattp908 - Kansas

bc525 - VT

nostradomus - VT

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!! 

International Bowl - Toronto

Rutgers (+10) vs Ball State

OldSkewler - Rutgers

Avsfreak24 - Rutgers

dmw1216 - Ball State

bobn12 - Rutgers

FlatulentOne - Rutgers 

DWINDY1 - Rutgers

MoonDogLeft - Rutgers

Redburr - Rutgers

HSKRSPAZ - Ball State

mattp908 - Ball State

bc525 - Rutgers

nostradomus - ??

Rutgers won and covered

GMAC Bowl - Mobile

Tulsa (+4.5) vs Bowling Green

OldSkewler - Tulsa

Avsfreak24 - Tulsa

dmw1216 - Tulsa

bobn12 - Tulsa

FlatulentOne - Bowling Green 

DWINDY1 - Bowling Green

MoonDogLeft - Tulsa

Redburr - Tulsa

HSKRSPAZ - Bowling Green

mattp908 - Bowling Green

bc525 - Tulsa

nostradomus - ??

Tulsa was the only team to show up in this one sided shootout

BCS Championship - New Orleans

LSU (+4) vs Ohio State

OldSkewler - Ohio State

Avsfreak24 -  LSU

dmw1216 - LSU

bobn12 - LSU

FlatulentOne - LSU

DWINDY1 - Ohio State

MoonDogLeft - LSU

Redburr - LSU

HSKRSPAZ - LSU

mattp908 - LSU

bc525 - Ohio State

nostradomus - Ohio State

 

Tie Breaker - How many punts will there be in the National Championship Game?  Breakdown the sides.  Example: Ohio State - X# and LSU - X#. 

WARNING: Some images may be disturbing.

As a fan of Nebraska, I have not experienced many seasons that were over before December. This is the second one that I am old enough to remember. Usually, I would be doing research on whomever Nebraska would be playing in whatever bowl. So, I am trying to find ways to kill the time until 12/20. I was having a hard time filling the hours of the day until I found these hobbies.

Full-contact clarineting - This is not your father's clarineting. You can play by yourself or with others. The object is to play a few bars of an agreed upon song. When the clarinet squawks, then the player is drop-kicked in the head. The first one to go unconscious loses. The "by your self" rules are the same except when the squawk happens, you need to run headlong into the wall.

 Polo is a sport because it takes stamina to stay on your horse. It also takes a ton of skill to guide your horse through a crowd without killing anyone, or more importantly hurting your horse. This is just plain lazy and pointless. I just want to go out there an push these guys over.

Here is a sport that is an off-shoot of robot fighting. The object is how to best get beat up while walking through a dicey neighborhood. Stephen was last year's winner. He lasted all of 8 minutes before getting pummeled. He was pumping Charlie Daniels through his speaker while walking in front of a couple of crack houses. It was the hat that did him in. It was cold that day when a crack-head slit his Achilles tendon and swiped his hat. Because he sustained permanent injury, he is a lifetime judge for future events.

This one is called "Look What I Can Swallow!" Here, Summer has shown us that she can swallow a bong. Don't worry. This time she was careful that it wasn't recently used when she gulped it down. She is kind of twitchy. She has a tendency to ingest large cylindrical objects like bongs on occasion just for fun. Trevor was handing her the bong to take a toke from when she took it down water and all. The surgeon who was trying to remove it got a contact high when she was opened up. He needed some Funyuns, Stat! 

"Thread Your Face With Small Snakes," is surprisingly easy to play if you have veteran snakes on hand. This is a common game that has evolved through the ages. Originally, it was played with ferrets. Allergies, claws, and teeth became a problem. The problem was dealt with easily enough. After shaving, detoothing, and declawing the ferrets, the participants were much happier. The transition to snakes was made due to the fact that the ferrets organized and formed the Union for Face Threading Ferrets. It is now much more cost-effective to use snakes, because nobody cares about reptiles.

Here is a game called "Fast Driving, Sudden Stops." Clairese has been disqualified due to her cosmetic surgery enhancement. 

"Don't Tip the Loaves," is a very popular game in third world countries. The object is to use all of the village's food in a game of human jump-rope. Typically, the participants are stoned to death (bad stoned, not good stoned) when all of the food is dropped to the ground. Fred, Harry, and Larry are shown here wearing bras. It is not necessary to wear bras, but they were recently outed as transvestites. They were going to get stoned anyway, so they thought "What the heck! GAME ON!!"

                                        

Why do the people in the media sensationalize tragedies so much?  Why is it so hard to just report the news and be done with it?  Why does it have to drag out for weeks?

Omaha, my hometown, was thrust into the national news by a 19 year old kid.  This kid's only reason for shooting and killing people was because he wanted to go out famous.

Five or ten years ago, this kid would have just killed himself and it would have been over.  In this day and age, being depressed is boring.  Everyone is depressed.  In this day and age, psychotic is the only way to be cool.

The media is not to blame for this kid's problems, but they are to blame for his solution.  I believe that if our country's "dirty laundry" was not aired, hashed over, and rehashed over and over, then this particular tragedy would have only cost one life instead of nine.

The media is a prostitute, and this kid is its latest pimp.

  

You find yourself the new head coach at a prestigious football school, and the team you are coming from has earned a chance at the national championship.  What do you do?  Coach Pelini's team is in need of a salvaged recruiting class.  Pelini's old team needs to get ready to play for the national championship.  It would seem that giving these two tasks an honest amount of focus would be near impossible, if even possible. 

Couldn't LSU let Pelini off the hook on this decision?  Why couldn't they say "Thanks Bo, we got it from here?"  That way LSU would be guaranteed a coach that had no other football distractions. 

LSU would like for Bo Pelini to fulfill his defensive obligations through the national championship game.  I don't blame them.  Pelini's defenses have been among the best in the country over the last 3 years for LSU.  Pelini gives LSU the best shot at a great defensive showing against the Buckeyes, but at what cost to Nebraska?  There is a dead period for recruiting at the end of December, but until then is he supposed to turn his back on LSU to recruit for Nebraska?

By staying on the LSU staff, Pelini will be hurting himself at Nebraska.  Bo will not be able to devote as much time as he can to recruiting for his team next year.  What if LSU has a very bad showing in New Orleans on defense?  Wouldn't the logical excuse be that Pelini didn't focus enough on LSU?  Wouldn't that be detrimental to his recruiting efforts around the country?  Maybe.  Maybe not.

Wouldn't the exposure at the national championship game give Pelini an edge?  Every few minutes, the announcers will talk about Pelini's great history as a defensive coordinator and his future as head coach at Nebraska.  As long as LSU's defense is solid, this kind of exposure is priceless.

So, what is it going to be?  Both sides of the decision have a downside, but I feel that Pelini fulfilling his defensive coordinator duties at LSU has a great upside for Nebraska in the amount of Prime-Time TV exposure. 

      

I wonder what an LSU fan has to say about this decision Pelini has to make. 

                     

Well, well, well. Isn't that interesting?  Ohio State and LSU playing for the national championship has to be a dream match-up for the fat-cats in the smoke-filled rooms.  It couldn't have worked out better, right?  My hat is off to the fat-cats.  You really have to admire their resolve and unflappability in stressful situations.The people in the smoke-filled rooms must have been feeling somewhat nervous with the potential match-up between Missouri and West Virginia.  I don't believe it would have been anything close to a ratings bonanza.  I would venture to guess it would have been a little tougher to get the millions of dollars, the fat-cats are used to, for the advertising spots because of the smaller followings of these two teams. 

I am a firm believer that what frightens these puppet-masters is the threat of losing money.  Therefore, they will support and guide events towards the most lucrative outcomes.  Ohio State and LSU will certainly have many, many people watching.  It will be a great game.  I will be watching.  But what does it prove?  It proves nothing.  It does not provide us, the fans, with a true champion.  It is because this will be a great game that there will be no change in the current bowl system. 

 

My problem with the way things are run in Division-1 football is why these guys, fat-cats, are so frightened of trying anything new.  Wouldn't a playoff strengthen the ratings for some of the smaller market teams?  

 

If West Virginia had made it through a 3 rounds of playoffs, wouldn't they create a bigger following?  Wouldn't the ratings shoot through the roof?  If Hawaii was able to knock off a team like Oklahoma in the first week of a playoff, then wouldn't it be safe to assume that the next week there would be even more people watching Hawaii's game?  I am not looking forward to the Hawaii/Georgia match-up, but if Hawaii would have had to get through a few playoff games, then I would probably be very excited for the game. 

 

If you are going be greedy, then be as greedy as you can.  Sure, the old way has made many a cat fat, but this new way could send profits through the roof.  The shortsightedness of the cats in the smoke-filled rooms is frustrating.

 

 

Much to the chagrin of the officiating crew from the Pitt/WVU game, West Virgina blew any chance of any change coming soon.  Missouri had to do their part, but it was a much tougher hill to climb for the Tigers.  Without the pocketbooks of the fat-cats being affected, it will be impossible for there to be change in Division-1 football.  As long as the status quo is not affected, then the puppet-masters are happy.  I guarantee Ohio State and LSU makes the puppet-masters happy.