Tucker: A New Year's bowl lineup to die for

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For college football bowl maniacs -- those overindulgent fans who'd rather watch the Hawaii Bowl than a Celine Dion Christmas Eve concert -- this New Year's lineup must seem heaven sent.

No matter where you come down on the Bowl Championship Series, whether you're a backer or a basher, you've at least got to admit: its bowl matchups this postseason are the most intriguing, and most anticipated, since the BCS' inception 11 years ago.

Course, how could they not be with five unbeatens in the mix, and four of them paired up?

Unless you're a Cincinnati, TCU or Boise State sympathizer, it's difficult to have any qualms with the BCS title game Jan. 7 in Pasadena.

No. 1 Alabama versus No. 2 Texas has just about everything you'd want in a national championship game -- history, tradition, high-profile coaches, a Heisman winner on one side, a two-time nominee on the other and two of the best defenses in the country.

Alabama is the popular pick to win, primarily because of its 32-13 domination of defending national champion Florida in the SEC title game. But when you break down the BCS title game, it's pretty much a tossup.

The Tide has the superior running attack with Mark Ingram, the Heisman winner; the Longhorns, the superior passing attack with Colt McCoy, the two-time nominee.

Texas, however, does have a wild card in Jordan Shipley. The wide receiver/punt returner is a game-breaking threat, Texas' version of the New England Patriots' Wes Welker.

Texas' rushing defense is tops in the country, yielding just 62 yards a game. Alabama's pass defense ranks seventh, giving up just 164 yards a game. Overall, it's a wash defensively -- Alabama ranks No. 2, Texas No. 3.

History? Its worth noting Texas is 7-0-1 against Alabama since their first meeting in 1902. In 1960, they played to a 3-3 tie. The last time they played was in the 1982 Cotton Bowl; Texas won, 14-12. Interesting stuff, but ancient history, and a non-factor when in this game.

What truly matters is recent history and the SEC's dominance of the title game the last three postseasons. The Unbalanced Line's call: Alabama, 20-16.

As for the Jan. 4 Fiesta Bowl, maybe TCU and Boise State had higher hopes. To get so close to the peak only to be turned away by powers outside your control has to be somewhat disheartening for players and for fans.

But it's also got to be pretty darn gratifying. Never before have two mid-major teams crashed the BCS bash.

Maybe in the not too distant future a mid-major team will get a shot at the ultimate prize. Look for TCU, which boasts the nation's No. 1 defense, to add an exclamation mark to the Mountain West's bowl statement: TCU 38, Boise 20.

What can you say about the Sugar Bowl? Brian Kelly and Urban Meyer have certainly provided a colorful storyline: The Cincinnati coach jumping ship for the Notre Dame job, and Florida's revered coach first announcing his retirement and then, on second thought, his leave of absence.

As for the game itself, Florida's defense will take control and crush Cincy's dream of perfection.

In "The Granddaddy of Them All," Ohio State's tenacious defense will be a thorn in the side of Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli: Buckeyes, 27-17.

Even the Jan. 5 Orange Bowl matchup between Iowa and Georgia Tech should be interesting: The Hawkeyes have a decided defensive edge; the Yellow Jackets, a decided offensive edge. Defense wins: 27-24.

And those are just the megabucks bowls.

No bowl maniac in his or her football-crazed mind could possibly miss the Jan. 1 Capital One and Gator bowls. There couldn't possibly be two better primers for the Rose and Sugar bowls.

Two coaching legends, both in their 80s, will be on the sidelines -- one making his farewell appearance, the other with no end in sight.

Joe Paterno, the winningest coach in Division I (FBS) and the all-time leader in bowl victories and appearances (23-11-1), will lead Penn State against LSU in the Capital One Bowl. The last and only time these teams met was in the 1974 Orange Bowl. Penn State finished its first 12-0 season with a 16-9 victory over the Tigers. The call: Penn State 31-17.

In the Gator, Bobby Bowden will lead FSU against West Virginia. He coached the Mountaineers from 1970-75, before taking the reigns at FSU. In a rather disgraceful move, Bowden was forced out by Florida State's shameless football power brokers. He goes out a winner, 34-24.

In the end, about the only thing left to beef about -- and it's a legitimate beef -- is the lack of a playoff to settle the national championship dispute once and for all.

This postseason will end with at least two teams -- and possibly three -- still unbeaten. Unfortunately, that is not closure when it comes to determining a national champion.

(Contact John Tucker at jtuck@unionleader.com)

(E-mail John Tucker at jtucker(at)unionleader.com)

columnUNBALANCED LINEMust credit New Hampshire Union LeaderColumn