The Wiz of Odds

Snapshots of the BCS Title Game

A look at the game that was. Thanks to 30fps. Click an image to enlarge.

The Fall and Rise of Gene Chizik

Is Gene Chizik an exceptional coach or the luckiest man in the world?

It's nearly impossible to argue with success and today the second-year Auburn coach sits atop the college football world after his Tigers won the Bowl Championship Series title.

But only 758 days ago, Chizik was not held in such high regard. He was coach at Iowa State and had a two-year record of 5-19. His teams were undisciplined and the coaching staff disorganized. Against Kansas in 2008, the Cyclones blew a 20-0 halftime lead, a season in which the team failed to win a Big 12 game.

Fairley Gets in Yet Another Cheap Shot

Even on the national stage, Nick Fairley couldn't help himself. The Auburn defensive tackle, often called the dirtiest player in college football, got flagged for a penalty after messing with LaMichael James' facemask at the bottom of a pile during Monday's game. 30fps has an animated gif of Fairley's cheapie.

Stewart Mandel of SI.com tweeted after the game that James said his postgame conversation with Fairley was "all love" but "I told him he was cheating because he kept grabbing my facemask."

Update: A cleaner video of Fairley's penalty.

Another Auburn Cheap Shot

Watch Auburn's Eric Smith with the knee-to-the-crotch move on an Oregon defender well after the end of a play in Monday night's Bowl Championship Series title game.

The BCS Title Game Prediction List From Hell

Who is going to win tonight's Bowl Championship Series title game between Auburn and Oregon? For the fourth year in a row, The Wiz presents the Mother of All BCS Title Game Prediction Posts.

A new twist this year. At the end of the post, readers are invited to vote in two polls. The first asks which team will cover the spread. At the time of this post, Auburn is favored by two points. The second asks if the total number of points will go over or under 73.

Each of the distinguished experts listed below has a link to their Twitter page and site. Follow these folks and you'll be on the cutting edge of college football.

Let's see what they have to say:

Let's Get This Party Started!

Auburn and Oregon fans gathered Sunday in the Valley of the Sun for the BCS Fan Experience. Wiz correspondent Greg Laughlin was on hand to catch all the festivities. There are more photos after the jump and you can view Greg's full gallery by clicking here.