The Wiz of Odds

Here's Your Highlight From the Insight Bowl

The Iowa-Oklahoma matchup in the Insight Bowl was the latest installment in what is becoming a long line of bowl snoozers this postseason, so you are excused if you didn't make it to the end of Friday night's game.

However, you missed the most exciting moment. The overhead camera at Sun Devil Stadium tumbled to the field with 2:22 left in the fourth quarter, nearly hitting Hawkeye receiver Marvin McNutt.

Rutgers Has Finishing Touch in Win Over Iowa State

Wiz correspondent Greg Laughlin make the trek to New York City for Friday's Pinstripe Bowl between Iowa State and Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights fell behind early, then turned it on and smoked the Cyclones, 27-13.

There are more photos after the jump, and you can view Greg's full gallery by clicking here.

Texas Dominates California in the Holiday Bowl

All the fireworks were before kickoff of Wednesday night's Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Texas and California entered with 7-5 records and the game turned into a dud, with the more athletic Longhorns prevailing, 21-10, before 56,313.

Texas sacked Cal quarterback Zach Maynard six times and forced five turnovers.

San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Nick Canepa wrote that the game was "a flop" and says "the Holiday, once among the top six bowls, has allowed itself to slip past the likes of the Alamo."

Photos in this post are from Image of Sport. There are more photos after the jump and on this link.

Reporters Notebooks

Jared Hunt, Charleston Daily Mail: A week to go before the Orange Bowl and West Virginia has sold only 7,700 of the 17,500 tickets it was allotted. That means the team will be on the hook for thousands of tickets priced between $75 and $225.

Associated Press: More than 75 schools have objected to an NCAA plan to allow multiyear scholarships rather than the one-year renewable awards schools currently provide.

Jared Hunt, Charleston Daily Mail: A judge denied a West Virginia motion to dismiss the Big East's civil lawsuit against the school, which wants to jump to the Big 12 on July 1, 2012.

Ken Goe, Oregonian: Nine Oregon players spent two hours trapped in a Hyatt Regency Century Plaza elevator. Then members of the media went through an uncomfortable experience at the "Happiest Place on Earth."

Jimmy Burch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: The newspaper asks several top players and insiders to tackle the tough questions. Here's one for starters: What should be done with the Bowl Championship Series?

Mark Rosner, Austin American-Statesman: Texas' Mack Brown, 60, who has a deal that pays $5.2 million annually through 2016, is "excited" that athletic director DeLoss Dodds wants to extend his contract.

Megan Boehnke, Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee might actually save money by sitting out the bowl season.

Garry Smits, Florida Times-Union: The writer says Florida fans should be ashamed for purchasing only 7,500 of the 15,000 tickets allotted to the team for the Taxslayer.com Bowl. Jacksonville, site of the game, is 75 miles from Gainesville.

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: No college football on Jan. 1? Has the world gone mad?

Plenty of Good Seats Were Available in Shreveport

You were not alone if you missed Monday's Independence Bowl. Although bowl officials announced that 41,728 tickets were sold, an estimated 5,000 actually made it to their seats.

Also not showing up: North Carolina, which was bludgeoned by Missouri, 41-24.

But an Independence Bowl would not be complete without a love story. One couple spent Monday celebrating their 10th anniversary at the game. They met at the 2001 Independence Bowl while playing in the marching bands of opposing teams.

Reporters Notebooks

Andrew Carter and J. Andrew Curliss, Raleigh News & Observer: Coaches' bonuses are one of the most overlooked expenses for teams playing in bowl games. They often make up more than 25% of expenses and it's not uncommon for bonuses to total more than the governors of most states are paid.

Travis Sawchik, Charleston Post and Courier: Clemson has projected it will lose $185,000 playing in the Orange Bowl.

Garry Smits, Florida Times-Union: One thing Florida and Ohio State won't bring to the Taxslayer.com Bowl — fans.

Mike Gross, Lancaster Online: Who is the best choice to take over as Penn State coach? It's Gary Patterson of Texas Christian.

Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star: In its 15-year history, the Big 12 has a losing record in bowl games. The big reason is a dismal 9-19 record against teams from the Southeastern Conference.

Andrew Logue, Des Moines Register: One Iowa State fan is traveling 6,700 miles to see the Cyclones play in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Luke DeCock, Raleigh News & Observer: Does North Carolina understand the concept of compliance?

John Klein, Tulsa World: Oklahoma State being kept out of the BCS title game could be the spark for change.

Craig Harris, Arizona Republic: Investigators found no criminal wrongdoing by 31 Arizona politicians who took gifts from the Fiesta Bowl.

Darren Rovell, CNBC: NCAA president Mark Emmert says players shouldn't get paid for jersey sales.

Chris Smith, Forbes: Texas is considered be college football's most valuable team. Notre Dame is No. 2.