Am I the only one who thinks the conference tie-ins to certain bowls are ridiculous?  Is there anyone out there who wouldn't rather see USC play Texas in the Rose Bowl instead of beating up on a weak Penn State team while Musberger and Herby gush over them for 3 hours in the booth?

Personally, I think USC is as good as any team in the country. A four team playoff this season with USC. UF, OU and Texas would have been very interesting to watch for every college football fan in the country.  Instead we get to see USC roll Penn State (thanks for the easy confidence points in the Alligator Army Pick 'Em contest), Texas is expected to do the same to another Big 10 patsy and then one good game for everyone to watch.  It works out this season for Gators, but we could get much better games by dumping the conference tie- ins.  Who cares if the SEC champ doesn't go to the Sugar?  Anyone?