Now football fans, the season we have been waiting for is finally here - bowl season.
After three months of waiting, the regular season has ended, and what a championship weekend we had.
A thrilling offensive explosion in Atlanta, an upset waiting to happen in Indianapolis and now we have a real championship game.
This past weekend's activities muddled the final BCS Championship Game selection some, but in the end, we have the outcome that I believe most wanted.
Florida State will take on Auburn in the national title game. The Seminoles reached college football's pinnacle game with a convincing win over Duke in the ACC Championship game, while the Tigers relied on their speed and explosive offense to best Missouri in a game in which Auburn didn't need a last-second prayer or a record-setting kick return.
But before the national championship finale, we have three weeks of bowl contests. It's like Thanksgiving in December, cramming as many games as we can into a 17-day period.
Some bowls begin before the holiday season, but the real games begin after Christmas Day.
The first game Newton County residents may want to pay attention to is the battle between the Yellow Jackets and Ole Miss in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30. The game is less than a four hour trip from Atlanta, and after Georgia Tech fell apart in the fourth quarter against Georgia, a contest against an SEC foe may be just what the Yellow Jackets need to bounce back from a mediocre season.
Georgia Tech is fourth in the nation in rushing, averaging more than 311 yards per game, while the Rebels are giving up just 155 rushing yards a game, but have given up 26 touchdowns on the ground compared to nine through the air in 2013.
The Bulldogs take part in bowl season on New Year's Day, but in a game that many Georgia fans may be grumbling about.
Georgia ended up in a great bowl after an 8-4 season, but takes on Nebraska in the Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl.
The Big 10 matchup features the Cornhuskers in a rematch of last season's Capital One Bowl. There was some grumbling that the Bulldogs were unwilling to play in the Chick-fil-A Bowl against ACC opponent Duke, an opportunity that would have given Newton residents a chance to see former Newton County standout DeVon Edwards face the Bulldogs in the Georgia Dome.
The Bulldogs defeated Nebraska 45-31 a season ago, and while some of the names have changed, the sentiment toward Big 10 football has not. Both teams entered last season's game limping off championship game losses, but in their third matchup all-time, both teams are looking for a high note to end their seasons after combining for eight losses in 2013.
Nebraska's defense has given up more than 25 points a game this season, and the run game may again be a point of emphasis, just like in Georgia Tech's contest. The Cornhuskers average more than 220 yards a game on the ground, scoring 23 times, while their run defense has surrended 21 touchdowns and 161. 2 yards a game. A susceptible Nebraska defense could allow Georgia running back Todd Gurley to go off, and after a four-touchdown performance against the Yellow Jackets, there's no telling what the sophomore can do with 15 extra practices to prepare.
Finally, we return back to the BCS games and the national championship matchup. The most interesting game, besides the title contest, depends on what you're looking for. If you want a high-powered offense, Clemson and Ohio State in the Orange Bowl could be for you. If you prefer old-school, smash-mouth style football, then the Rose Bowl featuring Michigan State and Standford is probably your cup of tea.Somehow Oklahoma snuck up and stole a BCS bid, but for its efforts, it plays Alabama.
No matter what happens this bowl season, just enjoy these next few weeks. Football will be over before you know it.
