The first line of the AP story recapping last night's Orange Bowl called it a "game for the ages." What game was that reporter watching?

Did he notice the 7-0 score with just over four minutes left in the first half, before an 87-yard punt returned sparked a three-TD barrage before the break. How about the EIGHT consecutive possessions to open the second half before a team made a first down? Then, after Penn St took a 16-13 lead on a safety early in the 4th quarter, the Nittany Lions botched a snap on a 1st-and-goal at the four-yard line, losing an opportunity to go up by nine points with around eight minutes left!

Maybe he was referring to the fact that FSU had a grand total of SIX first downs before the team's game-tying drive in the fourth quarter? By the way, FSU finished with a total of 26 yards rushing and had 129 yards in penalties. The FSU kicker missed an extra-point in the first half and two FGs in overtime (there's something new for that school!).

As for Penn St, before kicking the game-winner in the third OT, its kicker missed a 29-yarder in regulation which would have won it and a 38-yarder in the 1st OT which also would have won the game! If that's a "game for the ages", let's pray tonight's Rose Bowl ISN'T!

Speaking of the Rose Bowl, it's just the latest in a long line of "Games of the Century" and arguably, the biggest game since Nebraska/Oklahoma on Thanksgiving Day, 1971. If it can live up to that one, a 35-31 Nebraska win, no one will go home unsatisfied. Both teams went 12-0 this year and both average 50 PPG, making it the first time any bowl game has ever featured two teams averaging that many points.

Leinart and Bush bot

h own Heismans and it's also the first time in college football history that Heisman-winning teammates have lined up together in the same game. Texas' Vince Young finished second to Reggie Bush, marking the FOURTH time in six years that a bowl game has featured both the Heisman winner and its runner-up. The list includes the 2001 Orange Bowl (Weinke-Heupel), the 2003 Orange Bowl (Palmer-Banks), the 2005 Orange Bowl (Leinart-Peterson) and now the 2006 Rose Bowl.

USC was just 6-6 ATS this year while Texas was 10-2, but the Trojans are a seven-point favorite and the total, which opened as high as 75, was down to 69 1/2, as of this morning.

The rest of Wednesday's sports schedule includes a nine-game NBA card and a five-game NHL slate. In college hoops, 30 games are on the menu, including 11-0 Pittsburgh (one of just SIX remaining unbeaten Division I-A schools), hosting 9-2 Notre Dame.

U Conn fell from the ranks of the unbeaten last night, losing 94-79 at Marquette, as a 10-point road favorite. Illinois (14-0), Duke and Florida (both 13-0), Ohio St (10-0) and Villanova (9-0), join Pittsburgh as college basketball's unbeatens. Pitt is favored tonight by 7 1/2 points. NFL coverage begins tomorrow.

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