I’m close to getting better, but The Wife is in the full throes of whatever crap has overtaken our home. But the game approacheth …

So. A few thoughts about the other BCS games, now that they’re in the books:

* Rose. I actually wanted Michigan to win this, especially in light of the excellent day the Big Ten had been enjoying. And maybe if they had shown up before the middle of the third quarter, it would have been close. Llllloyd looks more Cooperesque every year. And while I don’t want to be accused of kicking someone while they’re down … any Michigan fans still looking for that rematch?

* Fiesta: The game? Holy crap, that was amazing. The stadium, which will also host our game on Monday? Eh. I wish it wasn’t indoors.

A side note from the Fiesta. While I was watching Capital One Bowl earlier in the day, I noticed that someone in the booth mentioned that Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin’s longtime head coach and the school’s current AD, was unable to attend the Badgers’ bowl game in Orlando. I was actually concerned. I’ve always kind of liked Barry, and was wondering if he was sick or if there was some kind of family problem that kept him from attending.

Nope. When I switched to the Fiesta Bowl Monday night, there was Barry, in the booth for Fox.

Let’s recap. The Athletic Director of the University of Wisconsin — who also happens to be the school’s former Head Football Coach — skipped his team’s New Year’s Day bowl appearance so he could call another game on television.

Hm. Barry should probably be happy that Uncle Crappy doesn’t hold a seat on the UW board of trustees. Because I’d be screaming about this one.

* Sugar: No surprise here. ND (No Defense) is still the most overrated team in the country. Since the creation of the BCS — and its decision to pretty much commit a spot to Notre Dame every year — the Irish have failed to show why they deserve such exemptions.

Here’s a better point. What has ND done, since the arrival of Charlie Weis, to warrant A) Top 10 rankings B) BCS bowl appearances C) the consistent and unbelievable arrogance on the part of Notre Dame’s fans? Have you beaten anyone? Service academies? Check. Stanford? Check. North Carolina? Whoo boy.

In between those titanic struggles, you got crushed by Michigan at home. Got waxed in your most recent bowl games by Ohio State and LSU. The best game on Charlie’s resume was the close loss to USC in South Bend a year ago.

If we’re bent on tinkering with the BCS, as we seem to do every year, here’s a good place to start: No more automatic bids for Notre Dame. Let them first prove they belong.

And that, boys and girls, leaves the big one. And I’m not talking about OU’s appearance in the GMAC Bowl Sunday night. I may not be feeling in game shape right now, but it’s time to start getting ready.