Joe Strauss: All right, you've paced the floor all Christmas waiting for today, and it's finally here. Joe Strauss Live!!! goes bowling!!! For those of you who tuned in to KSLG 1380 on Thursday, you're welcome for the free money giveaway (Texas -2 1/2). We're here today to take any Cardinals, Mizzou, Illini or BCS questions. ChatHeads, feel free to satisfy your JSL!!! jones. The rest of you can sharpen those crayons and come after the ChatMeister. Let's get it on!!!

Eric: Happy Holidays Joe, Who you got today MSU or BC?

Joe Strauss: Let's see: ACC vs. Big 10. BC has all its bullets, MSU dropped a handful of scholar-athletes for various violations. BC was once a top 5 team. Michigan State is a mid-level Big 10 team (ouch) that has struggled for consistency all season. I'm on Boston College. Three touchdowns wins this one.

Notice to ChatHeads: the ChatMeister is en fuego this bowl season... (For entertainment purposes only.)

Sonny Chiba: I'm sorry, but its a complete joke that Illinois is in a BCS Bowl, and I don't even care if its the Rose Bowl. I for one, will not be watching. NCAA Football is the best sport on the planet, but its also the most anti-climatic. Your thoughts?

Joe Strauss: I hear you, Sonny. There are too many bowls, too many mediocre teams (6-6 Colorado vs. 6-6 'Bama. Oooh. Can't wait.) But don't trash the Illini simply because Mizzou got snubbed. Illinois beat No. 1 on the road, arguably better than anything the Tigers produced. Ron Zook did a remarkable job this season, just as did Coach Pinkel. Mizzou had the misfortune of playing its worst game last before a national television audience. Might need to look into shuffling next season's schedule. Maybe move SE Mo. behind that Big 12 title tilt.

Travelin' Man: Greetings Chatmeister...First time Chatster...I have no problem with the Mizzou fans enjoying the success of their team..it's a nice team..not national championship caliber, but good..however I have a problem with the Mizzou-Rah-Rah media in this town..who have become a shill for the University. The 2 guys on CH. 5 are ridiculous..ignoring the stats of Tim Tebow in favor of Chase Daniel. Even your respected columnist took a shot @ Coach Holtz about his Heisman pick..when it was the esteemed Mark May who said Tebow should be the Heisman winner! Imagine Tebow @ MU..they'd be opting for canonization. Have the STL media lost their objectivity in reporting about Mizzou-Rah-Rah?

Joe Strauss: Wow. I hope you're not listed in the phone book, T. Man. Did you give up Kool-Aid for the holidays? It's a common phenomenon when a team experiences unexpected success. The bandwagon, media included, is never packed tighter. The Chase for Heisman deal got a little carried away. T. Tebow wasn't going to lose it regardless of the Big 12 title game. I do find it humorous that many who honked loudest for Daniel were on the Tebow train before the 4th quarter of the Big 12 title game. The voters got the order right. Now that Mizzou has tasted success, I would (perhaps naively) expect the questions to get tougher and fans' expectations become harder to satisfy next season. ("How can you beat Nevada by only 20?") Your defense of the Magician strikes me as a bit odd. Are you a closet Golden Domer? If so, you must still be reeling from relinquishing that Commander-in-Chief trophy. But I can't argue with your main point: Success sells, whether it's newspaper special sections or TV time. The honking did become a little loud. But, hey, El Tigres tasted No. 1 for a week. The media orgy shouldn't detract from the team's accomplishment.

Joe The Tiger: Joe:When is Mizzou going to start getting serious with non-league scheduling?Their home schedule next year is a joke.No good non-league game.No Nebraska,Oklahoma or Texas. How do they expect to get 60,000 per game with a schedule like that?I know for fact that Michigan is looking for a home and away for 2010 and 2011.Why is Alden not on the phone booking it now?We need 2 good non-league games each year. Have a home and away with Georgia.Have a home and away with Tennessee,etc..These games will be on national T>V>-Players from around the country will see Mizzou.Then maybe Mizzou will be able to start to recruit nationally instead of regionally. If Pinkel and company want to be a LEGITAMATE top 10 team;then they need to play a tougher non-league schedule. Hell,he is one of the top 17 highest paid coaches in college ;therefore,start to play a top 15 toughest schedule in the country year in and year out.Earn your salary.I am tired of the cupcakes???Your thoughts on all the above??

Joe Strauss: Sorry, you're going to have to buy out SMU. The Tigers seem committed to winning a national championship without facing an intersectional strong boy. It may work for Ohio St. next week, though I think they'll again be exposed by a SEC power. (More free money!!!) My take on MU's schedule is well-known. They had an opportunity to make a statement last month and chose to tease their fans with McNeese State, Holy Toledo (home-and-home!!!), W. Illinois, etc. If you bleed black and gold, it probably doesn't matter. But you would think the faithful would seek to avoid a repeat of next season, when the most interesting game at Faurot will be Okla. State.