Links at Lunch 1/4/2012: Title Game Prep, The James Senate Campaign

Be still your hearts, for Candidate Craig has officially hit the trail. James’ first political ad is on the airwaves, and available here courtesy of USA Today. There is a distinct lack of “hoo boy” for my liking.

More (politics-free) links after the jump.

• DeathValleyVoice.com preps for the BCS Championship with a breakdown of LSU and Alabama’s eerily similar statistical outputs.
• The Crystal Ball Run crew discusses the value of overall conference bowl records, and how they alter perception of leagues.
• MGoBlog captures the spirit of Michigan’s Sugar Bowl win in video form.
• With the Wolverines riding high off an 11-2 campaign, culminating in wins over Ohio State and at the Sugar Bowl, there is much joy in Ann Arbor. But their rivals in Columbus are lurking, ready to pounce under a new regime. A key to the Urban Meyer era will be a revamped offense, and Scarlet & Game suggests Jordan Hall could become the Buckeyes’ Percy Harvin.
• Included in last night’s Sugar Bowl were incredible plays, Holly Rowe shoving another reporter, and Brad Nessler quoting Ric Flair. Nessler also said West Virginia is in Virginia. HailWV.com has the video.
• West Virginia takes on Clemson in tonight’s Orange Bowl, in a game some believe will be Mountaineer defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel’s last before bolting for Arizona. SBNation Arizona has more.

  Until then, Shakin’ The Southland analyzes how the Mountaineers and Tigers match-up tonight.

• Virginia Tech’s season ended in a heartbreaking, overtime loss in last night’s Sugar Bowl. Though the Hokies finished ’11 campaign on a two-game skid, The Key Play takes pride in all VT accomplished.
• Another Hokie-head, the appropriately named @HokieGuru, released a list of the top 200 college sports Twitter accounts via SCACCHoops.com.
• Tennessee’s loss is Washington’s gain, as The Husky Haul analyzes new UW linebackers coach (and major recruiting addition) Peter Sirmon.