Where I will show love for the Steelers, Pirates, Thundering Herd, & Mountaineers and utter contempt for the Cowboys, Yankees, Jeff Gordon, & Notre Dame.
Y’all, I did some research. I KNOW, right?!?!?? Anyway, I have been doing these picks since 2012!! Zach joined the fray in 2013. I’m not going to go back and figure out year by year results, but I can tell you that last season I finished 56-61, while Zach was 55-62. Hopefully we’ll both do a little better this year. The college football season actually kicked off last weekend with a couple of rather entertaining games, but the schedule has certainly leveled up this week. As a matter of fact, the slate of games is so good that I am seriously considering skipping our local Italian Heritage Festival for the first time in many years. I’d much rather vegg out at home watching hours upon hours of delightful gridiron goodness.
Texas at Ohio State (-1.5)
I love the fact that the College Football Playoff now forces contenders to jump right into the fire and play elite non-conference opponents rather than ease into the season with two or three cupcakes, which was always the norm during my youth. Most polls have these teams #1 & #2 (or #3), except for mine. The Buckeyes actually ended Texas’ 2024 season in the CFP Semifinals en route to winning the National Championship. However, Ohio St. had 14 players drafted into the NFL (four of them in the first round), and losing that kind of experience and that amount of production has to have an impact. You might already be tired of hearing about Texas QB Arch Manning, who talking heads have as the presumptive top pick in next year’s NFL Draft without even knowing if he’ll declare early. The kid will either silence any doubters or make alot of “experts” look foolish, and we’ll get a sense of which one by watching this game. Former pro wrasslin’ champ Ric Flair used to say “To be The Man you’ve got to beat The Man”. Ohio St. has an opportunity to reinforce last year’s victory on their home turf. It’ll be a tough battle, but I think they’ll get the job done. Conversely, Zach’s disdain for Ohio St. is well documented, and he believes Texas has all the ingredients necessary to win it all. He foresees the ‘Horns winning by two TDs.
My Pick: Ohio St.
Zach’s Pick: Texas
Alabama (-13.5) at Florida State
It undoubtedly looked like a much more attractive matchup when the schedule was made years ago, but Florida St. has been experiencing a decade long rough patch. Well, okay, to be fair, they did go 23-4 in 2022-23, but there have been five losing seasons dating back to 2018, including a dismal 2-10 record a year ago. I’m not sure how head coach Mike Norvell is still employed, but he probably won’t be if this season isn’t much better. Meanwhile, in Tuscaloosa, Kalen DeBoer took on the formidable task of replacing the legendary Nick Saban last season and went 9-4. That’d be great at most schools, but if The Tide doesn’t roll into the CFP this year DeBoer’s seat will become uncomfortably warm. As far as this game goes, I’d be shocked if Florida St. mounts a credible challenge, even in the cozy confines of Tallahassee. Zach sees encouraging signs from Florida St. and would like to see them atleast stay close, but ultimately can’t go there just yet, especially against ‘Bama’s stout defense.
My Pick: Alabama
Zach’s Pick: Alabama
LSU at Clemson (-4)
This is the game that might keep me at home on Saturday night instead of out painting the town red, white, and green. Expectations are high for both teams, with good reason. LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is a legit Heisman contender and likely first round draft pick. His closest competition for both (other than the aforementioned Arch Manning) might be Clemson signal caller Cade Klubnik. The Bayou Bengals were 9-4 a season ago, mostly due to a three game skid in late October into November. Clemson made six consecutive appearances in the four team CFP from 2015-20. Last year they made the 12 team field only to suffer a first round loss to Texas. The SEC is extremely tough, so I’m sure that LSU understands that they must take advantage of opportunities to impress against out-of-conference competition. It’ll be a hell of a battle, but I believe the visitors will score a very tight, mildly surprising upset. Zach opines that Clemson has the best roster in college football in addition to an elite coach. Those factors, in addition to the home field, lead him to choose the Tigers to win by a touchdown.
My Pick: LSU
Zach’s Pick: Clemson
Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina (-8)
It is very possible that I have vastly overrated South Carolina given the highly competitive nature of the SEC. However, I am all in on QB LaNorris Sellers, who has the potential to be every bit as good as Manning, Klubnik, Nussmeier, or any other top notch quarterback. The Gamecocks were 9-4 a season ago, with three of those losses by a collective nine points. I am hopeful that the ball will bounce in their favor a bit more often this year. Conversely, the Hokies were 6-7 last season and haven’t won ten games since 2016. The ACC is barely a “power” conference these days, yet Tech hasn’t been any better than middle of the pack for a decade. Head coach Brent Pry is entering his 4th season in Blacksburg, and I’m not confident there’ll be a fifth. This is a neutral site contest in Atlanta, but the fans there will likely need to wait for their Falcons to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week to see an entertaining football game. Zach likes South Carolina’s defense and thinks they’ll win by double digits.
My Pick: South Carolina
Zach’s Pick: South Carolina
Notre Dame (-3) at Miami (FL)
The old Catholics vs. Convicts battle feels more like Episcopalians vs. Misdemeanors nowadays. Notre Dame has done a better job lately of remaining relevant on the national stage, finishing as the runner-up in last season’s CFP. I have high expectations that they can match that success, with junior running back Jeremiyah Love leading the charge. Love had 1100+ rushing yards & 19 touchdowns last season, and could be even better this year. The defense returns six starters, while on the other side of the ball redshirt freshman quarterback CJ Carr steps in for the departed Riley Leonard. That’ll be something to pay attention to, especially early on. The Hurricanes have a new quarterback as well, but he’s hardly a freshman. Carson Beck won two national championships as a backup at Georgia, and went 24-3 in two seasons as the starter. Miami’s defense has five returning starters but they also have a new defensive coordinator, while their offense is essentially rebuilding. They’ll be successful and might even challenge for the ACC title, but The Irish are simply levels above. I don’t foresee this being a particularly close game. Zach believes both teams are overrated, but he really likes Irish head coach Marcus Freeman. He agrees that Notre Dame will score a comfortable victory.
Just when I was kinda sorta almost getting amped up for the return of football, news emerged of ESPN gobbling up the NFL Network & RedZone. I was upset last year when RedZone abandoned their “seven hours of commercial free football” tradition, although if I’m being honest the commercials were sprinkled in unobtrusively. However, ESPN (or, if we’re keeping it 100, Disney) tends to ruin perfectly great things with their meddling. I still haven’t forgiven them for canceling Mike & Mike in the Morning eight years ago. Disney…which is also now in bed with WWE…has become a greedy monster gobbling up everything in sight, and the fans pay the price. Anyway, I suppose further changes won’t occur until next season, so we’ll forge ahead as usual for now. As always, I’ll remind you that I really don’t know what the hell I’m talking about sometimes, so please…no wagering.
North
Detroit Lions (15-2) 11-6
Green Bay Packers (11-6) 10-7
Minnesota Vikings (14-3) 9-8
Chicago Bears (5-12) 8-9
I’m so tired of talking heads slobbering all over Bears’ QB Caleb Williams, using words like “generational”. No, he’s not. He’s just another guy. In three years, if I am wrong, I will admit my error and ask for mercy. At this point though, I don’t believe Williams will be much more successful than predecessors like Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton, or Jay Cutler. Chicago does have a new head coach though. Former Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is getting his crack at a top job, and if anyone can prove me wrong about Williams it’s probably him. I like Vikings’ QB JJ McCarthy, but he is essentially a rookie after missing all of last season with a knee injury. The Vikes added some pieces on defense & bolstered their offensive line. Having said that, we probably need to show a bit of grace while McCarthy becomes acclimated to the NFL. Despite the presence of elite receiver Justin Jefferson, a solid running back group, and one of the best tight ends in the league in TJ Hockenson, I foresee a significant dropoff from a year ago. The Packers are being overlooked a bit, which might work in their favor. Jordan Love enters his third year as the starting quarterback, but he’s going to need more consistency from a deep & talented group of receivers, and their Top 5 defense has to maintain that level of intensity. Detroit’s defense was ravaged by injuries last year, and former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has moved on to be the head coach of the NY Jets. How will their offense adjust after the departure of Ben Johnson?? That’ll be the key to the entire season. I expect a small regression, but it’ll be worth it if they have a deeper playoff run.
South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) 9-8
Atlanta Falcons (8-9) 9-8
Carolina Panthers (5-12) 6-11
New Orleans Saints (5–12) 6-11
While I don’t believe Bucs’ QB Baker Mayfield is worthy of being discussed alongside the league’s elite signal callers, I do think he has earned a spot on the second tier. A season ago that translated into a division title & a first round postseason exit, which is probably their ceiling once again. All eyes will be on Michael Penix Jr., now entrenched as the Falcons’ quarterback. Of course they also retained Kirk Cousins, whose services weren’t sought by any other team given his robust salary. Tight end Kyle Pitts has got to live up to his potential, and Atlanta’s defense, which ranked in the bottom third of the NFL last season, must kick it up a notch. The Panthers & Saints are spinning their wheels. New Orleans hired Kellen Moore to be their head coach, which may pay dividends in the future, but right now they simply have too many holes on the roster. I have come to the conclusion that the Panthers are football’s version of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They hire the wrong people, make bad decisions, and can’t evaluate talent properly. Their biggest issue is likely ownership, which won’t change until it does.
East
Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) 12-5
Dallas Cowboys (7-10) 10-7
Washington Commanders (12-5) 10-7
New York Giants (3-14) 6-11
Winning back-to-back Super Bowls is rare, but has been done as recently as the year before last. The Eagles have appeared in three Super Bowls since 2017, winning two. There has been some turnover on defense, but getting younger might not be a bad thing. Key free agents departed on both sides of the ball, yet, as long as Jalen Hurts is under center, he has his full complement of receivers, and Saquon Barkley is toting the rock, I see no reason to doubt Philly just yet. Brian Schottenheimer is now the head coach in Dallas, a change I’ve been predicting for a couple of years. Expect the Cowboys to rebound from a disappointing season and challenge Philadelphia for the division crown…assuming sack monster Micah Parsons gets paid. The Commanders will be right there in the mix as well, although QB Jayden Daniels won’t be sneaking up on anyone anymore. Does that mean Washington won’t be successful?? No…but I believe they’ll take a step back for now, especially if issues with receiver Terry McLaurin aren’t resolved satisfactorily. I actually like some of the things the Giants have done, but until Jaxon Dart supplants Russell Wilson behind center and young studs on defense gain experience there won’t be any postseason games at MetLife Stadium.
West
Los Angeles Rams (10-7) 10-7
Arizona Cardinals (8-9) 9-8
San Francisco 49ers (6-11) 9-8
Seattle Seahawks (10-7) 8-9
The Seahawks are almost unrecognizable. There’s a whole new offensive coaching staff, and Sam Darnold replaces Geno Smith at quarterback. Many will view that as an upgrade, but I’m not so sure. Receivers DK Metcalf & Tyler Lockett are gone, with former Ram Cooper Kupp stepping in as the new second receiver behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Seattle was a middle-of-the-pack defense last year, but with so many changes no one knows what to expect now. I don’t think the NIners will be as terrible as they were a year ago, but their defense was certainly impacted in free agency. Time will tell if draft picks pan out, and in the meantime alot is riding on the further development of QB Brock Purdy & the always unstable health of RB Christian McCaffrey. I don’t have much more faith in Cards’ QB Kyler Murray than I do Caleb Williams, but if receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. continues his ascent that’ll help. Arizona’s braintrust seemed to focus on a defensive rebuild this offseason, so we’ll see how that works out. I don’t think winning their second consecutive division title will be easy for the Rams, and I’m a little concerned about the health of QB Matthew Stafford, but the defense should be sneaky good enough to narrowly win the division.
My Steelers have been the talk of the offseason. Will they be terrible or will they be mediocre?? I believe that’s called damning with faint praise. Enigmatic Aaron Rodgers will be the quarterback, and he’ll be throwing mostly to DK Metcalf, who I see as an upgrade after George Pickens yapped his way out of town. He’s Jerry Jones’ problem now. Pass rusher TJ Watt got paid, and I have no doubt he’ll earn it. The running game looks different with rookie Kaleb Johnson & Jaylen Warren sharing duties after the departure of former first round bust Najee Harris. For the first time in several years I have good vibes about the offensive line & secondary. Everything seems to be held together by duct tape & prayer in Pittsburgh, which won’t get them to the Super Bowl but also hopefully means I won’t spend the next several months curled up in a dark room muttering to myself, as I assume Browns fans have been doing for decades. First of all, Cleveland’s quarterback room is unintentionally hilarious. Secondly, Myles Garrett is not the best defensive player in the NFL. Look on the bright side though…the Cavaliers are pretty good, and the Guardians ain’t half bad either. The division belongs to Baltimore, who’ve become the AFC’s Dallas Cowboys tribute band. No one doubts they’ll be successful in the regular season, but everyone assumes they’ll screw the pooch in the playoffs. Can the Bengals be a fly in the ointment?? Joe Burrow is a top notch quarterback. He has solid weapons, although if I were the GM I’d be looking for upgrades in the backfield & at tight end in the next draft. However, Cincy’s defense ranked in the bottom third of the league last season, and that was with pass rusher Trey Hendrickson in the lineup. If his holdout continues it’s a huge problem, and even if he plays there are other issues.
South
Houston Texans (10-7) 9-8
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13) 8-9
Indianapolis Colts (8-9) 7-10
Tennessee Titans (3-14) 6-11
Which teams will improve and which teams will regress?? The Texans have a target on their back and tweaked their team just a bit. There are some new coaches on offense and a revamped offensive line. Quarterback CJ Stroud’s QBR dropped from 53.2 during his rookie season to 50.2 last year, while his passer rating dropped from 100.8 to 87. He has to be better. The Colts will choose between QBs Anthony Richardson & Daniel Jones, which is like having drunk munchies at 3am and your best options are the container of Chinese food that’s been in your fridge for a week or risking a DUI to grab some Taco Bell. Jonathan Taylor is only 26 years old & one of the best RBs in football when healthy, and I really like first round draft pick Tyler Warren, who has elite tight end potential. Indy ranked 29th in total defense a season ago, and I don’t know if they did enough to improve significantly. #1 overall pick Cam Ward has an opportunity to be a special QB for the Titans, but it’ll take a couple of years to build a competitive roster around him. The Jags brought in former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen to be their new head coach and drafted unicorn Travis Hunter, who will allegedly play WR & CB. I like receiver Brian Thomas, and there are some dawgs on defense, but everything in Jacksonville is contingent upon QB Trevor Lawrence rebounding from an injury plagued season during which he only played in ten games.
East
Buffalo Bills (13-4) 14-3
Miami Dolphins (8-9) 9-8
New England Patriots (4-13) 7-10
New York Jets (5-12) 7-10
There is no question that the Bills will win the division easily. Their focus is solely on solving recent playoff woes & playing in February. The Dolphins moved some chess pieces around, but I don’t believe their team is any better or worse than last season. QB Tua Tagovailoa only played in 11 games a year ago, and it seems like further concussion issues could seriously jeopardize his career. Patriots QB Drake Maye comes into his second season surrounded by a team that has undergone a significant transformation. Former linebacker & Titans head coach Mike Vrabel now runs the show for the franchise he won three Super Bowls with, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels returns home after realizing he’s not really cut out to be a head coach. Things are looking up in New England, but let’s give them another year before raising expectations. The Jets are the Jets. I know there is some buzz around new quarterback Justin Fields, but I’ve never understood the hype. Former cornerback Aaron Glenn is the Jets’ fifth head coach in the past decade, and unfortunately I don’t think he’ll achieve much more than his last few predecessors.
West
Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) 12-5
Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) 10-7
Denver Broncos (10-7) 10-7
Las Vegas Raiders (4-13) 7-10
Have the Chiefs plateaued?? Can they make a fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance?? I don’t believe it’ll be easy, but as long as Andy Reid is coaching and QB Patrick Mahomes remains healthy with no prominent erosion of his skills it’s too soon to dismiss KC. Having said that, I do think Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers will make things interesting. RB Najee Harris was a bust in Pittsburgh, and he’ll probably cede the starting gig to first rounder Omarion Hampton, but together they could be a formidable duo. A couple of receivers really need to step up for QB Justin Herbert, and the 11th ranked defense has to keep improving. A year ago I underestimated the skills of QB Bo Nix, but he showed alot of potential while leading the Broncos to the playoffs. Denver is probably looking at a very similar season in a really competitive division. I really like the Raiders trading for QB Geno Smith, who should be a significant upgrade over the potpourri of mediocrity that held the job the past couple of years. Super Bowl winning head coach Pete Carroll has also come out of retirement to lead the charge, which is oddly encouraging. With the addition of first round RB Ashton Jeanty & continued growth of tight end Brock Bowers there are signs of hope in Vegas, but their middle of the pack defense has to improve or they’ll continue to lose more games than they win.
I’ve never done a ton of research or crunched a bunch of data for this poll. I am not a sports journalist and I’m not getting paid for my thoughts, but as a football fan it’s a fun little project. If my forecast is off base we get a good laugh, and when I am occasionally accurate with predictions I can bask in the illusion that I know what I’m talking about. Having said that, it has become increasingly difficult to know what to expect from teams unless you are one of those “experts” who has intimate knowledge of a wide array of players that you’ve kept track of since they were initially recruited out of high school. In the past one could look at information like the number of returning starters or the previous season’s stats of a team’s senior QB. Perhaps it wasn’t a top factor, but experience used to atleast be a fairly good indicator for success. Now?? Most teams see their roster almost completely overhauled every year. Dozens of players transfer out, dozens transfer in. College football is a free-for-all, and that’s before we even try to figure out which conferences still exist and what teams play where. You know what though?? Soon enough, on each Saturday during the fall, dozens of stadiums will be filled with thousands of people, while millions vegg out at home glued to their television enjoying the action. Despite the greed, chaos, and collapse of tradition that has engulfed collegiate athletics in the past decade, we still love it. We keep coming back. We’re a captive audience and the powers-that-be know it. Perhaps a good therapist could help, but in lieu of that we’ll just plow forward and enjoy our glorious football weekends. Perhaps not as much as we once did, but still enough to give a damn.
The Sun Devils won the Big 12 a season ago before narrowly losing to Texas in the CFP. Second team All Big 12 QB Sam Leavitt & conference Newcomer of the Year receiver Jordyn Tyson are back, along with a good offensive line and a solid core on defense. Star RB Cam Skattebo has moved on to the NFL, which means potential Top 10 draft pick Leavitt will have to kick it up a notch. Given the tough road schedule I believe it’ll be difficult to match last year’s success.
The War Eagles have suffered thru four consecutive losing seasons and haven’t had double digit victories since 2017. Head coach Hugh Freeze is likely coaching for his job. New QB Jackson Arnold hopes to reenergize his career, which stalled at Oklahoma. I believe Auburn has a chance to score a couple of big upsets, which could get them to eight wins and a spot in the final poll.
23 Michigan
Last Season: 8-5
Key Games: 9/6 @ Oklahoma, 10/11 @ USC, 11/29 vs. Ohio St.
A season after winning the National Championship the Wolverines fell to seventh place in the Big Ten and lost to Alabama in a meaningless bowl game. It was head coach Sherrone Moore’s inaugural season, and to his credit he made some changes after a lackluster finish. New offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey has held the same position at places like Auburn, UCF, & North Carolina, and he’ll have five star recruit Bryce Underwood as his starting QB. I am more concerned with Michigan’s defense, which lost three key starters in the first couple rounds of the NFL Draft. Moore & defensive coordinator Wink Martindale (who has a Super Bowl ring from his time on the staff of the Baltimore Ravens more than a decade ago) have their work cut out for them competing in one of the two elite conferences.
22 Boise State
Last Season: 12-2
Key Games: 10/4 @ Notre Dame
The Broncos ended last year being handled by Penn St. in the playoff, but back in September they upset Oregon and concluded the season as Mountain West champions. Can they blow thru the conference again?? Do they have a realistic opportunity to defeat Notre Dame in South Bend?? We’ll see.
21 Southern Methodist
Last Season: 11-3
Key Games: 9/6 vs. Baylor, 10/11 vs. Stanford, 11/1 vs. Miami
The Mustangs almost upset Clemson in the ACC title game, which was good enough for an at-large bid to the CFP. Of course Penn St. beat the snot out of them in the first round, causing many to question the validity of their berth. If they can pull off a couple of big upsets at home SMU could find themselves in that mix once again.
The Wildcats stumbled down the stretch last season, losing 3 of their final 4 regular season games before rallying past Rutgers in a bowl game fourth quarter comeback. They must replace running back DJ Giddens, now plying his trade with the Indianapolis Colts, but QB Avery Johnson returns for his junior year. Johnson replaced Will Howard a year ago after he transferred to Ohio St. K-State has won atleast nine games three seasons in a row, but their middle-of-the-pack defense will need to improve significantly if they want to match that this year. We’ll know alot more about their team and the Big 12 in general after Iowa St. & K-State do battle in Ireland during the season’s inaugural weekend.
The Gators had a tough season last year, but finished riding a four game winning streak. Quarterback DJ Lagway was 6-1 as a starter a season ago, which is a valid reason to be optimistic. Head coach Billy Napier enters his 4th season in Gainesville with a .500 record, which isn’t good enough. This feels like a make or break year for him.
18 Nebraska
Last Season: 7-6
Key Games: 9/20 vs. Michigan, 11/1 vs. USC, 11/28 vs. Iowa
The Cornhuskers finished with a positive record last season only after winning the Pinstripe Bowl. I am old enough to remember when Nebraska was in the upper echelon of college football, but they haven’t been relevant for atleast a decade. Matt Rhule is another coach on the hot seat after going 12-13 in his first two seasons. He’s brought in former WVU coach Dana Holgersen to be the offensive coordinator, which might pay immediate dividends with QB Dylan Raiola behind center. New defensive coordinator John Butler was on the staff of the Buffalo Bills the last couple of years, and he’ll need to make sure that unit is atleast as good as they were last season…preferably better.
To the surprise of absolutely no one with a brain the Sooners struggled in their inaugural SEC campaign. A decade from now I believe there will be enough data to definitively conclude that leaving the Big 12 was a terrible mistake for Oklahoma & Texas…but clearly worse for Oklahoma. Head coach Brent Venables is 22-17 is his four years at the helm in Norman, so he’s yet another guy whose seat is probably getting rather warm. Last season he benched starting QB Jackson Arnold (who has since transferred to Auburn) in favor of true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr., who went 1-4 as the starter. Now John Mateer, formerly of Washington St., has headed south alongside offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, so it’s literally a whole new ballgame at OU. Venables made his bones as a defensive coordinator at Clemson, so I think that side of the ball has to win some big games for Oklahoma to be successful.
16 South Carolina
Last Season: 9-4
Key Games: 9/20 @ Missouri, 10/11 @ LSU, 10/25 vs. Alabama, 11/29 vs. Clemson
Are my expectations way too high for the Gamecocks?? Probably. The schedule is brutal, and they lost five defensive starters in the NFL Draft. However, I really like QB LaNorris Sellers, who will be in the Heisman conversation before too long. Are a couple of stunning upsets on the horizon?? Don’t be shocked.
Once upon a time USC being a Top Ten championship contender was an annual inevitability, but they’ve only achieved double digit victories thrice in the past decade. Their move to the Big Ten was another huge misstep in the absurdity that has damaged collegiate athletics, but there’s no use crying over spilt milk. Defense will need to dominate, which is asking alot from a unit that ranked near the bottom of the conference a year ago. Still, even one big upset and a slight improvement over last year’s win total could land the Trojans in the final poll.
The Red Raiders are, much of the time, the most overlooked football team in Texas, which is understandable. However, they have had sporadic success and produced a few notable NFL talents, like QB Patrick Mahomes. You may have heard of him. Anyway, I feel like the Big 12 is wide open, just waiting for a team to emerge and become the new standard bearer. Of course the issue is that there are probably a half dozen teams that seem poised to seize that opportunity, making for a very competitive situation.
While the Tigers will have several new skill players on the roster they return a solid offensive line, which is arguably more important. One of their key additions from the portal is 2024 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year Josiah Trotter, formerly of the WVU Mountaineers. If the name sounds familiar it’s because he is the son of former Philadelphia Eagle Jeremiah Trotter and the brother of current Eagle Jeremiah Trotter Jr. It’s a huge loss for West Virginia because I believe Trotter will ball out and help Missouri’s defense rank near the top of the SEC. Missouri kind of snuck up on folks a season ago, but perhaps this year they won’t need to do that.
12 Miami (FL)
Last Season: 10-3
Key Games: 8/31 vs. Notre Dame, 9/20 vs. Florida, 11/1 @ SMU
The Hurricanes looked like a CFB contender for most of last season until losing 3 out of their last 4 (including the bowl game). They must replace their top four receivers from a year ago, and a new defensive coordinator will change things up a bit. Former starting QB Cam Ward was the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, but head coach Mario Cristobal pulled off the heist of the offseason by grabbing former Georgia QB Carson Beck from the portal. There is no question about talent in Coral Gables, it’s just a matter of developing chemistry amongst all the moving parts.
11 Georgia
Last Season: 11-3
Key Games: 9/27 vs. Alabama, 11/1 vs. Florida, 11/15 vs. Texas
You may be surprised to see the Bulldogs this low after they’ve had four consecutive double digit win seasons and won two out of the last four national championships. I just have a vibe…a feeling that the SEC is as competitive as it’s ever been and it is inevitable that a great team will have a slightly down year or two. Thirteen Bulldogs were drafted into the NFL, and QB Carson Beck transferred to Miami (FL). New signal caller Gunner Stockton has seen plenty of game action in the past, but I can’t help but think Georgia faces an uphill climb to compete for another conference title.
10 Clemson
Last Season: 10-4
Key Games: 10/4 @ North Carolina, 10/18 vs. SMU, 11/29 @ South Carolina
I am really looking forward to Clemson vs. UNC, which happens one day before my birthday in October. Dabo Swinney vs. Bill Belichick…a total contrast in styles in every conceivable way. Hopefully Dabo opens up a can of whoopass on Ol’ Sourpuss, who’ll need to be consoled by his adolescent concubine. Anyway, we’ve kind of overlooked the Tigers the last few years after they fell off a bit from six consecutive appearances in the four team CFP that resulted in two national championships. In 2024 they were back in the playoff, losing to Texas in Round 1 after winning the ACC title. I expect similar results this year.
9 Alabama
Last Season: 9-4
Key Games: 9/27 @ Georgia, 10/18 vs. Tennessee, 10/25 @ South Carolina, 11/8 vs. LSU
Head coach Kalen DeBoer didn’t do too bad in his first year at the helm in Tuscaloosa, but “not too bad” is a stinging rebuke in those parts. Replacing a legend like Nick Saban is a tall order, and it remains to be seen if DeBoer is the long term solution. More than two dozen players departed via the portal, while seven were drafted into the NFL. The schedule is tough, and I’ll be very surprised if the Tide rolls into the SEC title game. Still, it is oddly amusing that a Top Ten finish might be seen as a disappointment.
8 Iowa State
Last Season: 11-3
Key Games: 8/23 vs. Kansas St., 11/1 vs. Arizona St., 11/29 @ Oklahoma St.
At 6ft.1, 210lbs. Rocco Becht might not have a foolproof future as an NFL quarterback, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a hell of a college player. The Cyclones have to replace alot of talent along the offensive line and in the secondary, but I see no reason not to expect double digit victories and perhaps a Big 12 title. We’ll know more right out of the gate, as Iowa St. faces Kansas St. in the only noteworthy game during “Week Zero”.
7 Ohio State
Last Season: 14-2
Key Games: 8/30 vs. Texas, 11/1 vs. Penn St., 11/29 @ Michigan
We’ll know quickly whether or not the defending national champions are up to the task of preserving that title. The Buckeyes had 14 players selected in the NFL Draft, including four in the first round. They’ve had several talented wide receivers thru the years, and sophomore Jeremiah Smith might end up being one of the best. However, when I look at the schedule, the players they lost, and the strength of the Big Ten, I’m not sure Ohio St. can equal last season’s success. As a matter of fact, I am probably overrating them.
One of the most surprising events of the offseason was Vols’ starting QB Nico Iamaleava transferring to UCLA after a disagreement about NIL money. Unfortunately such things are part of our new reality. Anyway, the new QB is Joey Aguilar, who is 24 years old and threw for over 6700 yards & 56 touchdowns in two years at Appalachian St. Tennessee was second in total defense in the SEC a season ago, and if they can maintain that intensity I believe there are some conference powerhouses that feel beatable this year.
5 Penn State
Last Season: 13-3
Key Games: 9/27 vs. Oregon, 11/1 @ Ohio St.
Full disclosure…I do not perceive Drew Allar as a future top tier NFL quarterback. We can revisit that assessment in a few years. Meanwhile, I do believe Allar is a perfectly fine college QB with plenty of experience and two bitter memories to avenge. The Nittany Lions fell short in the Big Ten title game a season ago, then, after receiving an at large bid to the CFP, Allar threw an interception with 30 seconds left in the semifinal game that set up a field goal victory for Notre Dame. Players can either be destroyed by such calamities, or they can grow thru them. I’ll be stunned if Penn St. doesn’t win atleast ten games, with the biggest mountains to climb a revenge game against Oregon in the cozy confines of Happy Valley, and a daunting trip to The Horseshoe against the defending national champions. I don’t even think they need to win both of those games. Win just one and they’ll snag a playoff berth. Of course winning the conference title and receiving a first round bye in the CFP would be the most accommodating path.
4 LSU
Last Season: 9-4
Key Games: 8/30 @ Clemson, 10/11 vs. South Carolina, 11/8 @ Alabama
My nephew Noah has high hopes for the Bayou Bengals, and I trust his judgment. LSU suffered a brutal three game losing streak late last season that torpedoed all of their hopes. Of course starting out by losing the season opener to a Southern Cal team that’d end up being 7-6 didn’t bode well either. It’s a new day in Baton Rouge though. QB Garrett Nussmeier’s father Doug played the same position for the New Orleans Saints and now serves as their offensive coordinator. Coaches’ kids are just built different, so despite what the sports media will undoubtedly try to sell ad nauseum this autumn, Nussmeier may be the best quarterback in college football and the best pro prospect. LSU lost seven players in the NFL Draft, and their 11th ranked SEC defense needs to improve, but I’ve got a good vibe. The season opener at Clemson is huge, so don’t miss it.
Arch Manning. You’ve probably heard the quarterback’s name mentioned a few thousand times the last couple of years, despite the fact that he hasn’t actually accomplished much. Look, I get it. His grandfather is a quasi-legend. His two uncles are both Super Bowl winning Hall of Famers. The bloodline is epic. But now it’s time to put up or shut up for young Arch. Fortunately he is surrounded by elite talent, despite the Longhorns losing a dozen players in the NFL Draft (it should’ve been 13, but that’s another story). The schedule makers obviously have a sense of humor (or an agenda), because the same Ohio St. Buckeyes that defeated Texas in the CFP semifinals last season will host them in the opener. I do not believe a loss destroys either team, nor do I think a victory preemptively crowns them. However, we can’t deny that it’ll set a tone.
2 Oregon
Last Season: 13-1
Key Games: 9/27 @ Penn St.
It had to be a crushing blow for the Ducks. In their inaugural Big Ten season they are 13-0 and win the conference title…then get manhandled from the jump by an Ohio St. team they’d beaten a couple of months earlier. I’ll be surprised by anything less than ten wins, with everything riding on a late September visit to Happy Valley. QB Dante Moore leveled up by transferring from UCLA, and he’s just one of many new faces in Eugene. Ten former Ducks went in the NFL Draft, and their was a ton of portal activity, both incoming & outgoing. Like many other programs, it is probably unfair to judge Oregon based on last year because it’s almost a whole new team. That being said, I have faith in head coach Dan Lanning to assemble all the right puzzle pieces and guide them down the right path.
It physically hurts me to do this. I’ve always had a vague disdain for Notre Dame for various reasons and almost always root against them. However, I cannot deny that, despite their stubborn refusal to join a conference that looks much more astute with each passing year and the tediously fawning sports media, the Fighting Irish remain legitimately relevant year after year. Last season they made it all the way to the CFP championship game before a terrible second quarter doomed them to defeat. Not only do I not believe they’ll suffer an inexcusable loss as they did during last year’s regular season (Northern Illinois?? REALLY??), but if Notre Dame gets out of the gate 2-0 then batten down the hatches. Replacing Riley Leonard at QB won’t be easy, but it’s not as if he was Montana or Theismann. RB Jeremiyah Love will be invited to the Heisman ceremony (before losing out to a quarterback). Only six Irish players were selected in the NFL Draft (none of them in the first round), so it feels like there is a real opportunity to be even better than last year. The only question is if they can get over the hump and take that final step to the first Notre Dame championship since 1988. Somehow, in the midst of conference realignment, NIL free agency, ESPN devouring the sports world like Godzilla, and vacuous talking heads fellatiating the SEC and the Big Ten, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have almost become venerable underdogs. How the hell did that happen?!?!??
And now we enter dark days. Hot. Sunny. Yet a barren wasteland of sports. Basketball is over. Baseball isn’t interesting yet. Football is several weeks away. Thankfully I have a renewed albeit tepid regard for NASCAR, will watch an occasional open wheel auto race, and find golf sporadically entertaining. Of course, I suppose the whole point of summertime is to go outdoors and DO things rather than sit inside to watch things. If only I was that exciting 🤔.
Let’s be honest…the Oklahoma City Thunder were clearly the better team from the beginning. They were the best team in the NBA all season, while no one expected much in the playoffs from the Indiana Pacers. The Cavs, Celtics, and Knicks were all thought to pose more of a threat to the Thunder. Nevertheless, Indiana took the NBA Finals to a decisive seventh game and must be given kudos. What might’ve happened if Pacers’ star Tyrese Haliburton didn’t get injured early in Game 7?? Who knows?? But the instant he went down the battle was over. Congrats to OKC. If you predicted now that these two teams would have an opportunity to run it back next year, I’d be just fine with that, although Haliburton might not be available until 2026-27.
Since we last met in this space enigmatic quarterback Aaron Rodgers signed a one year contract with my Pittsburgh Steelers, and I am okay with that. I couldn’t possibly care less about any off-the-field perceptions of Rodgers, as long as he shows up, plays hard, and executes the offense to the best of his ability. All indications seem to point to that happening, although obviously we haven’t even made it to training camp yet. Rodgers is 41 years old and clearly past his prime, but he’s still probably better than any other option the Steelers have had at their disposal the past few seasons. I know Jets fans are excited about Justin Fields, and many Steelers fans weren’t happy the team made no effort to retain him, but I remain dismissive of Fields’ potential as an NFL QB. The Steelers also brought back Mason Rudolph, who can be a decent backup. One of three things will happen: a) Rodgers will be a total bust & Pittsburgh will draft a highly rated QB next spring, b) Rodgers will shock the world and lead Pittsburgh deep into the playoffs, or c) the Steelers will be 9-8 again and need to do some wheelin’ & dealin’ to get their quarterback in the draft. I don’t know which scenario is more likely, but I am at peace with whatever happens.
Things that don’t interest me at all:
The WNBA
The College World Series
Spring football leagues of any kind
Soccer (obviously)
UFC
I suppose congratulations are also in order for the Florida Panthers, winners of back-to-back Stanley Cups. Do you realize that, in the past three decades, The Cup has resided in hot spots like Tampa, Vegas, Anaheim, Carolina, and Dallas, while a team from Canada hasn’t won the championship since 1993??
A month ago ESPN ended Around the Horn after more than two decades, but I have yet to run across a satisfactory reason for its cancellation. Full disclosure: I stepped back from watching any of the ESPN debate shows on a regular basis a few years ago. The Worldwide Leader’s penchant for allowing (perhaps even encouraging) their on-air talent to go on sanctimonious sociopolitical tirades became tedious, and the entire premise of ATH was gathering “journalists” from across the country to opine on various topics. I was taught a long time ago that typical sportswriters tend to have the same worldview as most other “journalists”, but we usually don’t notice as long as they remain focused on sports. Having said that, at its best, when the panelists stayed in their lane, Around the Horn seemed to exemplify the entire reason (outside of actual games) that outlets like ESPN even exist. Therefore, I don’t really understand its demise. From what I’ve been able to gather production costs were inexpensive and ratings were solid. Was ATH too low key & prosaic for the powers-that-be in Bristol?? Are they under the mistaken impression that the audience desires more…high-spirited…voices be added to a roster that already includes Stephen A. Smith & Pat McAfee?? Eight years ago ESPN cancelled its most erudite program The Sports Reporters, which I’ve always assumed was an indication of the low opinion the network has of its viewers’ intelligence, attention span, and critical thinking skills. Cancelling Around the Horn seems to reinforce that belief.
Spring has sprung…sort of. We’re still dealing with some intermittently chilly weather here in Appalachia, but that just makes me appreciate the occasional sunshine even more. We’ve got a little bit of everything today, so let’s roll.
Congratulations to the Florida Gators, who emerged from March Madness as your 2024-25 national champions. For probably the first time in my life I didn’t watch a single second of the title game because I totally forgot it was even on. I was pissed off out of the gate on Selection Sunday when my WV Mountaineers were inexplicably left out of the tournament, and just never got that mojo back. There was alot of chalk and very little drama throughout the tournament, with all the #1 seeds making it to the Final Four, only the second time that has occurred (the first being in 2008). Apparently the championship contest was quite exciting, so I guess I missed out. Ah well…c’est la vie.
Staying with basketball, I suppose it is time to pay attention to the NBA now that the playoffs have begun. I have a vague recollection of watching almost every second of postseason action back in 2006 when I was convalescing at a “skilled” nursing facility. That was WAY before streaming, and the cable options weren’t that extensive either. However, I have always been thankful to be a sports fan because sometimes a game of any sort is a nice distraction from the darkness of real life. As far as this particular tournament goes, I have a soft spot for the Boston Celtics because their head coach, Joe Mazzulla, is a former Mountaineer, but it’s all good as long as the L.A. Lakers or Golden St. Warriors don’t get their hands on another trophy.
Kudos to Rory McIlroy for winning his first Green Jacket at The Masters. I didn’t watch as much of the tournament this year as I usually do because I simply had other things going on.
The NFL Draft is coming up, and Steeler Nation has our eyes on what the Black & Gold will do. Lord knows the powers-that-be have their work cut out for them after completely screwing up the quarterback situation. They decided to put all their chips in the middle of the table for enigmatic Aaron Rodgers, who may or may not join the team…eventually. IF Rodgers does come to Pittsburgh there are legit questions about what he has left in the proverbial tank, and whether or not he’s worth the hassle. I do NOT believe that there is any QB in this draft worthy of a first round pick, and absolutely do NOT want the Shedeur Sanders Circus coming to town. The kid is all hype, with an overinflated ego that exceeds his skill level by a country mile. I would much rather the Steelers upgrade the trenches on both sides of the ball and kick the can down the road on a quarterback until next year’s draft. Let the returning Mason Rudolph be the starter in 2025, even if it leads to a horrible season. They don’t consult me on these decisions though, so we’ll see.
Circling back to basketball, I’d be remiss not to mention West Virginia’s coaching situation. Head coach Darian DeVries bolted after one season for allegedly greener pastures with the Indiana Hoosiers. I have alot of questions about how things went down and who knew what & when did they know it, but what’s done is done. WVU has hired Ross Hodge, who compiled a 46-24 record in two seasons with the North Texas Mean Green. Mountaineer fans have had a rough time wrapping their heads around the new norms of collegiate athletics and do not want to believe that their beloved Old Gold & Blue has become a stepping stone program, but that is the reality. The ultimate goal of any good college basketball coach is to be hired by a blue blood school, or atleast a Big Ten/SEC team. That is where the money and the glory is to be found. If Hodge has some success he’ll also be gone in a year or two or three. With NIL & transfer portal insanity rosters are being rebuilt every year. It isn’t ideal, but that’s the way things are right now.
It’s time to put a bow on the football season and perhaps address one or two other issues.
It’s hard to believe that only a few weeks have passed since Ohio St. won the CFP Championship. It feels like a lifetime ago. At any rate, kudos to the Buckeyes, who blew past Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas with relative ease before mostly dominating Notre Dame in the title game, despite not even playing in the Big Ten Championship and being seeded 8th in the CFP. It was the inaugural season for the 12 team playoff, and despite my initial misgivings about that expansion I cannot deny that it was successful and solidly entertaining. I do believe the formula will eventually be tweaked a bit, but before the inevitable expansion to 16 teams I hope the powers-that-be iron out the seeding process, and really, I would love to see conference title games incorporated into the first round of the playoff. I also believe that the FBS needs to split, with the Group of Five conferences playing for their own title while the Power 4 teams do their thing. Anyway, those are rabbit holes we can dive into some other time.
Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles, who gave the Kansas City Chiefs a surprising Super Bowl beatdown to claim their second Lombardi Trophy in seven years and deny KC an unprecedented three-peat. My sports fandom is fueled by disdain more than I’d prefer to admit, but I don’t hold any particular ill will toward either team and therefore didn’t have a dog in the fight. I don’t even suffer from Chiefs fatigue yet, and am not all that bothered by the whole Travis Kelce/Taylor Swift situation. My only wish was for a fun, competitive contest, and in that regard the game fell woefully short.
On the same day that Philly won the Super Bowl, legendary basketball broadcaster Hubie Brown ended his career that lasted a half century, first as a coach then as an analyst on TV. It has been well-established that I don’t pay much attention to the NBA regular season, but to the extent that I have watched games thru the years Brown has been a constant presence…a soothing, knowledgeable voice who provided insightful analysis and focused on teaching fans about the game he so clearly loves instead of trying to be the kind of personality who draws attention to themselves that has become pervasive as television grew into the dominant force in sports. ABC did a nice job of honoring 91 year old Brown during his final broadcast without disrespecting the game itself (a fairly prosaic victory for the Milwaukee Bucks over the Philadelphia 76ers).
I will not dump all over the Super Bowl halftime featuring rapper Kendrick Lamar. I don’t want to become one of those hypercritical old goats who begin every commentary with “back in my day”, so suffice to say that the show wasn’t my cup o’ tea. However, I knew that going in. I am fully aware that middle aged white guys, despite all accusations of “privilege”, are not the target demographic for much of anything. I’ll spare all of us a breakdown of why that is, and just say that I am fine with it. However, from a business perspective I would suggest to the NFL that such a prominent position should probably be occupied by a performer with much broader appeal. I am sure that there are people who enjoyed Kendrick Lamar immensely, but I don’t believe it was an impactful chunk of the viewing audience.
After a full season of watching the NFL’s new dynamic kickoff I have to say that I don’t despise it, except for one significant issue. I hate that onside kicks have essentially been eliminated from the game, and teams can’t even declare their intention to try an onside until the 4th quarter. I don’t believe that trick plays (including a surprise onside kick) should be used recklessly, but to preclude such a possibility at all negates an intriguing layer of strategery.
Both Zach & myself limped to the finish in our weekly picks, going 3-5 in the final week. That means I finished 56-61, while he was 55-62. It’s a rather pyrrhic victory that enforces the fact that we aren’t very good at prognosticating football games and would probably both be homeless bums if we chose to gamble with real money.
On January 8, 2018, QB Jalen Hurts was benched at halftime of college football’s national title game. Freshman Tua Tagovailoa came in and led Alabama to a comeback victory in overtime. Hurts spent the following season as Tagovailoa’s backup before transferring to Oklahoma. Seven years later Tagovailoa has spent most of his five year NFL career struggling to convince “experts” he should remain the Miami Dolphins’ starter while compiling a 38-24 record with only one postseason game. Conversely, Hurts has led the Philadelphia Eagles to two Super Bowls, winning one while being named the game’s MVP. There are alot of valuable lessons to be learned from that story.
We’re doing a very quick turnaround because college football’s semifinals begin tonight. I am a little disappointed that so much of the NFL playoff picture was cleared up this past weekend, because I had visions of total chaos that’d push us into considering a few more games. Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. The good news is that we both went 4-1, which means that finishing above .500 for the season is within reach. With the college playoff expanding to 12 teams and the way the schedule falls, we will not be picking the semis or the championship game, which is probably for the best. As always I would like to thank my nephew Zach for indulging me with this fun little gig every football season, and give a shout out to anyone who might actually read what is written here. I have not been as productive in 2024 as I could’ve been, and I realize that citizens of The Manoverse who aren’t football fans probably gave up on me months ago. I’ll try to do better in 2025. Happy New Year everyone, and may God bless you as we all get the opportunity to begin again.
My Season: 53-56
Zach’s Season: 52-57
Fiesta Bowl
CFP Quarterfinal
Penn State (-10.5) vs. Boise State
The Nittany Lions easily defeated SMU in the first round, while the Broncos had a bye. That system of seeding & byes seems flawed given the fact that Penn St. is a double digit favorite. There will be much hand wringing & consternation in the offseason by folks who essentially believe that only two conferences and maybe a half dozen other teams really matter, which is just more proof that collegiate athletics is broken. As far as this particular contest goes, despite the fact that I’ve accused Penn St. of being overrated on multiple occasions, and I am almost always rooting for the underdog, the fact is that Penn St. will likely win. The question is, can they bitch slap Boise like a few teams got beat down in Round 1?? Boise St.’s only loss was in September at Oregon by three points, so I have to believe that they can stay within ten points of Penn St. Zach thinks that there is a legit chance that Penn St.’s defense has problems stopping Heisman runner-up RB Ashton Jeanty, and doesn’t have much faith in the Nittany Lions coming thru in big games. He agrees that Boise is unlikely to win, but won’t go away quietly.
My Pick: Boise St.
Zach’s Pick: Boise St.
Peach Bowl
CFP Quarterfinal
Texas (-12.5) vs. Arizona State
It might be the most entertaining game of the entire tournament. Texas handled Clemson in the first round, while Arizona St. had a bye. In three previous Pac 12 seasons the Sun Devils were 14-23. Head coach Kenny Dillingham, in his second season after serving as offensive coordinator at Auburn, Florida St., & Oregon, has led a complete turnaround in the program’s inaugural Big 12 campaign. Look, I know that Texas has two QBs and probably a bunch of other players that’ll play in the NFL soon enough. I understand that the only two losses they suffered in their first year in the SEC were to Georgia, winner of two of the past three national championships. I get it. Have you watched Arizona St. play though?? They bulldozed Iowa St. in the Big 12 title game, and their only two losses were by a combined 18 points. Would I love to see a huge upset?? Damn straight. Do I think it will happen?? I’m not holding my breath. However, I do believe it’ll be a much closer game than the “experts” predict. At the beginning of the playoff Zach predicted Arizona St. could make a run and be a serious title contender, so he’s not moving off that now.
My Pick: Arizona St.
Zach’s Pick: Arizona St.
Rose Bowl
CFP Quarterfinal
Ohio State (-2.5) vs. Oregon
I suppose this should be considered the marquee matchup of the four. Both teams have spent time at #1 this season. The Buckeyes only two losses were to Oregon & arch rival Michigan, and the folks in Columbus were so upset about the latter that some wanted head coach Ryan Day canned. People need to get with the times though. National Championships are no longer mythical. The system is flawed, but there is a system, which means that Ohio St.’s loss to Michigan should be considered less impactful than it might’ve been a decade ago. Sure, they missed out on a conference title and a first round bye, but they are here. They beat the snot out of Tennessee in Round 1 and now everything is in front of them. Meanwhile, in their first Big Ten season the Ducks ran roughshod thru a tough schedule, including a one point October victory over Ohio St., which came down to a field goal in the final two minutes. It is quite instructive that Oregon is considered the underdog. If there is one thing I have tried to learn while doing these picks, it is that oddsmakers know things we don’t, and oftentimes they have an uncanny way of being almost exactly right. So look for the favorites to win by a field goal. Surprisingly, Zach concurs.
My Pick: Ohio St.
Zach’s Pick: Ohio St.
Sugar Bowl
CFP Quarterfinal
Notre Dame vs. Georgia (-1.5)
Has Notre Dame been overrated?? Sure, they’re 12-1, but the most impressive wins on their resume are the season opener at Texas A&M and a home victory over Louisville. Their Round 1 domination of Indiana has been much discussed, and if you believe the Hoosiers didn’t belong in the playoff (I’m looking at you SEC sycophants) then you can’t give much credence to the Irish winning that game. Conversely, even though Georgia hasn’t been as elite as we’ve been used to the past few seasons, no one questions their seat at the table. However, with QB Carson Beck out with an elbow injury, the intrigue for this contest is turned up a notch or two. I assume Georgia would be a much bigger favorite with Beck, but the fact that they’re still favored at all either shows how much respect the Bulldogs have earned thru the years, or casts a shadow on Notre Dame’s contender status. Perhaps both. The game is being played in Atlanta, which is basically a home field for the favorites. I think we’ll see a low scoring defensive struggle, probably decided by a few special teams plays. In that scenario I believe Georgia finds a way to escape with a close win. Zach agrees.
My Pick: Georgia
Zach’s Pick: Georgia
Carolina at Atlanta (-7.5)
In my season preview I predicted that winning the NFC South would be a tough grind, because that’s exactly what it has been in recent years. So here we are. The Falcons have to win, and even then may fall short of the postseason. I am a bit surprised that they benched QB Kirk Cousins in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. A bold move for sure in a tight playoff race, but whether it is wise or not remains to be seen. The Panthers have been as hapless as I knew they would be, but teams with nothing to lose and an opportunity to play spoiler can be dangerous. I don’t believe the outcome is in much doubt, but Carolina will put up a fight. Still, I look for Atlanta to cover…barely. Zach concurs.
My Pick: Atlanta
Zach’s Pick: Atlanta
Kansas City at Denver (-10)
I know why the Broncos are favored, but it’s still a bit surprising. Having already locked up the division title and the AFC’s first round bye, the assumption is that KC will sit most of their starters. Meanwhile, the Broncos not only have the home field, but find themselves in a three team dogfight for a wildcard berth. One team will be super motivated, while the other has much bigger goals in mind. I think Denver will get the job done, but even playing with backups I can’t fathom the Chiefs going down by ten points. Zach agrees.
My Pick: Kansas City
Zach’s Pick: Kansas City
New Orleans at Tampa Bay (-13)
The Saints just haven’t been a good team this season and probably need to consider a total rebuild. Conversely, my assessment of Baker Mayfield was inaccurate, to put it kindly. The Bucs aren’t amongst the best in the conference, but they are scrappy and could catch a playoff opponent off guard. They need to win this game to even get there, but damn…the points are a bit much. When these teams met in The Big Easy in mid-October Tampa opened up a can o’ whoopass and won by 24 points, but I think it’ll be more like 10-12 this time. Zach concurs.
My Pick: New Orleans
Zach’s Pick: New Orleans
Minnesota at Detroit (-2.5)
Both teams come into the game 14-2. The winner will be crowned NFC North champs and be the top seed in that conference, earning a first round bye. The loser will drop all the way back to the #5 seed. It’s the final game of the regular season, broadcast on NBC on Sunday night. I suggest muting your television and finding the radio call. IYKYK. When these teams met in October the Lions kicked the game winning field goal with 15 seconds on the clock. Since then Detroit’s defense has been decimated by injuries, to the point that I don’t believe they can still be considered Super Bowl favorites. If I were a die hard Lions fan, head coach Dan Campbell would drive me insane. Call me old fashioned, but while his aggressiveness is entertaining, it isn’t always wise. I think he’ll do something stupid…fake punt, unnecessarily going for a two point conversion, going for it on 4th down once too often…and it’ll cost his team a division title. Vikings QB Sam Darnold gets Zach’s vote for Comeback Player of the Year, and believes the smart choice is to ride with their momentum.
First of all, F*^K YOU NFL. As silly as it may seem, last weekend, when RedZone host Scott Hanson changed his familiar catchphrase “seven hours of commercial free football” because they’re now running a few commercials during the broadcast, it upset me to the point that I was ready to drop out of every fantasy league I’m in and stop doing these picks in the future. Perhaps I have a screw loose. Or maybe the holiday season, which isn’t as merry & bright in my world as it once was, had me all up in my feelings. Thankfully I chilled out enough that my Steelers getting trucked by the Chiefs on Christmas Day barely raised my blood pressure. I still don’t know how I will proceed with RedZone, which I’ve loved for several years. The NFL has tested my patience for awhile with their “social justice” initiatives and watering down the game under the guise of “safety”, but RedZone felt like the last bastion for pure enjoyment of the sport. Now, a corporation that makes BILLIONS of dollars in profits is tainting that innocence for a few more ad dollars that won’t make or break them. It’s sick. Perhaps they’ll change their mind, but I won’t hold my breath. At any rate, Zach (3-2) bested me (1-4) once again to draw within one game of a tie for the season, which still doesn’t upset me as much as the whole RedZone situation.
My Season: 49-55
Zach’s Season: 48-56
Denver at Cincinnati (-3)
Both teams are still fighting for a playoff berth, but the 7-8 Bengals need some help. Obviously that starts with winning this game. Conversely, the 9-6 Broncos will be in with a victory. I really had both of these teams pegged wrong, believing that Cincinnati would bounce back from last season and be a factor in the AFC North, while Denver would secure a Top 5 draft pick. The opposite has occurred with both teams. Having said that, I think the home team wins on their turf and hangs on to a thread of hope for the postseason. Zach appreciates what the Broncos have accomplished with rookie QB Bo Nix, but feels they are an unfinished product with some work to do. He doesn’t like the Bengals defense at all, but gives the nod to Cincy & QB Joe Burrow in a shootout.
My Pick: Cincinnati
Zach’s Pick: Cincinnati
Green Bay at Minnesota (-1.5)
It might be the best game of the weekend. Both teams will make the playoffs, but the 13-2 Vikings can still claim a division title and maybe even a first round bye if things go their way. In their previous meeting way back in September Minnesota got a close win on the road, so I expect things to balance out with the 11-4 Packers returning the favor. Zach concurs.
My Pick: Green Bay
Zach’s Pick: Green Bay
Miami (-6.5) at Cleveland
I expected the Dolphins to challenge for a division title, but at 7-8 they’re just fighting to finish with a winning record. No one should be surprised by the futility of the 3-12 Browns, who are even worse than I expected and have dropped off significantly from last year’s mirage of success. The home field doesn’t even matter. It’ll probably be a yawn inducing slugfest, but I believe the visiting favorites will win comfortably. Zach agrees.
My Pick: Miami
Zach’s Pick: Miami
Atlanta at Washington (-4)
Don’t sleep on this game featuring two of the first eight selections in this past spring’s draft (and 2 of the top 4 quarterbacks). Jayden Daniels has been a revelation for the 10-5 Commanders, who are battling the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC’s third wildcard, while Michael Penix Jr. was just inserted into the lineup a week ago to boost the 8-7 Falcons to the NFC South crown, which is the only way Atlanta or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will qualify for the playoffs. Penix might indeed be the answer in Atlanta, but we don’t really have much data yet, whereas I’ve seen enough to know how great Daniels & the Commanders can be. Zach concurs.
My Pick: Washington
Zach’s Pick: Washington
Detroit (-3.5) at San Francisco
One team has lived up to the hype, while the other has had their season torpedoed by misfortune. At 13-2 the Lions are safely in the postseason field, but they need to win to secure the division title & a first round bye. The 6-9 Niners have been a huge disappointment and will need to confront some tough issues in the offseason. A few months ago I would’ve assumed this to be one of the marquee Monday night games of the entire season, but now it just feels like an afterthought. The outcome of Green Bay-Minnesota could alter Detroit’s approach to the game, but either way I believe they will prevail. Zach agrees.
With the dawn of a new era in college football we’ve decided to forego our traditional Bowl-a-Palooza and incorporate the playoff games into our normal routine. Let’s face it…most of the bowl games have been superfluous for awhile now, and with interim coaches & transfer portal madness it has become nearly impossible to predict them with any degree of legit knowledge. By all means, if ESPN is airing the Cereal Bowl featuring East State vs. Big City Tech at 4pm on a Tuesday afternoon please enjoy it. Sometimes those random matchups are rather delightful. For our purposes here though, we’ll stick with games that have some degree of importance. I must reluctantly admit that last week (1-4) was abysmal for me, which means that I have finally fallen below .500 for the season, while Zach (3-2) has closed the gap to within three games. Buckle up…it’s going to be a wild stretch run.
My Season: 48-51
Zach’s Season: 45-54
Indiana at Notre Dame (-7.5)
Somehow the rankings happened to fall into place just right, making this intra-state battle possible. Funny how that worked out. At any rate, opinions vary on the 11-1 Hoosiers, especially after they were beaten by three TDs in Columbus a few weeks ago. Should they be here instead of Alabama?? I believe that results matter, and teams can only play the opponents on their schedule. The Hoosiers did that and only lost once, so I think they earned their spot. Meanwhile, the 11-1 Fighting Irish probably have a nearly guaranteed playoff berth anytime they win 9+ games, despite not being a member of any conference. Look…any football fan with actual insight into the game will admit that if these teams met a hundred times Notre Dame would win 80% of the time. Having said that, my Marshall Thundering Herd traveled to South Bend and upset Notre Dame a couple of years ago, so anything is possible. This is a Friday night kickoff, and I know the nephews & I will be hurrying home after our family Christmas dinner to watch. I’d be pleasantly surprised by an upset, but wouldn’t bet money on that happening. However, I feel like Indiana is being overlooked & disrespected just a bit. They’ll keep it close. Zach, however, points out that Notre Dame just signed head coach Marcus Freeman to a contract extension, and on the field they’ve crushed every opponent since an inexplicable early season loss to Northern Illinois. He sees Indiana as talented & well coached, but doesn’t feel like they have what it takes to keep pace in this game.
My Pick: Indiana
Zach’s Pick: Notre Dame
SMU at Penn State (-8.5)
Much of what I said about the previous matchup applies to this game as well. The 11-2 Mustangs aren’t receiving much love. A year ago they were playing in the AAC, and now they play in the ACC, which is probably the weakest of the Power 4. If they’d been blown out in the conference title game by Clemson it is likely that Alabama would’ve been handed this spot, but SMU played a hell of a 4th quarter and nearly pulled off a big comeback. Conversely, Penn St.’s playoff berth was never in question, despite losing the Big Ten Championship to Oregon. The 11-2 Nittany Lions are probably a little overrated, but they’ve mowed thru most of their schedule with tremendous success, which cannot be denied. Not to be repetitive, but once again…if these teams played one another a hundred times the home favorites would almost certainly win 80% of those games, but anything can happen in this one instance. I think SMU will be more than competitive for three quarters, but end up losing…by a touchdown. Conversely, Zach isn’t sure SMU belongs here and foresees a comfortable win by the home favorites.
My Pick: SMU
Zach’s Pick: Penn St.
Clemson at Texas (-11.5)
I am somewhat surprised by the points. Sure, the 11-2 Longhorns quickly acclimated to the SEC and were only defeated by Georgia (twice). It is also true that the 10-3 Tigers aren’t as elite as they were while appearing in six consecutive (four team) CFPs and winning national championships in two of those years. However, a double digit spread feels disrespectful. Texas will probably win, but it won’t be by more than ten points. Zach is a big Dabo Swinney fan and agrees that Clemson will be more competitive than the “experts” believe.
My Pick: Clemson
Zach’s Pick: Clemson
Tennessee at Ohio State (-7.5)
Are people overlooking this game?? It’s an 8/9 matchup, so by definition it is expected to be the most competitive in the first round. The 10-2 Buckeyes were considered to be amongst the top teams in the country until being upset by Michigan a few weeks ago, and it seems like that forced everyone to view Ohio St. thru a whole new prism. Meanwhile, the 10-2 Volunteers can look back at a mid-October upset of Alabama as a huge reason why they’re here now. However, that’s all they really have to hang their hat on. Otherwise the schedule was rather prosaic. Georgia beat Tennessee by two touchdowns, and I think that’s the level Ohio St. is on. I’d love to be wrong. Rockytop brings alot of energy to the table. At the end of the day though, I believe the home team gets it done by ten points. To my utter shock & amazement Zach agrees that the Buckeyes are likely unhappy about how they’ve been talked about recently and will use that as motivation to win easily.
My Pick: Ohio St.
Zach’s Pick: Ohio St.
Philadelphia (-3) at Washington
Our only NFL game this week is an NFC East battle, although the division title has been pretty much decided. The 12-2 Eagles have won ten straight and will win the division, but they have their eyes on the NFC’s top seed & first round bye. The 9-5 Commanders are in the driver’s seat for a wildcard berth, but are far from a lock. I really like rookie QB Jayden Daniels and can see big things for him in the future if the front office continues to build a great team. However, sometimes one just has to be patient and wait for your turn, and it’s not Washington’s time right now. Philly is playing on a different level, and anything short of the Super Bowl will be a disappointment. RB Saquon Barkley may be the best free agent acquisition of the past decade, recapturing the magic that made him a 2017 Heisman finalist at Penn St. and reinvigorating a career that stalled over six seasons with the NY Giants. When these teams met in Philadelphia last month the Eagles won by 12, and I expect something similar now. Zach concurs.
College football’s conference championships were a bit kinder to Zach (5-4) than me (3-6), meaning that I have fallen to .500 for the season. Can I keep my head above water, or will Zach continue to cut into my lead?? We’re riding with the NFL this week, as division races and playoff battles begin to come into focus down the stretch.
My Season: 47-47
Zach’s Season: 42-52
Miami at Houston (-3)
The 8-5 Texans seem to have the AFC South well in hand, with a two game lead and four games remaining. However, we never know who might get hot at the right time or which teams could implode. The 6-7 Dolphins aren’t winning the AFC East, but remain mathematically in the wild card chase. Every game is a must win for them. Miami is playing better in the back half of the schedule, while Houston was more effective early on, so I’m leaning toward a mild upset. Zach understands the momentum factor, but simply feels as though Houston is the better team.
My Pick: Miami
Zach’s Pick: Houston
Buffalo at Detroit (-1.5)
The 10-3 Bills will win their division, but still have work to do to earn a first round bye, which is possible if they keep winning and the KC Chiefs falter a bit. Meanwhile, the 12-1 Lions are in the driver’s seat for the NFC’s first round bye, but the Philadelphia Eagles are hot on their heels. This very well could be a Super Bowl preview. I think the home field is huge, because if Detroit had to visit ice cold & snowy Buffalo the outcome wouldn’t be in much doubt. However, in the cozy confines of domed Ford Field I like the Lions to come out on top. Zach concurs.
My Pick: Detroit
Zach’s Pick: Detroit
Tampa Bay at LA Chargers (-3)
Credit where it is due…QB Baker Mayfield is finally living up to the hype that accompanied him winning the 2017 Heisman Trophy and being the #1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has the 7-6 Bucs atop the NFC South, although let’s be honest…they are a level below the top 2 or 3 teams in the conference. A step below is also where the 8-5 Chargers find themselves, although I assume most everyone connected to the organization is happy to be in that spot. They have a firm grasp on a wildcard berth, but also need to keep on winning. This might be one of the best battles of the weekend, and my money is on the home team getting the job done. Zach is all in on head coach Jim Harbaugh.
My Pick: LA Chargers
Zach’s Pick: LA Chargers
Indianapolis at Denver (-4)
The 8-5 Broncos are one of the most surprising stories in the league, atleast for me. Rookie QB Bo Nix has exceeded all expectations and has his team poised to claim a wildcard spot. Conversely, the 6-7 Colts have been a model of inconsistency. Injuries have been part of that equation, but frankly it just seems like they are a team in flux, hoping for the pieces to fall into place someday. Obviously that could happen, especially if QB Anthony Richardson eventually fulfill’s his potential. As for this game, I foresee the underdogs putting up a hell of a fight, but the home team is likely to win rather easily. Zach agrees.
My Pick: Denver
Zach’s Pick: Denver
Green Bay (-3) at Seattle
The Sunday night games have been hit or miss this season, and especially this time of year, after enjoying RedZone all day, I am inclined to watch an old Christmas movie rather than more football. However, I’ll probably be watching this game. Packers’ QB Jordan Love is a great example of someone raising the bar and fulfilling expectations in his fifth year in the league. Having said that, even at 9-4, Green Bay is in third place in their division. They’ll need to stay on their toes to secure a playoff berth. The same goes for the 8-5 Seahawks, who are in a dogfight for the NFC West crown. Will they win the division?? Earn a wild card?? Miss the playoffs altogether?? With one of the most significant home field advantages in the NFL I believe Seattle will remain on the positive side of that discussion for now. Conversely, Zach really likes Love to lead his team to a solid victory.
The Manofesto 