The Sports Page

Where I will show love for the Steelers, Pirates, Thundering Herd, & Mountaineers and utter contempt for the Cowboys, Yankees, Jeff Gordon, & Notre Dame.

2023-24 NFL PREVIEW & PROGNOSTICATIONS

Has there ever been a Super Bowl rematch in back-to-back seasons?? Yes…once. The Dallas Cowboys beat the snot out of the Buffalo Bills in 1992 & ‘93. Could it happen again?? Perhaps. Who knows?? What I do know is that football is back and my weekends are about to become delightfully entertaining once again. For the 15th time we’re going to take a peak into the ol’ crystal ball and see if we can prophesy what to expect from the NFL this season. It’s an endeavor fraught with pitfalls & unknowns…injuries, coaching changes, rookies, aging veterans, free agency. Out of all the professional sports leagues the NFL is perhaps the most unpredictable, yet we do our best to do exactly that. It’s crazy, and probably kind of dumb…but it is also lots of fun, for me anyway. I hope you enjoy many wonderful Sundays, Mondays, & Thursdays in the next several months, and as always I discourage any wagering based on what you read here because I really have no idea what I’m talking about.

East

Miami Dolphins (9-8) 10-7

New York Jets (7-10) 10-7

Buffalo Bills (13-3) 10-7

New England Patriots (8-9) 7-10

A year ago I predicted “look out for the Jets in 2024”. They decided to accelerate the timeline by acquiring QB Aaron Rodgers & RB Dalvin Cook, amongst other pieces of the puzzle. They are clearly in Win Now mode and probably have a two year window. Last season I wasn’t too sure about new Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, but I have a more positive opinion now. Miami has quietly put together a good team that’ll make some noise, and it feels like a pivotal season for Tua Tagovailoa in his 4th year under center. The Jets & Dolphins ascending means that the Bills won’t cruise to a division title like they did last year, so a lot of folks might view them as disappointing despite a solid season. I’m a bit hesitant to stick a fork in the Patriots, but when a potential quarterback controversy involves Mac Jones & Bailey Zappe I don’t think anyone should be expecting much.

West

Kansas City Chiefs (14-3) 16-1

Los Angeles Chargers (10-7) 8-9

Las Vegas Raiders (6-11) 2-15

Denver Broncos (5-12) 2-15

There is absolutely nothing to be excited about in this division if you aren’t a Chiefs fan. I wonder if receiver Davante Adams cries himself to sleep at night pondering the fact that he bolted Green Bay, leaving Aaron Rodgers in the dust in exchange for his buddy Derek Carr, only to see that experiment fail miserably and Carr to be ran out of town?? QB Jimmy Garoppolo had foot surgery in the off-season and might not be 100% out of the gate, which is horrible news for the Raiders. The Broncos have said all the right things about QB Russell Wilson, but it’s hard to feel encouraged after he had the worst year of his career in 2022. Sean Payton is now the head coach and that’s cool, but when a franchise is putting everything on the shoulders of the coach because no one is too sure about the players that’s not good. I’d rather have a stacked roster with an unproven coach like the Dolphins and Jets. The Chargers are the only thing standing between Kansas City and the most effortless division title in the history of football, and trust me when I tell you that’s not causing Patrick Mahomes & Andy Reid to lay awake at night.

North

Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) 11-6

Baltimore Ravens (10-7) 9-8

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8) 9-8

Cleveland Browns (7-10) 5-12

Can the Ravens stay healthy?? That seems to be their biggest issue in recent years. Will QB Lamar Jackson earn the five year/$260 million contract he maneuvered the team into after initially demanding a trade back in March?? Ehhh…I’m just not that impressed with Baltimore. They always receive a bunch of hype from the talking heads then fall short of lofty expectations. I see no reason that’ll be any different this year. They’ll give the Bengals a legit fight for the crown, but at the end of the day Cincy will win the division once again. Most “experts” aren’t expecting much from my Steelers, but with Kenny Pickett now firmly ensconced as the starting quarterback, some key additions on both sides of the ball in free agency & the draft, and everyone betting against them I believe they’ll be in the playoff hunt until the end and atleast protect Coach Tomlin’s much ballyhooed achievement of never having a losing season. Most assume that the Browns will be better with Deshaun Watson under center from the jump, but they were only 3-3 in the games he started a season ago. Sorry Cleveland fans, but I don’t foresee a happy ending for you.

South

Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) 12-5

Indianapolis Colts (4-12-1) 7-10

Tennessee Titans (7-10) 6-11

Houston Texans (3-13-1) 5-12

This is it Jags fans!! You’ve made it thru the abyss. After 15 years of wandering in a desert of futility with some occasional glimpses of mediocrity (and that one inexplicable playoff run in 2007) Jacksonville enters the 2023 season with a decent head coach, QB & former #1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence in his prime, a potentially good defense, and competing in one of the worst divisions in the league. There’s no way they can screw this up, right?? As predicted the Colts went nowhere with Matt Ryan as their signal caller, and now they’re hitching the wagon to rookie Anthony Richardson. That might pay dividends in the future but there will be growing pains. I expect defenses to load the box against unhappy RB Jonathan Taylor (if he isn’t traded), so fantasy owners beware. The Titans might have a slightly better quarterback room with veteran Ryan Tannehill & first round pick Will Levis, but they also will rely heavily on pounding the rock with Derrick Henry, who has alot of miles on those tires. The signing of free agent receiver DeAndre Hopkins would’ve been impressive…in 2018. Now?? Ehhhh 🤷🏻‍♂️. If either defense in Tennessee or Indianapolis can rise to the occasion and carry their team perhaps they’ll be slightly more successful, but I’m not expecting much. I actually like the direction the Texans are headed, but need to see how first rounder CJ Stroud adjusts to the NFL, or if he can even keep the starting QB job. I have good vibes about new head coach (and former Texans linebacker) DeMeco Ryans. There are some nice pieces on the Houston defense, including #3 overall pick Will Anderson (Kevin Costner had to be somewhere smiling at those draft maneuvers), but it’s going to take this team some time. You’ll see signs of progress, but it might be another year or two before we see the payoff.

Playoffs: Chiefs, Jags, Bengals, Dolphins, Jets, Bills, Ravens

AFC Champion: Kansas City Chiefs

East

Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) 11-6

New York Giants (9-7-1) 10-7

Washington Commanders (8-8-1) 8-9

Dallas Cowboys (12-5) 8-9

A year ago I was rather dismissive of Giants’ QB Daniel Jones, who proceeded to lead his team to the playoffs & earn a four year contract extension worth $160 million. I’m not going to underestimate the Giants again, especially given the off-season acquisition of tight end Darren Waller in free agency and a solid draft. The Commanders are still treading water and have yet another new quarterback in Sam Howell, their fifth round pick in 2022. Actually, they’ve made more news off the field, as embattled owner Daniel Snyder finally sold the team this summer. My outlook for them might be a bit optimistic, but I like head coach Ron Rivera and the roster isn’t terrible. The Dallas Cowboys will make me look like a prophet or a fool. Head coach Mike McCarthy has gone 12-5 each of the past two seasons, but I foresee a huge decline and the end of his tenure. He may not last past Halloween. It’s not that they’re a bad team…I just think they’ll lose several close games when the ball simply doesn’t bounce their way. At the end of the day I believe the Eagles will win the division for the fourth time in seven years. They won’t seem as elite as a year ago and may have to go on the road at some point in the postseason, but ultimately I foresee a much more satisfying conclusion.

West

Seattle Seahawks (9-8) 9-8

San Francisco 49ers (13-4) 9-8

Arizona Cardinals (4-13) 8-9

Los Angeles Rams (5-12) 7-10

In 2022 I thought this would be one of the best divisions in the league, but the Rams & Cards were terrible, Seattle was just average, and ‘Frisco ran away with the title. I don’t think the division overall will be any better this season, but it might be more competitive. Former WV Mountaineer Geno Smith finally proved why he was a second round draft pick a decade ago and is the incumbent starting quarterback for the Seahawks. He has plenty of weapons on offense, and the defense is talented on paper. That talent didn’t back it up on the field last year though, so it’s something to keep an eye on. Seattle may become an afterthought if the 49ers QB situation solidifies, but who knows if former Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy will continue to shine?? 2021 first rounder Trey Lance & much traveled former first round pick Sam Darnold (now with his third team in six years) are around if Purdy falters, but that doesn’t inspire much confidence. ‘Frisco is a talented team, but I feel like they won’t be as successful as a year ago. I don’t know what to say about Arizona & Los Angeles, except that I see no reason to expect dramatic improvement, although it should be noted that the Rams were in the Super Bowl just a couple of years back so it’s possible they could figure out what went sideways and fix it.

North

Detroit Lions (9-8) 11-6

Minnesota Vikings (13-4) 10-7

Chicago Bears (3-14) 7-10

Green Bay Packers (8-9) 6-11

Carpe diem Lions!! Much like the Jacksonville Jaguars the brain trust in Detroit has quietly been building a team with tremendous potential, led by a young defense that includes budding stars Aidan Hutchinson, Cam Sutton, and rookie linebacker Jack Campbell. I really like head coach Dan Campbell, who went 9-8 a year ago, a six game improvement over his first year in the Motor City. The most significant question Campbell must answer is whether or not he & offensive coordinator Ben Johnson can elevate Jared Goff into a quarterback befitting the #1 overall pick that he was seven years ago. The biggest off-season news came out of Green Bay, who won’t have a Hall of Fame caliber quarterback starting for them for the first time since 1991. It might be a rough couple of years on the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field, but don’t worry Cheeseheads…they’ll get things figured out eventually. Can the same be said for the Bears?? I don’t believe Justin Fields will ever be a great pro QB, and I’m not impressed with his supporting cast or the Chicago defense. This isn’t the ‘85 Bears by a long shot. I must apologize once again for underestimating the Vikings last season, a mistake I won’t make again. Having said that, I think they’ll drop off just enough for Detroit to take the division.

South

New Orleans Saints (7-10) 9-8

Carolina Panthers (7-10) 6-11

Atlanta Falcons (7-10) 5-12

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9) 5-12

You might’ve heard that Tom Brady finally retired. Thank God. That’s great news for everyone except the Bucs, who will start Baker Mayfield at quarterback. That’s like moving out of a million dollar mansion into an efficiency apartment. Even the Colts are laughing. I’m not sure what the hell is going on in Atlanta. I really like running back Tyler Allgeier, who set the franchise record for most rushing yards by a rookie. Apparently that didn’t impress the powers-that-be though, as they spent their first round pick on RB Bijan Robinson out of Texas. Second year QB Desmond Ridder will be running the show, and he has a few young weapons with potential. That group is going to need time to mature, and in the meantime their veteran laden defense has to kick it up a notch. I have low expectations of #1 overall pick & new Panthers QB Bryce Young. At 5ft10 he is the same size as Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback Kyler Murray, but his 4.43/40 isn’t as fast as Murray’s 4.38. RB Miles Sanders is a nice addition, but honestly there’s nothing to be excited about on either side of the ball. By default that leaves the Saints to ascend to the top of the division. Head coach Dennis Allen enters his second season with new QB Derek Carr, some decent weapons, a solid offensive line, and a veteran defense that could surprise people.

Playoffs: Eagles, Lions, Saints, Seahawks, Giants, 49ers, Vikings

NFC Champion: Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles 20

Kansas City Chiefs 17

Top 5 Picks in the 2024 NFL Draft

1 Denver Broncos

2 Las Vegas Raiders

3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

4 Cleveland Browns

5 Atlanta Falcons

2023 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRE-SEASON TOP 25

Y’all, the season hasn’t even begun yet and I’m already sick of hearing about conference realignment. Many years ago, when such insanity was a fairly new trend, I offered up my own thoughts about how I’d reorganize college football. Perhaps I’ll revisit the concept because I believe some of my ideas were rather solid.

Anyhow, that’s a discussion for another day, because no matter how irritated I become about the stupidity surrounding college athletics the truth is for the next few months I’ll be glued to my television every Saturday watching hours & hours of glorious gridiron action. I will not let university suits or TV execs steal my joy. So, per tradition that stretches back to atleast 2009, let’s see if we can forecast with any degree of reasonable accuracy how that final poll will look on January 9, 2024. This will be the final year for the four team playoff, as it expands to 12 teams next season. I’m still not sure how I feel about that, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.

25 Fresno State

Last Season: 10-4

Key Games: 9/2 @ Purdue, 10/13 @ Utah St., 11/4 vs. Boise St.

The truth is all of the “big” teams in the “power” conferences will do their fair share of knocking each other out. That means that teams from the “other” conferences have an opportunity to sneak into the polls and receive some love if they have double digit wins and battle for their conference title. I’ve always been intrigued by Fresno and enjoy watching their late night games. I see no reason why they can’t match last year’s success, especially if they come out of the gate strong by going to West Lafayette and upsetting the Boilermakers.

24 Troy

Last Season: 12-2

Key Games: 9/9 @ Kansas St., 9/16 vs. James Madison, 11/2 vs. South Alabama

Most other polls will have Tulane in this spot, but I tend to go against the grain. The Trojans coasted to the Sun Belt title a year ago and return 13 starters from that team. I don’t believe they’ll go into Manhattan, KS and beat the Wildcats, but wouldn’t be shocked if they win every other game on the schedule.

23 Oregon State

Last Season: 10-3

Key Games: 9/29 vs. Utah, 10/14 vs. UCLA, 11/24 @ Oregon

It’s a damn shame that the PAC 12 is imploding, but the Beavers will land on their feet in the restructured league. For now though, the mission is to build on a ten win season, which concluded with beating the snot out of Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl. I foresee atleast one huge upset this year.

22 Tennessee

Last Season: 11-2

Key Games: 9/30 vs. South Carolina, 10/21 @ Alabama, 11/18 vs. Georgia

The Vols pose a lot of questions. They defeated LSU & Alabama last season, and pulverized Clemson in the Orange Bowl. However, they barely got by Pitt in overtime, lost at Georgia, and just didn’t show up in a 25 point loss at South Carolina in which the Gamecocks scored 63 points. Five Tennessee starters were chosen in the NFL Draft, including two wide receivers, a mammoth offensive tackle, and their starting quarterback. The QB situation shouldn’t be an issue though, as former starter Joe Milton received significant playing time a year ago and started the last few games due to injury. I think they’ll have a successful season, but it’ll be damn near impossible to equal the achievements of 2022.

21 Wisconsin

Last Season: 7-6

Key Games: 9/22 @ Purdue, 10/14 vs. Iowa, 10/28 vs. Ohio St.

This one is giving me a bit of anxiety. The Big Ten is deep & competitive, and the Badgers haven’t been all that impressive the past few years. That being said, I’ve always had a soft spot for the type of throwback smashmouth football played in Madison. I think they can get to nine wins and snag a spot on the back end of the rankings.

20 Oregon

Last Season: 10-3

Key Games: 10/14 @ Washington, 10/28 @ Utah, 11/11 vs. USC

Atleast the PAC 12 might go out with a bang. No honest “expert” can accurately predict which one of a half dozen teams will emerge as the champion. That should provide plenty of late Saturday night entertainment in the next few months. QB Bo Nix could put himself in the Heisman conversation if the revamped offensive line protects him. A reconstructed defense via the transfer portal needs to kick it up a notch to get the Ducks back to ten win territory.

19 Texas A&M

Last Season: 5-7

Key Games: 10/7 vs. Alabama, 10/14 @ Tennessee, 10/28 vs. South Carolina

Is Jimbo Fisher on the hot seat?? After signing a ten year $75 million contract in 2018, A&M extended him in 2021. It’s a bold strategy that hasn’t paid dividends on the field, with Fisher having his worst year yet in College Station a season ago. The Aggies had a six game losing skid in October/November, but finished by upsetting LSU and likely costing them a playoff berth. Was 2022 an anomaly?? Can this team rebound in a big way and save their coach’s job, if it is indeed on shaky ground?? The talent is allegedly there, and now it’s time to see results. Jimbo hails from my hometown and we graduated from the same high school, so I’m rooting for him to succeed.

18 Iowa

Last Season: 8-5

Key Games: 9/23 @ Penn St., 10/14 @ Wisconsin, 11/24 @ Nebraska

The Big Ten is tough. At first glance the Hawkeyes might only be the 6th or 7th best team, which could make it difficult for them to finish in the Top 25. Last season Iowa’s defense was stout, allowing only 13 points/game, but the offense struggled, scoring over 30 points just once. Enter Cade McNamara, a former Michigan QB. McNamara will be behind center in Iowa City with two seasons of eligibility. Is that enough to propel an anemic offense into conference title contention?? We’ll see.

17 Texas-San Antonio

Last Season: 11-3

Key Games: 9/2 @ Houston, 9/23 @ Tennessee, 11/25 @ Tulane

In a world full of Tigers, Wildcats, Eagles, and Bulldogs one must give a tip of the cap to the Roadrunners. However, not only do they have a cool nickname, but UTSA is a pretty good football team. They are 23-5 in the past two seasons and have 16 returning starters on both sides of the ball, including quarterback & C-USA MVP Frank Harris. UTSA moves to the AAC this year, which puts them on a collision course with defending conference champion Tulane. That might be one of the better matchups on Thanksgiving Weekend.

16 Air Force

Last Season: 10-3

Key Games: 9/15 vs. Utah St., 10/21 @ Navy, 11/24 @ Boise St.

The Falcons won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy last season by defeating both Army & Navy, but didn’t fare as well in-conference after losing three Mountain West games. They have to remedy that in 2023 by winning games at Boise and at home against Utah St.

15 North Carolina

Last Season: 9-5

Key Games: 9/23 @ Pitt, 11/18 @ Clemson, 11/25 @ NC St.

The ACC is probably the next domino to fall, but it will remain intact for another year and likely produce some rather decent football games. The Tar Heels fell short in both the conference title game & the Holiday Bowl a season ago, but with potential first round draft pick Drake Maye returning at quarterback there is reason to believe that they’ll be atleast as good, and potentially better if the defense rises to the occasion.

14 Texas

Last Season: 8-5

Key Games: 9/9 @ Alabama, 9/23 @ Baylor, 11/4 vs. Kansas St.

Who will start under center for the Longhorns?? Will sophomore Quinn Ewers hold onto the gig, or will much ballyhooed freshman Arch Manning overtake him at some point?? Either way there seems to be a level of legit optimism in the Lone Star State we haven’t seen for quite some time. This will be the final year in the Big 12 before moving to the SEC, so perhaps they’ll make hay while the sun shines. Don’t be shocked if the ‘Horns march into Tuscaloosa in early September and upset ‘Bama.

13 Florida State

Last Season: 10-3

Key Games: 9/3 vs. LSU, 9/23 @ Clemson, 11/25 @ Florida

The Seminoles haven’t received this much preseason hype in several years. That’s what a ten win season will accomplish. Can they sustain that level of success?? The out-of-conference schedules looks a bit dicey, but they’ll be in the ACC title hunt. A late September battle in Death Valley looms large, although I’m not prepared to predict an upset.

12 Notre Dame

Last Season: 9-4

Key Games: 9/23 vs. Ohio St., 10/14 vs. USC, 11/4 @ Clemson

It’s standard operating procedure for the Irish to get preseason love, whether they deserve it or not. To achieve such a lofty ranking they absolutely must pull off an upset or two, which won’t be an easy task. Head coach Marcus Freeman didn’t have a bad first season at all, but nine wins & a Gator Bowl victory is far below the standard in South Bend. As much as I loved seeing my alma mater Marshall Thundering Herd venture into hostile territory and pull off one of the biggest upsets in college football history I understand it was a one in a million twist of fate. Add to that Notre Dame having the misfortune to play Ohio St. in the opener. They won’t begin the season 0-2 again, and will probably be 4-0 before hosting the Buckeyes in a possible revenge game.

11 Utah

Last Season: 10-4

Key Games: 9/9 @ Baylor, 10/21 @ USC, 11/11 @ Washington

The Utes will be vying for their third consecutive (and final, with a pending move to the Big 12 on the horizon) PAC 12 title, but hope that this time it lands them in the playoff or atleast ends with a bowl victory. They’ll need to score a big upset (or two) on the road, but that seems doable under the leadership of sixth year senior QB Cam Rising. I’m not sure another conference championship or a playoff berth is in the cards, but I’m confident this will be a really fun team to watch.

10 Ohio State

Last Season: 11-2

Key Games: 9/23 @ Notre Dame, 10/21 vs. Penn St., 11/25 @ Michigan

Most polls will have the Buckeyes ranked in the Top 5, but I can’t go there. After appearing in the playoff 3 out of the last 4 seasons I believe they’ll fall short in 2023. Road games at The Big House and in South Bend won’t be easy, and after beating Penn St. six straight times I’m not willing to bet there’ll be a seventh. The pendulum feels like it is swinging in the Big Ten ever so slightly, with a few other teams catching up to Ohio St.

9 Alabama

Last Season: 11-2

Key Games: 9/9 vs. Texas, 10/7 @ Texas A&M, 11/4 vs. LSU

I know, I know. Roll Tide. Nick Saban. They always seem to reload, no matter how much production they’ve lost. However, I think replacing three first round draft picks…a Heisman Trophy winning QB, a starting running back, and the best defensive player in college football…is alot to ask. Don’t be surprised if it’s another two loss season for ‘Bama.

8 Penn State

Last Season: 11-2

Key Games: 9/23 vs. Iowa, 10/21 @ Ohio St., 11/11 vs. Michigan

The Nittany Lions have been decidedly uneven in nine seasons under head coach James Franklin. He’s had four 10+ win seasons, but also had four years when they didn’t get past seven victories. This feels like a pivotal moment in the Franklin Era in Happy Valley, and I think they’ll come thru. Can they go into The Horseshoe in Columbus and leave with a win?? Maybe. Hosting the Veterans Day game against Michigan will be huge and could very well decide a spot in the conference title game.

7 Washington

Last Season: 11-2

Key Games: 10/14 vs. Oregon, 11/4 @ USC, 11/11 vs. Utah

Amongst the QBs receiving preseason hype Michael Penix tends to fly under the radar, even after leading the FBS in passing yards last season & becoming Washington’s single season passing leader. That being said, defense wins championships, and the Huskies lost twice last year, despite the offense scoring 30+ points both times. Those losses cost them a chance to compete for the conference title. Can they do just a little better in 2023?? I think it’s possible.

6 Clemson

Last Season: 11-3

Key Games: 9/23 vs. Florida St., 11/4 vs. Notre Dame, 11/18 vs. North Carolina

After six consecutive playoff appearances the Tigers fell short last year, with a surprising three TD loss at Notre Dame and a one point heartbreaker at home to in-state rival South Carolina to blame. It’s not a question of whether or not they’ll be in the hunt…they will. However, with the ACC not being as respected as other conferences it doesn’t take much to dissuade the powers-that-be from including them in the post-season party. Certainly no one from Clemson can complain about being left out one time, but the question is can they make a more convincing argument this season?? It’ll be close, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see atleast one loss before Thanksgiving.

5 Kansas State

Last Season: 10-4

Key Games: 10/14 @ Texas Tech, 11/4 @ Texas, 11/11 vs. Baylor

Texas & Oklahoma have always gotten most of the accolades in the Big 12, which they have now used to finagle their way into the SEC. For anyone paying attention though the Big 12 has been much deeper than those two schools and will survive just fine without them. Manhattan, KS is only the 9th largest city in the 15th smallest state in the nation, but their football team looked pretty damn impressive last year. Most of the starting offense returns, while the defense will have several new faces. At the end of the day I don’t believe the money people will allow the Big 12 to invade their playoff party again, but I think another conference title for the Wildcats is a real possibility.

4 LSU

Last Season: 10-4

Key Games: 9/3 vs. Florida St., 11/4 @ Alabama, 11/25 vs. Texas A&M

The Bayou Bengals have been a model of inconsistency in recent years. After appearing in two national title games in 2007 & 2011 (winning one championship) they fired head coach Les Miles during the 2016 season. They won another national title in 2019 with Ed Orgeron at the helm, but fired him just two years later after a second consecutive losing season. Former Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly apparently thought the heat would be more tolerable in Baton Rouge and led his team to ten wins & a Top 20 ranking a season ago. Now they have eight starters returning on offense but must rebuild a defense that lost seven starting players. To put themselves in this position LSU needs to win 2 out of the 3 games noted. Can they get past Alabama in their division?? If so, can they follow up by defeating Georgia in the SEC title game, or atleast make such a strong impression that they sneak into the playoff even with a loss?? I think there’s a legit chance things could go their way.

3 Southern California

Last Season: 11-3

Key Games: 10/14 @ Notre Dame, 10/21 vs. Utah, 11/11 @ Oregon

You’re going to hear the name Caleb Williams a lot in the next few months. The defending Heisman Trophy winner is the clear favorite once again and could become only the second player to win that award twice. Don’t get it twisted though…USC is much more than Williams. They return 14 starters across the offense & defense from a squad that was 11-3 & ranked #12 in the nation. Utah beat them twice last year, and there’s no way in hell that happens again. Anything less than being undefeated will be a huge disappointment for the Trojans.

2 Georgia

Last Season: 15-0

Key Games: 9/16 vs. South Carolina, 9/30 @ Auburn, 11/18 @ Tennessee

Alabama’s dominance had grown tedious, which might eventually happen with the Georgia, but we’re not there yet. Ten former Bulldogs were selected in the NFL Draft, and that’s after 15 were drafted in 2022. Clearly they’re doing something right in Athens. Junior QB Carson Beck looks like he’ll be the guy replacing the departed Stetson Bennett, and indications are he’s more athletically gifted than his predecessor. They return 70% of last year’s production of defense (I’ll spare you a boring explanation of that statistic), despite guys like Jalen Carter & Kelee Ringo going pro. The player getting the most love, oddly enough, seems to be tight end Brock Bowers, who has drawn comparisons to the 49ers’ George Kittle. There’s no reason to believe we won’t see Georgia in the playoff vying for a third straight title, which hasn’t been done since the Minnesota Golden Gophers did it in 1934-36.

1 Michigan

Last Season: 13-1

Key Games: 9/30 @ Nebraska, 11/11 @ Penn St., 11/25 vs. Ohio St.

Upon Jim Harbaugh’s hiring as Michigan’s 20th head coach in 2015 I predicted he’d have them in playoff contention within three years. I suppose we could debate the specific parameters of contention, but the Wolverines finally got invited to the party in 2021 then returned last season. Perhaps a little behind schedule, but that’s okay. The bigger issue is that they’ve fallen short twice, to Georgia & TCU. There’s no shame in the former, but the latter, wherein a solid second half wasn’t good enough to overcome a two TD first quarter deficit, has likely haunted the guys in Ann Arbor for the past several months. Can they get over the hump?? With 13 returning starters the expectations are thru the roof. It’s pretty simple…win the games they’re supposed to win, beat Ohio St. at The Big House, and don’t stumble in the Big Ten title game. Of course they’ve done those things then fell short in The Final Four. Will this year be different?? I think it just might.

WINNING & MUSING…VOLUME 2.23

In the last installment of W&M I mentioned my lack of productivity in this space the last couple of years. Not much has changed the past few months, though it has become clear that the issue is far bigger than anything I want to address here, mostly because I’m not sure I really understand it. Having said that, a few things have been percolating in my noggin, so I’ve decided to take advantage of this window of inspiration, however small it may be. One thing I can always rely on is the fact that the seasons may change, but the sports calendar always provides something to talk about.

The NBA & its television partners were undoubtedly salivating at the thought of another epic Celtics-Lakers championship series, but they did not get their wish. Instead, we were treated to an all too brief Heat-Nuggets NBA Finals, which was atleast fresh if not particularly compelling. Congratulations to the Denver Nuggets for winning their first NBA Championship in 5+ decades of existence. Center Nikola Jokic proved that he deserved to win his third straight League MVP, and that it was absolutely stolen from him for obvious sociopolitical reasons.

Sticking with basketball, I think enough time has passed that I can offer a reasonably objective reaction to the Bob Huggins controversy you might’ve heard about several weeks ago. I’m not going to rehash the specifics. If you need a refresher The Internet is a wonderful thing. Anyway, as a WV Mountaineer fan I’m not going to defend Coach Huggins. He was wrong. A public figure in 2023 has to be smarter & more aware. Do I think Huggins is a terrible person?? No, I do not. He found himself in a situation where, instead of acting like a basketball coach on a radio show he relaxed a bit too much and acted like a dude hangin’ with his bros while knocking back a few cold ones. The man is 69 years old, and the societal norms he grew up with were far different than what someone a few decades younger has known. Is that an excuse?? I don’t think so…it’s just a fact of life. That doesn’t mean he gets a pass, but on the other end of the spectrum I was a bit taken aback by folks who opined that he should immediately lose his job. The punishment handed down by WVU feels somewhere between appropriate and an over correction, but in general it seems fair. Losing a million dollars is harsh by any measure, but I’m sure Huggins’ comfortable lifestyle won’t be negatively affected too much. To anyone whose feelings were legitimately hurt by his remarks I get it and won’t be too critical of you, but I would also caution that living life as a perpetual victim isn’t the way to go. Rise above. Live your life. Agree to disagree. You’ll be better off in the long run. To those who his remarks didn’t pertain to but still felt the need to publicly virtue signal because you think being offended by everything is cool, all I can say is grow up & get a life.

At the same time that the NBA Finals were happening the NHL Finals were taking place. Y’all know how I feel about hockey though, and the Pittsburgh Penguins subpar season means I paid zero attention to those playoffs. That being said, you might also be familiar with my longstanding Las Vegas fetish, so congratulations to the Vegas Golden Knights, who hoisted the Stanley Cup just six short years after being an expansion team.

My God the Triple Crown races were tedious this year!! I’m not familiar with the ins & outs of particular horse racing rules, but it’d be much more interesting if the number of horses in the field were mostly equal in each race, and if the best horses actually ran all three races. Instead, we had 18 horses in the Kentucky Derby, 7 in the Preakness Stakes (only one had run in..and won…the Derby), and 9 in the Belmont Stakes. For the first time in awhile I didn’t put money on any of the races because there were no cool names or captivating stories that grabbed my attention. Hopefully next year will be more fun.

I watched most of the Indianapolis 500, but per the normal course of events missed the conclusion because of family visiting from out of town. Then the Coca-Cola 600 was rain delayed until Memorial Day and I completely forgot about it. Even the most mundane banalities in my quiet little life haven’t seemed to go my way these past few years.

Speaking of basketball…

Since the last time we met here the Connecticut Huskies won the NCAA Championship, defeating the San Diego St. Aztecs in a snoozefest that was over in the first half. Monday night is Wrasslin’ Night in my humble abode, and I only flipped over to the ball game a couple of times very briefly.

Hey, it’s mid-June and my Pittsburgh Pirates are hovering around .500 and battling for first place in a mediocre (at best) division. That’s good…I guess. To be quite honest I haven’t watched much baseball because nearly three decades of ineptitude from one’s favorite team can scar a person, but I’m glad they’re doing alright and will likely pay more attention thru the summer.

The Madness 2023

Madness in great ones must not unwatched go. – William Shakespeare

No worries Willie Shakes…we’ll be watching. My long weekend is all planned out. Beginning Thursday afternoon the annual hoops smorgasbord will take up the majority of many fans’ time for four straight days…and that’s just the appetizer. The 2023 NCAA Basketball Tournament will conclude on April 3 when new (maybe) National Champions are crowned. What’s odd about March Madness is that the buzz & anticipation peaks at the beginning and decreases as it moves forward. Right now more than five dozen fan bases in every nook & cranny of the country are happy because their team has a shot at the title, but by the end of the month only four will be left standing. Even from a casual fan’s perspective…if you don’t happen to have a dog in the fight…the coolest part of the journey is the opening weekend, which consists of wall-to-wall basketball – 48 games in four days.

You may notice that I do not speak of the “First” Four play-in games taking place on Tuesday & Wednesday night. Perhaps that is unfair, but I am a traditionalist who believes the tournament was perfect with 64 teams and rarely expects much from the superfluous four teams added to the field. It should also be noted that the bracket you see here is my one & only. While I have entered into multiple online contests (because why not) my bracket is the same in every one. I do not have the fortitude or inclination to keep track of multiple entries. I do not have any money invested in these picks because quite honestly I am not that good at prognostication. I am just a regular dude with no special knowledge or insight. I don’t do research or study any kind of data. It takes me about five minutes to fill out my bracket. I have learned thru the years not to go too crazy with first round upsets, but my definition of a true upset might differ from yours. #9 over #8 isn’t a big deal. A 10 seed over a 7 is a mild upset at best. Beyond that and you have the right to get excited.

East

You’ll see alot of chalk with two exceptions. I like the Catamounts of Vermont out of the American East Conference to not only upset #2 Marquette in Round 1, but to make it to the Sweet 16. In the second round they’ll be facing the USC Trojans, who I believe will beat the vaunted Michigan St. Spartans, a team that has played in seven Final Fours in this century alone. I foresee bluebloods Duke & Kentucky surviving the first round, but suffering surprising losses in Round 2. When it’s all said & done I think it’ll be the top seeded Purdue Boilermakers getting past Kansas St. in the Elite Eight. Center Zach Edey, at 7ft.4, is a problem for any opponent.

West

There are some intriguing possibilities in this region, and it could get a little wacky. I am picking the VCU Rams, who made it all the way to the Final Four back in 2011, to beat St. Mary’s in a classic 5/12 upset. They’ll catch a break in the second round because I like the Iona Gaels, coached by the once disgraced Rick Pitino, to beat the 4 seed UConn Huskies. VCU will run into Kansas in the Sweet 16 though, and it won’t end well for them. The 8/9 matchup should be fun, and I like Arkansas to prevail. You’ll probably be surprised to see that I’ve chosen the TCU Horned Frogs to make it to the regional final, a path that includes upsetting Gonzaga in Round 2 and UCLA in the Sweet 16. Nobody is making it past the defending champion Jayhawks though.

Midwest

First off, I don’t believe all that much in the top seeded Houston Cougars. They’ll win easily in the first round, but I’m looking at the Auburn Tigers to pull off an upset after they get past Iowa in Round 1. A similar fate awaits the Miami Hurricanes. Penn St. is the big surprise in this region. I like them to make it all the way to the Elite Eight before falling to Indiana. The Hoosiers might be looking at their first Final Four appearance in over two decades.

South

My West Virginia Mountaineers open the first round Thursday afternoon, and I think they’ll win. However, I would be shocked if WVU stays within ten points of Alabama in Round 2. I’m predicting a pretty big upset with 11th seeded Furman over #4 Virginia, but don’t get too excited Paladin fans…it is likely your team doesn’t make it past the second round. A lot of pundits question whether NC St. even belongs in the tournament, but I think that’ll motivate them to score a first round upset before losing in Round 2. I really like the Baylor Bears to make it out of the region by winning a close one over ‘Bama.

Final Four

That means my Final Four is Purdue vs. Baylor and Kansas vs. Indiana. Nothing too crazy, right?? As much as it pains me to say it, I believe we might end up with repeat champions as the Jayhawks cut down the nets for the fifth time in their history, tying the program with Duke and Indiana.

WINNING & MUSING…VOLUME 1.23

In retrospect we didn’t talk about sports as much last year as usual, which probably made a few folks happy. Of course I wasn’t as prolific overall in 2022, and it remains to be seen if that’ll change anytime soon. It’s been a rough few years in The Manoverse, and quite simply I’m not the same guy I used to be. That’s a whole can o’ worms we won’t open right now though. Instead let’s put a bow on the football season and perhaps address another topic or two.

Congratulations to the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. Did the Philadelphia Eagles get screwed by the stripes?? Yes & no. The controversial defensive holding penalty at the end of the game was legit, although I don’t think it’s a call that should be made in that moment. It was ticky-tacky…technically correct but still not a good look for the officiating crew. In general I thought it was a good game, although the fact that I didn’t have a dog in the fight on any level negatively affected my enjoyment of it. The anthem was alright, as was the halftime show, though neither were my cup o’ tea. It was generally an unremarkable event that I’ve already pretty much forgotten about.

You may recall that Zach & I went into the last week of the regular season tied in our Pigskin Picks of Profundity, and we picked all eight games the same in that final week, necessitating an unprecedented tiebreaker. We both went 3-5, finishing the season at 57-64. However, using the tiebreaker I was “closest to the hole” in 6 of the 8 games, giving me the season victory. I can’t wait to do it all again in a few months.

If I may go off the beaten path for a moment…

I watched with some level of befuddlement recently as Lebron James became the NBA’s all time leading scorer, eclipsing the record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar since 1984. When James broke the record near the end of the third quarter they STOPPED THE GAME and had a whole ceremony on the damn court!! Then the Lakers lost the game!!!! First, I do not have an issue with the record being broken. It’s a record of longevity really, and both Abdul-Jabbar & James played in the NBA for over two decades, with the latter probably continuing on for another year or two. That is undeniably impressive. However, my perception of Lebron James is that he’s always been a Me First kind of guy, both on & off the court. Everywhere he has played the talking heads have whined about Lebron needing more help or Lebron not having enough talent around him to win a championship. That has resulted in him bouncing from Cleveland to Miami back to Cleveland and on to Los Angeles chasing titles. He’s played in ten NBA Finals but won only four championships, all the while blaming the losses on everyone else but the guy in the mirror. Conversely, Michael Jordan won six titles in eight years, and I have zero doubt it would’ve been eight titles had he not taken a soul searching sojourn into minor league baseball in the wake of his father’s murder. Not only did he not run away from Chicago complaining about the talent surrounding him not being good enough, but I cannot fathom any scenario in which Jordan would’ve allowed a game to be completely halted to celebrate an individual achievement. I know he wouldn’t have been okay with his team losing just because he set a record. James’ teammates will continue to say the right things, but I couldn’t help but wonder if they were seething that night, watching the masses fawn all over one guy while ignoring the team’s loss.

I suppose congratulations are also in order for college football’s back-to-back national champions, the Georgia Bulldogs. After a thrilling semifinal round that saw the Bulldogs defeat the Ohio St. Buckeyes with a last second field goal right at the stroke of midnight to welcome a new year, and the TCU Horned Frogs upset the Michigan Wolverines in the highest scoring game of the Fiesta Bowl’s 50+ year history, the title game was an epic disappointment in which Georgia beat TCU like Sonny Corleone battered Carlo Rizzi in The Godfather. I think I changed the channel in the first quarter.

Speaking of college football, Zach bested me in our Bowl-a-Palooza picks. He was 23-20, while I was a putrid 19-24. I’m sure he’d give up that victory in a millisecond though to change the outcome of the Fiesta Bowl and see his Wolverines get a shot at the title.

2022 PIGSKIN PICKS OF PROFUNDITY…WEEK 20

Folks, before we get down to business let’s address the elephant in the room. Zach & I both love football. We’ve both been hardcore Steelers fans our entire lives (my life being just a bit longer than his). Once, when I was a boy in the early 80’s, Pittsburgh lost the last game of the season (I’m not sure which year) and missed the playoffs. I cried like a baby. There are few things more enjoyable for me than vegging out in front of the TV on autumn Saturdays to watch college football from morning until the last west coast game ends around 1am, then watching “seven hours of commercial free football” on NFL RedZone Sunday afternoon. I started doing these picks several years ago because it combines a few things that I love: writing, football, and acting as if I know what the hell I’m talking about. Having said all of that, we are well aware that there’s a real world out there full of serious issues & life changing decisions. Football is usually an escape from those unpleasant realities, but it’s not breaking news to most that football & real life collided a few days ago. I’m not going to offer any medical opinions or hot takes, just sincere good mojo for Damar Hamlin, best wishes for the Buffalo Bills as they move thru the playoffs, and a tip of the cap to coaches, officials, league brass, & even TV talking heads who handled an unprecedented situation in a mostly professional & fair manner.

Okay, so…we are tied coming into this final week. Zach was 3-1 last weekend, while I was 1-3. It goes without saying that the Bills-Bengals game we picked doesn’t count since they didn’t finish it. For our finale we are doing bonus picks…obviously…with each game having some kind of playoff implication. Watch the games. Enjoy them. Don’t feel guilty for doing so. But also don’t forget to call, text, or visit friends & family and tell them you love them. Distractions are fantastic, but reality can be pretty cool as well.

My Season: 54-59

Zach’s Season: 54-59

Tennessee at Jacksonville (-6.5)

This is a Saturday night game on ESPN, and Tennessee will have had a couple extra days of rest since they played on Thursday last week. The winner wins the AFC South. The Jags could win it outright, while the Titans have a better divisional record & would win the tiebreaker. Theoretically Jacksonville could still earn a wildcard berth even with a loss, but too many dominoes would have to fall perfectly, so it’s not a realistic scenario. I told you before the season that “the Jags could be headed in the right direction”, but they have exceeded expectations. The Titans have lost six in a row and simply have too many injuries. Even if RB Derrick Henry plays & looks good I don’t believe they’ll get the job done. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Jacksonville (21-13)

Z’s Pick: Jacksonville (28-17)

Baltimore at Cincinnati (-7)

I’m not sure how the NFL is going to handle this situation. Assuming the “postponed” game is not made up the Bengals will have played one less game, so if they lose they’d be 11-5 and the Ravens would be 11-6. However, in that scenario Baltimore would’ve won both meetings this season, and I suppose it’d make sense that they be declared division champions. Cincinnati could make it easy by winning the game and clearly earning a division title. QB Lamar Jackson has missed the last four games with a knee injury, and it is unknown if he’ll be available for the underdogs this week. It feels like Cincy is peaking at the right time after winning seven in a row. Who am I to question Big Mo(mentum)?? Zach sees it as a contrast of styles…Baltimore’s ball control offense vs. the Bengals’ big play potential…and he thinks the defending AFC champs have a great shot to make another deep run.

My Pick: Cincinnati (27-17)

Z’s Pick: Cincinnati (35-20)

Seattle (-6.5) at LA Rams

The Seahawks need to win and hope Green Bay loses. That would get them the 7th seed in the NFC. A week ago I had too much faith that the defending champion Rams would rekindle some of that fire from last season, but instead they got blasted by the Chargers. Lesson learned. They may not make it far, but it’d be nice to see QB Geno Smith lead Seattle into the postseason. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Seattle (31-17)

Z’s Pick: Seattle (31-10)

New England at Buffalo (-7.5)

The Steelers need New England to lose (seems like old times). That’s good enough for me. Hopefully by the time this one kicks off the outlook for Damar Hamlin will be more encouraging and the Bills will be invigorated to kick ass in his honor. Zach hasn’t lost faith in Pats’ QB Mac Jones, but thinks the rest of the team is a mess.

My Pick: Buffalo (28-10)

Z’s Pick: Buffalo (28-7)

NY Giants at Philadelphia (-14)

Much to my surprise the Giants are playoff bound, and they are locked into the 6th seed. Philly is headed to the playoffs too, but they would prefer to be the NFC East champions, the conference’s top seed, and have a first round bye. That makes this a must win. Having said that, the points are redonkulous. These are not the Giants that I predicted to go 1-16 👀…these Giants are 9-6-1 and want to go to the postseason with momentum. They might not win, but it’ll be closer than two TDs. Zach is on the same page.

My Pick: NY Giants (21-30)

Z’s Pick: NY Giants (20-24)

Dallas (-5.5) at Washington

This rivalry was more fun when it was Cowboys vs. Indians. Anyway, Dallas is also battling for a division crown & the NFC’s #1 seed, but they have to win first. The Commanders were eliminated from playoff contention last weekend, but I have to assume they’d relish the role of spoiler. I don’t have much faith in the Cowboys making a deep playoff run, but I’d be surprised if they don’t go to DC & handle business. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Dallas (34-14)

Z’s Pick: Dallas (28-13)

NY Jets at Miami {even}

It should be one of the most intriguing games of the day, even with both teams limping a bit. The Jets’ quarterback situation has been a mess, and I don’t think it matters whether Zach Wilson, Mike White, or Joe Flacco is the starter. Similarly, the Dolphins have seen starter Tua Tagovailoa battle concussion issues and lost backup Teddy Bridgewater to a finger injury. Third stringer Skylar Thompson was a 7th round pick out of Kansas St. and certainly looked like it last week (Thompson was chosen 15 spots ahead of 49ers QB Brock Purdy…think Miami would like to have a do-over??). There’s a chance Bridgewater might be available, which could help the home team. With so many variables in play it comes down to this for me: my Steelers need the Dolphins to lose. Zach agrees.

My Pick: NY Jets (16-14)

Z’s Pick: NY Jets (17-14)

Detroit at Green Bay (-4.5)

I said five months ago that “the surprise of the division might be Detroit”, and here we are with the Lions not only having an opportunity to snag a playoff berth, but eliminate the Packers in the process. For Green Bay it is simple…win & they’re in. Detroit has to win and hope that Seattle loses. This is the Sunday night contest on NBC, so the Lions will know the outcome of the Seahawks game by the time they kick off. I said a couple of weeks ago that “battling Aaron Rodgers with his back against a wall is dangerous”. The Pack has won four in a row and I don’t think that stops now. Detroit has a bright future and should be congratulated on their significant improvement, but I think their season ends on The Frozen Tundra. Not only does Zach believe Green Bay will win this game, but he thinks they are a legit Super Bowl contender.

My Pick: Green Bay (27-20)

Z’s Pick: Green Bay (28-20)

Y’all may have noticed that, for the first time ever, we predicted final scores. That’s because we agreed on the outcome of all eight games, meaning that we’re going to end up tied no matter what. Therefore, we are doing a “closest to the hole” tiebreaker. The lesser point differential for each game (regardless of the outcome) wins that game. Zach agreed to those terms, and I think it’ll make watching each game even more fun.

2022 PIGSKIN PICKS OF PROFUNDITY…WEEK 19

We’re in the home stretch, and there are a few things to consider. My season lead is only two games. Razor thin. Both of us are under .500, and though it won’t be easy finishing above that mark is always a goal. The NFL playoff picture has become pretty clear, though there are a couple of spots up for grabs and seeding to be determined. As always we strive to offer some variety and not pick games involving the same teams every week, but that becomes difficult late on the season since we logically focus on playoff drama. At any rate, Happy New Year Manoverse. I’m not into making resolutions & don’t believe everything is magically different on January 1st than it was on December 31st. However, I do think there’s something to be said for fresh starts & new beginnings. Hope is a powerful thing, so if you’re heading into 2023 with positivity & confidence I wish you all the best.

My Season: 53-56

Zach’s Season: 51-58

Dallas (-10) at Tennessee

I really thought the Titans would have double digit victories & win their division comfortably. Instead they are 7-8 and in a dogfight to even make the playoffs. Conversely, the Cowboys are 11-4 & will make the playoffs, though the Eagles will win the division. Tennessee has lost five in a row & QB Ryan Tannehill was lost to an ankle injury a couple of weeks ago, so it’s an uphill climb to be sure. Having said that, I’m not buying what the Cowboys are selling and haven’t since Day 1. They may win the game, but it’ll be a lot closer than the oddsmakers believe. Zach is feeling frisky and has more faith in Dallas QB Dak Prescott than the Titans defense.

My Pick: Tennessee

Z’s Pick: Dallas

Jacksonville (-4) at Houston

No one expected much from either club coming into the season, but the Jags are in the playoff hunt, and despite the Texans probably having a shot at the #1 overall pick in next year’s draft they have become a team no one wants to play after beating Tennessee and giving both Dallas & Kansas City all they could handle. I like the upward trajectory Jacksonville is on their way up, but I don’t believe they’re there quite yet. Houston has embraced the role of spoiler, and I think they’ll get the job done on their home turf. Zach thinks it’ll be close, but believes the visitors will overcome all obstacles late in the second half.

My Pick: Houston

Z’s Pick: Jacksonville

Cleveland at Washington (-2.5)

If the Commanders win their final two games they’ll be in the playoffs. They won’t be mathematically eliminated with a loss, but it would certainly complicate things. Conversely, the 6-9 Browns are exactly who I thought they were. I foresee an easy win for the home team. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Washington

Z’s Pick: Washington

LA Rams vs. LA Chargers (-6.5)

The Battle of Los Angeles sure would be alot more fun if the Rams were better than 5-10. Meanwhile, the 9-6 Chargers have clinched a wildcard berth. With nothing to play for except pride I think the defending Super Bowl champs will somehow find a way to win. Conversely, Zach thinks the Rams have too many injuries to key personnel to stay competitive.

My Pick: LA Rams

Z’s Pick: LA Chargers

Buffalo (-1) at Cincinnati

Both teams will playing in the postseason, but that doesn’t mean this game is meaningless. The Bills are battling the Chiefs for the AFC’s top seed & a first round bye, while the Bengals will either win the AFC North or earn a wildcard berth. It’s basically a pick ‘em, and think I like Buffalo given the revenge factor dating back to last years conference title game. Zach boldly predicts a game winning drive led by Joe Burrow, ending with a dramatic score with under a minute remaining.

My Pick: Buffalo

Z’s Pick: Cincinnati

2022-23 COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL-A-PALOOZA (Part Deux)

I haven’t been keeping close track of the early results, but I don’t think I’ve been doing too well with these bowl picks. To be honest I haven’t actually watched many games thus far, and it’s not because I’m super busy…I am not. Perhaps the latter half of the slate will hold more interest for me. I hope The Manoverse had a very Merry Christmas, and whatever you have planned for New Year’s festivities be safe, end 2022 on a high note, and turn the page with hope, faith, kindness, and a renewed spirit.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 28

Military Bowl
Duke vs. Central Florida
2pm/ESPN – Annapolis, MD

Everyone knows Duke is a basketball school, but the football team has done fairly well in recent years. They come into this game 8-4, having won three out of their last four. The Knights are 9-4 but got blasted in the AAC title game. I have always opined that UCF is a sleeping giant, something they’ll have an opportunity to prove when they join the Big 12. This could be a sneaky good game, and I think UCF prevails. Conversely, Zach believes the Blue Devils will win easily.

My Pick: UCF

Zach’s Pick: Duke

Liberty Bowl
Arkansas vs. Kansas
5:30pm/ESPN – Memphis, TN

I see what the cunning linguist bowl organizers did here!! I’m actually low key excited about this one. The Jayhawks started out hot at 5-0, but faded fast, losing six out of their last seven. The Razorbacks almost tracked the same, showing flashes of being good, but not nearly enough. I think both teams are better than the records indicate, and I think we’ll see Kansas recapture some of that early success in late December. Zach, on the other hand, sees speed as a key factor and likes Arkansas.

My Pick: Kansas

Zach’s Pick: Arkansas

Holiday Bowl
Oregon vs. North Carolina
8pm/Fox – San Diego, CA

Perhaps the most underrated game of the postseason. The 9-3 Ducks were six total points away over two games of playing field the PAC 12 title, but of course we all know close doesn’t cut it. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels lost their final three games, including the ACC title game. I think UNC will hang tough for awhile, but look for Oregon to pull away in the 4th quarter. Zach thinks it’ll be a shootout and doesn’t have much faith in Carolina’s defense.

My Pick: Oregon

Zach’s Pick: Oregon

Texas Bowl
Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss
9pm/ESPN – Houston, TX

I don’t know…I’m having a hard time getting juiced about two middle of the pack teams in their respective conferences facing off in the fourth game of the day. I think there will be alot of scoring (definitely take the over), but ultimately the Red Raiders will pull away for a double digit victory. Zach thinks rumors of head coach Lane Kiffin bolting for Auburn factored into them losing 4 out of 5 games down the stretch, and now that the issue has been put to rest they can focus on winning.

My Pick: Texas Tech

Zach’s Pick: Ole Miss

THURSDAY, DEC. 29

Pinstripe Bowl
Minnesota vs. Syracuse
2pm/ESPN – NY, NY

It’s a matchup of two underrated teams. Three of the four Gopher losses came consecutively during a rough October, although it should be noted that they played neither Ohio St. nor Michigan. Syracuse started 6-0 before dropping five straight games. Cold weather in The Bronx shouldn’t bother either club, but ‘Cuse will have more fans in the stands. I foresee a low scoring grinder in which Minnesota controls the clock in the 4th quarter to secure a close win. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Minnesota

Zach’s Pick: Minnesota

Cheez-It Bowl
Florida State vs. Oklahoma
5:30pm/ESPN – Orlando, FL

Five years ago this would have been a marquee matchup. My perception is that Florida St. is a team on the rise, while Oklahoma is a team in transition. I think it’ll be a rather comfortable victory for the Seminoles. Zach feels that it’ll be close, but foresees the same outcome.

My Pick: Florida St.

Zach’s Pick: Florida St.

Alamo Bowl
Washington vs. Texas
9pm/ESPN – San Antonio, TX

It could be a pretty good game. Maybe. I hope. The 10-2 Huskies were back-to-back mid-season losses away from playing for the PAC 12 title, while the 8-4 Longhorns are trying to claw their way back to relevancy before heading to the SEC in the near future. Obviously the crowd will be strongly pro-Texas, but I think Washington will find a way to snag victory from the jaws of defeat late in the contest. Zach sees Texas outscoring their opponents in a high scoring contest.

My Pick: Washington

Zach’s Pick: Texas

FRIDAY, DEC. 30

Orange Bowl
Tennessee vs. Clemson
8pm/ESPN – Miami, FL

Okay, now we’re getting to the good games. Both teams coulda/woulda/shoulda been in playoff contention, but things happened & they fell short. Vols fans are probably still flummoxed by the ass whoopin’ their guys received from South Carolina in mid-November, while the 11-2 Tigers aren’t in the playoff for a second consecutive season after six straight appearances. I’d love to see Tennessee win the game, but after losing QB Hendon Hooker to a torn ACL late in the season I don’t think this one will be particularly close. Zach thinks defense & coaching are the difference makers, which favors Clemson.

My Pick: Clemson

Zach’s Pick: Clemson

Duke’s Mayo Bowl
North Carolina State vs. Maryland
Noon/ESPN – Charlotte, NC

I prefer Miracle Whip, but I suppose that doesn’t matter. The 8-4 Wolfpack fell short of my expectations, while the 7-5 Terrapins get lost in the Big Ten shuffle & really should consider another conference. NC St. might have a bit of a “home” field advantage, and I think that’ll be enough. Zach disagrees and thinks those Tagovailoa genes matter.

My Pick: NC St.

Zach’s Pick: Maryland

Sun Bowl
UCLA vs. Pitt
2pm/CBS – El Paso, TX

The Sun Bowl remains one of the few bowl games not controlled by the Disney Machine. UCLA comes into the game having lost 2 of the last 3 games, while the Panthers are riding a four game winning streak. Normally I’m a big momentum guy, but I think the Bruins find a way to pull this one out. Zach concurs.

My Pick: UCLA

Zach’s Pick: UCLA

Gator Bowl
South Carolina vs. Notre Dame
3:30pm/ESPN – Jacksonville, FL

I had the Gamecocks in my preseason poll, and though they are unlikely to finish in the Top 15 I believe they will be close with a victory. Certainly their wins over Clemson & especially Tennessee were impressive. The Irish haven’t been as good as I thought they’d be, but the back half of they improved in the back half of their schedule. This is what a bowl game should be…an opportunity for two teams that rarely play one another but have something to prove as they build for the future to make a statement. I see bright things ahead for South Carolina, and this could be an important moment for them. Zach, on the other hand, doesn’t think the Gamecocks have any magic left in the tank.

My Pick: South Carolina

Zach’s Pick: Notre Dame

Arizona Bowl
Ohio vs. Wyoming
4:30pm/Barstool – Tucson, AZ

Okay, this is weird. Apparently the game isn’t being broadcast on television at all. I am only vaguely familiar with Barstool Sports, but they’ve expanded into streaming live events now. If you’re a really big fan of either team I am sure you will be able to look around & find it, but one can assume that most casual fans won’t bother. At any rate, I think Wyoming has a more explosive offense and will score on a few big plays. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Wyoming

Zach’s Pick: Wyoming

SATURDAY, DEC. 31

Fiesta Bowl – Playoff Semifinal
Michigan vs. Texas Christian
4pm/ESPN – Glendale, AZ

We made it. We’ve finally gotten to the only games that really matter. I know Zach will pick Michigan, and honestly I can’t disagree. The Horned Frogs have had a great season & deserve all kinds of kudos, but the Wolverines are really good. They have better depth & athleticism. I cannot foresee any circumstance, after falling short against Georgia a year ago, in which Michigan fails to get to the next step. To be honest I wouldn’t totally be shocked if it’s not particularly competitive, although as a football fan I’d prefer a close, exciting game. Zach has decided to be conservative and predict a Michigan victory with a late field goal.

My Pick: Michigan

Zach’s Pick: Michigan

Peach Bowl – Playoff Semifinal
Georgia vs. Ohio State
8pm/ESPN – Atlanta, GA

At this moment it looks like I’ll be home on New Year’s Eve, and I’ll probably be hanging with my crazy neighbor who is a big Ohio St. fan. Can they beat the defending champions?? I don’t know. Both teams are loaded with NFL caliber talent. I think I’d give the coaching edge to Georgia, but I like the Buckeyes’ QB a little better. It’s going to come down to discipline & the mental aspects of the game…turnovers, penalties, & clock management. Obviously the Bulldogs will enjoy a huge “home” field advantage. Is that enough?? I really hope this isn’t one of those disappointing games that is built up to be so fantastic only for it to be a blowout that is essentially over by halftime, although it wouldn’t shock me that much. The Buckeyes played in the 2020 National Championship but a) they lost to Alabama & b) many people thought they didn’t belong anyway because of their Covid shortened season, so perhaps they feel like they have something to prove. Not surprisingly, Zach is predicting a blowout win for Georgia.

My Pick: Ohio St.

Zach’s Pick: Georgia

Music City Bowl
Iowa vs. Kentucky
Noon/ABC – Nashville, TN

These teams deserve more respect. First, everyone will be buzzing about the semifinal games later in the day, plus Alabama is playing on another channel at the same time, and y’all know how that goes. The 7-5 Hawkeyes had a tough stretch in October and are better than the record indicates. The 7-5 Wildcats started strong but faded fast. They’ll be without the services of QB Will Levis, who is hoping to be a Top 5 NFL Draft pick. I think Iowa controls the clock with good ol’ fashioned smashmouth football and grinds out a win. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Iowa

Zach’s Pick: Iowa

Sugar Bowl
Alabama vs. Kansas State
Noon/ESPN – New Orleans, LA

I’m not a gambler and haven’t researched it, but I’d almost guarantee ‘Bama is a heavy favorite and most of the “experts” aren’t giving K-St. a snowball’s chance in Hell. That’s not how I roll though. I believe the Wildcats have an opportunity to improve the collective opinion of the masses about their program and the Big 12 conference. Does that mean I think they’ll win?? No. However, don’t be surprised if the outcome is in doubt much deeper into the fourth quarter than anyone expected. Zach, though he agrees on the outcome, falls in line with the masses in predicting a huge & fairly easy Tide win.

My Pick: Alabama

Zach’s Pick: Alabama

MONDAY, JAN. 2

ReliaQuest Bowl
Mississippi State vs. Illinois
Noon/ESPN2 – Tampa, FL

Because the NFL takes precedence on Sunday the traditional New Year’s Day college games are happening the next day. This was formerly known as the Hall of Fame & then the Outback Bowl. In case you are curious ReliaQuest is a cybersecurity company in Tampa. Obviously the big storyline will be the recent passing of Bulldogs coach Mike Leach, and I have to think that every football fan outside of Champaign, IL will be pulling for State. The Illini had a six game hot streak in the middle of the season but lost 3 out of their final 4. Mississippi St. is 8-4 in a roller coaster year. The X’s & O’s don’t really matter, because we all know the best outcome is a State victory in honor of Coach Leach. Zach is confident Illinois can slow the pace of the game to their comfort level & grind out a victory.

My Pick: Mississippi St.

Zach’s Pick: Illinois

Citrus Bowl
LSU vs. Purdue
1pm/ABC – Orlando, FL

The Bayou Bengals are unpredictable to say the least. At 9-4 they had the opportunity to win the SEC & maybe sneak into the playoff, but they also lost to 5-7 Texas A&M. Which LSU team will show up?? The Boilermakers are another overlooked Big Ten team that were never in the playoff hunt but did earn a spot in the conference title game. This has the potential to be a fantastic game, but I think LSU has the edge in speed & big play ability. Zach doesn’t think it’ll be particularly competitive.

My Pick: LSU

Zach’s Pick: LSU

Cotton Bowl
Southern California vs. Tulane
1pm/ESPN – Arlington, TX

The Trojans would’ve been playoff bound had they not screwed the pooch against Utah in the PAC 12 title game. Tulane has had a nice 11 win season, including an AAC Championship, but let’s be real…this might be one of the worst bowl matchups in recent memory. Southern Cal will be playing third stringers by halftime and still win by atleast three TDs. Zach agrees.

My Pick: USC

Zach’s Pick: USC

Rose Bowl

Utah vs. Penn State
5pm/ESPN – Pasadena, CA

I have to give the Rose Bowl credit…even in a playoff obsessed environment they’ve figured out how to remain relevant & make the game still feel like an event. Or maybe I just perceive it that way because I am of a certain age and embrace the history & pageantry of college football. It doesn’t hurt that the Big Ten & PAC 12 are deep leagues with several talented teams. Utah might be the most dangerous team out there. I guarantee none of the four playoff contenders would want to face the 10-3 Utes. The Nittany Lions won’t be intimidated though. Their only two losses were against Michigan & Ohio St., which is nothing to be ashamed of obviously. I really like Utah and believe they could be a playoff team next season, so why not get the party started early?? Zach thinks it will be close, but agrees on the outcome.

My Pick: Utah

Zach’s Pick: Utah

MONDAY, JAN. 9

National Championship Game

Michigan/TCU vs. Georgia/Ohio State
7:30pm/ESPN – Los Angeles, CA

I’m looking at a Michigan-Ohio St. matchup, while Zach thinks it will be Michigan vs. Georgia. Either way it’s going to be a tough task for the Wolverines. The Buckeyes have tremendous offensive prowess, while Georgia is an intimidating defensive force. Michigan marched into Columbus at the end of November and left with a huge 3 TD+ victory, but the stakes are much higher now. At the end of the day I’m not sure the Wolverines are there quite yet. I think they might have to wait another year to get over the hump. Surprisingly Zach agrees, although he thinks it’ll be the defending champs going back-to-back by defeating his beloved Wolverines.

My Pick: Ohio St.

Zach’s Pick: Georgia

2022 PIGSKIN PICKS OF PROFUNDITY…WEEK 18

Merry Christmas Manoverse!! To be honest I’ve struggled a bit to find my holiday mojo this year, but there have been moments. Unfortunately last weekend was not a seasonal highlight, as Zach (3-2) bested me (1-4), although I am holding on…barely…to the overall lead. This is an odd week, as the vast majority of games are being played on Saturday. There are Thursday & Monday night games, as well as a triple header on Christmas Day. So it looks like I’ll be flipping backing forth between football & movies for four days, which is fine with me. Who needs a wife, children, joy, and a house filled with love & happiness?? 👀

My Season: 50-54

Zach’s Season: 49-55

Seattle at Kansas City (-9.5)

At 7-7 the Seahawks haven’t been eliminated from playoff contention, but they’ve lost 4 out of the last five games and seem to be on a downward spiral. Conversely, the Chiefs have won 7 out of 8 and will win their division for the seventh consecutive year. Their goal now is to overcome Buffalo for the AFC’s top seed & a first round bye. Seattle will be without receiver Tyrone Lockett, which simplifies things for KC’s defense. I’d love to see a competitive contest, but I don’t think we will. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Kansas City

Z’s Pick: Kansas City

Cincinnati (-3.5) at New England

The Bengals have once again proven to be the best team in the AFC North, though they haven’t clinched the division title just yet. Meanwhile, the once mighty Patriots need a little help to back into the postseason. This is one of those games where I wish both teams could lose, but since that isn’t possible I believe Cincy goes into enemy territory & comes out with a hard fought victory. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Cincinnati

Z’s Pick: Cincinnati

Philadelphia at Dallas (-5.5)

Philadelphia is the best team in the NFC, although if the season ended right now Dallas would be in the playoffs too. The last time these teams met in Philly in mid-October the Cowboys lost by nine points, and despite the possibility that Eagles’ QB Jalen Hurts could be sidelined with a shoulder injury I don’t think the outcome will be any different. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Philadelphia

Z’s Pick: Philadelphia

Green Bay at Miami (-4.5)

Despite an atrocious 6-8 record the Packers have not been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, but they need a whole lot of things to go right. The Dolphins would be in the playoffs right now, but they’ve lost three straight games, a trend that has to stop immediately. It is certainly advantageous to be playing in the coziness of South Florida instead of the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field, but battling Aaron Rodgers with his back against a wall is dangerous. Zach, on the other hand, foresees Miami snagging a close victory late in the game.

My Pick: Green Bay

Z’s Pick: Miami

Tampa Bay (-6.5) at Arizona

Perhaps the only thing scarier that Rodgers in a must-win scenario is Tom Brady backed into a corner. The 6-8 Bucs play in the worst division in the NFL, so theoretically they could lose and still be okay, so long as Carolina, Atlanta, & New Orleans continue to be terrible. Meanwhile, the 4-10 Cardinals will be starting their third string QB due to injuries. On paper this should be a massacre…but will it be?? I gotta tell you folks…The Voices are screaming at me to roll the dice on this one…but I just can’t. I’d love to, but it wouldn’t be smart. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Tampa Bay

Z’s Pick: Tampa Bay

2022-23 COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL-A-PALOOZA (Part 1)

This exercise is always fraught with a variety of pitfalls & unknown wildcards. Coaching changes. Players sitting out to “prepare for the NFL Draft”. Injuries. Teams that are disappointed with their season. And now we can add the freakin’ transfer portal to all of that. A slew of players have already entered into the portal, which obviously changes team chemistry & depth. It is unusual for a star player to go elsewhere, but football fans know how valuable that extra receiver, offensive lineman, or cornerback can become, so it’s certainly a factor. All of these things are why we don’t pay attention to point spreads or take these picks too seriously at all. Instead, we choose to sit back, relax, and simply enjoy a month long football feast. As always, I discourage wagering since we have no idea what we’re talking about with most of these games, but you do you. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, & Buon Natale.

FRI. 12/16

Bahamas Bowl
Miami (OH) vs. Alabama-Birmingham
11:30am/ESPN

I love the fact that two very average teams from two second rate conferences get a trip to The Bahamas as a reward for their mediocrity. God bless those kids. However, just in case the lads begin to get a little cocky, the fact that they’re kicking off at 11:30am on a Friday should bring them back down to Earth. I’ve got to pull for Miami simply because it’s the alma mater of my man Ben Roethlisberger. Conversely, though he believes the teams are evenly matched, Zach likes UAB’s ground game to pound out a victory.

My Pick: Miami (OH)

Zach’s Pick: UAB

Cure Bowl
Troy vs. UTSA
3pm/ESPN – Orlando, FL

The 11-2 Trojans are the Sun Belt Champions, while the 11-2 Roadrunners rule C-USA. There’s a chance it could be a sneaky good game, but I think Troy is the better team. Zach foresees a shootout, but thinks it’ll be UTSA quarterback Frank Harris who makes the difference.

My Pick: Troy

Zach’s Pick: UTSA

Sat. 12/17

Fenway Bowl
Cincinnati vs. Louisville
11am/ESPN – Boston, MA

This is a weird one because former Louisville head coach Scott Satterfield was just hired to be the new coach at Cincinnati. Odd. Anyway, the 9-3 Bearcats finished third in the AAC, a far cry from a season ago when they faced off against Alabama in The Playoff. Meanwhile, the Cardinals were a solid 7-5 in the ACC and just welcomed former quarterback Jeff Brohm home as their new head coach. Brohm left Purdue for the job, which seems like a step down, but perhaps he knows something we don’t. Anyway, these new coaches won’t be on the sidelines until next season, so I’m not sure what that means for the bowl game. Cincy isn’t the team they were last year, but I think they’ll channel some of that old mojo and snag a victory. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Cincinnati

Zach’s Pick: Cincinnati

Celebration Bowl
Jackson State vs. North Carolina Central
Noon/ABC – Atlanta, GA

The Tigers have received plenty of attention the past few years thanks to soon-to-be former head coach Deion Sanders. Despite being named the new head coach at Colorado Coach Prime will lead Jackson in the bowl game, and he deserves kudos for that. Jackson is actually undefeated, which many of y’all might not know. The Eagles are 9-2, so let’s not overlook their achievements. That being said, I can’t imagine Prime Time going out a loser. Who knows what may lie ahead in Boulder, but in this situation Sanders gets his proper farewell. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Jackson St.

Zach’s Pick: Jackson St.

New Mexico Bowl
SMU vs. BYU
2:15pm/ESPN – Albuquerque, NM

The 7-5 Cougars certainly didn’t live up to my expectations, but there were some highlights. A double OT win over Baylor in September had everyone dreaming big, as did a narrow win on the blue turf at Boise. Unfortunately going 0 for October doomed any Top 10 dreams. The Mustangs have an identical 7-5 record, with a tough out of conference slate not turning out well for them. I’ll be surprised if BYU doesn’t roll big in this one, but that belief is based on very little. Zach thinks BYU is the more physical team.

My Pick: BYU

Zach’s Pick: BYU

LA Bowl
Washington State vs. Fresno State
3:30pm/ABC – Los Angeles, CA

I assume that whenever a Mountain West team gets a shot against a PAC 12 opponent it’s a big deal. So can the 9-4 Bulldogs hang with the 7-5 Cougars?? I think they can for awhile, but depth means a lot in the 4th quarter. Zach believes in Fresno’s defense.

My Pick: Washington St.

Zach’s Pick: Fresno St.

LendingTree Bowl
Rice vs. Southern Mississippi
5:45pm/ESPN – Mobile, AL

Am I missing something when it comes to the state of Alabama?? Why are there three bowl games being played there?? I don’t know the answer to that question, but I do have information concerning something else about which you may be curious. How are the Owls playing in the postseason?? Well, apparently when there aren’t enough six win teams there is something called Academic Progress Rating used to choose amongst 5-7 teams, and Rice tops the list. Student athletes earn one point for staying in school & one point for being academically eligible. APR is calculated by dividing a team’s total points then multiplying by 1000. It’s a bit convoluted, but I’m cool with rewarding kids for staying in school & doing well academically. That being said, I don’t believe it will translate to a victory over the 6-6 Golden Eagles. Zach is on the same page.

My Pick: Southern Miss

Zach’s Pick: Southern Miss

Las Vegas Bowl
Oregon State vs. Florida
7:30pm/ABC – Las Vegas, NV

Vegas baby!! Vegas!!!! God bless these youngsters for turning a solid yet underappreciated season into a free trip to Sin City. The 9-3 Beavers lost close games to USC & Washington, and there’s no shame in that. They actually beat in-state rival Oregon, costing the Ducks a conference title opportunity. Meanwhile, the 6-6 Gators have had a roller coaster year, and starting QB Anthony Richardson has declared for the NFL Draft & won’t be playing. That’s not good news. Zach thinks the Beavers have been solid all season and looks for that to continue.

My Pick: Oregon St.

Zach’s Pick: Oregon St.

Frisco Bowl
Boise State vs. North Texas
9:15pm/ESPN – Frisco, TX

The 7-6 Mean Green play their home games in Denton, TX (a Dallas suburb known for being the home of pro wrestling’s Von Erich family & the birthplace of legendary rocker Meat Loaf), which is only a half hour away from Frisco. So basically this is a home game for them. The 9-4 Broncos are used to much bigger stages than this, although they haven’t played in a New Year’s game since 2014. This one kicks off at the end of a pretty full day of action, and I’m not sure the matchup is compelling enough to make me change the channel from a plethora of Christmas movies that’ll probably be on that night. Zach is impressed with the Mean Green offense, but believes they’ll fall short in this game.

My Pick: Boise St.

Zach’s Pick: Boise St.

MONDAY, DEC. 19

Myrtle Beach Bowl
Marshall vs. Connecticut
2:30pm/ESPN – Myrtle Beach, SC

I’m a Marshall alum, so y’all know I’m not picking against my guys. After a monumental September upset of Notre Dame in South Bend the Herd lost three out of the next four games, ultimately finishing 8-4. Perhaps my expectations are too high, but I find that record slightly disappointing. The 6-6 Huskies got off to a rough start but improved in the second half of the season. The TV ratings probably won’t be great, but I’ll be watching. Zach thinks UConn’s defense is terrible & the Herd will have a field day.

My Pick: Marshall

Zach’s Pick: Marshall

TUESDAY, DEC. 20

Potato Bowl
Eastern Michigan vs. San Jose State
3:30pm/ESPN – Boise, ID

I feel bad for teams playing in this group of bowl games. The initial postseason fun factor has worn off. It’s the week of Christmas and folks are busy with last minute preparations. The time slots aren’t great. Even hardcore football fans need a breather before the really good matchups start. I suppose being in a bargain basement bowl game is better than being shut out of postseason play altogether though. The 8-4 Eagles out of the MAC and the 7-4 Spartans out of the Mountain West met in the 1987 California Bowl. Eastern Michigan won that game 30-27, and they haven’t won a bowl game since. I think 35 years is long enough. Conversely, Zach foresees an easy Spartan victory.

My Pick: Eastern Michigan

Zach’s Pick: San Jose St.

Boca Raton Bowl
Liberty vs. Toledo
7:30pm/ESPN – Boca Raton, FL

The 8-4 Flames already lost head coach Hugh Freeze to Auburn and hired Jamey Chadwell away from Coastal Carolina, although I assume neither will be on the sidelines for this game. The 8-5 Rockets won the MAC title, and I expect them to score another solid victory. Zach thinks we’re in for a low scoring defensive struggle that favors Liberty.

My Pick: Toledo

Zach’s Pick: Liberty

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21

New Orleans Bowl
South Alabama vs. Western Kentucky
9pm/ESPN – New Orleans, LA

I suppose The Big Easy is another pretty cool landing spot. The Jaguars are 10-2 and riding a five game winning streak, but didn’t even play in the Sun Belt title game because of an October loss to Troy. The 8-5 Hilltoppers played an extra game this season, per an NCAA rule that awards teams for traveling to Hawaii. I don’t foresee this being much of a contest, and expect South ‘Bama to win easily. Zach, on the other hand, believes WKU will score a last second victory.

My Pick: South Alabama

Zach’s Pick: Western Kentucky

THURSDAY, DEC. 22

Armed Forces Bowl
Baylor vs. Air Force
7:30pm/ESPN – Fort Worth, TX

After going 12-2 & finishing in the Top 5 last season the Bears were a very mediocre 6-6 this year. The Falcons are a very solid 9-3, but had the misfortune of finishing a distant second in their division of the Mountain West. I think Baylor’s speed & athleticism will be too much, and they’ll pull away in the second half. Zach makes note of Baylor’s big game experience, and likes them as well.

My Pick: Baylor

Zach’s Pick: Baylor

FRIDAY, DEC. 23

Gasparilla Bowl
Wake Forest vs. Missouri
6:30pm/ESPN – Tampa, FL

It’s time for your annual history lesson. José Gaspar was an apocryphal Spanish pirate. “The Last of the Buccaneers” allegedly lived in the Tampa area, plundering & pirating across The Caribbean & The Gulf of Mexico during the late 18th to early 19th century, amassing a huge fortune by taking prizes & ransoming hostages, and died by leaping from his ship rather than face capture by the U.S. Navy, leaving behind an enormous and as-yet undiscovered treasure. Hence the name of this bowl game. As far as the matchup, the 7-5 Demon Deacons are another team that fell back to Earth after going 11-3, appearing in the ACC title game, and winning the Gator Bowl a season ago. The Tigers are 6-6 but gave most of their opponents, including #1 Georgia, all they could handle. I expect more of the same…a fun & competitive game that Wake ultimately finds a way to win. Zach predicts the same result in a low scoring battle.

My Pick: Wake Forest

Zach’s Pick: Wake Forest

Independence Bowl
Houston vs. Louisiana
3pm/ESPN – Shreveport, LA

The 7-5 Cougars are going to have to kick it up a notch moving into the Big 12 next year. The 6-6 Ragin’ Cajuns fell off considerably after three straight double digit win seasons. You may think this looks like a home game for Louisiana, but Houston isn’t that much further from Shreveport than Lafayette, so that isn’t the case. This has potential to be a sneaky good game, and since most of the country will be off work & finished Christmas shopping (😉🙏🏻😂) perhaps there’ll be some eyeballs glued to their TV. It’ll be close, but I think Louisiana will grind out a victory. Zach wants all the gamblers out there to take the over, and thinks Houston will prevail.

My Pick: Louisiana

Zach’s Pick: Houston

SATURDAY, DEC. 24

Hawaii Bowl
Middle Tennessee State vs. San Diego State
8pm/ESPN – Honolulu, HI

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day, or in this case, Christmas Eve. If my calculations are correct an 8pm kickoff here in the eastern time zone means it will be a 2pm start on the big island. I think alot more people will be watching Ralphie Parker, George Bailey, & Ebenezer Scrooge (or the Steelers game on NFL Network) than paying attention to the this, but hey, have fun on your Hawaiian vacation of a lifetime kids. The Blue Raiders are a 7-5 middle-of-the-pack CUSA team, while the Aztecs are a 7-5 upper middle tier Mountain West team. This might be one of those games that nobody watches but everybody wishes they would have after seeing the highlights on Sportscenter. I think SD St. will win a shootout. Zach agrees.

My Pick: San Diego St.

Zach’s Pick: San Diego St.

MONDAY, DEC. 26

Quick Lane Bowl
Bowling Green vs. New Mexico State
2:30pm/ESPN – Detroit, MI

No, the NCAA isn’t altruistic enough to skip having ball games on Christmas out of respect for Jesus & family. Christmas is on Sunday this year so there are NFL games on the schedule. Anyway, the 6-6 Falcons versus the 6-6 Aggies is about as prosaic as it gets, and I can’t put a shiny happy spin on it. I think Bowling Green gets the victory, but I doubt if I’ll be paying attention. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Bowling Green

Zach’s Pick: Bowling Green

TUESDAY, DEC. 27

First Responder Bowl
Memphis vs. Utah State
3:15pm/ESPN – Dallas, TX

ESPN is looking to cure our post-Christmas blues with a full day of gridiron action, but I’m a bit skeptical. The 6-6 Tigers had a tough second half of the season, while the 6-6 Aggies were the opposite, starting slow then improving in the latter stages. I know absolutely nothing about either team, but The Voices are telling me to lean toward Utah St. Zach foresees the same result, mostly because of Utah St.’s offensive line.

My Pick: Utah St.

Zach’s Pick: Utah St.

Birmingham Bowl
Coastal Carolina vs. East Carolina
6:45pm/ESPN – Birmingham, AL

Whoever is running the state of Alabama, could y’all throw some advice toward the dolts who’ve been ruining West Virginia for decades?? Coastal recently lost head coach Jamey Chadwell to Liberty, which seems like an odd move on his part. QB Grayson McCall is gone as well…into the transfer portal. The Pirates are an inconsistent 7-5 so who knows what to expect. My vibe is that East Carolina wins comfortably, while Zach thinks some time off is exactly what Coastal needed. He believes they’ll be ready to win the Battle of Carolina.

My Pick: East Carolina

Zach’s Pick: Coastal Carolina

Camellia Bowl
Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern
Noon/ESPN – Montgomery, AL

Montgomery to Birmingham is an hour & a half drive, so theoretically you could attend two bowl games in one day. As a matter of fact, I’d be willing to bet there will be people doing that exact thing. It could be a fun post-Christmas adventure. Both teams are 6-6, though it wasn’t long ago that both had ten win seasons. It’s a pretty even matchup, but I think the Eagles will win late, with a turnover or big special teams play being a deciding factor. Zach thinks GA Southern’s option attack is a difference maker.

My Pick: Georgia Southern

Zach’s Pick: Georgia Southern

Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Oklahoma State vs. Wisconsin
10:15pm/ESPN – Phoenix, AZ

Now here’s a sneaky good treat. I picked the wrong horse in the Big 12, as it was TCU to emerge from the formidable shadow of Oklahoma & Texas to earn a playoff berth, while the Cowboys finished 7-5 after a 5-0 start. I can’t criticize the Badgers too much for finishing a pedestrian 6-6 in the Big Ten. There’s no shame in losing to Ohio St., Iowa, and Michigan St. Head coach Paul Chryst was fired barely a month into the season, and former Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell will take the reins next year. It’s a late night kick for us here in the east, but I might just have to sneak in a nap so I can stay up to watch. I think OK St. is probably slightly better, though I expect a close contest. Zach is looking at another low scoring slugfest, which he believes favors Wisconsin.

My Pick: Oklahoma St.

Zach’s Pick: Wisconsin

Let’s take a break. We’ll be back soon with the rest of the bowl games. Happy Holidays everyone!!

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