Part, The First
Part, The Second
Part, The Third
Part, The Fourth
Part, The Fifth
Part, The Second
Part, The Third
Part, The Fourth
Part, The Fifth
Part, The Seventh
Part, The Eighth
There was a time that New Year's Day served as an all-you-can-eat buffet of College Football goodness. There were over a dozen games played on the day, and back then modern-day sports bars and sports books were not yet invented, so you were forced to pick and choose the games you wanted to watch. Pre-ESPN some of the games weren't even televised in your area.
But, while waiting for your ham, cabbage and black-eyed-peas to finish cooking, you had all of the college football you could handle, packed in on the last day for your viewing pleasure.
It was glorious and, like many other good things about College Football, it is now gone the way of the Dodo. Still, we have 5 games on the docket today, let's take a final peek....
Outback Bowl
Mississippi State(-7) vs. Iowa [42.5] ML: MSU -300 UI: +240
Be it team Bloomin' Onion (Mississippi State) or Team Coconut Shrim (Iowa) the Outback Bowl is typically a mundane affair that's spiced up with some clever marketing and a surprise or three thrown in for good measure.
Mississippi State started off the year with gigantic expectations which failed to materialize, but kept them overranked throughout the year thanks to their position in the SEC West. The Bulldog's biggest issue is on offense, where QB Nick Fitzgerald and company are extremely one-handed. They can run the ball with the best of them, but the forward pass seems to be a task too difficult for them to comprehend at times. On defense this team is very strong, only conceding 24 points to Alabama, in a game that wasn't close however. Still, that's the highest number of points they surrendered all year.
Iowa's best win of the season came early on against in-state rival Iowa State. Other than that they lost to every good team they faced. From that perspective, their 8-4 season feels hollow. QB Nate Stanley has not shown up in big games against quality opponents, he'll have to do better if Iowa is to have a chance. To beat Mississippi State they're going to need a passing game to go along with the running of Mekhi Sargent, and they're going to need a lot of it. Iowa's defense is solid, if not spectacular, but they are well coached and usually seem to be in the right place at the opportune time.
To me, this game comes down to team speed. Does Iowa have enough of it to do some clever things against the Bulldogs, and can the Bulldogs utilize theirs to make enough things happen to win the game. I'm seeing this more as a mud-wrestling match, where neither team plays all that well and the game gets rightfully hidden on ESPN2.
Pick: Iowa to COVER -7 and UNDER
Prediction: MSU 13 Iowa 10
Playstation Fiesta Bowl
LSU (-7) vs. UCF [54.5] ML: LSU -300 UCF +250
The Tigers started off the season like a house on fire, beating Miami, Auburn and a host of small schools before inexplicably faltering against Florida. They picked it back up with big wins over Georgia and Mississippi State, before falling to Alabama in a 29-0 drubbing that exposed every flaw. They stumbled through the rest of the season before losing what was arguably the game of the year to Texas A&M. The Tigers have a nasty defense, and a spotty offense. If you've seen every recent LSU team then you've seen this one.
UCF has not lost a football game in 25 tries. They are undefeated, and have found themselves to be directly in the crosshairs of the SEC media machine. They are a target, most of the country hates them, their emotional leader and starting QB (and possibly their best player) McKinzie Milton went down with a horrific injury late in the year, and they are exactly where they want to be. Although the American has struggled this year it's hard to say that UCF has the same issues. It's too bad their game against NC State was blown away by a Hurricane, because they might be viewed more favorably had they played that game and won (as many think they would have).
So it's David vs. Goliath, again, in a bowl game where the P5 foe will say that they weren't motivated should UCF win, or say "we told you so" should they prevail. If you're a fan of college football, and not a partisan of either team or an "S-E-C!" chanting moron then you should be rooting for UCF here. Because their winning continues to expose the CFPI for the institutional fraud that it is.
Pick: UCF to COVER -7
Prediction: LSU 24 UCF 31
Vrbo Citrus Bowl
Kentucky vs. Penn State (-6.5) [57.5] ML: KU +210 PSU -260
Kentucky was one of the better feel-good stories of the year, and the SEC East was theirs to lose this year. But, as is usual, they flubbed it when it mattered losing first to Texas A&M, then to Georgia and finally, inexplicably, to Tennessee. Benny Snell is the best running back in the country you haven't seen much of, and they play an aggressive form of football on both the offensive and defensive side this is fun to watch.
Penn State was the trendy pick to upset Ohio State in the B1G this year. A loss to Ohio State, then Michigan State leading up to a drubbing by Michigan pretty much ended that talk. They have a fun QB in Trace McSorely but have been proven deficient in other skill positions now that Saquan Barkley is wearing NY Giant blue. Defensively they can be somewhat of a mess at times, but are solid for the most part.
The Citrus Bowl is a New Years Day game that is NOT a NY 6 bowl and sometimes the performances on the field prove that out. I'm wondering how both teams come into this game, and what mindset they have. I think Kentucky is the better team however as Penn State has not beaten any of the really good teams they have played.
Pick: Kentucky to WIN on the ML
Prediction: Kentucky 30 Penn State 27
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual
Washington vs Ohio State(-6.5) [57.5] ML: UW +215 OSU -265
Just another in a long line of shoddy match-ups in this year's NY6 bowls. At least this one has a historical angle of featuring the Pac-12 and B1G Champions facing off. You watch because it's college football played on the grandest stage of them all. Southern California as the sun sets makes for an outstanding backdrop. That said, the Rose Bowl Parade might be more entertaining TV.
Washington was primed and ready to make it to the CFPI. But an early loss to Auburn and dumb losses to both Oregon and Cal (?!?!?) washed those dreams away. Washington struggles on offense, but RB Myles Gaskin can be a handful when he wants to be. QB Jake Browning has been infuriatingly inconsistent this year, fumbling and throwing away the ball at big moments. They are competent on defense, but undersized and (to be totally honest) slow.
Ohio State will look back on the Purdue loss and say "what if?" Because they pretty much sleep-walked through the season before putting it all together in a 62-39 laugher against Michigan. Losing Joey Bosa for the year to injury, and a business decision, certainly stung on defense a little, but they have such a prolific offense that it didn't matter much in the end. Heisman finalist Dwayne Haskins seems to be putting it all together at the same time, and RBs JK Dobbins and Mike Weber should run all over the Huskies. Add to this the fact that this is Urban Meyers last game as coach and it all feels like it's coming up Roses for the Buckeyes.
Both the PAC-12 and B1G got shut out of the CFPI this year, and Ohio State wants to show the committee that they made a grievous error. Drink Heavy Huskies, this one's gonna hurt.
Pick: Ohio State to COVER -6.5 and OVER
Prediction: Ohio State 53 Washington 17
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Texas-Austin vs. Georgia (-13) [58] ML: UT-Austin +400 UGA -550
"Texas is (not) back!" but they're getting closer. And we're getting closer and closer to the point that they're going to have enough talent that OU beating them won't hinge solely on Tom Herman's bad in-game coaching decisions. Offensively the Longhorns can score with the best of them, having finally figured out the QB position in the person of Sam Ehlinger. Defensively they are still working on it, but they're better than they used to be at least.
Georgia had visions of the CFPI dancing in their heads, and even were still being touted as "One of the four BSECT teams in the country" by talking heads who are paid to pimp the SEC even after their SEC Championship loss to Alabama (ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit actually moved them UP in his rankings after the loss, that SEC check is in the mail Kirk). Jake Fromme is a decent QB, they run the heck out of the ball with a 2-headed monster, and they have deep talent at the WR position. On defense they are stout as well, with athleticism, speed and power all over their 2-deep roster.
I think in this game we're going to find out just how far UT-Austin truly is from being "back" as UGA, while disappointed, is going to take an Uga sized bite of angry out of Bevo's flanks.
Pick: Georgia to COVER -13 and OVER
Prediction: UT-Austin 13 Georgia 52
And, after the Sugar Bowl, that will be it. I will not blog about the CFPI championship, nor will I watch more than maybe the Coaches Cast for the first half.
After this I'll post a bowl recap and then take about a week off from sports blogging, and will come back with some stuff on the Pegasus Invitational in horse racing and some college basketball stuff as conference play begins.
Enjoy the games and thanks for following along on what has truly been a slightly dull and disappointing college football 2018.
Part, The Eighth
There was a time that New Year's Day served as an all-you-can-eat buffet of College Football goodness. There were over a dozen games played on the day, and back then modern-day sports bars and sports books were not yet invented, so you were forced to pick and choose the games you wanted to watch. Pre-ESPN some of the games weren't even televised in your area.
But, while waiting for your ham, cabbage and black-eyed-peas to finish cooking, you had all of the college football you could handle, packed in on the last day for your viewing pleasure.
It was glorious and, like many other good things about College Football, it is now gone the way of the Dodo. Still, we have 5 games on the docket today, let's take a final peek....
Outback Bowl
Mississippi State(-7) vs. Iowa [42.5] ML: MSU -300 UI: +240
Be it team Bloomin' Onion (Mississippi State) or Team Coconut Shrim (Iowa) the Outback Bowl is typically a mundane affair that's spiced up with some clever marketing and a surprise or three thrown in for good measure.
Mississippi State started off the year with gigantic expectations which failed to materialize, but kept them overranked throughout the year thanks to their position in the SEC West. The Bulldog's biggest issue is on offense, where QB Nick Fitzgerald and company are extremely one-handed. They can run the ball with the best of them, but the forward pass seems to be a task too difficult for them to comprehend at times. On defense this team is very strong, only conceding 24 points to Alabama, in a game that wasn't close however. Still, that's the highest number of points they surrendered all year.
Iowa's best win of the season came early on against in-state rival Iowa State. Other than that they lost to every good team they faced. From that perspective, their 8-4 season feels hollow. QB Nate Stanley has not shown up in big games against quality opponents, he'll have to do better if Iowa is to have a chance. To beat Mississippi State they're going to need a passing game to go along with the running of Mekhi Sargent, and they're going to need a lot of it. Iowa's defense is solid, if not spectacular, but they are well coached and usually seem to be in the right place at the opportune time.
To me, this game comes down to team speed. Does Iowa have enough of it to do some clever things against the Bulldogs, and can the Bulldogs utilize theirs to make enough things happen to win the game. I'm seeing this more as a mud-wrestling match, where neither team plays all that well and the game gets rightfully hidden on ESPN2.
Pick: Iowa to COVER -7 and UNDER
Prediction: MSU 13 Iowa 10
Playstation Fiesta Bowl
LSU (-7) vs. UCF [54.5] ML: LSU -300 UCF +250
The Tigers started off the season like a house on fire, beating Miami, Auburn and a host of small schools before inexplicably faltering against Florida. They picked it back up with big wins over Georgia and Mississippi State, before falling to Alabama in a 29-0 drubbing that exposed every flaw. They stumbled through the rest of the season before losing what was arguably the game of the year to Texas A&M. The Tigers have a nasty defense, and a spotty offense. If you've seen every recent LSU team then you've seen this one.
UCF has not lost a football game in 25 tries. They are undefeated, and have found themselves to be directly in the crosshairs of the SEC media machine. They are a target, most of the country hates them, their emotional leader and starting QB (and possibly their best player) McKinzie Milton went down with a horrific injury late in the year, and they are exactly where they want to be. Although the American has struggled this year it's hard to say that UCF has the same issues. It's too bad their game against NC State was blown away by a Hurricane, because they might be viewed more favorably had they played that game and won (as many think they would have).
So it's David vs. Goliath, again, in a bowl game where the P5 foe will say that they weren't motivated should UCF win, or say "we told you so" should they prevail. If you're a fan of college football, and not a partisan of either team or an "S-E-C!" chanting moron then you should be rooting for UCF here. Because their winning continues to expose the CFPI for the institutional fraud that it is.
Pick: UCF to COVER -7
Prediction: LSU 24 UCF 31
Vrbo Citrus Bowl
Kentucky vs. Penn State (-6.5) [57.5] ML: KU +210 PSU -260
Kentucky was one of the better feel-good stories of the year, and the SEC East was theirs to lose this year. But, as is usual, they flubbed it when it mattered losing first to Texas A&M, then to Georgia and finally, inexplicably, to Tennessee. Benny Snell is the best running back in the country you haven't seen much of, and they play an aggressive form of football on both the offensive and defensive side this is fun to watch.
Penn State was the trendy pick to upset Ohio State in the B1G this year. A loss to Ohio State, then Michigan State leading up to a drubbing by Michigan pretty much ended that talk. They have a fun QB in Trace McSorely but have been proven deficient in other skill positions now that Saquan Barkley is wearing NY Giant blue. Defensively they can be somewhat of a mess at times, but are solid for the most part.
The Citrus Bowl is a New Years Day game that is NOT a NY 6 bowl and sometimes the performances on the field prove that out. I'm wondering how both teams come into this game, and what mindset they have. I think Kentucky is the better team however as Penn State has not beaten any of the really good teams they have played.
Pick: Kentucky to WIN on the ML
Prediction: Kentucky 30 Penn State 27
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual
Washington vs Ohio State(-6.5) [57.5] ML: UW +215 OSU -265
Just another in a long line of shoddy match-ups in this year's NY6 bowls. At least this one has a historical angle of featuring the Pac-12 and B1G Champions facing off. You watch because it's college football played on the grandest stage of them all. Southern California as the sun sets makes for an outstanding backdrop. That said, the Rose Bowl Parade might be more entertaining TV.
Washington was primed and ready to make it to the CFPI. But an early loss to Auburn and dumb losses to both Oregon and Cal (?!?!?) washed those dreams away. Washington struggles on offense, but RB Myles Gaskin can be a handful when he wants to be. QB Jake Browning has been infuriatingly inconsistent this year, fumbling and throwing away the ball at big moments. They are competent on defense, but undersized and (to be totally honest) slow.
Ohio State will look back on the Purdue loss and say "what if?" Because they pretty much sleep-walked through the season before putting it all together in a 62-39 laugher against Michigan. Losing Joey Bosa for the year to injury, and a business decision, certainly stung on defense a little, but they have such a prolific offense that it didn't matter much in the end. Heisman finalist Dwayne Haskins seems to be putting it all together at the same time, and RBs JK Dobbins and Mike Weber should run all over the Huskies. Add to this the fact that this is Urban Meyers last game as coach and it all feels like it's coming up Roses for the Buckeyes.
Both the PAC-12 and B1G got shut out of the CFPI this year, and Ohio State wants to show the committee that they made a grievous error. Drink Heavy Huskies, this one's gonna hurt.
Pick: Ohio State to COVER -6.5 and OVER
Prediction: Ohio State 53 Washington 17
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Texas-Austin vs. Georgia (-13) [58] ML: UT-Austin +400 UGA -550
"Texas is (not) back!" but they're getting closer. And we're getting closer and closer to the point that they're going to have enough talent that OU beating them won't hinge solely on Tom Herman's bad in-game coaching decisions. Offensively the Longhorns can score with the best of them, having finally figured out the QB position in the person of Sam Ehlinger. Defensively they are still working on it, but they're better than they used to be at least.
Georgia had visions of the CFPI dancing in their heads, and even were still being touted as "One of the four BSECT teams in the country" by talking heads who are paid to pimp the SEC even after their SEC Championship loss to Alabama (ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit actually moved them UP in his rankings after the loss, that SEC check is in the mail Kirk). Jake Fromme is a decent QB, they run the heck out of the ball with a 2-headed monster, and they have deep talent at the WR position. On defense they are stout as well, with athleticism, speed and power all over their 2-deep roster.
I think in this game we're going to find out just how far UT-Austin truly is from being "back" as UGA, while disappointed, is going to take an Uga sized bite of angry out of Bevo's flanks.
Pick: Georgia to COVER -13 and OVER
Prediction: UT-Austin 13 Georgia 52
And, after the Sugar Bowl, that will be it. I will not blog about the CFPI championship, nor will I watch more than maybe the Coaches Cast for the first half.
After this I'll post a bowl recap and then take about a week off from sports blogging, and will come back with some stuff on the Pegasus Invitational in horse racing and some college basketball stuff as conference play begins.
Enjoy the games and thanks for following along on what has truly been a slightly dull and disappointing college football 2018.
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