I did not get to see the IB this year, but rather than bitching about the refs or a gadget formation, I would focus on the fact that Alabama gave up 48 points to a team quarterbacked by Stevie Nix. Still, having been on the other end of a pissed off Saban Bama team before, I would not want to face them in a Bowl game.
I also did not get to see any of the LSU/TAMU game either, but what stood out to me in reviewing was the 7. Not that TAMU has been an offensive juggernaut this year, but limiting a team to 169 yards total offense for anyone is impressive. The Tiger D has been worse than usual this year, and they will need a performance like that against a team like THE or ClemSIN. As an aside: Burreaux was a nice touch.
God, we nearly lost to Maryland.
Harbaugh clearly did not like the “talent, preparation, coaching” question. Probably because it is all three. Even when it looked like Methchicken was working its way back, as with the PSU, it never occurred to me that Methchicken could take the game. THE could only give it away. One of the articles I read – not sure which – put it aptly: THE is competing with Alabama and ClemSIN. Methchicken is competing with Wisconsin.
Mount Union lost in the second round of the DIII tournament this year for the first time since the Clinton Administration. In fact, the Clinton Administration’s first term: 1994. No current Purple Raider player was alive when that streak began.
Lots of carnage yesterday – Missery, Old Missississippi, BC, South Florida…. But not Clay Helton. Yet.
RIP Pat Sullivan. One of the first players I actively remember watching play.
Relevant Conference Championship games in order of confidence:
Virginia 41, ClemSIN 24
Just kidding. ClemSIN 42, Virginia 7. ClemSIN went through its slough of despond and has come out of it the team we expected them to be. I understand why they are not the top seed. I understand why they are not the second seed. I still expect them to repeat. Virginia may get a mercy score, but no more. I look forward to the matchup against THE. THE has a great defense, but they have not played against a quarterback anywhere as good as Jennifer Lawrence, or a back as good as Etienne.
THE 38, Wisconsin 7
Teams change, grow, learn. College football can be weird. You cannot necessarily use a previous result to predict a future one. But in this case, I see nothing to indicate that the result of the rematch will be any different. THE is moving like a tremendous machine. Secretariat at the Belmont imagery chosen for its aptness. Dobbins has had his best games against THE’s toughest opponents (and us). Fields looks a little banged up but still threw for four touchdowns Saturday. And defensively, they locked down Methchicken in the second half with Young being schemed out most of the game. Actually, from what I saw, Methchicken’s tackles were quick enough to take his speed rush way outside. Something to watch for.
Oklahoma 42, Baylor 17
I take the second half of the first game as my guide. I think Oklahoma has more talent, and it never hurts to rely on that. See what I did there?
Memphis 35, Cinci 31
Did Cinci learn anything from last week? Probably. Will what they learned help them this week? Maybe. Have I learned how to spell Cinncinatti without spell check? Clearly not. It is tough to beat a closely matched team twice in a short period of time. Still, I think Memphis can do it, hallway dog pooped La Quinta and all. Arguably, I have a tough time letting go of irrelevant things. On to the NY6.
Oregon 24, Utah 21
I have really serious questions about this one. Primarily, they revolve around Justin Herbert and his ability to play to his talent level. Utah has been rolling along, offensively and defensively, but they really have not had a big test; the only currently ranked team they played beat them. A win here puts Oregon in the Rose Bowl. A loss will put Oregon… in the Rose Bowl. Lots to play for here….
the Louisiana State 42, Georgia 27
I have no confidence in this pick at all, really. Last Saturday’s suppression of TAMU may be a one-off, and the same could be said for Georgia’s offensive explosion against GTU. I am picking this as iff those two games did not exist. Burrow has the Heisman on lock down, and the defense will do just enough against a sputtering Georgia offense. But I had Georgia as my #2 at the start of the year, and I am a stubborn, stubborn man. I would not be surprised by a Georgia win. Which would be a really interesting bit of uncertainty going into the final Committee meeting. Assuming ClemSIN and THE remain unbeaten and a one loss Georgia as the God’s Conference Champion… Non-champ LSU with a great resume? Oklahoma with a lesser schedule and a four month lethargy? Or Utah, if they beat Oregon for their only impressive win of the season?
Irrelevant Conference Championship games:
Central Michigan 31, Miami of OH-IO 21
In the battle for the Players Not Good Enough to Get Recruited by Freaking Indiana Conference Championship game. If I do the Bowl Pool again this year: I AM PICKING AGAINST EVERY PNGEtGRbFI CONFERENCE TEAM.
Appalachian State 35, Louisiana 27
App State has an outside chance at the NY6, but it would take stumbles by both Memphis and Boise State. I don’t think either stumbles.
Florida Atlantic 35, UAB 27
Will FAU still have its head coach? There are a lot of schools out there who are probably willing to make a mistake and go Kiffining, and I expect he would jump at the opportunity, even this week.
Boise State 38, Hawai’I 17
Hey, nice year for the Rainbows.
Wisconsin-Whitewater 28, Mary Hardin, Mary Hardin-Baylor 21
Two traditional D III powers. UWW is actually, by my count, a total of 5 U’s. That counts for something in my book.
North Central 49, Delaware Valley 38
Delaware Valley is not even in Delaware. NC has a pretty cracker jack offense; 699 yards against the Mount.
Muhlenberg 42, Salisbury 27
I’ll steak my reputation on this one. That reputation being, a guy who will go for a bad joke over accuracy whenever necessary.
Poll
