BOWL SEASON (and playoff season also)!!

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Bowl picks (Part 2- December 18th)

We got a couple of samples of bowl season recently, but now it gets good as we have our first "multi-bowl" day of the season. Let's see what we have (All times are Eastern, and bowl games on ESPN)

Boca Raton Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. James Madison [5:30] (This is the first time that WKU and JMU are facing each other at the FBS level, and both of them had pretty good seasons. But what's this about Western Kentucky missing 22 players thanks to the portal? And is it true that they're on their 3rd-string QB because of it? Meanwhile, JMU has a lot less opt-outs AND can pray on WKU's bad rushing defense.)
My prediction: JAMES MADISON 30-24

Art of Sport LA Bowl: California vs. UNLV [9:00] (In case you're wondering, Art of Sport is some skin-care and shampoo brand. And the game is being hosted by Rob Gronkowski... I think. Anyway, if you take away all the noise we got a battle of west-coast teams. UNLV is trying to get their 20th win over a 2-year span [which is amazing], but they don't have their head coach [Barry Odom is gone and Dan Mullen won't coach the game] or offensive coordinator [who's now the head coach at Sacramento State]. Meanwhile, Cal has been pretty quiet, but won't have QB Fernando Mendoza at the game [he's transferred out]. So who will keep it together more?)
My prediction: UNLV 24-21

More bowl picks to come...

 

[Xeliou66]

I’ll pick James Madison and UNLV tonight as well - I’m afraid both games could be blowouts. Memphis/WVU was much more entertaining than expected last night though, so who knows.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Bowl picks (Part 3- Thursday and parts of Friday)

On to the next set of bowl games, as I take care of some business before the big deal this weekend (All times are Eastern):

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Sam Houston [7:00, ESPN2] (A simple bowl battle is expected here. And it's Sam Houston's 1st-ever bowl! So can they win it? Well, Sam Houston's defense has looked WAY better than GSU's during the season, but Sam Houston has a LOT more opt-outs to deal with [thanks to the coaching change]. At least both teams are keeping their starting QB's for the game.)
My prediction: GEORGIA SOUTHERN 27-24

StaffDNA Cure Bowl: Ohio vs. Jacksonville State [12:00 tomorrow, ESPN] (StaffDNA is some sort of employment firm in Texas... I think. But who cares? This is the bowl game where almost all of the money goes to cancer research! And we got a good matchup here: It's Champion vs. Champion! The Ohio Bobcats [fresh off their first MAC title since 1968] vs. The Jacksonville State Gamecocks [who won Conference USA in just their 2nd-year in the FBS]! And even better, there are NO big opt-outs here!
So who will win? Let's ask Rich Rod- oh wait, he left to return to West Virginia as coach. Did Ohio's great coach leave, too? No? Well then...)
My prediction: OHIO 24-21

Gasparilla Bowl: Tulane vs. Florida [3:30 tomorrow, ESPN] (Hmm... The opt-outs are just coming out of Florida's side [no big surprise]. But I don't think that'll decide this good-looking game, to be honest with you. I think momentum will. See, Tulane went from the doorstep of a CFP berth to unranked off of tough losses to Memphis and Army. Meanwhile, the Gators are just happy to be IN a bowl game and not having to worry about their coach Billy Napier [at least for now]. If Florida stops Makhi Hughes, they should be fine.)
My prediction: FLORIDA 26-20

Tomorrow, I start my predictions for the CFP. Brace yourselves...

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

CFP 1st Round Picks

Okay... Time for me to face the ridicule for the first time on this thread. Time for me to pick the games in the CFP 1st Round:

Indiana @ Notre Dame [8:00, ABC] (I don't blame ABC for giving this CFP game it's own night. You got a household name in Notre Dame. You got the Cinderella team of the year in Indiana. And [in case you haven't noticed], this is a in-state rivalry! YAY!
As for the actual game, we all know that Notre Dame is tough [and can even win a shootout when we saw them last time]. But their recent record in bowl games/playoff games are notoriously bad. As for the Hoosiers, their proud offense speaks for itself, but in their only ranked-vs.-ranked matchup [against Ohio State] they lost. Hmm...)
My prediction: INDIANA in an upset 34-31

SMU @ Penn State [12:00 tomorrow, TNT] (In TNT's first big foray into college football, they'll give us this game. It'll be Big 10 power Penn State, taking on an SMU program that is back in the national title race for the first time since 1983. The experts will be watching how Penn State's strong rushing attack deal with the proud run defense of SMU, and how QB Drew Allar will fare after saying he's staying in "Happy Valley" for his senior year. But the X-factor for me is the Mustang offense; how will Kevin Jennings and company fare in a sea of white?)
My prediction: PENN STATE 27-21

Clemson @ Texas [4:00 tomorrow, TNT] (Wait. This is the 1st-ever meeting between Texas and Clemson? ...Why do I find that so hard to believe? Anyway, by crashing the CFP party Dabo Sweeney and Clemson still has an argument with their "No transfer portal" policy. But can Cade Klubnik and the other Clemson players strike a real blow and shock the Longhorns? Not if they can't break Texas' powerful defense. And don't worry about the Longhorn offense; it might not be flashy, but it gets the job done.)
My prediction: TEXAS 30-22

Tennessee @ Ohio State [8:00 tomorrow, ABC] (For most people, this is the big 1st-round matchup to see. Heck, Pat McAfee will be doing a version of his show at this game; that's how excited he is for it. Anyway, I'll bet Ryan Day is excited for this game too; now his offense doesn't have to overpower anyone and can be their old, explosive selves. For Tennessee, we'll see if QB Nico Iamaleava can perform beyond his years again and if RB Dylan Simpson can lead the way for them. But will Josh Heupel have his team as hungry for a win as Ohio State will be?)
My prediction: OHIO STATE 38-32

Okay, there are my picks. I'm just hoping that my faith in the Big 10 isn't ill-fated...

 

[Xeliou66]

I’m picking ND, SMU, Texas and Tennessee to win. Tonight’s game is interesting, but I think the weather conditions favor ND as they have a strong D and a good rushing attack while Indiana is mainly a passing team. I think the Irish D will limit the Hoosiers effectiveness.

SMU/Penn St is a toss up, but I’ll never trust James Franklin in a big game, and I think SMU has the better offense.

Texas should handle Clemson IMO, Clemson is the weakest playoff team, as long as Texas isn’t sloppy I think they win with ease.

Ohio St just doesn’t impress me at all, so I think the Vols and their strong O will have a good game and I don’t have any confidence in Will Howard to keep up with them and I don’t think Ryan Day can win big games - he’s another James Franklin IMO

 

[dtgold88]

I’m picking ND, SMU, Texas and Tennessee to win. Tonight’s game is interesting, but I think the weather conditions favor ND as they have a strong D and a good rushing attack while Indiana is mainly a passing team. I think the Irish D will limit the Hoosiers effectiveness.

SMU/Penn St is a toss up, but I’ll never trust James Franklin in a big game, and I think SMU has the better offense.

Texas should handle Clemson IMO, Clemson is the weakest playoff team, as long as Texas isn’t sloppy I think they win with ease.

Ohio St just doesn’t impress me at all, so I think the Vols and their strong O will have a good game and I don’t have any confidence in Will Howard to keep up with them and I don’t think Ryan Day can win big games - he’s another James Franklin IMO

I mean, Day has had his issues for sure but they did beat Clemson in a rout in the CFP in his second year. Yes, did lose to UGA but to be fair few even gave them a chance and his offense went up and down the field on what was considered the best D in the country by far in the game. Had in position to make a kick for the win. Sadly, seeing that K before the kick could tell he had no chance.

Yes, be nice to beat UM more but has had other big games in the BIG against top 10 or even top 5 teams and won all but one. Beat a highly ranked ND team as well.

Do I think we win? I think it will be close and have been reluctant to pick any of my teams to win since The Drive.

I think the same of PSU/SMU. close but think PSU pulls it out. .........Also think TX/Clemson close with a TX win.......... ND rolls tonight.

 

[Xeliou66]

Hope the Gators can win and finish the season strong, they really turned it around in the regular season after a lousy start, I’m very pleased that they didn’t quit after a rough start and got better as the season went on - I finally feel like things are pointing up for the Gators.

Ohio beats Jax St, good game between 2 conference champs

 

[Xeliou66]

Florida is outgaining Tulane by a lot but we’re only up 6-0 because of 2 Lagway picks.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

They are trying so hard to get this "warm weather SEC teams" will finally have to play in the cold narrative.
As if frozen ass Knoxville, TN is suddenly Honolulu......
Tennessee is cold. But, even if it was LSU, the argument doesnt really work for me.

The truth is that almost no college teams have experience playing lots of really cold games each year.
The season is over by the 3rd or 4th week of November.......nobody is playing outdoor February games...

September, October, and maybe even early November games are just fine about 90% of the country.......especially the day games.
I guess that leaves a little 2 week subset of late November Night Games in parts (not all) of the country?? Maybe......

But that is hardly lots of experience to give one team a huge advantage.

 

[Xeliou66]

Gators destroying Tulane, up 26-0 with 6 to go, great finish to the season for the Gators - beating Ole Miss, LSU and FSU to finish the regular season and then a dominant bowl win. I feel like things are finally trending upward for the Gators.

 

[Xeliou66]

Hoosiers quickly go 3 and out, ND’s D looked strong as usual.

 

[Xeliou66]

Leonard picked off on his first pass!

 

[Xeliou66]

And Rourke gets picked in the red zone!

 

[TheSnowdog]

Indiana rushed that play too quickly
Lot of teams do that if they think the previous play is going to be reviewed

The problem is that when you go to quickly you don’t execute or have the right play

In the case of Indiana rushing that play quickly results in a ND interception

 

[TheSnowdog]

And just like that…

Indiana had the momentum and threw it away with the terrible interception and boom ND runs it in on the next play for a TD

 

[Xeliou66]

Wow, 99 yard TD run for ND

 

[PhilSimms11]

Helluva 98-yard TD run by Jeremiah Love. Notice he actually crossed the goal line with the ball clutched to his chest. That's how it's done, Jonathan Taylor.

 

[Xeliou66]

Shanked punt for Indiana, 20 yards, why not just go for it on 4th and 8 if your punter can’t even get more than 20 yards?

 

[10HtownRebs]

Two really bad teams... But but we're 11-1. All wins are equal

 

[UK Cowboy]

And just like that…

Indiana had the momentum and threw it away with the terrible interception and boom ND runs it in on the next play for a TD

Indiana is about to get ran. Said it before, they are a 6th place team in the SEC, at best