College Football
Week 18 – Kellen Moore top candidate at Boise State
New coaches,
Heisman finalists, 10 bowl games, it was a busy Christmas week
I think it is safe to say the Christmas holidays officially began on Monday, December 21. If you weren’t ready for Santa Claus by then, you needed to kick up your eggnog with something stronger.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney kicked up Ohio State’s eggnog – that’s for sure. News broke that Swinney voted Ohio State 11th in his Coaches Poll ballot – yes, 11th. Don’t you just know that will be on the wall in Ohio State’s locker room. Clemson plays Ohio State on January 1 in a CFP semifinal game. Obviously, Swinney doesn’t think Ohio State belongs in the playoff.
I happen to agree with Dabo. When you’ve only played six games, do you belong in the Top 4? I would have positioned the Buckeyes at 6th or 7th. Nick Saban agrees with Dabo. The Alabama coach had Ohio State 5th on his ballot. Obviously, Saban doesn’t think Ohio State belongs in the playoff. Nor does Georgia coach Kirby Smart. He had the Buckeyes 6th on his ballot.
Meanwhile, Nebraska coach Scott Frost doesn’t think Notre Dame belongs in the playoff. Frost had the Irish 5th on his ballot. Texas A&M was 4th.
Santa Claus brought South Alabama an early Christmas present. He gave the Jaguars a new coach – Kane Wommack. Wommack had been the defensive coordinator at Indiana. Wommack, in turn, wasted no time hiring his offensive coordinator. He announced that Major Applewhite would be the OC at South Alabama. Applewhite has been an offensive analyst for Nick Saban at Alabama the past two seasons.
Applewhite’s hiring by Wommack at South Alabama was interesting. Just recently, new Arkansas State coach Butch Jones, who has been an offensive analyst and consultant for Nick Saban at Alabama the past three seasons, announced that Applewhite would be his offensive coordinator at Arkansas State. Apparently, Applewhite decided he liked Mobile better than Jonesboro, Arkansas.
LSU fans got their Christmas wish. LSU coach Ed Orgeron fired his defensive coordinator Bo Pelini. Pelini hasn’t exactly been the most popular guy in Baton Rouge this season. The Tigers defense gave up an average of 35 points a game. Pelini’s second stay in Baton Rouge was brief – just one season. He was previously the defensive coordinator for LSU from 2005 to 2007. His departure then was a brighter one. He left to become the head coach at Nebraska. This time he was fired.
Appalachian State and North Texas kicked off the 2020 bowl season on December 21st in the inaugural Myrtle Beach Bowl. The Little Mountaineers downed the Mean Green, 56-28. App State’s Camerun Peoples rushed for 319 yards and five touchdowns.
On Tuesday, December 22, Swamp Mama and I drove to the panhandle to spend Christmas with Princess Gator, Gator Gabe and Gator Babe. As we drove North on I-95 and West on I-10, I couldn’t help but think of our drive to the panhandle last Christmas. That drive was in persistent rain – light to heavy – but constant rain. I thought it would never end. This year, it was a perfect day for driving – crystal clear blue skies with temps in the 60s.
In the first of two bowl games on Tuesday, Nevada jumped out to a 26-7 first half lead over Tulane. Then the Wolf Pack held off the Green Wave in the second half. Nevada beat Tulane, 38-27, in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. It was 37 degrees in Boise at kickoff.
And speaking of Boise, Santa Claus delivered a present to Auburn from the Idaho city. Talk about surprises, this was definitely a surprising present. Auburn announced that Boise State coach Bryan Harsin would be the Tigers new head coach. The announcement caused one Auburn player to comment, “Wonder if the turf at Jordan-Hare Stadium will become orange or blue?”
Yes, the hire caught everyone by surprise. Harsin was not on anyone’s radar – other than the radar of Auburn athletic director Allen Greene. During the course of Auburn’s search, we heard the names Hugh Freeze, Kevin Steele, Steve Sarkisian, Mario Cristobal, Brent Venables, Billy Napier and Bill Clark. Some of those turned Auburn down. But not Kevin Steele. The Auburn defensive coordinator and current interim coach wanted the job. He appeared to be the favorite to get it. There was definitely a pro-Steele faction. But there was also an anti-Steele faction. Guess which faction won?
Harsin has been the head coach at Boise State for the past seven seasons – 2014-2020. Prior to that he was the head coach at Arkansas State for one season – 2013. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Texas (2011-2012) and Boise State (2006-2010). Harsin, 44, is a native of Boise, Idaho. He played quarterback for Boise State in the late 1990s. His overall head coaching record at Boise State and Arkansas State is 76-24.
Tuesday’s second bowl game saw BYU pass and run over UCF, 49-23, in the Boca Raton Bowl. BYU quarterback Zach Wilson was hot. UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel was not.
Wednesday, December 23, we learned that two more coordinators were fired. Jim Harbaugh fired his defensive coordinator, Dan Brown. Brown had been the DC at Michigan for five seasons. And Baylor head coach Dave Aranda fired his offensive coordinator, Larry Fedora, after just one season as OC. Fedora is a former head coach at North Carolina.
Two of the last three schools – Arizona and ULM – in the hunt for a new coach announced their search was over. New England Patriots quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch was named the new coach at Arizona. Fisch, 44, has spent most of his career coaching quarterbacks and offenses for various NFL teams.
Meanwhile, ULM’s new coach is a blast from the past. Former Auburn and Akron coach Terry Bowden was named the new coach at ULM. Bowden, 64, has spent the past two years as a graduate assistant coach at Clemson where he has been working on a master’s degree. He coached Akron from 2012 to 2018, before being fired after the 2018 season. From 1993 to 1998, Bowden was the coach of Auburn. Following a 12-year sports media career with ABC television and Westwood One Radio, he coached North Alabama from 2009 to 2011.
So that just leaves Boise State as the only school looking for a new coach. The Broncos need to find a replacement for Bryan Harsin who left for Auburn. Unless we have any more firings or perhaps a coach or two leaving for the NFL, that should be it for the new coaches. As it stands now, 11 schools will have a new coach in 2021. Nine schools fired their coach and two schools lost their coach to an opening at another school.
The first bowl game on Wednesday turned out to be a romp. Georgia Southern smashed Louisiana Tech, 38-3. Tech played two quarterbacks and between them they threw four interceptions.
Late in the afternoon on December 23, Swamp Mama, Princess Gator, Gator Gabe, Gator Babe and I drove down to Rosemary Beach. We strolled around the town, visiting various shops and taking in the sights and sounds of the season. Once we built up an appetite, we found a great little spot – Cowgirl Kitchen – for dinner.
After dinner, we drove on down 30A to Seaside and Watercolor, enjoying all the holiday lights. Then it was time to head back home, but not until stopping first for some coffee and milkshakes at the Donut Hole in Inlet Beach.
Memphis and Florida Atlantic faced off in the Montgomery Bowl. The Tigers clipped the Owls, 25-10.
Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, honoring the nation’s best defensive player. The 6-foot-4, 260 pound Collins totaled 54 tackles and four interceptions this season. He had three sacks against Oklahoma State. Collins was the runner-up for the Butkus Award, honoring the nation’s best linebacker, which went to Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
Christmas Eve day started off a rainy day in Florida’s panhandle – very rainy. So it was a good day for games – Dominoes and Hearts.
The rain stopped around mid-afternoon. The sun came out, the skies cleared and the temperature began dropping – mid-30s in the late afternoon.
The voting for the Heisman Trophy is complete. The four players who received the most votes were named the finalist on Christmas Eve. The four, not in voting order, are Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith and Florida quarterback Kyle Trask. The winner will be announced on January 5.
We did learn the 5th through 10th-place finishers in the voting. They were 5. Alabama running back Najee Harris, 6. Iowa State running back Breece Hall, 7. Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, 8. BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, 9. Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book and 10. Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.
If I had a vote in the Heisman race, my ballot would have looked like this:
- Mac Jones
- Trevor
Lawrence
- DeVonta Smith
In the only bowl game on Christmas Eve, Hawaii downed Houston, 28-14, in a mild upset. After the game, Houston fans took to social media to trash the Cougars coach Dana Holgerson. He is 7-13 in two seasons at Houston.
Christmas Day was a beautiful day in Florida’s panhandle – cold but beautiful.
In the first Christmas Day bowl game in 17 years, Buffalo edged Marshall, 17-10, in the Camellia Bowl. Tied 10-10, Buffalo scored the winning touchdown with 1:09 to go in the game.
Three bowls were played on Boxing Day – the day after Christmas. In the first of the three, Louisiana held off UTSA, 31-24, in the First Responder Bowl. Tied 24-24, Louisiana scored the winning touchdown with 7:16 to go in the fourth quarter.
In Mobile, Alabama, Georgia State dominated Western Kentucky in the Lending Tree Bowl. The Panthers beat the Hilltoppers, 39-21. Georgia State’s Destin Coates rushed for 117 yards.
The five of us spent part of the afternoon playing Black Jack. But I’m not really trying to teach my grandkids how to gamble.
Of the 10 bowl games played last week, they definitely saved the best one for the last – the Cure Bowl between Liberty and Coastal Carolina. The two teams came into the bowl with a combined record of 20-1. Liberty got the upper hand in the beginning and led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. But Coastal Carolina came back in the second quarter. At halftime, Liberty’s lead was cut to four points – 17-13. The two were pretty even in the third quarter. But Liberty did extend its lead to five points. After three quarters, the Flames led 24-19.
Early in the fourth quarter, it appeared that Liberty was going to put the game out of reach. The Flames scored and went up 31-19. Three minutes later, the Chanticleers scored and trailed 31-26. Five minutes later, Liberty’s Alex Barbir kicked a 32-yard field goal. The Flames led by 8 points – 34-26. With 3:01 to go in the game, Coastal Carolina scored on a five yard pass from Grayson McCall to Greg Latushko. McCall followed the score with a two-point conversion run. The game was tied – 34-34.
Then the craziness began. Liberty moved the ball down the field in a little less than two minutes. The Chanticleers were out of time outs. On first and goal with 1:30 on the clock and the ball on the Coastal Carolina 5-yard line, Liberty chose not to score. Quarterback Mark Willis moved laterally to the center of the field and took a knee.
You got the feeling that Liberty was going to run the clock down, call a time out and kick the winning field goal. However on the next play it appeared that running back Joshua Mack temporarily forgot the plan. He was about to cross the goal line, but abruptly stopped just inches short of the goal. As he did, he fumbled. Coastal Carolina recovered the ball. Liberty blew it.
The game went into overtime. Liberty had the ball first. The Chanticleers held the Flames for three downs. On fourth down, Barbir kicked a 44-yard field goal. Liberty was up by three points. Coastal Carolina got the ball but could do no better. The Chanticleers were stopped for three downs. On fourth down, Coastal Carolina’s Massimo Biscardi set up for a 42-yard field goal. But the kick was blocked. Liberty beat Coastal Carolina, 37-34 (OT).
Yesterday morning was another cold one in the Florida panhandle. The ground was covered in frost. Our car was covered in a thick frost. After several fun-filled days with the family, it was time for Swamp Mana and me to head back to the coast of east-central Florida. We bid farewell to Princess Gator, Gator Gabe and Gator Babe and hit the road.
Along the way, we couldn’t help but notice that driving home after Christmas was different this year – very different. In the past years, we always saw lots of cars, SUVs, minivans and such full of college football fans, heading to Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa or Miami for a bowl game. Even some charter buses full of fans. Sometimes we saw a convoy of buses that appeared to be the marching band from a particular school.
They were easy to identify because they had their school’s pennants flying from the windows, the magnetic signs, logos and decals attached to the side of the vehicle. There might be pom-poms and ball caps under the backseat window. The driver and occupants would have ball caps on. We would wave to them and give them a thumbs up. They would cheerfully respond.
Typically, the vehicles contained two or more fans of some Big Ten, SEC, ACC or Big 12 team. Swamp Mama and I used to keep count of how many cars we saw from a particular school. We could look at the vehicle and say, “They’re going to the Citrus Bowl,” or “They’re going to the Outback Bowl.” It was fun. It made our drive home interesting.
Sometimes, two vehicles with fans pulling for the same school would come upon one another on the Interstate. They would honk their horns and lower their windows and start cheering. Yes, it made our drive more fun and more interesting.
But this year there were no vehicles full of fans headed to Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa or Miami for a bowl game. It was really kind of sad. Because of the COVID pandemic, attendance at bowl games is curtailed. Only a few fans will be allowed in the stadiums.
Not only are the fans missing, but the bowls are missing too. Do you know that we were supposed to have 42 bowl games this season? Yes, 42. However, as it stands now, there will only be 26. COVID problems and issues have canceled 16 bowls.
After Swamp Mama and I arrived home, I learned that the Music City Bowl is the latest to be canceled. Missouri was scheduled to play Iowa in the bowl. Not now. It seems that Mizzou couldn’t follow COVID protocol.
Latest reports have Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as the leading candidate to get the Boise State job. Moore is a former quarterback for Boise State (2008-2011). Two other serious candidates are Oregon defensive coordinator Andy Avalos and Montana State head coach Jeff Choate.
Week 17’s Winners: Bryan Harsin, Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins and Liberty. Week 17’s Losers: Bo Pelini, Kevin Steele, Dana Holgerson and Missouri.
We lost two singers last week – one a be-speckled Brit from the 1960s. The other an 80’s lady from America. Chad Stuart, one half of the duo Chad & Jeremy, died. Chad & Jeremy began singing in 1962 and had their first hit in the United States in 1964 – “Yesterday’s Gone.” They went on to have a string of hits, including “Willow Weep for Me,” “Before and After” and their biggest hit, “A Summer Song.” Born David Stuart and a native of Windermere, England, Chad Stuart was 79.
The 80’s lady was K.T. Oslin, a country music singer and songwriter. She was best known for her 1987 hit “80’s Ladies.” She had a series of other Top-10 country hits in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including “Do Ya,” “I’ll Always Come Back,” “Hold Me,” “Hey Bobby,” “This Woman” and “Come Next Monday.” She was also the duet vocalist on Alabama’s No. 1 hit “Face to Face.” Kay Toinette Oslin, a native of Crossett, Arkansas, was 78.
Then we lost an all-time basketball great. K.C. Jones died on Christmas Day. Jones was an NBA player and coach, primarily known for his association with the Boston Celtics, with whom he won 11 of his 12 NBA championships – eight as a player, one as an assistant coach and two as a head coach. A native of Taylor, Texas, who played college basketball for San Francisco, K.C. Jones was 88.
And Saturday, we lost a former MLB pitcher. Phil Niekro died on December 26. Niekro played 24 seasons in major league baseball – 20 of them with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves. Famous for his knuckleball, Niekro had 318 career victories. His nickname was “Knucksie.” Philip Henry Niekro, a native of Blaine, Ohio, was 81.
Note: Be sure and check your email, and/or my blogsite, on the morning of December 31 – New Year’s Eve. I will be posting College Football Week’s annual holiday bonus: What Year Was It? I provide the events, the music and the college football news of a particular year. You guess the year.
Happy New Year!
Touchdown Tom
Review of the Bowls
Putrid Green (in the Myrtle Beach Bowl) – Appalachian State 56, North Texas 28 (Touchdown Tom said: Appalachian State 39, North Texas 22). App State scored quickly when it had the ball. The Little Mountaineers only possessed the ball for 24:53 in the game. The two teams combined for 1,135 total yards. App State had 638 of those yards. The Little Mountaineers led 35-14 at halftime. App State finished its season at 9-3.
No Wave (in the Idaho Potato Bowl) – Nevada 38, Tulane 27 (Touchdown Tom said: Tulane 29, Nevada 25). Nevada quarterback Carson Strong was 22-for-28, passing for 271 yards and five touchdowns. Conversely, Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt threw three interceptions. The Green Wave only maintained ball possession for 23:50. Nevada finished its season at 7-2.
No fight in the Knight (in the Boca Raton Bowl) – BYU 49, UCF 23 (Touchdown Tom said: BYU 46, UCF 32). BYU quarterback Zach Wilson was 26-for-34, passing for 425 yards and three touchdowns. Wilson also rushed for two touchdowns. UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed less than 50% of his passes. BYU running back Tyler Allgeier rushed for 173 yards and one touchdown. No UCF running back rushed for more than 77 yards. The Cougars ran through the Knights and passed over them, totaling 655 yards on offense. BYU finished its season at 11-1.
The Eagles celebrated Mardi Gras early (in the New Orleans Bowl) – Georgia Southern 38, Louisiana Tech 2 (Touchdown Tom said: Georgia Southern 30, Louisiana Tech 25). Georgia Southern led 21-3 at halftime. The Eagles added another 17 points in the second half, while shutting out the Bulldogs. Georgia Southern had 449 total yards to 232 for Louisiana Tech. The only bright spot for the Bulldogs was Israel Tucker who rushed for 123 yards. Georgia Southern finished its season at 8-5.
FAU couldn’t hold that Tiger (in the Montgomery Bowl) – Memphis 25, Florida Atlantic 10 (Touchdown Tom said: Memphis 30, Florida Atlantic 19). Memphis jumped out to a 18-0 halftime lead and went into cruise control in the second half. Tigers quarterback Brady White was 22-for-34, passing for 284 yards and three touchdowns. Between the teams, there were five turnovers in the game – three for Memphis and two for FAU. Memphis had 471 total yards to 290 for FAU. Memphis finished its season at 8-3.
Hawaiian Eye (in the New Mexico Bowl) – Hawaii 28, Houston 14 (Touchdown Tom said: Houston 29, Hawaii 23). Hawaii led 21-0 at halftime and turned back a mild Houston rally in the second half. The Cougars briefly closed the gap to 21-14 late in the third quarter. There was very little offense in the game by either team. They only combined for 580 total yards. Houston only had 58 yards rushing. Hawaii finished its season at 5-4.
The Buffaloes lost to Buffalo (in the Camellia Bowl) – Buffalo 17, Marshall 10 (Touchdown Tom said: Marshall 30, Buffalo 27). Neither team had much offense, least of all Marshall. From the beginning of the season, Marshall’s offense never got out of the starting blocks. Towards the end of the season, the Herds offense started going backwards. Marshall only had 245 total yards in the game. The Herds offense was only on the field for 24:33. Conversely, Marshall’s defense played tough all season. Buffalo’s Kevin Marks rushed for 138 yards. Buffalo finished its season at 6-1.
Canceled (in the Gasparilla Bowl) – UAB vs. South Carolina (Touchdown Tom said: South Carolina 30, UAB 24). The Gasparilla Bowl between UAB and South Carolina was canceled due to COVID problems at South Carolina.
Roadrunner Gumbo (in the First Responder Bowl) – Louisiana 31, UTSA 24 (Touchdown Tom said: Louisiana 31, UTSA 23). Early in the fourth quarter, Louisiana led UTSA, 24-7. But in the next 12 minutes, the Roadrunners scored 17 unanswered points to tie the score at 24-24, with 13:32 to go in the game. The teams were pretty even in the stats. Louisiana was the better running team. UTSA was the better passing team. The Cajuns Elijah Mitchell rushed for 127 yards. Louisiana finished its season at 10-1.
Hill-Bottomers (in the Lending Tree Bowl) – Georgia State 39, Western Kentucky 21 (Touchdown Tom said: Georgia State 32, Western Kentucky 22). Georgia State held a 27-7 halftime lead and then played Western Kentucky on even terms in the second half. The Panthers had 484 total yards to 284 for the Hilltoppers. Georgia State had 27 first downs to 14 for WKU. Out rushing and outpassing the Hilltoppers, the Panthers maintained ball possession for 35:02. Georgia State finished its season at 6-4.
Chanti-blurries (in the Cure Bowl) – Liberty 37, Coastal Carolina 34 (OT) (Touchdown Tom said: Coastal Carolina 32, Liberty 29). The teams were evenly matched in total yards, first downs and time of possession. However, Liberty was the better running team and Coastal Carolina was the better passing team. The teams combined for 948 total yards. The Flames quarterback Mark Willis rushed for 137 yards and four touchdowns. Liberty running back Joshua Mack rushed for 105 yards. Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall passed for 318 yards and three touchdowns. McCall also rushed for 96 yards and another touchdown. Liberty finished its season at 10-1.
Week 2 Bowl Results: 6 winners, 4 fumbles (60 percent)
Superlatives
Impressive Passers:
BYU’s Zach Wilson – 26-34-0-425 (3TDs), and Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall – 21-32-1-318 (3TDs).
Impressive Rushers:
Appalachian State’s Camerun Peoples – 319 yards (5TDs); BYU’s Tyler Allgeier – 173 yards (1TD), and Liberty’s Mark Willis – 137 yards (2TDs).
Quotes of the Week
“Oklahoma is a good matchup, but they’re not on our level. They’re not the SEC. They’re not the Florida Gators. So we should put on a good show,” Florida linebacker James Houston, before the Oklahoma game.
“Auburn not only hired a great coach, they got a great man as well,” ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, on Bryan Harsin.
Touchdown Tom’s
Predictions for This Week’s Bowl Games
Oklahoma State (7-3) vs. Miami (Florida) (8-2) – (Big 12 vs. ACC) – (Cheez-It Bowl – Orlando, FL) – 5:30 pm ET, Tuesday, ESPN – Based on preseason forecasts, Oklahoma State had a disappointing season. The Cowboys were supposed to be in the Big 12 championship game. They weren’t. Miami’s season, on the other hand, went about as expected. Okie State’s offense was disappointing, but its defense was pretty good. Miami had a good offense, averaging 34 points a game. The Canes had a weak defense. Cowboys round ’em up – Oklahoma State 29, Miami 24.
Texas (6-3) vs. Colorado (4-1) – (Big 12 vs. Pac-12) – (Alamo Bowl – San Antonio, TX) – 9 pm ET, Tuesday, ESPN – Texas had a disappointing season. Head coach Tom Herman almost lost his job. If Urban Meyer had said “yes,” he would have lost his job. But Urban said, “no,” Many thought Texas would have played for the Big 12 championship. They didn’t. The Longhorns had a good offense combined with a poor defense. The offense averaged 41 points a game. The defense gave up 29 points a game. Colorado, at 4-1, was a surprise in the Pac-12. But only playing five games, you don’t really know how good, or bad, Colorado is. The Buffaloes were neither particularly good or bad on offense and defense. On offense, the running game was stronger than the passing game. Bevo has better horns than Ralphie – Texas 33, Colorado 21.
Wake Forest (4-4) vs. Wisconsin (3-3) – (ACC vs. Big Ten) – (Duke’s Mayo Bowl – Charlotte, NC) – 12 noon ET, Wednesday, ESPN – There were times this season when Wake Forest looked really good. Then there were times when the Deacons looked really bad. Wake Forest had a strong offense, averaging 37 points a game. The Deacons had a poor defense, giving up 32 points a game. Wisconsin started off strong, winning its first two games by 45-7 and 49-11. Then the Badgers lost their next three games due to COVID issues, with several of the players being out. Wisconsin lost its offensive punch, averaging only 22 points a game. But the defense remained strong, only giving up 16 points a game. Cheese and Mayonnaise are a good combination – Wisconsin 28, Wake Forest 18.
Canceled – Iowa (6-2) vs. Missouri (5-5) – (Big Ten vs. SEC) – (Music City Bowl – Nashville, TN) – 4 pm ET, Wednesday, ESPN – Iowa was one of the most improved teams in the country from start to finish. The Hawkeyes began their season 0-2 and finished it 6-0. They tied Northwestern for the Big Ten West Division title, but lost to the Wildcats in the head-to-head meeting. But just by one point. Iowa had a good offense, averaging 32 points a game. The Hawkeyes also had a good defense, giving up 16 points a game. Missouri was a bit of a surprise in the SEC, finishing stronger than expected at 5-5. When the Tigers were good, they were really good. But when they were bad, they were really bad. Mizzou’s defense gave up 32 points a game, while the offense only averaged 27 points a game. The Hawkeyes top the charts – Iowa 33, Missouri 22.
Florida (8-3) vs. Oklahoma (8-2) – (SEC vs. Big 12) – (Cotton Bowl Classic – Arlington, TX) – 8 pm ET, Wednesday, ESPN – Florida’s offense is awesome. Or perhaps I should say Florida’s passing offense is awesome. The Gators are first in the nation in passing yards per game, but 111th in the nation in rushing yards per game. The Gators have one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Kyle Trask. Florida averages 42 points a game on offense. However, Florida’s defense gives up 29 points a game. Oklahoma is hot on offense too. Like the Gators, the Sooners average 42 points a game. Unlike the Gators, the Sooners have a running game. Oklahoma’s defense is a little better than Florida’s. OU gives up 22 points a game. The Sooners are hottin’ in Cotton. Or should I say the Gators are rotten in Cotton – Oklahoma 41, Florida 40.
Tulsa (6-2) vs. Mississippi State (3-7) – (AAC vs. SEC) – (Armed Forces Bowl – Fort Worth, TX) – 12 noon ET, Thursday, ESPN – Tulsa is steady, but not strong on offense. The Golden Tornadoes average 27 points a game. Tulsa’s strength is its defense, giving up 20 points a game. Tula lost two games this season and both were close. Mississippi State had a strange season. The Bulldogs opened with a big win over LSU. Then they were pretty much a disaster after that. Miss State averaged 21 points a game on offense. The defense gave up 28 points a game. Miss State misses – Tulsa 27, Mississippi State 20.
Ball State (6-1) vs. San Jose State (7-0) – (MAC vs. MWC) – Arizona Bowl – Tucson, AZ) – 2 pm ET, Thursday, CBS – This should be a good game. Perhaps lots of scoring. Ball State opened the season with a loss and then finished winning six-straight games. The Cardinals average 34 points a game on offense. The defense is a little weak. They gave up 28 points a game. San Jose State was the feel good team of 2020. The Spartans went 7-0. They have a solid, dependable quarterback in Nick Starkel. They play good offense and defense. The offense averages 31 points a game. The defense only gives up 18 points a game. A Cardinal sin – San Jose State 30, Ball State 22.
West Virginia (5-4) vs. Army (9-2) – (Big 12 vs. Ind.) – (Liberty Bowl – Memphis, TN) – 4 pm ET, Thursday, ESPN – If anything was consistent about West Virginia this season it was inconsistent. From one game to the next the Mountaineers often didn’t look like the same team. The offense was stagnant. It didn’t flow; it didn’t move. WVU’s offense averaged 27 points a game. If there was a bright spot on the team, it was the defense. WVU’s defense was one of the better defenses in the country. They held opponents to 20 points a game. But now they have to defend against Army’s triple option. Like West Virginia, Army’s offense averaged 27 points a game. Army’s was all running, where WVU’s was all passing. Army’s defense was sharp. The 2nd best in the country, allowing only 14 points a game. The Mountaineers remove all options – West Virginia 27, Army 22.
Arkansas (3-7) vs. TCU (6-4) – (SEC vs. Big 12) – (Texas Bowl – Houston, TX) – 8 pm ET, Thursday, ESPN – Arkansas was the hard luck team in 2020. The Hogs couldn’t get a break from the SEC referees. At one point, Arkansas was 3-3. Then they lost their last four games. On offense they averaged 26 points a game. The defense was worse – giving up 35 points a game. After starting off 1-3, TCU won five of its last six games. The Frogs were reasonable on offense, averaging 31 points a game. TCU was so-so on defense, giving up 24 points a game. The Frogs have a bar-be-que and it’s not legs – TCU 33, Arkansas 24.
Georgia (7-2) vs. Cincinnati (9-0) – (SEC vs. AAC) – (Peach Bowl – Atlanta, GA) – 12 noon ET, Friday, ESPN – If Cincinnati wins this game, it’s probably because Georgia didn’t take the Bearcats as a serious opponent. Georgia struggled for most of the season trying to find an offense. The Dawgs finally found one but the season was almost over. The best thing about the Georgia offense was averaging 33 points a game. The rest was pretty dismal. On the other hand, Georgia’s defense was outstanding, except for the Alabama and Florida games – the two games Georgia lost. The Dawgs gave up 20 points a game. They were first in the country in rushing yards allowed – 69. Cincinnati was a great all-around team. Good on offense and good on defense. The offense averaged 39 points a game. Quarterback Desmond Ridder can run and pass. Cincinnati’s defense just gave up 16 points a game – 7th best on the country. Uga is into Melba – Georgia 26, Cincinnati 22.
Auburn (6-4) vs. Northwestern (6-2) – (SEC vs. Big Ten) – (Citrus Bowl – Orlando, FL) – 1 pm ET, Friday, ABC – Auburn had a disappointing season and its coach – Gus Malzahn – was fired. Interim coach Kevin Steele, who was turned down as Malzahn’s replacement, will be coaching the Tigers in the bowl. So it will be interesting to see how the Tigers respond. Auburn had a lackluster offense and defense during the season. The offense put up 26 points a game, while the defense gave up 24 points a game. Conversely, Northwestern had a great season – better than expected. The Wildcats strength was its defense, giving up only 16 points a game. Northwestern’s offense was lame but dependable, averaging 23 points a game. The Tigers aren’t wild enough – Northwestern 25, Auburn 20.
Notre Dame (10-1) vs. Alabama (11-0) – (ACC vs. SEC) – (Rose Bowl – Arlington, TX) – 4 pm ET, Friday, ESPN – You have to give Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly credit. He did a good job coaching the Irish this season. The Irish were supposed to be good, but not expected to be a playoff team. Notre Dame’s strength was its defense, giving up 19 points a game. The offense, led by quarterback Ian Book and running back Kyren Williams, averaged 35 points a game. Talk about strength, Alabama had three potential Heisman Trophy winners – quarterback Mac Jones, receiver DeVonta Smith and running back Najee Harris. The Tide’s offense is unstoppable, averaging 50 points a game. Bama’s defense can be a little suspect at times. They gave up 20 points a game. The Irish get rolled – Alabama 38, Notre Dame 17.
Ohio State (6-0) vs. Clemson (10-1) – (Big Ten vs. ACC) – (Sugar Bowl – New Orleans, LA) – 8 pm ET, Friday, ESPN – In some ways, Ohio State is similar to Alabama. No, the Buckeyes don’t have three potential Heisman Trophy winners. They don’t even have one. But the Ohio State offense is strong, averaging 43 points a game. The defense can be a little suspect, giving up 21 points a game. Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields had a rather disappointing season. Clemson is more like Alabama – a strong offense and an even better defense. The Tigers are led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne on offense. Lawrence, who missed two games, passed for 2,753 yards. The Tigers offense averaged 45 points a game. The defense gave up 18 points a game. The Buckeyes are nuts – Clemson 34, Ohio State 21.
NC State (8-3) vs. Kentucky (4-6) – (ACC vs. SEC) – (Gator Bowl – Jacksonville, FL) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ESPN – NC State was a pleasant surprise in 2020, performing better than expected. There was nothing flashy about the Wolfpack. They won a lot of close games. State’s offense averaged 31 points a game. The Wolfpack defense gave up 30 points a game. Kentucky was a bit of a disappointment this season. The Wildcats were up and down – mostly down. Kentucky’s defense was the better half of the team, giving up 26 points a game. The offense only averaged 22 points a game. It’s a howler – NC State 28, Kentucky 25.
Ole Miss (4-5) vs. Indiana (6-1) – (SEC vs. Big Ten) – (Outback Bowl – Tampa, FL) – 12:30 pm ET, Saturday, ABC) – Ole Miss knew how to score points. That’s for sure. But the Magnolias couldn’t keep their opponents from scoring. That’s for sure. On offense, Ole Miss averaged 41 points a game. On defense, their opponents averaged 40 points a game. Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral passed for 2,995 yards. Indiana was one of 2020’s surprises. The Hoosiers were definitely a good football team. The offense and defense were both good. The Hoosier offense averaged 30 points a game. The defense gave up 19 points a game. The Hoosiers give the Magnolias a whippin’ – Indiana 34, Ole Miss 30.
Oregon (4-2) vs. Iowa State (8-3) – (Pac-12 vs. Big 12) – (Fiesta Bowl – Glendale, AZ) – 4 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN) – Oregon, who filled in for Washington in the Pac-12 title game, surprised USC in the game. But with only six games played, it’s hard to tell how good, or how bad, Oregon really is. But we know the Ducks have the potential to be good. They averaged 34 points a game on offense. But the defense gave up 27 points a game. Iowa State was another one of those surprise teams in 2020. When the Cyclones are on, they are really, really good. Iowa State has what may be the best running back in the country in Breece Hall. He rushed for 1,436 yards. The Cyclones have a good quarterback in Brock Purdy. But he can be prone to throw interceptions at times. Iowa State averaged 33 points a game on offense. The Cyclones gave up 22 points a game on defense. The Ducks are taken for a spin – Iowa State 30, Oregon 27.
Texas A&M (8-1) vs. North Carolina (8-3) – (SEC vs. ACC) – (Orange Bowl – Miami Gardens, FL) – 8 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – In the final bowl game of the season, we could be in for a treat. This one could be a dandy. Many, including Texas A&M, thought the Aggies should have been in the playoff. They didn’t make it. A&M has a lot to prove in this game – prove that the selection committee made a mistake. The Aggies average 32 points a game on offense. The A&M defense gives up 21 points a game. Ah, North Carolina coach Mack Brown used to coach at Texas. So he loves to take Texas A&M out behind the shed. The Tar Heels can score – that’s for sure. They have a double threat on offense in quarterback Sam Howell and running back Michael Carter. North Carolina’s offense averaged 43 points a game. But the Tar Heel defense is porous. They gave up 28 points a game. The Aggies play Reveille – Texas A&M 35, North Carolina 34.
Touchdown Tom
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