CFW Week 18 Results/Forecast - Five overtimes in Hawaii

 CFW Week 18 Results/Forecast – Five overtimes in Hawaii

Miami-Iowa State, BYU-Colorado

headline the next 16 bowl games

 

Greetings from the Panhandle of Florida! The weather has been ideal – sunny, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s. That’s cool enough to make it feel a little bit like Christmas. Swamp Mama and I are enjoying our visit with Princess Gator, Gator Gabe and Gator Babe.

 

Gator Gabe and I stayed up late Christmas Eve to the end of that five-overtime game. We kept Santa Claus circling until we went to bed.   

 

The busiest time of the bowl season is coming up. We have 16 games during the next three days. All 16 have the potential to be good and exciting games. However, the best two of the 16 looks like No. 18 Iowa State (10-3) vs. No. 13 Miami (Florida) (10-2) in the Pop-Tarts Bowl and No. 17 BYU (9-2) vs. No. 23 Colorado (9-3) in the Alamo Bowl. Both games are on Saturday. BYU-Colorado is one of those rare bowl appearances where you have two teams from the same conference playing each other. BYU and Colorado did not meet during the regular season. Saturday (December 20) is the busiest bowl day of all with eight games.

 

Several other games have my curiosity peaked. They are Rutgers vs. Kansas State, Oklahoma vs. Navy, Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt, Texas Tech vs. Arkansas and Boston College vs. Nebraska. I’m really curious to see how those five games turn out. 

 

Three bowl games were played just before Christmas Day. Two days before Christmas, UTSA played like the team it was supposed to have been this season. The Roadrunners won the Myrtle Beach Bowl, beating Coastal Carolina, 44-15. Nothing like embarrassing a team on its home field.

 

Later that same day, the only team to beat Notre Dame this season won the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. It took them two overtimes to do it, but Northern Illinois downed Fresno State, 28-20 (2OT). Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene did not play. Before the game, Keene entered the transfer portal. During the game, we learned that he will be playing for the Michigan Wolverines next season.

 

And finally, on Christmas Eve and the game that Gator Gabe and I watched to the very end, South Florida survived to beat San Jose State in five overtimes. The Bulls beat the Spartans, 41-39 (5OT).

 

Looks like Indiana will be playing with a transfer quarterback again next season. This year, Indiana had an 11-2 season under transfer portal quarterback Kurtis Rourke. Rourke transferred to Indiana from Ohio. The other day, Indiana picked up transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza played for California this past season. He passed for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns, completing 69% of his passes. He only threw six interceptions. Mendoza is from Miami, Florida.

 

Banned again. Bevo’s going to start feeling like the Stanford band or the Illinois mascot. The Longhorn steer has been banned again from making an appearance at the Texas game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the second time. Texas plays Arizona State in Atlanta on New Year’s Day and Bevo won’t be there. He wasn’t there either when Texas lost to Georgia in the SEC title game on December 7.

 

Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year!

 

Touchdown Tom

December 26, 2024

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

 

Review of the Last Three Bowl Games

 

Roadrunners coasted – (in the Myrtle Bowl) – UTSA 44, Coastal Carolina 15 (Touchdown Tom said: UTSA 34, Coastal Carolina 31). Both teams started out slow. The score was 0-0 after one quarter. UTSA came to life in the second quarter. The Roadrunners led 21-0 at the break. UTSA extended its lead to 27-0 in the third quarter and 37-7 in the fourth quarter. It was a bad day for Coastal Carolina. UTSA receiver David Amador had 7 catches for 110 yards. The Roadrunners racked up 513 total yards – 256 passing and 257 rushing. It was a sloppy game with 20 penalties – 10 on each team. After losing 4 of their first 6 games, UTSA finished the season strong winning 5 of their last 7 games. Attendance in Conway: 8,164

 

Huskies like cold weather – (in the Idaho Potato Bowl) – Northern Illinois 28, Fresno State 20 (2OT) (Touchdown Tom said: Northern Illinois 27, Fresno State 20). In regulation, Fresno State scored all 13 of its points in the first quarter. Northern Illinois scored 10 of its 13 points in the third quarter. Both teams scored in the first overtime. Fresno State didn’t score in the second overtime. Fresno State receiver Mac Dalena had 6 catches for 118 yards. Ball possession favored NIU 39:14 to 20:46. Penalties favored Fresno State. The Bulldogs had 8 penalties; the Huskies had one. NIU ended its season at 8-5. Attendance in Boise: 10,359

 

It ain’t over till it’s over – (in the Hawaii Bowl) – South Florida 41, San Jose State 39 (5OT) (Touchdown Tom said: San Jose State 27, South Florida 21). San Jose State should never have lost this game. The Spartans let it slip through their fingers. Two early turnovers and a kickoff return for a touchdown allowed South Florida to take a 21-10 halftime lead. San Jose State rallied from its first-half mistakes to take a 27-24 lead early in the fourth quarter. Then the Spartans had several opportunities to increase their lead. But poor play calling and poor execution allowed South Florida to recover and put the game into overtime. The Bulls kicked a 41-yard field goal with 0:02 remaining to tie the score at 27-27. Both teams scored in the first overtime (34-34) and both kicked a field goal in the second overtime (37-37). Both made their two-point conversions in the third overtime (39-39). Both failed to convert in the fourth overtime (still 39-39). Finally, in the fifth overtime, South Florida converted, and San Jose State didn’t (41-39). The Spartans totally dominated the stats – first downs, total yards, passing yards, rushing yards and ball possession. San Jose State receiver Matthew Coleman had 12 catches for 119 yards. South Florida receiver Sean Atkins had 11 catches for 104 yards. Attendance in Honolulu: 6,720

 

Last Three Bowl Game Picks:     2 winners, 1 fumble (66.7 percent)

Total Bowl Game Picks To Date:  8 winners, 2 fumbles (80 percent)

 

 

Superlatives

 

Impressive Passers:

 

UTSA’s Owen McCown – 23-30-1-254 (1TD).

 

Impressive Rushers:

 

Fresno State’s Bryson Donelson – 82 yards (1TD).

 

 

Touchdown Tom’s Predictions for The Next 16 Bowl Games

 

Pitt (7-5) vs. Toledo (7-5) – (ACC vs. MAC) – Sports Bowl (Ford Field – Detroit, Michigan) – 2 pm ET, Thursday, ESPN – Pitt had a strange season. The Panthers won their first seven games. Then they proceeded to lose their last five games. Except for the rushing game, Pitt had a good offense. Except for defending against the rush, Pitt had a bad defense. The offense averaged 32 points a game. The defense allowed 28 points a game. Toledo had a good but disappointing season. The Rockets were supposed to contend for the MAC title. They didn’t. Still, they managed a winning season. Except for the lack of a rushing game, the offense was pretty good. Toledo’s defense was just better than average. The Rockets are fired up – Toledo 27, Pitt 24.

 

Rutgers (7-5) vs. Kansas State (8-4) – (Big Ten vs. Big 12) – Rate Bowl (Chase Field – Phoenix, Arizona) – 5:30 pm ET, Thursday, ESPN – Rutgers began the season 4-0. Then they lost 5 of their last 8 games. The Rutgers offense is not good, and the defense is worse. Running back Kyle Monangai rushed for 1,279 yards. Kansas State began the season 7-1. Then the Wildcats lost 3 of their last 4 games. K-State is a strong running team, relying on D.J. Giddens who rushed for 1,343 yards. Quarterback Avery Johnson is a good one. He passed for 2,517 yards. K-State has an average defense. The Wildcats are hungry – Kansas State 27, Rutgers 18.

 

Arkansas State (7-5) vs. Bowling Green (7-5) – (Sun Belt vs. MAC) – Ventures Bowl (Hancock Whitney Stadium – Mobile, Alabama) – 9 pm ET, Thursday, ESPN – Arkansas State was an up-and-down team, mostly on the up. However, the Red Wolves gave up more points than they scored. The offense averaged 25 points a game. The defense allowed 32 points a game. The Red Wolves’ defense was one of the worst in the country. The offense is anchored by quarterback Jaylen Raynor. He passed for 2,562 yards. Bowling Green started the season slow and finished strong. The Falcons were 2-4 after their first 6 games. Then they won 5 of their last 6 games. BG’s offense is a little weak. Their defense is better – much stronger. On offense, quarterback Connor Bazelak passed for 2.654 yards. The Falcons soar – Bowling Green 28, Arkansas State 20.

 

Oklahoma (6-6) vs. Navy (9-3) – (SEC vs. AAC) – Armed Forces Bowl (Carter Stadium – Fort Worth, Texas) – 1 pm ET, Friday, ESPN – Oklahoma had a bad offense with a pretty good defense in 2024. The Sooners averaged 24 points a game and gave up 22 points a game. There was no strength on the offense. The defense was particularly good against the rush. The Sooners had quarterback problems all season. If Navy quarterback Blake Horvath is having a good game, the Middies are unbeatable. As Horvath goes, so goes Navy. He can run and he can pass. Navy averaged 32 points a game and gave up 22 points a game. Horvath has a good game – Navy 21, Oklahoma 20.

 

Georgia Tech (7-5) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6) – (ACC vs. SEC) – Birmingham Bowl (Protective Stadium – Birmingham, Alabama) – 3:30 pm ET, Friday, ESPN – Here’s two teams that performed better than expected this season. Georgia Tech relies on the two Haynes – quarterback Haynes King and running back Jamal Haynes. They are a good duo. Tech has a pretty good offense with a pretty good defense. Vanderbilt was a big surprise this season. The Commodores beat Alabama and Virginia Tech. They just lost to Texas by 3 points. Vandy is led by quarterback Diego Pavia. He is a scrambler. Pavia led the Commodores in both passing and rushing. Vandy finished 6-6 with an offense that isn’t all that good and a defense that isn’t all that good either. It’s a Haynes day – Georgia Tech 27, Vanderbilt 21.  

 

Texas Tech (8-4) vs. Arkansas (6-6) – (Big 12 vs. SEC) – Liberty Bowl (Liberty Stadium – Memphis, Tennessee) – 7 pm ET, Friday, ESPN – Texas Tech can score. That’s for sure – 39 points a game. But Tech’s opponents can score too – 35 points a game. Tech was one of two teams to beat Arizona State and one of three teams to beat Iowa State. Quarterback Behren Morton passed for 3,300 yards and running back Tahj Brooks rushed for 1,505 yards. They are a strong combination. Arkansas’ best win this season was over Tennessee. Otherwise, it was an up-and-down season for the Razorbacks. In general, they weren’t spectacular. Quarterback Taylen Green is good. The offense is strongest at passing. The defense is strongest against the rush. Pork tenderloin for the Red Raiders – Texas Tech 31, Arkansas 28.

 

Syracuse (9-3) vs. Washington State (8-4) – (ACC vs. Pac-2) – Holiday Bowl (Snapdragon Stadium – San Diego, California) – 8 pm ET, Friday, FOX – Quarterback Kyle McCord had quite a season for Syracuse. He finished 10^th in the Heisman Trophy voting. McCord passed for 4,326 yards. Syracuse was the No. 1 passing team in the country. The Orange combine the good passing with poor rushing – one of the worst rushing teams in the country. And the Cuse defense isn’t good either. But McCord often makes up for the difference. Washington State began strong with an 8-1 record. Then the Cougars lost their last three games, all to weak teams – New Mexico. Oregon State and Wyoming. Washington State was a high-scoring team – 37 points a game. The Cougars allowed 28 points a game. Quarterback John Mateer was their leading passer and rusher. But he left for the transfer portal. The Cougars lost their coach too. McCord has a Holiday – Syracuse 33, Washington State 20.

 

USC (6-6) vs. Texas A&M (8-4) – (Big Ten vs. SEC) – Las Vegas Bowl (Allegiant Stadium – Las Vegas, Nevada) – 10:30 pm ET, Friday, ESPN – It was a disappointing year for the Trojans – a disappointing offense and a disappointing defense. Coach Lincoln Riley is not a popular man in Troy. Texas A&M finished the season with an 8-4 record. The Aggies were 8-2, going into their final two games. A&M didn’t have the best offense or defense. But the Aggies held their own most of the time. The Trojans rise to the occasion – USC 30, Texas A&M 27. 

 

Connecticut (8-4) vs. North Carolina (6-6) – (Ind. vs. ACC) – Fenway Bowl (Boston, Massachusetts) – 11 am ET, Saturday, ESPN – This is practically a home game for UConn. The best part of the Huskies’ offense is its running game. There is nothing good about the Huskies’ defense. UConn won four of its last five games. This was a disappointing season for North Carolina and its coach Mack Brown. Brown was fired at the end of the season. The Tar Heels lost their last two games. They had a fairly good offense with a terrible defense. The Huskies kick the Tar out of the Heels – Connecticut 30, North Carolina 28.

 

Boston College (7-5) vs. Nebraska (6-6) – (ACC vs. Big Ten) – Pinstripe Bowl (Yankee Stadium – Bronx, New York) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ABC – Bill O’Brien against Matt Rhule. This should be a good game. Boston College’s offense is so-so. The Eagles changed quarterbacks at mid-season. The defense is good against the rush and bad against the pass. BC can be deceivingly good – a dangerous team, especially if running back Kye Robichaux is having a good day. But oftentimes, he is not. This game could be made in the shade for Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola. With BC’s weak pass defense, Raiola could have quite a game. During the season, Nebraska’s offense struggled. The Huskers’ defense was generally good. It’s a Big Red day in Yankee Stadium – Nebraska 28, Boston College 20.

 

Louisiana (10-3) vs. TCU (8-4) – (Sun Belt vs. Big 12) – New Mexico Bowl (University Stadium – Albuquerque, New Mexico) – 2:15 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – If quarterback Ben Wooldridge is playing for Louisiana, then the Cajuns have a chance. If he isn’t playing, then the Cajuns will get clobbered. Wooldridge has been out with a collarbone injury. TCU had a surprisingly good season at 8-4. On offense, the Horned Frogs mix one of the best passing games (7^th in the country) with one of the worst running games (113^th in the country). Quarterback Josh Hoover passed for 3,697 yards. The Frogs aren’t the best on defense. They gave up 26 points a game. TCU enters the game on a three-game winning streak. The Frogs make the Cajuns look like etouffee – TCU 33, Louisiana 14.

 

Iowa State (10-3) vs. Miami (Florida) (10-2) – (Big 12 vs. ACC) – Pop-Tarts Bowl (Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Florida) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, ABC – Iowa state was one win away from making the College Football Playoff. The Cyclones generally play better defense than offense. Iowa State was 3^rd in the country in passing yards allowed per game. On offense, the Cyclones are led by quarterback Rocco Becht. He passed for 3.235 yards. Miami barely missed making the CFP. The Canes are led by one of the best quarterbacks in the country, Cam Ward. Ward finished 4^th in the Heisman Trophy voting. He passed for 4,123 yards. Miami had one of the best offenses in the country. They averaged 44 points a game and 538 total yards a game. The Canes Have a decent running back in Damien Martinez. The defense was good but not the best. The Hurricane stalls the Cyclone – Miami 34, Iowa State 33.  

 

Miami (Ohio) (8-5) vs. Colorado State (8-4) – (MAC vs. MWC) – Arizona Bowl (Arizona Stadium – Tucson, Arizona) – 4:30 pm ET, Saturday, CWN – Miami got off to a 1-4 start this season, then won 7 of their last 8 games. The RedHawks have a poor offense with a pretty strong defense. They averaged 23 points a game and gave up 19 points a game. Miami is quarterbacked by Brett Gabbert who passed for 2,737 yards. The RedHawks have a decent running back in Keyon Mozee who rushed for 1,073 yards. Overall. Colorado State is a pretty weak team that managed to win most of its games. The Rams averaged 25 points a game and allowed 24 points a game. The offense is generally weak. The strength is the passing of quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi. He passed for 2,475 yards. Ram tough – Colorado State 24, Miami 21.

 

East Carolina (7-5) vs. N.C. State (6-6) – (AAC vs. ACC) – Military Bowl (Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium – Annapolis, Maryland) – 5:45 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – East Carolina finished 7-5 but I’m not sure they were a very good team. The Pirates fired their coach during the season. They have one of the worst defenses in the country, giving up 28 points a game. NC State had a disappointing season. Everyone thought they were going to be good. They weren’t. The Wolfpack mixed a bad offense with an even worse defense. Offense averaged 29 points a game. Defense allowed 31 points a game. NC State ended the season on a bright note, beating North Carolina. The Pirates fall into the Wolf trap – NC State 34, East Carolina 23.

 

BYU (10-2) vs. Colorado (9-3) (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – Alamo Bowl (Alamodome – San Antonio, Texas) – 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, ABC – This is going to be a fun game. All Colorado games are fun with Deion Sanders. BYU just missed making the Big 12 title game. The Cougars are led by an exciting quarterback – Jake Retzlaff. He passed for 2,745 yards. The Cougars have a decent offense with a very good defense. The Cougars won their first 9 games this season. Colorado is all passing and no running. The passing comes from quarterback Shedeur Sanders. He was 8^th in the Heisman Trophy voting. Sanders passed for 3,926 yards. Colorado averaged 35 points a game. The Buffaloes were 4^th in the country in passing yards. The defense was better this season and that’s why Colorado was better. This should be a good one as BYU was 18^th in the country in pass defense. The Cougars are Buffaloed – Colorado 31, BYU 30. 

 

Louisiana Tech (5-7) vs. Army (11-2) (C-USA vs. AAC) – Independence Bowl (Independence Stadium – Shreveport, Louisiana) – 9:15 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – This was going to be a competitive bowl game – Army vs. Marshall. But Marshall opted out because too many of its players entered the transfer portal. Louisiana Tech is a poor replacement. The Bulldogs have one of the worst offenses in the country – 22 points a game. Fortunately, for the Bulldogs, the defense is better. The Caissons go rolling along. Yes, with Bryson Daily quarterbacking, Army should roll along. Daily, who came in 6^th in the Heisman Trophy voting, had a bad game against Navy. He doesn’t have many bad games. So he should have a great game against Louisiana Tech. Daily rushed for 1,526 yards. Army averaged 31 points a game and gave up 16 points a game. Army was 1^st in the country in rushing yards. The Bulldogs are squealing – Army 35, Louisiana Tech 15.  

 

 

Quotes of the Week

 

“They’re a really good team. I don’t know if there’s a more talented team in the nation. Obviously, they’ve got great weapons outside at wideout and across the board. The tight end’s a big target and the running backs are elite,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning, on Ohio State.

 

 

Touchdown Tom

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

(CFW’s annual holiday bonus What Year Was It? will be posted Saturday morning, December 28. You don’t want to miss it)

 

CFW Week 17 Results/18 Forecast - Steve Belichick to join father at UNC

 CFW Week 17 Results/18 Forecast – Steve Belichick to join father at UNC

The Big Ten was the big winner

in a first round of blowouts

 

Penn State and Ohio State were the big winners, winning by 28 and 25 points respectively in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Notre Dame and Texas won big too, as none of the first-round games were close. The average victory margin of the four games was 19.25 points.

 

Now we know, what some people suspected all season, Indiana and SMU were frauds pretending to be good football teams. The Hoosiers only played two teams all season – Ohio State and Notre Dame. Indiana lost to both. Friday night, in the first game of the four first-round playoff games, Notre Dame downed Indiana, 27-17. The game wasn’t as close as the score looks. The Irish led the Hoosiers 27-3 with less than 2 minutes to play in the game. Indiana scored two touchdowns in the final 1:27 of the contest.

 

SMU only played three teams all season – BYU, Clemson and Penn State. SMU lost to all three. Saturday, in the second game of the four first-round playoff games, Penn State terrorized SMU, 38-10. The game wasn’t as close as the score looks. The Nittany Lions led the Mustangs 38-3 with less than 8 minutes to play in the game. SMU scored its one and only touchdown at the 7:31 mark in the fourth quarter.

 

In the SMU-Penn State game, the most valuable player for the Nittany Lions was SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings. Jennings was mistake prone all game. On a 4^th down, early in the first quarter and deep in Penn State territory, Jennings made the mistake of throwing the ball when he had an open field to easily run for the first down. Jennings’ pass was incomplete, and the ball turned over to Penn State. Then, before the first half was over, Jennings threw not one but three interceptions. The first two of the inceptions were returned for Penn State’s first two touchdowns of the game. Jennings never should have gotten out of bed Saturday morning.  

 

Finally, we got a good contest in the third game of the four first-round playoff games. Texas led most of the way but Clemson kept it exciting. The Longhorns beat the Tigers, 38-24. Texas was leading 31-10 with less than 4 minutes to go in the third quarter. It was looking good for the Horns. But just a little more than 3 minutes into the fourth quarter, Clemson cut the gap to 7 points – 31-24. One minute later, Texas scored on a 77-yard touchdown run by Jaydon Blue.

 

The fourth game of the four first-round games was another rout, just like the first two games. Tennessee couldn’t win for losing, as Ohio State pummeled the Vols, 42-17. The game was worse than the score looks. Ohio State led 42-10 early in the fourth quarter. Tennessee scored a “who cares” touchdown with 1:56 left on the clock. That score prevented Ohio State from having the largest victory margin of the four first-round games.

 

Three of the first-round games – Indiana-Notre Dame, SMU-Penn State and Tennessee-Ohio State – were played in sub-freezing temperatures that were in the mid to low 20s. Three of the first round games drew crowds of more than 100,000 spectators. It was a good first round for the Big Ten – 2-1, so-so for the SEC – 1-1 and a disaster for the ACC – 0-2.  

 

Round Two of the CFP (the Quarterfinals) will be played on December 31 (one game) and January 1 (three games). On New Year’s Eve, Penn State and Boise State tangle in the Fiesta Bowl. On New Year’s Day, Texas and Arizona State go at it in the Peach Bowl, Ohio State and Oregon meet in the Rose Bowl and Notre Dame and Georgia face off in the Sugar Bowl.

 

Yeah, the committee got it wrong. Alabama and Ole Miss should have been in the playoff instead of Indiana and SMU. And Tennessee apparently was an overrated team this season.

 

The bowl season continued last Thursday night with the New Orleans Bowl. Sam Houston took advantage of Georgia Southern’s five turnovers to beat the Eagles, 31-26.

 

Friday afternoon, in the Cure Bowl, Ohio had a halftime lead of 27-7 and an early fourth quarter lead of 30-14. Then the Bobcats struggled to hold on and beat Jacksonville State, 30-27. Jax State quarterback Tyler Huff passed for 366 yards.

 

Later the same day, Florida ended its season on a four-game winning streak. The Gators beat Tulane, 33-8, in the Gasparilla Bowl. In the first half, Florida quarterback D.J. Lagway was D.J Passaway, as the Florida quarterback threw two interceptions. But Lagway got his act together in the second half.     

 

Washington defensive coordinator Steve Belichick is joining his father’s staff in Chapel Hill to be North Carolina’s defensive coordinator.

 

Washington State is the only school still looking for a new football coach. As it stands now, 27 schools will have new head coaches next season.

 

“Waiting for the train that goes home, sweet Mary, hoping that the train is on time. Sitting downtown in a railway station, one toke over the line….” Remember that song? “One Toke Over the Line.” It was on the Billboard hot 100 chart for 14 weeks in the late winter and spring of 1971, peaking at No. 10. The song was written and sung by Michael Brewer and Tom Shipley of the folk-rock duo Brewer & Shipley. Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead played steel guitar on the recording of the song. Charles Michael Brewer died last week. A native of Oklahoma City, he was 80. “….One toke over the line, sweet Jesus, one toke over the line.”

 

Former Major League Baseball left fielder Rickey Henderson, the “Man of Steel,” died last week. Henderson played 24 seasons in the majors for nine different teams – 1979 to 2003. Fourteen of those seasons (non-consecutive) were with the Oakland Raiders, his original team. He is widely regarded as baseball’s greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner. He holds MLB records for career stolen bases, runs, unintentional walks and leadoff home runs. Henderson won the American League MVP award in 1990. A native of Chicago, Rickey Nelson Henley Henderson was 65.

 

Swamp Mama and I are leaving later today, driving to the Panhandle to share Christmas with Princess Gator, Gator Gabe and Gator Babe. It’s going to be chilly but not too bad. 

 

Happy Holidays.…..Merry Christmas……Happy Hanukkah……Season’s Greetings

 

Touchdown Tom

December 23, 2024

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

 

Review of the Last Three Bowl Games

 

Turnover Bowl – (in the New Orleans Bowl) – Sam Houston 31, Georgia Southern 26 (Touchdown Tom said: Georgia Southern 27, Sam Houston 20). Georgia Southern could have won the game. Georgia Southern should have won the game. But you can’t win games when you have five turnovers – one fumble and four interceptions. It was a frustrating game for the Eagles. Sam Houston ended its season with a 10-3 record. Attendance in New Orleans: 13,151

 

Each had a half – (in the Cure Bowl) – Ohio 30, Jacksonville State 27 (Touchdown Tom said: Ohio 31, Jacksonville State 27). Ohio had a good first half (27 points) and a lousy second half (3 points). Bobcats’ quarterback Parker Navarro, who passed for 256 yards and rushed for 110 yards, got most of those yards in the first half. Ohio running back Anthony Tyus rushed for 102 yards. Most of his yards were in the first half too. Ohio receiver Coleman Owen had 11 catches for 141 yards – most in the first half. Jax State had a bad first half (7 points) and a good second half (20 points). Jax State quarterback Tyler Huff, who usually gets most of his yards rushing, was 21-35-1, passing for 362 yards. Huff only had 2 yards rushing. As a team, Jax State only had 43 yards rushing. Gamecocks’ receiver Cam Vaughn had 10 catches for 183 yards. Ohio had 487 total yards. It was a sloppy game – 16 penalties and four turnovers (2 for each team). Ohio ended its season at 11-3. Attendance in Orlando: 10,518

 

Four straight – (in the Gasparilla Bowl) – Florida 33, Tulane 8 (Touchdown Tom said: Florida 34, Tulane 20). Florida got off to a slow start. Only six points in the first half – two field goals. But Tulane had a worse first half – 0 points. Florida quarterback D.J. Lagway contributed to that slow start, throwing two interceptions. But Lagway found his groove in the second half. He ended up passing for 305 yards. In the second half, the Gators built up their lead to 33-0. Tulane scored its lone touchdown with 11 seconds left in the game. The Green Wave were playing with their backup quarterback. Florida totally dominated the stats – 529 total yards and 26 first downs. The Gators controlled ball possession 38:57 to 21:03. Tulane only had 194 total yards and only 69 yards rushing. Florida ended its season on a positive note with 4-straight wins and an 8-5 record. That’s an encouraging sign for next season. Attendance in Tampa: 41,472

 

Last Three Bowl Game Picks:     2 winners, 1 fumble (66.7 percent)

Total Bowl Game Picks To Date:  6 winners, 1 fumble (85.7 percent)

 

 

Review of the College Football Playoff (First Round)

 

A good night to be Irish – (in the College Football Playoff) – Notre Dame 27, Indiana 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Notre Dame 30, Indiana 28). On offense and defense, Notre Dame was too fast for Indiana. The Irish had the speed and the Hoosiers didn’t. The game was over at halftime when the score was 17-3. It got worse, as ND extended its lead to 27-3 in the second half. A big difference was in the rushing game. Notre Dame had one and Indiana didn’t. The Irish had 193 yards on the ground. The Hoosiers had 63 yards. The temperature was 28° at kickoff and 24° at the end of the game. Attendance in South Bend: 77,622

 

The Mustangs were put out to pasture – (in the College Football Playoff) – Penn State 38, SMU 10 (Touchdown Tom said: Penn State 30, SMU 24). Penn State came to play, and SMU didn’t. It was as simple as that. The Nittany Lions led 28-0 at halftime. Actually, SMU’s defense put up a pretty good fight. Two of Penn State’s touchdowns were pick-sixes. And a third interception set up a third Penn State touchdown. Penn State’s running game was too much for the Mustangs. The Nittany Lions had 189 yards rushing. SMU only had 58 yards rushing. Penn State running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen had 90 yards and 70 yards rushing respectively. Singleton had one touchdown and Allen had two touchdowns. SMU kept stepping on its foot and never could get its act together. The temperature was 24° at kickoff and 23° at the end of the game. Attendance in State College: 106,013

 

Bevo toots his Horns – (in the College Football Playoff) – Texas 38, Clemson 24 (Touchdown Tom said: Texas 33, Clemson 20). Clemson looked impressive on its opening drive, moving down the field with ease to score and take a 7-0 lead. Texas responded, tying the score at 7-7. Texas responded again and again. Before you knew it, the Horns were up 21-7 over Clemson. Texas led 28-10 at the halftime break. Midway through the third quarter, Texas extended its lead to 31-10. It didn’t look good for the Tigers. But Clemson came roaring back, scoring two unanswered touchdowns. The Texas lead was a precarious 31-24. The Longhorns quickly added another touchdown and then held on to win. This game had an excitement to it the other two games lacked. Clemson was a passing team, and Texas was the running team. Tigers’ quarterback Cade Klubnik passed for 336 yards and three touchdowns. Clemson receiver T.J. Moore had 9 catches for 116 yards. Texas running backs Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner rushed for 146 yards and 110 yards respectively. Texas racked up 494 total yards – 202 yards passing and 292 yards rushing. Clemson only had 76 yards rushing. The temperature was 61°at kickoff and 55° at the end of the game. Attendance in Austin: 101,150

 

A Scarlet smackdown – (in the College Football Playoff) – Ohio State 42, Tennessee 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Tennessee 27, Ohio State 24). With the blink of your eye, Ohio State was up 21-0. Tennessee couldn’t stop the Buckeyes in the first quarter. Just a little over two minutes into the game, Ohio State scored its first touchdown and went up 7-0. By the time the first quarter was over, the Buckeyes were up 21-0. Tennessee recovered in the second quarter. The Vols outscored the Buckeyes 10-0. Ohio State led 21-10 at the halftime break. But the third quarter was similar to the first. It was all Buckeyes. Ohio State outscored Tennessee 14-0. Early in the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes added another TD and went up 42-10. It was all over but the shouting. While Ohio State executed with ease, Tennessee’s offense struggled. And the Vols’ defense was just as bad. For a 6-6 quarterback, I was surprised at the number of passes Nico Iamaleava had blocked. Will Howard had 311 yards passing. TreVeyon Henderson rushed for 80 yards and Jeremiah Smith had six receptions for 106 yards. Ohio State finished with 473 total yards. Tennessee had 256 total yards. The temperature was 25° at kickoff and 21° at the end of the game. Attendance in Columbus: 102,819

 

First Round CFP Picks: 3 winners, 1 fumble

 

 

Superlatives

 

Impressive Passers:

 

Jacksonville State’s Tyler Huff – 21-35-1-362 (1TD); Clemson’s Cade Klubnik – 26-43-1-336 (3TDs), and Ohio State’s Will Howard – 24-29-1-311 (2TDs).

 

Impressive Rushers:

 

Texas’ Jaydon Blue – 146 yards (2TDs).

 

 

FCS Semifinals

 

North Dakota State 28, South Dakota State 21 – Attendance in Fargo: 17,849

Montana State 31, South Dakota 17 – Attendance in Boseman: 20,557

 

Division II Championship

 

Ferris State 49, Valdosta State 14 – Attendance in Valdosta: 3,228

 

 

Division III Semifinals

 

Mount Union 45, Johns Hopkins 37

North Central 66, Susquehanna 0

 

 

Touchdown Tom’s Predictions for the Next Three Bowl Games

 

Coastal Carolina (6-6) vs. UTSA (6-6) – (Sun Belt vs. AAC) – Myrtle Beach Bowl (Brooks Stadium – Conway, South Carolina) – 11:00 am ET, Monday, ESPN – Nothing like playing a bowl game on your home field. That’s what Coastal Carolina will be doing. The Chanticleers got off to a great start this season. They were 3-0, including a 55-27 win over Jacksonville State. Then it all turned around for Coastal. They lost 6 of their next 9 games and none of the losses were close. The Chanticleers’ offense averaged 30 points a game, but the defense gave up 31 points a game. UTSA had a disappointing season. The Roadrunners were supposed to contend for the AAC championship. They weren’t anywhere close. UTSA did end the season on a positive note. The Roadrunners won 3 of their last 4 games, including a 44-36 win over Memphis. UTSA was one of only two teams to beat Memphis. UTSA’s offense and defense are similar to Coastal Carolinas. The Roadrunners averaged 32 points a game and gave up 31 points a game. UTSA quarterback Owen McCown passed for 3,170 yards. It’s all Beep, Beep in Conway – UTSA 34, Coastal Carolina 31.

 

Northern Illinois (7-5) vs. Fresno State (6-6) – (MAC vs. MWC) – Idaho Potato Bowl (Albertsons Stadium – Boise, Idaho) – 2:30 pm ET, Monday, ESPN – Northern Illinois has the distinction of being the only team to beat Notre Dame this season. Other than that, the Huskies don’t have much to brag about. NIU does have a decent defense. Actually, one of the best in the country. That’s a good thing because the offense, other than the running game, is pretty bad. Fresno State, meanwhile, is hurting because the Bulldogs’ quarterback Mikey Keene has entered the transfer portal. Keene was one of the few good things about Fresno State this season. The Bulldogs have no running game. The defense is not good. Fresno State averages 27 points a game and gives up 25 points a game. The Huskies twice bake the Bulldogs – Northern Illinois 27, Fresno State 20.

 

South Florida (6-6) vs. San Jose State (7-5) – (AAC vs. MWC) – Hawaii Bowl (Ching Athletics Complex – Honolulu, Hawaii) – 8 pm ET, Tuesday, ESPN – South Florida had a disappointing season. The Bulls were supposed to contend for the AAC championship. They didn’t. South Florida mixes an average offense with a bad defense. USF gave up 29 points a game. San Jose State is a strong passing team – 5^th in the country with 325 yards a game. The passing is handled by quarterback Walker Eget. Eget is good. The pressure is on Eget because the Spartans don’t have a running game. They don’t have much of a defense either. The Spartans win the Bullfight – San Jose State 27, South Florida 21.

 

 

Quotes of the Week

 

“Indiana’s inclusion in college football’s postseason tournament was a monumental mistake,” USA Today sportswriter Matt Hayes.

 

“Ryan Day continues to prove he’s one of the best coaches in the country, as long as the Buckeyes aren’t playing Michigan,” USA Today sportswriter Paul Myerberg.

 

“Big talk, little walk from Curt Cignetti,” FOX Sports Michael Cohen.

 

“We don’t just beat Top 25 teams, we beat the shit out of them,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti before the game against Notre Dame.

 

“One thing you didn’t learn from me is talking all the shit you talk,” former Alabama coach Nick Saban to Indiana coach Curt Cignetti. (Note: Cignetti was on Saban’s staff for four seasons from 2007 to 2010.)

 

Touchdown Tom

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

(The next CFW – Week 18 Results/Forecast will be posted Thursday morning, December 26, and CFW’s annual holiday bonus “What Year Was It?” will be posted Saturday morning, December 28.)

 

CFW Week 17 Results/Forecast - Is your bracket filled out?

 CFW Week 17 Results/Forecast – Is your bracket filled out?

March Madness in December

 

The College Football Playoff games begin this weekend. It’s the inaugural playoff with a 12-team format. It seems like only yesterday when the 4-team playoff began. That was just 10 years ago – 2014. Who knows, in just two years, we may have a 14 or 16-team playoff.

 

The problem with the current 12-team playoff is the seeding. I’ll accept that a Power Four conference champion should be seeded regardless of its ranking. I’ll agree that the highest-ranked Group of Five team should be seeded in the playoff regardless of its ranking. What I don’t agree with is giving conference champions a first-round bye if they aren’t ranked in the Top 4 of the final CFP rankings.

 

In other words, Arizona State and Boise State shouldn’t have first-round byes. Arizona State should be seeded 11^th and Boise State should be seeded 9^th. As far as I’m concerned, the Top 4 teams in the ranking should be the four teams getting a bye. So, here is the way this year’s bracket should be.

 

Oregon, Georgia, Texas and Penn State should have the first-round byes. They are first through fourth in the rankings.

 

The first-round games beginning this weekend would consist of No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Notre Dame, with the winner playing Penn State in the second round. No. 11 Arizona State at No. 6 Ohio State, with the winner playing Texas in the second round. No. 10 SMU at No. 7 Tennessee, with the winner playing Georgia in the second round. And No. 9 Boise State at No. 8 Indiana, with the winner playing Oregon in the second round.

 

As the highest-ranked and highest-seeded team, Oregon should have the easiest path to the third round. But in this year’s screwed up seedings, Oregon has the toughest path, playing the winner of Tennessee-Ohio State. Penn State, who should be seeded 4^th with the toughest path to the third round, has the easiest path in this year’s screwed up seedings. Penn State hosts SMU this weekend. If they win, and they should, then the Nittany Lions play Boise State in the third round.

 

Oh well, college football is fun but the people who run things never seem to get it right. Like the open period for the transfer portal. The portal window should not be open in December when most of the bowl games and playoff games are taking place. But when should the winter portal window open?

 

The winter portal window opened on December 9 and runs through December 28. It always opens around the end of the fall semester. That allows players to be signed by another school in time to register for the spring semester and participate in spring practice. The spring portal window will be open April 16-25, near the end of the spring semester. It allows players to be signed by another school in time to register for the summer term and participate in summer workouts and fall practice.

 

As we began, before I got off track, the College Football Playoff games begin this weekend. One game Friday night (8 pm ET) and three on Saturday (12 noon ET, 4 pm ET and 8 pm ET).

In the opener Friday night, Notre Dame hosts Indiana. All odds are on the Irish. But can the Cinderella Hoosiers defy the odds?

 

The action continues at 12 noon Saturday in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State hosts SMU. For some reason, the pundits seem to think if there is going to be an upset in the first round, then this is it. They think SMU can pull it off. You better not tell James Franklin that.

 

Next up Saturday is Clemson at Texas. Clemson is the lowest-ranked and lowest-seeded team in the playoff. I’d say that gives the Tigers some incentive.

 

We close out Saturday night with Tennessee at Ohio State. The last time the Buckeyes played in Ohio Stadium, they lost. Will it be two in a row? They say there is going to be a lot of Orange in Ohio Stadium Saturday night.

 

Man, this is like March Madness in December. Is your bracket filled out?

 

In addition to the playoff, there are three bowl games this weekend. But none are competing with the playoff games. They made sure of that. Tonight, Georgia Southern meets Sam Houston in the New Orleans Bowl. My money is on Georgia Southern.

 

At noon on Friday, Ohio takes on Jacksonville State in the Cure Bowl in Orlando. This could be some game – high scoring, lots of touchdowns. Then at 3:30 pm ET on Friday, Tulane and Florida tangle in the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa. The Gators are hot; the Green Wave are not.

 

No bowl games Friday night and no bowl games Saturday. That’s CFP time.

 

The bowl season resumed Tuesday night in Frisco, Texas. Memphis won, of all things, the Frisco Bowl. The Tigers held on to subdue late charging West Virginia, 42-37. Trailing Memphis 35-17 with less than eight minutes to go in third quarter, the Mountaineers outscored the Tigers 20-7 in the next 18 minutes to close the gap to five points – 42-37. But the comeback fell short. Driving for the go-ahead touchdown in the closing couple of minutes, WVU quarterback Garrett Greene threw an interception which killed the Mountaineers’ hopes.   

 

Wednesday night, the Boca Raton Bowl was James Madison’s running game against Western Kentucky’s passing game. The running game won. JMU beat WKU, 27-17.

 

In the nightcap last night, California outplayed UNLV in the LA Bowl. However, the Golden Bears lost to the Rebels, 24-13. At the end of the first quarter, Cal led UNLV, 10-7. After that, it was all Rebels.

 

Just when we thought the coaching carousel was all but over, Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson announced he is stepping down. Clawson coached the Demon Deacons for 11 seasons (2014-2024) with a 67-69 record. Wake Forest made seven consecutive bowl appearances between 2016-2022 and participated in the ACC title game in 2021. Prior to Wake Forest, he was the head coach of Fordham, Richmond and Bowling Green. Clawson is the only head coach in Division I history to lead four different programs to double-digit wins in a season. He will remain with Wake Forest in an advisory role.

 

It didn’t take long for Wake Forest to find its new coach. Two days after Dave Clawson stepped down, Wake Forest named Washington State coach Jake Dickert as his replacement Wednesday.

 

Also on Wednesday, Sam Houston named Phil Longo its new head coach. Longo has been the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Wisconsin the past two years but was fired a few weeks ago by Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell. Prior to Wisconsin, Longo was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Ole Miss (2017-2018) and North Carolina (2019-2022).

 

With Clawson stepping down, that makes for 26 schools who will have new head coaches next season. Of the 25 schools, 24 have found their new coach, while one – Jacksonville State – is still looking.

 

And in stranger than science news, starting next year in 2025, the Ivy League football champion will compete for the first time in the FCS playoff. Since Division IAA evolving into the FCS level of football began, the Ivy League football teams have always competed at the Division IAA/FCS level. But, until now, the Ivy League has always turned up its nose on postseason competition in football. Football has been the only sport that Ivy League teams did not compete in for NCAA championships. So, “Boola Boola” and “Roar Lions, Roar.”

 

Happy Holidays……Merry Christmas……Happy Hanukkah……Season’s Greetings

 

Touchdown Tom

December 19, 2024

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

Review of the Last Three Bowl Games

 

Defenseless in Frisco (in the Frisco Bowl) – Memphis 42, West Virginia 37 (Touchdown Tom said: Memphis 34, West Virginia 24). If only West Virginia had a defense, the Mountaineers might win some more football games. At one stretch, Memphis scored on six-consecutive possessions. Of course, two turnovers didn’t help WVU any. WVU quarterback Garrett Greene was 29-40-1, passing for 328 yards and two touchdowns. Greene also rushed for 95 yards and one touchdown. Mountaineers’ receiver Hudson Clement had 11 receptions for 166 yards. WVU racked up 534 total yards. West Virginia dominated all the stats, except for the score. Memphis ended its season at 11-2. Attendance in Frisco: 12,022

 

The Dukes did the Topping – (in the Boca Raton Bowl) – James Madison 27, Western Kentucky 17 (Touchdown Tom said: James Madison 31, Western Kentucky 27). James Madison scored first and JMU scored last. The Dukes outscored Western Kentucky 20-3 in the second half. The Dukes rushed for 212 yards. The Hilltoppers passed for 302 yards. JMU held WKU to just 16 yards rushing. The Hilltoppers suffered from three turnovers. Ball possession went to the Dukes 36:32 to 23:28. James Madison ended its season at 9-4. Attendance in Boca Raton: 15,808

 

These Bears weren’t golden – (in the LA Bowl) – UNLV 24, California 13 (Touchdown Tom said: UNLV 24, California 21). California scored all of its points in the first half – most of them in the first quarter. The Bears outplayed the Rebels. Cal had more first downs, more total yards, more passing yards, and more rushing yards. The Bears even dominated ball possession 35:50 to 24:10. But Cal only had one touchdown. Attendance in Inglewood: 24,420

 

Last Three Bowl Game Picks:  3 winners, 0 fumbles (100 percent)

Total Bowl Game Picks:           4 winners, 0 fumbles (100 percent

 

 

Superlatives

 

Impressive Passers:

 

West Virginia’s Garrett Greene – 29-40-1-328 (2TDs);

 

Impressive Rushers:

 

None

 

 

Touchdown Tom’s Predictions for The Next Three Bowl Games and Four Playoff Games

 

Georgia Southern (8-4) vs. Sam Houston (9-3) – (Sun Belt vs. C-USA) – New Orleans Bowl (Caesars Superdome – New Orleans, Louisiana) – 7 pm ET, Thursday, ESPN – In spite of being average on offense and weak on defense, Georgia Southern had a remarkably good season. The Eagles came close to winning the Sun Belt East and playing in the conference title game. They were the only team in the Sun Belt to beat Marshall, the conference champion. Georgia Southern’s best hope on offense is quarterback J.C. French. French passed for 2,619 yards, completing 66% of his passes. Sam Houston will be playing the game under an interim coach. The Bearkats lost their coach a couple of weeks ago to Temple. Sam Houston has a weak offense with a good defense. The defense was 19^th in the country in points allowed – holding opponents to 20 points a game. The offense was one of the worst in the country in all phases except for rushing yards. The Bearkats have a pretty strong running game. The Eagles soar – Georgia Southern 27, Sam Houston 20.  

 

Ohio (10-3) vs. Jacksonville State (9-4) – (MAC vs. C-USA) – Cure Bowl (Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Florida) – 12 noon ET, Friday, ESPN – We have two conference champions playing in this game. Ohio won the MAC championship, while Jacksonville State won the C-USA title. Ohio enters the game on a six-game winning streak. The Bobcats are good on offense with the threats of running back Anthony Tyus and quarterback Parker Navarro. As a duo, they are dangerous. The Bobcats are good on defense too, holding opponents to 18 points a game – 11^th in the country. Ohio is 8^th in the country in total yards allowed per game. Jax State lost its coach and will be playing under an interim. Rich Rodriguez left the Gamecocks to take the job at West Virginia. Jax State is powerful on offense and weak on defense. The Bearcats have a dangerous duo too – running back Tre Stewart and quarterback Tyler Huff. Huff likes to run more than passing. He rushed for 1,343 yards. Stewart rushed for 1,604 yards. Jax State was 2^nd in the country in rushing yards per game – 267. The Bearcats were 12^th in the country in points per game – 37. On defense, Jax State gave up 26 points a game. The Bobcats purr – Ohio 31, Jacksonville State 27.

 

Tulane (9-4) vs. Florida (7-5) – (AAC vs. SEC) – Gasparilla Bowl (Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, Florida) – 3:30 pm ET, Friday, ESPN2 – As the season came to an end, Florida was getting better, while Tulane was getting worse. The Gators won their last three games. The Green Wave lost their last two games. Tulane also lost its quarterback, as Darian Mensah entered the transfer portal at season’s end. Tulane has a good offense and a good defense. But without Mensah, the offense may be weakened. The Green Wave do have a good running back in Makhi Hughes. He rushed for 1,372 yards. Florida’s improvement at the end of the season saved coach Billly Napier’s job. He was on the chopping block. Florida’s offense improved as quarterback D.J. Lagway improved. You could see the difference. The Gators’ defense also got better in the latter half of the season. Albert waves goodbye to the Green Wave – Florida 34, Tulane 20.

 

 

Indiana (11-1) at Notre Dame (11-1) – (Big Ten vs. Ind.) – College Football Playoff Round 1 (Notre Dame Stadium – South Bend, Indiana) – 8 pm ET, Friday, ABC (Gametime temp and weather forecast: 27 degrees and snow) – Unlike the other three first-round visitors, Indiana doesn’t have far to travel. Bloomington to South Bend is 195 miles. That’s like a day trip for the Hoosiers. Indiana was the darling of college football this season. A team that usually finishes at the bottom of the Big Ten, the Hoosiers finished near the top. Indiana got off to a record 10-0 start before losing their first game and only losing game. And to make matters more interesting, the Hoosiers were playing under a first-year coach – Curt Cignetti. Surprisingly, Indiana was good on both offense and defense. The offense, led by quarterback Kurtis Rourke, averaged 43 points a game. As a team. Indiana averaged 439 total yards a game. The defense was 1^st in the country in rushing yards allowed – 71. And 2^nd in the country in total yards allowed – 249. Notre Dame is not a flashy team. The Irish players play well as a team and get the job done. On offense, the Irish are a running team – 225 yards a game. They average 40 points a game. On defense, ND is good too – holding opponents to 14 points a game. The Irish only allow 297 total yards per game. So, Indiana and Notre Dame are well skilled on offense and defense. I’m going with the luck of the Irish – Notre Dame 30, Indiana 28.

 

SMU (11-2) at Penn State (11-2) – (ACC vs. Big Ten) – College Football Playoff Round 1 (Beaver Stadium – University Park, Pennsylvania) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, TNT (Gametime temp and weather forecast: 26 degrees and partly sunny/partly cloudy) – Along with Indiana, SMU was the other darling of college football in 2024. It’s been a long time since SMU has been playing at this level of football. The Mustangs two losses were by a total of 6 points. One loss was in overtime. SMU’s offense is delivered by quarterback Kevin Jennings and running back Brashard Smith. Jennings passed for 3,050 yards and Smith ran for 1,267 yards. Jennings completed 66% of his lobs. SMU’s offense averaged 39 points a game. The defense gave up 21 points a game. They were weak against the pass and strong against the run. Opponents only averaged 93 yards a game rushing against SMU. Penn State’s offense is good, but the defense is better. Every phase of Penn State’s defense is no worse than 16^th in the country. Opponents are held to 16 points a game. The Nittany Lions’ offense is deceptive. Quarterback Drew Allar is not flashy, but he is good. He gets the job done. A key to Penn State’s offense is tight end Tyler Warren. He had 88 catches for 1,062 yards. Warren was 7^th in the Heisman voting. If SMU holds on to the ball, the Mustangs will give the Lions’ defense a test. The Lions pass – Penn State 30, SMU 24.

 

Clemson (10-3) at Texas (11-2) – (ACC vs. SEC) – College Football Playoff Round 1 (DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium – Austin, Texas) – 4 pm ET, Saturday, TNT (Gametime temp and weather forecast: 61 degrees and sunny) – Clemson is the lucky team of the four visiting playoff teams. The weather will be pleasant in Austin. Aside from that, Clemson may not be so lucky. The Tigers are good on offense, weaker on defense. Clemson’s offense relies on the passing of Cade Klubnik – 3,303 yards, 64% completion rate and only 5 interceptions. And the running of Phil Mafah – 1,116 yards rushing. Clemson’s offense averages 36 points a game. The Tigers are not strong in any phase of the defense. They gave up 22 points a game and 365 total yards a game. Some think Texas has the best defense in the country. Some of that defensive strength may be a result of the weakness of Texas’ schedule. Still, the Longhorns are good on defense. The Texas offense averages 34 points a game. But it wasn’t real sharp in either of its games against Georgia. The Dawgs won both of those games. Quarterback Quinn Ewers definitely needs to step it up a notch. Bevo prevails – Texas 33, Clemson 20.  

 

Tennessee (10-2) at Ohio State (10-2) – (SEC vs. Big Ten) – College Football Playoff Round 1 (Ohio Stadium – Columbus, Ohio) – 8 pm ET, Saturday, ABC (Gametime temp and weather forecast: 25 degrees and partly cloudy) – Tennessee’s two losses were the miscue against Arkansas and the spanking from Georgia. Oh well, Texas had two spankings from Georgia. Aside from that, the Vols looked pretty good, including the win over Alabama. Ohio State will be an interesting and tough opponent for Tennessee. The Vols have one of the best offenses and defenses in the country. The Vols score at a rate of 37 points a game, while only giving up 14 points a game. The quarterbacking is handled by quarterback Nico Iamaleava – a freshman quarterback who makes freshman mistakes. The running is handled by Dylan Sampson who rushed for 1,487 yards. Ohio State is similar to Tennessee. The Buckeyes average 36 points a game and give up 11 points a game. The Ohio State defense is probably better than Tennessee’s defense. The Buckeyes are quarterbacked by Will Howard. Howard is generally dependable. The running duties are split between Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. If one is off, the other is usually on. Ohio State’s two losses this season were by a total of 4 points. In bowl games, Ohio State has a 1-13 record against SEC teams. Overall, the Buckeyes are 23-15-3 against the SEC. The Vols convince the Buckeyes they are in a bowl game – Tennessee 27, Ohio State 24.

 

 

FCS  Semifinals

 

South Dakota State (12-2) at North Dakota State (12-2)

South Dakota (11-2) at Montana State (14-0)

 

 

Division II Championship

 

Valdosta State (13-0) vs. Ferris State (13-1)

 

 

Division III Semifinals

 

Susquehanna (12-1) at North Central (13-0)

Johns Hopkins (12-1) at Mount Union (13-0)

 

 

Quotes of the Week

 

“We got problems in college football,” Penn State coach James Franklin, on the open transfer portal overlapping with the college football playoff and bowl games.

 

“It’s sad. It’s terrible. There is no other sport at all that has free agency in the season. The real easy thing is you don’t have a transfer portal in December. That’s the real easy answer and it solves all the problems,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee, calling for an end to the December portal window.

 

Touchdown Tom

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com