Everyone has an opinion and most of them stink
Pick results summary here. Last week we had a 2 way tie at the top spot with 7 out of 9 correct picks. One of those pickers was me, so I’ll give myself a pat on the back, but the other was BearJacket who deserves a round of applause! Good job BearJacket. While there is technically one last pick in the regular season we can officially name at least one champion. donkeygoatrunner has been in the lead all year and now officially has 112 correct picks with a pick percentage of 58.03% making him (or her, I’m not sure) the top picker of the year. While Gtbadcarma can still technically tie donkeygoatrunner, there is no way for donkeygoatrunner to lose the top spot. Gtbadcarma currently sits in the second spot with 11 correct picks while I am locked in the third spot with 108 correct picks. BearJacket is currently in 4th with 106 correct picks, and could be in 3rd if things end in a tie at the top. It was a good season as far as picks go for everyone. Things also reset this week as we start the bowl season, so I will have a separate tally for the upcoming bowl games. We are starting from 0 so be sure to make your picks and see if you can beat any of our top pickers in your knowledge of bowl games this year.
College football is a subjective sport. It’s what fans love and hate about the sport. Everyone has their own opinion of what wins mean more, which ranking system is better, and ultimately which teams should be considered the best. Personally, I don’t think it matters if the playoff is between 2 teams, 4 teams, 12 teams, 16 teams, or 24 + teams; people are always going to be upset about which teams got in and which teams didn’t and that’s ok.
In my opinion Miami and Bama should not have been in the playoff. For Bama its more about how they’ve looked down the stretch. The Tide struggled to beat Auburn and got blown out by the team in Athens, I’m not convinced they’ll be able to compete with anyone in the playoff based on how they’ve played their past few games. The Tide offense isn’t clicking like it was through the middle of the year, and their defense looks as uninspiring as it has all year. Nothing I have seen from Alabama makes me think they stand a chance against anyone else in the playoffs, with the possible exception of JMU.
I do think Miami can compete in the playoffs. The reason I don’t think Miami should be in the playoff (other than to punish the ACC for their moronic tie breaker policies) is because of who they’ve lost to. Notre Dame lost to ranked Miami and Texas A&M teams. You know who Notre Dame didn’t lose to? unranked Louisville and SMU. I said at the start of the season that Miami was the one team in the ACC that might benefit from not playing in the ACC Championship because of their nature to choke and of the perception of the program as one of the best even when they drop 2 games they shouldn’t every year. Turns out that came to fruition in one of the most controversial ways possible. I don’t think Miami deserved this spot, but apparently the committee disagreed.
Don’t let those opinions fool you, I don’t think Notre Dame should be in either. The Irish win 1 good game against USC, lose their other top games against Miami and Texas A&M, and expect to be rewarded for scheduling a bunch of cupcakes that they beat by 30 points. Sure we can talk about teams in the ACC having weak schedules in general, but who was their toughest opponent outside of Miami, Texas A&M, and USC? NC State or Navy right? We can all see Notre Dame are a talented team but maybe play some tougher teams on a consistent basis to actually prove you can win more than one big game.
Frankly if I had my way Vandy should have been in the playoff. They were exciting to watch all season and played competitively all year, why shouldn’t they deserve as much consideration as Alabama? At least the Commodores don’t get upset about playing a bowl game. Notre Dame throwing a tantrum works out for Georgia Tech in the short term since we now get to play in the Pop Tart Bowl, so thanks for that.
I hate that we feel things need fixing in this perfectly imperfect system of college football. I like the debates, and I like the emotions behind snubs, and I like knowing that a G5 team can go 12-1 and have a chance at the Cinderella championship run even if no one else thinks they have a shot. I love this sport. I know things are going to change because of the committee’s decision this week I don’t think this is anything should. That’s just my perspective, for what it’s worth.
On to picks, this week since bowl games start at the same time as Army v Navy (which is a darn shame) we are splitting picks. Our last regular season pick for Army v Navy will be in one table and our first few set of bowl games will be in another. As noted above Bowl Picks are starting back at 0 so be sure to make your picks and don’t forget to stop by the site to keep making them as December rolls on.
picks:
Army Black Knights v Navy Midshipmen (-5.5) at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland
Logan: I love Army v Navy every year. I never served but you can tell this game means a lot to our servicemen and it just feels special to watch. In terms of the game itself, Navy obviously has the better record. Navy only lost to
Notre Dame and North Texas. Navy has been very efficient on offense and it has been what has led them to victory in most games. Army has not been as consistent so they have relied on their defense to keep them in close games. There is going to be some light snow in Baltimore Friday and Sunday, but not on Saturday (based on current projections). If it snows I think things could tip in favor of Army’s offense, but otherwise I think Navy will run the ball all over them. At the moment I will take Navy.
Logan’s pick: Navy
Cricket Celebration Bowl: South Carolina State Bulldogs v Prairie View A&M Panthers (No Spread Given)
Logan: I couldn’t find a spread on this game on ESPN so it is a straight pick ‘em. This is the MEAC v SWAC bowl for the HBCU title this year (not sure if that’s actually a thing, but that’s how I think of it). I don’t know much about either of these teams, it seems like Prairie View has a better run game but struggles with turnovers while South Carolina State has relied on their defense in the games they have won. I think I like South Carolina State since they have only really struggled against teams at the FBS level.
Logan’s pick: South Carolina State
Bucked Up LA Bowl: Boise State Broncos v Washington Huskies (-8.5)
Logan: When I see big spreads I tend to lean Boise State. Boise State has a tendency of pulling big upsets, especially in bowl games.
Logan’s pick: Boise State
IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl: Troy Trojans (-3.5) v Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Logan: Both teams are coming off tough losses in their conference championship games. Arguably it was a tougher loss for Jacksonville State as they actually had a chance to win their game. This will be the last hurrah for both teams, I feel like Jacksonville State may feel they have something to prove after coming up short last week. I’ll take the Gamecocks
Logan’s pick: Jacksonville State
Staff DNA Cure Bowl: Old Dominion Monarchs v South Florida Bulls (-6.5)
Logan: I feel that USF. Start the season so hot only to fall to 9-3 and miss out on your conference championship. USF I am in solidarity with you. The Bulls are the better team and they should win this one pretty handily.
Logan’s pick: USF
68 Ventures Bowl: Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (-2.5) v Delaware Blue Hens
Logan: I’m just so happy that Delaware even made it to this game. Low key the Blue Hens have had a fantastic season and regardless of how they made it they are now in a bowl game. I’m picking Delaware because of how hyped I am for them.
Logan’s pick: Delaware
Xbox Bowl: Missouri State Bears v Arkansas State Red Wolves (-2.5)
Logan: A feature of early bowl season is that there are many teams that I know absolutely nothing about. This game seems about even with Missouri possibly having a slight edge in the running game. I guess I’ll take Missouri State
Logan’s pick: Missouri State
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Kennesaw State Owls v Western Michigan Broncos (-3.5)
Logan: Mostly emotion based picking from me in the first week of bowl season. The Owls have been on a magical journey this year and they don’t have to travel too far for this game. I’m hoping Kennesaw State ends the year on another high note, so I’m picking the Owls.
Logan’s pick: Kennesaw State
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: NC State Wolfpack (-5.5) v Memphis Tigers
Logan: Does CJ Bailey play? That’s the real question here. I think this game could be a fun shootout to watch, assuming CJ Bailey actually shows up. Without him, I don’t know how NC State will perform offensively. Dave Doeren is 0-5 in his last 5 bowl game matchups, I guess I’ll go with history and expect Memphis to at least cover.
Logan’s pick: Memphis
CFP First Round: #9 Alabama Crimson Tide @ #8 Oklahoma Sooners (-1.5)
Logan: I covered what I think of Bama in the intro, I have no reason to believe Oklahoma will lose this game at home in what is essentially a pick ’em game.
Logan’s pick: Oklahoma
CFP First Round: #10 Miami Hurricanes @ #7 Texas A&M Aggies (-3.5)
Logan: A&M is a hard environment to play at, but I think Miami has a good chance to win this one. As much as Miami tends to choke against lesser teams, the Canes tend to play like champions against ranked teams. Carson Beck has a tendency to either throw no interceptions or to throw multiple in a game. If Carson Beck avoids turning the ball over then Miami will win this game.
Logan’s pick: Miami
CFP First Round: #11 Tulane Green Wave @ #6 Ole Miss Rebels (-17.5)
Logan: Tulane got blown out by over 30 points in the last matchup against Ole Miss at home. This time the Green Wave go on the road to face down the Rebels. Ole Miss has a lot going on internally, I’m not sure hiring LSU coaches is the best way to fix your offense now that Lane is gone. Tulane is also going through changes, but at least their head coach is sticking with them for the game. Who knows, maybe that gives Tulane some extra motivation here. I don’t love this pick but I think Tulane can cover in this game. Don’t know if they actually will cover but I’m willing to take a flyer on it.
Logan’s pick: Tulane
CFP First Round: #12 James Madison Dukes @ #5 Oregon Ducks (-21.5)
Logan: I like Tulane, but I have no such confidence in the Dukes. Unfortunately JMU just hasn’t played anyone other than Louisville and they lost that game. I don’t see how the Dukes can possibly go toe to toe with the Ducks. I’m rooting for the Dukes to pull off something magical, but I live in reality and my pick reflects that.
Logan’s pick: Oregon
Category: General Sports
