Bowl blues
In an 18-month stretch in which everything has been impacted by COVID, this may be the only way the college football season could end.
With news that Texas A&M was forced to walk away from the Gator Bowl - more on that in a moment - because of a COVID outbreak that, along with opt-outs and portal positioning and what not, the playoff protocol has been altered.
The Gator Bowl is looking for a replacement team for the Aggies, because, well, they sold more than one ticket and would like to make more than $1. Rutgers is apparently the top choice, but here are my two thoughts. First, I hope Rusty Wright and UTC were raising their hands and asking - begging - to play. What a bushel and a peck of free publicity.
And if I was at North Dakota State, I'd already have called and said, yeah, we'll play. Because what would be better for that program - or the FCS actually - the Bison winning their ninth FCS title since 2011 (take that Alabama) or winning its first Jan. 1 bowl game ever?
Second, considering Texas A&M's glorious 12th man history, I wonder if Jimbo Fisher contacted the walk-ons and/or asked or checked to see if regular students could become student-athletes for this bowl date.
Maybe that's far-fetched, but it would make for the most intriguing bowl storyline outside of the playoff, if you ask me.
Which brings us back to the playoff and the news that Bill Hancock and Co. have announced that if any of the four teams faces a Texas A&M-like outbreak, the semifinal will be ruled a forfeit. If both teams in a semifinal have an outbreak, then the winner of the other semifinal will be the champion.
And yes, if there is only one healthy semifinal team capable of playing on Dec. 31, then that's your national champion.
Which instantly makes me wonder how nervous our resident UGA backers like Alejandro and Jules are that this would be the most 'Georgia' ending to arguably the best Georgia team since Herschel wore the Red and Black.
Hard night on the hardwood
There was a lot of enjoyable college basketball on the TV last night.
There was the Auburn game in which the Tigers toppled a good Murray State team that is tournament worthy. Auburn did this despite KD Johnson and the host of talented but trigger-happy AU perimeter players taking more bad shots than a broke college frat boy on a spring break bender on the panhandle. Uh, guys, when Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler are 10-of-18 (55.5%) from the floor and the rest of the brood is 17-of-46 (36.9%), maybe we should make sure at least one of the two big guys touch it every time down the floor. (Side note: And when Green leads the team in assists, well, maybe it should be doubly important that they bug guys get a touch as often as possible.)
There was an impressive UT win in which the Vols got more calls than homecoming queen leading into prom season. I enjoy college hoops more than I used to - but nowhere close to as much as I did in the 1980s and 90s - but the officiating is so rotten, it's hard to watch and even harder to understand. That said, here's more from Paschall on the Orange straw that stirred the UT drink, Mr. John Fulkerson, who drew 13 of the 28 fouls called the previously unbeaten Wildcats.
There was a dynamite second half from Duke, which showed an athletic flourish after the intermission that will make the Devils devilishly difficult to defend down the road. That - and UK's dominant start-to-finish rout of Western Kentucky - was the upside of the freakish skills of the elite one-and-doners that Coach Cal and Coack K collect like all those nickels and dimes in Don Corleone's pocket. Salut.
There was a strong rally from UTC, which dominated the final five minutes to topple MTSU. While it was not on TV, kudos to the Mocs for winning at least one in a three-game stretch that was a mid-major melee. Side note: MTSU, from roughly 90 minutes away, comes to town for arguably the best nonconference home game of the season, and there was an announced crowd of 2,700-plus in the stands. That's hard to justify.
Side note, part II: Gang, Malachi Smith, UTC's supremely skilled sophomore, can flat-out play. He went 21-13-5 last night on 5-of-9 shooting. And dude is at his best when UTC needs him the most. In the Mocs' four games as underdogs against Loyola-Marymount, VCU, Belmont and Murray State, he played 37, 36, 40 and 36 minutes respectively and scored 21, 23, 27 and 36 points in those games. That'll do, sir. That will most definitely do.
(And I'll leave the next stanza of 'Row-Row-Row Your Boat' about another SEC loss to a mid-major to DD, since you know he lives for it. But I will ask this: Is this the worst Georgia basketball team since, when? Discuss.)
Fab 4 picks
OK, we'll leave some of the meaty stuff to the This and That I guess. Plate got full quickly, like a fat man's on 'Shrimp night' at Golden Corral.
(Side question: If forced to eat at one of the chain buffets, where are you stopping? I think Ryan's is the MJ of this discussion with Shoney's as the LeBron - and Shoney's breakfast bar is LeBron in his peak days of leading that awful collection of Cavs to the Finals - over a Western Sizzlin' or a Golden Corral. Thoughts?)
Well Army's slow start doomed our run last night. Even if the Cadets rallied for a late field goal to topple Missouri 24-22 in the Whatever Bowl.
(Side question, part II: Anyone else think Eli Drinkwitz has a) a strange name, and b) a chance to be really good at this football coaching thing? Dude took a collection of back-ups and part-timers and was in position to win. That's a nice job coach.)
So now, we are looking forward to Monday. Lots of bowls to get to, for sure. Before we get neck deep, I think some tallying is in order.
Underdogs are 7-5 against the spread through 12 games, but that's after a quick 5-0 start. The overs to this point are more dependable, going over the total nine times in the 12 games.
With that, like U.L. Washington playing short for the Royals back in the day, let's do some pickin' friends. (For those a little younger than me, ol' UL played in the field the way Dusty Baker manages - with a toothpick in his mouth. And to make that play on words even more playful, ol' UL could really pick it with the glove too. Side question: Don't see a lot of U.L.'s these days, do you?)
Florida minus-7 and over 55.5 against UCF. Gators are up to their eyes in distractions and turmoil. That means one of two things - either they are going to lay down and get walloped or they are going to find a game against someone else as a avenue for their angst. I lean toward the latter for the following reasons: A) the majority of the ATS money is on UCF, but the line has moved from minus-6 to minus-7, and that tells me Vegas likes Florida, and if we can determine what Vegas likes, well, we like that; B) I've watched far too many of Gus Malzahn's team show-up under-prepared for bowl games; and C) I believe Billy Napier knows the importance of getting off on the right foot - for the fans and for the recruits in the Sunshine State.
North Texas plus- 3 over Miami (the other one). Let's move through the rest of the picks with quotes from the brothers of Delta Tau Chi. Stork: "What the (bleep) are we supposed to do you moron?" Great question. Let's roll the dice against Miami, which is 5-0 playing at home and 1-6 away from the friendly confines.
Hawaii plus-8.5 over Memphis and over 55.5. The Warriors are at home for Christmas. The Warriors were 4-1-1 against the number on the island. The Warriors are facing a Memphis team that is 1-5 against the number as the favorite. "Man, they can't treat our pledges like that. Only we can treat our pledges like that."
Georgia State minus-5 over Ball State. "Hey, you (bleeped) up. You trusted us." If you need a pick here, roll with your gut. I'm going with the 'More players in the state of Georgia than the state of Ball' theory.
Season: 47-46 against the spread (50.5%, hi Matt)
Bowl games: 8-5 against the spread (61.5%)
This and that
- So Joe Burrow thinks the lack of nightlife in Cincy is helping the Bengals avoid the COVID. OK. I'll admit it, Joe Burrow has improved more in three years than just about anyone I can recall at that position in recent memory.
- Titans play tonight. Or what's left of the Titans. Tennessee is catching 3 at home against San Fran that is shaping up to be kinda a big game for each.
- "1883" episode two did not disappoint. So there's that.
- Is there a more hollow 'controversy' than Pro Bowl snubs, since, you know, that the teams that make the Super Bowl likely have multiple Pro Bowlers who will need to be replaced?
- OK, we mentioned the hubbub on "The Wheel of Fortune" earlier this week. Well, looks like Audi is hooking up the contestant with a car anyway. Kudos.
Today's questions
What buffet are you picking?
Do you feel sorry for Ryan Tannehill considering who is left in the Titans offensive huddle these days?
What's your least favorite Christmas song? Discuss.
As for today, Dec. 23, let's review.
On this day in 1888 Vinny van Gogh cut off his left ear.
Rushmore of 'ears' and be creative.
And remember the mailbag.