Bowls of serials
Hard to imagine the choice for these 20-somethings right now?
Play in a bowl game and risk losing millions of dollars if you are injured. Skip the bowl game and leave your teammates - your brothers - and miss that one final game.
Man, that's tough. Here's an idea: Everyone who is draft worthy/draft eligible facing a one-game-bowl situation, let the conferences - which cash HUGE bowl checks - cover the extra insurance.
Thoughts? Why not, right? If Andrew Thomas had a doubled insurance policy - one that would be way cheaper than the season-long policy, mind you, and one that a whole lot of insurance companies would be lined up to secure - then maybe he would finish his time with UGA.
But without that, it's hard to blame any of these kids risking millions of dollars for $1,200 in bowl swag. (Here's TFP college football magician David Paschall with more on Thomas' decision.)
And with that, let's bowl.
The deadline is Thursday afternoon friends, so if you are interested, get your Bowling for Bowls of Bowl Game Success (Bowler Optional) entry in ASAP. Send it to jgreeson@timesfreepress.com. It's free. And you can win stuff. I will post my initial picks Wednesday, and my first round of actual bowl picks on Thursday. (The difference of course is the lines have moved, and for the Bowling for Bowls of Bowl Game Success (Bowler Optional) the lines below are final.)
Questions?
One-point games (maximum 9 points)
Bahamas Bowl: Buffalo vs. Charlotte (+5.5)
Frisco Bowl: Kent State vs. Utah State (-9.5)
New Mexico Bowl: Central Michigan vs. San Diego State (-4.5)
FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl: Liberty vs. Georgia Southern (-5.5)
Boca Raton Bowl: SMU vs. FAU (+3.5)
Camellia Bowl: FIU vs. Arkansas State (-3.5)
Las Vegas Bowl: No. 19 Boise State vs. Washington (-3.5)
New Orleans Bowl: No. 20 Appalachian State vs. UAB (+16.5)
Gasparilla Bowl: UCF vs. Marshall (+17.5)
Two-point games (max 18 points)
Hawaii Bowl: BYU vs. Hawaii (+2.5)
Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs. Miami (FL) (-7.5)
Quick Lane Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. Pitt (-10.5)
Military Bowl: North Carolina vs. Temple (+5.5)
Pinstripe Bowl: Michigan State vs. Wake Forest (+3.5)
First Responder Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Western Michigan (+2.5)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Ohio vs. Nevada (+6.5)
Armed Forces Bowl: Southern Miss vs. Tulane (-7.5)
LendingTree Bowl: Louisiana vs. Miami (OH) (+14.5)
Three-point games (max 18 points)
Texas Bowl: No. 25 Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M (-6.5)
Holiday Bowl: No. 22 USC vs. No. 16 Iowa (-1.5)
Cheez-It Bowl: Air Force vs. Washington State (+2.5)
Music City Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Louisville (-3.5)
RedBox Bowl: Cal vs. Illinois (+6.5)
Birmingham Bowl: No. 21 Cincinnati vs. Boston College (+6.5)
Four-point games (max 24 points)
Belk Bowl: Kentucky vs. Virginia Tech (-3.5)
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Florida State vs. Arizona State (-5.5)
Liberty Bowl: No. 23 Navy vs. Kansas State (-1.5)
NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl: Wyoming vs. Georgia State (+7.5)
Alamo Bowl: No. 11 Utah vs. Texas (+6.5)
Camping World Bowl: No. 15 Notre Dame vs. Iowa State (+3.5)
Five-point games (max 30 points)
Orange Bowl: No. 9 Florida vs. No. 24 Virginia (+13.5)
Outback Bowl: No. 18 Minnesota vs. No. 12 Auburn (-7.5)
Citrus Bowl: No. 13 Alabama vs. No. 14 Michigan (+7.5)
Rose Bowl: No. 6 Oregon vs. No. 8 Wisconsin (-2.5)
Sugar Bowl: No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 7 Baylor (+7.5)
Gator Bowl: Indiana vs. Tennessee (PK)
Seven-point games
Peach Bowl (CFP Semifinal): No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 LSU (-13.5)
Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal): No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Clemson (-2.5)
National champ (just the winner no spread) is worth 10 points.
My picks
OK, just for kicks and giggles, I'll let everyone see my picks before the contest.
Please remember these are not my Fab 4 pick against the number; they also are not the only picks from the 5-at-10 compound, which includes the Mrs. and the Lil' 5-at-10.
One-point games (maximum 9 points)
Bahamas Bowl: Charlotte (+5.5)
Frisco Bowl: Kent State (+9.5)
New Mexico Bowl: San Diego State (-4.5)
FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl: Georgia Southern (-5.5)
Boca Raton Bowl: SMU (-3.5)
Camellia Bowl: FIU (+3.5)
Las Vegas Bowl: No. 19 Boise State (+3.5)
New Orleans Bowl: UAB (+16.5)
Gasparilla Bowl: Marshall (+17.5)
Two-point games (max 18 points)
Hawaii Bowl: BYU (-2.5)
Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech (+7.5)
Quick Lane Bowl: Eastern Michigan (+10.5)
Military Bowl: North Carolina (-5.5)
Pinstripe Bowl: Wake Forest (+3.5)
First Responder Bowl: Western Kentucky (-2.5)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Nevada (+6.5)
Armed Forces Bowl: Tulane (-7.5)
LendingTree Bowl: Louisiana (-14.5)
Three-point games (max 18 points)
Texas Bowl: Texas A&M (-6.5)
Holiday Bowl: No. 22 USC (+1.5)
Cheez-It Bowl: Air Force (-2.5)
Music City Bowl: Louisville (-3.5)
RedBox Bowl: Cal (-6.5)
Birmingham Bowl: No. 21 Cincinnati (-6.5)
Four-point games (max 24 points)
Belk Bowl: Kentucky (+3.5)
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Arizona State (-5.5)
Liberty Bowl: No. 23 Navy (+1.5)
NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl: Georgia State (+7.5)
Alamo Bowl: No. 11 Utah (-6.5)
Camping World Bowl: Iowa State (+3.5)
Five-point games (max 30 points)
Orange Bowl: No. 9 Florida (-13.5)
Outback Bowl: No. 12 Auburn (-7.5)
Citrus Bowl: No. 13 Alabama (-7.5)
Rose Bowl: No. 6 Oregon (+2.5)
Sugar Bowl: No. 5 Georgia (-7.5)
Gator Bowl: Tennessee (PK)
Seven-point games
Peach Bowl (CFP Semifinal): LSU (-13.5)
Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal): Clemson (-2.5)
National champ (just the winner no spread) is worth 10 points. Clemson
So there's that.
Good to be the King
We referenced Mel Brooks' underrated classic "History of the World Part I" earlier this month. And his great line about it being good to be the king is never more true than in the world of college football recruiting.
The early signing period starts today, and the names and faces will be meaningful.
Because the names and the faces and the skill sets are worth millions to the programs and the universities and the towns and the communities for the next three to four years.
It's beyond time to figure out a way to make sure Power 5 football stars who produce at major football programs that pay the way for the rest of the sports at these major athletic programs get a chance to cash in on their name and likeness. (Heck, Rivals has been doing it for years.)
And save the "value of a scholarship" argument, friends. I agree that a chance at a free education is a great thing - especially in this day and age - but is that really enough for the dudes who are picking up the checks across the entire college athletic realm.
Because if you truly believe that the 5-star players who sign today should be happy with free room and board and meals and books, well, ask the offensive coaching staff or the defensive assistants to take their paychecks in free classes and books, too.
So here we are, standing at the crossroads of now and what will be.
But everyone has to see that change is coming, whether it is crafted by NCAA goobers or state or federal legislators, oh yes, change is coming.
This and that
- Sorry, did not get back to the picks. We'll definitely do it today. (We made two picks on Press Row Tuesday afternoon, hitting on Eastern Michigan and missing on the Lakers. Not sure we'll count either of those, to be honest. Or we can count both.) Give me Tennessee minus-1.5 tonight at Cincinnati. Here's a quick preview of the Vols' trip to Cincy from Gene of Many Hats Henley, the TFP UT beat ace. I think the chance to shake off the loss to Memphis makes this game a little more important for the Vols than normal.
- When making the Lakers pick, I was unaware that Anthony Davis was out. That's completely on me.
- As for NBA news, dear buckets of allowing buckets, the Hawks let the Knicks score 143 points last night. The Knicks. THE Knicks. Final, Knicks 143, Hawks 120. The Knicks.
- Speaking of the early signing period, here's TFP SEC football guru David Paschall looking at Dan Mullen's recruiting strides in Florida. Also of note is Georgia getting a commitment from Baton Rouge safety Major Burns. No word on where Captain Pierce or Colonel Potter are leaning. (Seriously, the kid's name is Major Burns. I love that.)
- Meant to include this in the Drew Brees suggestion: Hard to say Brees is on the Rushmore all-time list when he's never won an MVP, you know?
- Not sure I can add anything to this story because I'm pretty sure I do not know what TikTok is, but here's a UT freshman breaking up with UT back-up quarterback Brian Maurer and the thing went viral.
- This is one of the worst stories I can remember, but dang, are we this bad as a society? Here's the story of a groom who was beaten to death by wedding crashers at his reception. Dear Lord, that's tragic.
Today's questions
Which way Wednesday starts this way:
In honor of Keith Richards turning 76 today - no idea how that dude lived that long either, Spy - which was better, Stones or Beatles?
Which movie from Steven Spielberg - who is 73 today - is your personal favorite?
In honor of Ty Cobb, aka the Georgia Peach who would have been 133 today, which all-time nickname that includes a state is the best?
As for today, Dec. 18, well, let's explore.
On this day 10 years ago "Avatar" was released. "Avatar," also known as alien "Dances with Wolves," may be the most overrated film of my lifetime.
Excellent day for birthdays. Stone Cold Steve Austin is 56. Katie Holmes is 41. Ray Liotta is 65. To be a primary part of "Goodfellas" and "Field of Dreams" is a pretty good start to a Rushmore right there. Brad Pitt is 56.
Also on this day in 1971, Bobby Jones. Because I know Jones would have made mine, but let's take nominations for a Rushmore of athletes from pre-World War II that you would have loved to watch play.
Go, and remember the mailbag and the bowl contest, which has a deadline of COB tomorrow.