Fab 4 picks
Yeah, nothing has felt smooth in our picks this season. Nothing.
After running at better than 59 percent for a decade, we're a game below .500. So it goes.
But pickers gotta pick, just ask Jon Pardi, one of the new country artists that are trying to save the narrative.
Alabama minus-17 over Florida and the Tide to score more than 44 points. This is not a slight at the Gators; this is praise for the superior skills of Saban's slew of stars.
Notre Dame plus-11 over Clemson. Yes, we all know that Clemson did not have Trevor Lawrence for the Irish's regular-season win over Clemson. But Clemson still threw for more than 400 yards and two scores with his replacement, so it's not like his absence was the reason for the loss. The reason was how good Notre Dame was and is across the offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage. I think Clemson will prevail in a tight game but the 11 makes the Irish the smart play.
Coastal Carolina minus-3 over Louisiana. CC is focused and has been all year. I don't think this is about style points as much as this is about personal pride and the knowledge that Coastal still has a chance to get to a New Year's Six bowl game. And the key detail that the Coastal program just extended its head coach through 2027 amid the bigger openings. Here's betting for an inspired performance
FSU-Wake Forest over 65. Key stat in gauging totals and riding overs is average number of plays. Both of these teams average north of 70 plays per game. The FSU offense is not as broken as the rest of the roster, and the talent is there to get into the 50s again. The defense is porous enough to allow that many too, especially against a Wake Forest team that has a similar dynamic. How about this stat? Couple of weeks ago, Wake Forest gained more than 600 yards of total offense against UNC, and was still outgained by more than 100 yards
Rutgers plus-7 over Nebraska. I think the first-year coach aspect for the Knights helps a lot. So too does the travel halfway across the country. Side question: What happens if Greg Schiano turns into a very good head coach at Rutgers after the debacle with Vols Twitter in the last coaching search?
Ole Miss minus-2 over LSU. Yes, this line stinks, and that's something every sharp notices. Here's a scenario I foresee. LSU is quite happy with last week's upset over Florida, which was more about Florida than the Tigers. Ole Miss - again the first-year coach end-of-the-year bounce - has won four straight and Lane Kiffin values appearances, and a five-game winning streak and a winning record in Year One is an important look for the Lane Train.
Missouri minus-1 over Missouri. First-year coach bounce with Missouri vs. a first-year coach who I think has lost his team in Mississippi State and Mike Leach.
Last week: 4-5 against the spread (44.4 percent)
This season: 38-39 against the spread (49.4 percent)
Transfers approved
It was the only choice, but the NCAA has made a long and colorful history of making head-scratching decisions that should have been a no-brainer.
Let's be frank: The NCAA has consistently made it as easy as A-B-Q for years.
But the governing body of college sports granted eligibility for every transfer in the 2020-21 academic cycle. Considering all the issues and details and speed bumps for players and programs, it's certainly the most fair decision.
But will it tip the scales on this issue long-term?
I have always been more open to the transfer options tan most. I believe there must be more flexibility considering the multiple scenarios facing college athletes these days, and that's beyond COVID.
Yes, the grad transfer rule is sound and strong.
But when coaches get fired, there needs to be options. When coaches leave, there needs to be options, though following a head coach can get rather dicey.
Probation and postseason bans warrant different considerations.
Never mind the duplicitous nature of recruiting where a player sees a coach recruit his replacement before he ever gets a chance.
Rules have to be in place to govern and cover as many scenarios as possible, and there will always be loopholes and outliers.
But two things that I think should happen in terms of transfers, and it should happen sooner rather than later.
First, every athlete should get a one-time transfer, free and clear, no questions asked.
Second, the NCAA is not a small business hoping for a big showing next month to keep the doors open. If the NCAA is not going to fully staff its investigation department, it can fully staff its transfer review board and go case-by-case and do it in a timely manner.
Anything short of that should be viewed as unacceptable, and that seems as easy as A-B-Q to me.
Conference title games
The annual discussion of playoff expansion has landed.
I think it has merit now more than ever, but it's because of the whining of Kirk Herbstreit, who is bemoaning that the same teams make it every year.
Uh, Kirk, no matter what system you have, the talent levels of Alabama, THE Ohio State and Clemson will get them into the dance regardless.
But the conversation of expansion continues to swirl, and it's paramount to remember that now is not the best time to gauge the conversation.
Why? Because expansion will have great impact on the best regular season in sports. And right now, with 2020 doing 2020 things, the regular season has been dreadful, so it's a lot easier to forget how magical college football always is from Labor Day to the first Saturday in December.
Still, the expansion of the playoff is coming. Period. The money is too great, and the need for money
for the elite programs has never been greater.
And the one thing that will benefit from the expansion will be the conference championship games, and that's a good thing.
The big conference championship games are all double-digit spreads, and the Pac-12 and Big 12 games are after thoughts.
If these title games carried a ticket to the dance, well, the intrigue would be infinitely greater and the path more open.
And as long as that does not detract from the soul of the regular season, I'm not sure who would be against that.
(Not that it would matter anyway, because this change is coming friends. Book it.)
This and that
- Did you see the Tom Cruise rant? Thoughts?
- Put me on the over 53 tonight in the Chargers-Raiders.
- While we are here, yes, for those wondering, we will have a modified bowl contest when the matchups are released over the weekend. Check back next week and we'll be ready to roll.
- You know the rules. Here's Paschall's yeoman efforts with his picks column, a look around the SEC on the first day of the early signing period and a look at UT's early signees.
- Another local eatery loses the struggle against the Corona as the Flatiron Deli will close next Wednesday.
- Mocs hoops played; Mocs hoops won. Yes it was close, and yes Lamont Paris' bunch needed some final-seconds sorcery, but a win's a win gang. And UTC now has seven Ws and no Ls, and regardless of level, that's about as good as you can do. Here's more from Mean Gene Henley.
Today's questions
Any suggested changes to the bowl contest? Did you send in a mailbag question?
True or false for a Thursday
True or false, you will watch the SEC title game.
Need some help here: Fantasy football semifinals this week; would you start Jalen Hurts or Matt Ryan without Julio?
As for today, Dec. 17, let's review.
Orville and Wilbur took flight on this day in 1903.
The Simpsons debuted as a show on this day in 1989.
Rushmore of TV families. Go and remember the mailbag.