Midway Madness
I cannot believe that I have gone the entire first half of the NCAA football season without posting about it. College Football is arguably my favorite (yes, I argue it with myself). One reason I may not have written is because of the astounding amount of bias that I perpetuate when talking about football in general...especially at the collegiate level. I certainly have favorite teams as well as teams that I hate....and then there are about a hundred other teams that I have to keep up with.
Quite complicated actually.
Even more complicated is writing about six weekends worth of games in one post.
But alas, here goes nothing.
The Rankings:
No surprise that the top four teams in the rankings are Alabama, Ohio St., Clemson, and Michigan. They are the best teams...and the most "blue blood" teams worth noting. It is, however, the playoff cusp teams that are making a splash. Where did Washington come from? The highest ranked PAC-12 team is not Stanford, not USC, not UCLA, but the Huskies of UW. Let's not forget the other UW in the top 10. Wisconsin has also risen from an unmentionable in the pre-season to now holding the 8th rank. Possible Big 10 contender for sure. Also on the contender's verge are two SEC schools that could possibly take the SEC championship (we will see how the next couple weeks go) in Tennessee and Texas A&M, who themselves had quite the showdown, and a Louisville team with a QB that is lighting up the field...and the scoreboard.
Heisman Hopefuls
Speaking of that Louisville QB, it seems as though Lamar Jackson is the front runner for the Heisman Trophy so far this year. With a completion percentage of nearly 60% and a passer rating of more than 160, not to mention his 14 TDs through the air, it only makes sense. Is there anyone that can actually compete with him this year? Yes, the answer is yes. I have heard many times this season that the Heisman isn't won in September...or October. That is why the names Dalvin Cook, Deshaun Watson, and Jabrill Peppers are going to be popping up. Let's not also forget Jake Browning of those surprising Huskies...and he is only a Sophomore. Unfortunately, my personal favorite doesn't make the list anymore though I will give him a personal shout out. Keep truckin', Christian McCafferey.
So What?
With the regulars and the surprises; the Heisman hopefuls and the Up-And-Comers, what does it all mean. It means I have to make my picks. No overview of a season is complete without them. Conference by conference, the playoff, then the champion here goes nothing.
- SEC- It seems as though the East division is wrapped up by Tennessee, who finally was able to knock off rivals Georgia and Florida in the same year for the first time in a while. The West, though normally dominated by Alabama has a bit of intrigue at the hands of Trevor Knight and the Aggies of A&M. With back to back meetings with the Volunteers and the Aggies, Bama has a tough next couple of weeks. They will likely survive though. Bama for the win.
- Big 10- Right now it is looking like two Big 10 teams make the playoff in Ohio State and Michigan but first they have to get past each other. Being in the same division means one of their seasons will be cut one game short while the other goes on to face Wisconsin in the conference championship. My guess (yes, a guess because it is a bit of a toss up) is the Big Blue of Ann Arbor to knock of the Buckeyes in the regular season and then go on to sing The Victors as the Michigan Wolverines take the title.
- ACC- This is really a two horse race. It is Louisville and Lamar Jackson against the defending college football championship losers...the Clemson Tigers. Sorry Jimbo Fisher, I must channel my inner Heidi Klum and say "You're out". Clemson has the regular season win in the match up with Louisville but they will likely meet again in the ACC championship game. I don't see a change in scenery doing much to the outcome. Advantage Clemson.
- Big 12- Let's be very clear. No one in the Big 12 deserves the conference championship. Maybe it is a good idea they don't have a singular championship game for the conference. It would be a waste of time. Although Baylor stands at the top of the division at 5-0, they haven't been tested and only barely squeaked out a victory of Iowa State. A two-loss Oklahoma team should take the conference though let's be honest, even they don't fully deserve the title.
- Pac 12- The North division has essentially been won by the Huskies and the South seems relatively irrelevant this year (aside from Utah) making this pick on of the easiest on the board. I will be very surprised a Huskies win does not happen.
The Playoff
Let's speed this up! The Big 10 doesn't deserve a conference champion so they will not be in the playoff. Talk of two teams from the same conference in the playoff seems relevant for the Big 10 and the ACC but I don't think this will happen. The brackt buster is Washington who will be the 4-seed facing a 1-seed Alabama. 2-seed Michigan will end up facing 3-seed Clemson.
The College Football championship game will be between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Michigan Wolverines. And the call is....
Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan
the leaders and the best
Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan,
the champions of the West!
Quite complicated actually.
Even more complicated is writing about six weekends worth of games in one post.
But alas, here goes nothing.
The Rankings:
No surprise that the top four teams in the rankings are Alabama, Ohio St., Clemson, and Michigan. They are the best teams...and the most "blue blood" teams worth noting. It is, however, the playoff cusp teams that are making a splash. Where did Washington come from? The highest ranked PAC-12 team is not Stanford, not USC, not UCLA, but the Huskies of UW. Let's not forget the other UW in the top 10. Wisconsin has also risen from an unmentionable in the pre-season to now holding the 8th rank. Possible Big 10 contender for sure. Also on the contender's verge are two SEC schools that could possibly take the SEC championship (we will see how the next couple weeks go) in Tennessee and Texas A&M, who themselves had quite the showdown, and a Louisville team with a QB that is lighting up the field...and the scoreboard.
Heisman Hopefuls
Speaking of that Louisville QB, it seems as though Lamar Jackson is the front runner for the Heisman Trophy so far this year. With a completion percentage of nearly 60% and a passer rating of more than 160, not to mention his 14 TDs through the air, it only makes sense. Is there anyone that can actually compete with him this year? Yes, the answer is yes. I have heard many times this season that the Heisman isn't won in September...or October. That is why the names Dalvin Cook, Deshaun Watson, and Jabrill Peppers are going to be popping up. Let's not also forget Jake Browning of those surprising Huskies...and he is only a Sophomore. Unfortunately, my personal favorite doesn't make the list anymore though I will give him a personal shout out. Keep truckin', Christian McCafferey.
So What?
With the regulars and the surprises; the Heisman hopefuls and the Up-And-Comers, what does it all mean. It means I have to make my picks. No overview of a season is complete without them. Conference by conference, the playoff, then the champion here goes nothing.
- SEC- It seems as though the East division is wrapped up by Tennessee, who finally was able to knock off rivals Georgia and Florida in the same year for the first time in a while. The West, though normally dominated by Alabama has a bit of intrigue at the hands of Trevor Knight and the Aggies of A&M. With back to back meetings with the Volunteers and the Aggies, Bama has a tough next couple of weeks. They will likely survive though. Bama for the win.
- Big 10- Right now it is looking like two Big 10 teams make the playoff in Ohio State and Michigan but first they have to get past each other. Being in the same division means one of their seasons will be cut one game short while the other goes on to face Wisconsin in the conference championship. My guess (yes, a guess because it is a bit of a toss up) is the Big Blue of Ann Arbor to knock of the Buckeyes in the regular season and then go on to sing The Victors as the Michigan Wolverines take the title.
- ACC- This is really a two horse race. It is Louisville and Lamar Jackson against the defending college football championship losers...the Clemson Tigers. Sorry Jimbo Fisher, I must channel my inner Heidi Klum and say "You're out". Clemson has the regular season win in the match up with Louisville but they will likely meet again in the ACC championship game. I don't see a change in scenery doing much to the outcome. Advantage Clemson.
- Big 12- Let's be very clear. No one in the Big 12 deserves the conference championship. Maybe it is a good idea they don't have a singular championship game for the conference. It would be a waste of time. Although Baylor stands at the top of the division at 5-0, they haven't been tested and only barely squeaked out a victory of Iowa State. A two-loss Oklahoma team should take the conference though let's be honest, even they don't fully deserve the title.
- Pac 12- The North division has essentially been won by the Huskies and the South seems relatively irrelevant this year (aside from Utah) making this pick on of the easiest on the board. I will be very surprised a Huskies win does not happen.
The Playoff
Let's speed this up! The Big 10 doesn't deserve a conference champion so they will not be in the playoff. Talk of two teams from the same conference in the playoff seems relevant for the Big 10 and the ACC but I don't think this will happen. The brackt buster is Washington who will be the 4-seed facing a 1-seed Alabama. 2-seed Michigan will end up facing 3-seed Clemson.
The College Football championship game will be between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Michigan Wolverines. And the call is....
Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan
the leaders and the best
Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan,
the champions of the West!
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