The CFP Semi-finals did NOT disappoint!! OK, Bama and Texas fans were disappointed but the games were great!! Neither Michigan nor Washington have won a Football National Championship in this century. Michigan’s last Natty was the same year Tubthumping by Chumbawamba was the #1 song (1997) while Washington shared the title ( #1 in Coaches poll while The U won the AP ) with the #4 song ( since it was a split poll ) was I’m Too Sexy by Right Said Fred ( ok…A ZT favorite and why he is banned from wearing button up shirts in 7 states). All this means is a lot of excitement around with a new 21st Century winner for the National Championship. Solid weekend of football with the last week of the NFL regular season, loaded with implications, and a bonus on Sunday with the Division 1-AA Championship as well. So here we go with ZT ready to prognosticate!
Sunday 1/7/24 FCS Championship Frisco, TX 2pm
Montana Grizzlies vs South Dakota State Jackrabbits
In ZTs quest of purer College Football, let’s turn to the FCS 1-AA Championship! These 2 have met 8 times and Montana ( Big Sky Conference Champion ) is 8-0. Last meeting was 2016 and that was before the hottest, ZT means sharpest, Governor in the U.S., Gov. Kristi Noem was elected. ( ZT…what in the….does you being smitten with the SD Governor in a welding suit have to do with S D State football? Geez..).
The Jackrabbits ( Missouri Valley Conference Champions) are 14-0 and working on a 28 game win streak (trying to get past that Georgia 29 game streak that was ended in December..). Oh yeah, they are the defending National Champs and tout the #10 offense and #1 defense in 1-AA. Jr. QB Mark “not GRONK” Gronowski has only thrown for almost 6,000 yds., 54 TDs and only 9 INTs over the past 2 seasons. They are balanced with Sr. RB Isaiah Davis rushing for over 3,000 yds. and 32 TDs in the same period. SOLID!! It may be winter, but these Grizzlies are not hibernating (wow ZT, you add the National Geographic Channel to your YouTube TV line up? ) with the #17 defense and #16 scoring offense led by Sr. QB Clifton McDowell. Big guy at 6’4″ 224 lbs. with his 18 TDs and only 3 INTs this season. Montana is battle tested with several OT wins, including the last 2 games, while S.D. State has just foot-stomped the competition winning 12 of 14 games by double digits including the most recent beating of the Albany Great Danes 59-0 ( PETA plans to protest it was so bad ). Don’t assume anything in a Championship game, like thinking TCU could hang with Georgia last year……….Jackrabbits too much for the Grizzlies in this one. Jack Rabbit Slims 34 Grizzly Adams 16
Monday 1/8/2024 NRG Stadium Houston 630pm
#2 Washington Huskies vs #1 Michigan Wolverines
HOUSTON, We have a problem!! We have 2 undefeated teams playing for the Natty and none are from the SEC!!! Expecting this one to be a solid championship game between a pair of 14-0 squads who have done everything they were asked to do in 2023. Washington Offense is more explosive than a high school boys bathroom after “chili” day in the lunchroom. One of the most prolific passing offense in years led by Michael Penix, Jr. ( 4,648 yds, 35 TDs, and 9 INTs ) with a 1,000 yd + RB in Dylan “I love Bud Light” Johnson. Oh, did ZT mention they have the best receiving corps in the NCAA and bet, if able, the Carolina Panthers would try to draft them all as a group in 1 pick. Huskies tout the #10 scoring offense and that is why they are riding a 21 game win streak. Michigan is a more balanced offense that likes to pound ball with RB Blake Corum to open up the passing lanes for J.J. “Dy-no-Mite” McCarthy. Wolverines are no slouch as the #14 scoring offense in 2023.
All this talk about offense is nice and flashy but ZT still believes in the statement “Defense Wins Championships!” In that regard, Michigan is the #1 scoring defense AND total defensive team in NCAA Division 1. Washington, who did a SOLID job vs. Texas and Sark the Sharks’ offense, is #53 & #94 respectively in the same rankings. ZT does see the Huskies relishing the underdog role again this week. HC Kalen DeBoer will continue to remind the Huskies “Job’s not done” as they prepare for this one. Expecting a great game but giving the nod to the Michigan Defense in this one. Wolverines 31 Purple Reign 24
ZT is out and expecting the Padre to provide his prognostication sometime after Sunday services are complete on the Piedmont…..
4:37 PM Jan 8 2024 UPDATE PADRE IS IN THE HOUSE!!
Both my picks were wrong last week – so I clearly have no idea what I am talking about. I did not think Washington was that good, and I also did not think Michigan had the team to beat Bama.
A football savant I am not down the stretch.
Yet, it is a free country. And if any angry person can be a keyboard warrior on social media, and bloggers can be medical experts, then I can still make the claim of “expert picker.”
Harbaugh is an expert picker…..of boogers. Which my 12 year old son probably thinks is cool!!!
Speaking of my son, I try to teach him that “winners never cheat and cheaters never win.” However, some deflated footballs and some sign stealing video tapes have proven me wrong.
In our new moral universe, Barry Bonds and Mark McGuire are in the Hall of Fame, the Astros are known for their corporate ethics training seminars ( sponsored by Rubbermaid Trash Cans ), and Harbaugh is lifting that weird looking CFP trophy that only a bunch of bureaucrats would think is cooler than an actual crystal football.
SO, while I will be pulling hard for Washington ( well, pulling hard may be an exaggeration – my old butt may fall asleep ), I think the Khaki King hoist the first ( and probably only ) Natty. Then off to the Raiders? Falcons? Panthers ( as a Panther fan, NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!).
Michigan wins 34-26.
Now back to Florida basketball to help with my depression over Florida football - oh wait. Go Huskies! Go Gata!
ZT and the Padre are out until August……no chance of any prognostication on the UFL after the merger of the XFL and USFL…..still seems more stable than college football at this point in time!!!!
Pigskin Prognostications by the Piedmont Padre and Zimmern's Twin 