ZT and the Padre have standards. Not that they are high but we will not risk brain cells on Bowl Games played prior to Christmas. Happy for all the teams who will “be home for Christmas” after playing a game in Albuquerque or maybe Frisco, TX ( yep, should have turned left at Albuquerque ) but just can’t fired up for this. NFL even takes over Saturdays during this time of the year!
Padre will have many “official” duties during this festive season while ZT has a goal of increasing his pant size by 2 in the span of 10 days. My inspiration……..
Back with some prognostications after Christmas!
12/25 LATE PM..
Padre obviously has many duties and obligations through Christmas but check back later this week as he will have some divine wisdom to bestow upon the free world!
ZT has been super busy at work with a dose of Holidays on top and a bit under the weather ( no, I don’t want any cheese with that whine! ). Just to prove it, check out my Christmas Tree I finally decorated last night:
BUT, being a member of the media ( not recognized or respected but a member nonetheless ) I have a responsibility to exercise our 1st Amendment right with some prognostications so here we go with some ZT Quick Picks to get us to the weekend:
Wednesday December 26
First Responders Bowl – Dallas TX
Boise State Broncos 31 Boston College Eagles 24
Eagles will need the Dallas Fire Department to rescue them from a bunch of potato-eating Broncos who are looking for a bounce back win after a loss to Fresno in the Mountain West finals. BC is on a 3 game losing streak…..make it 4.
Quick Lane Bowl – Detroit MI
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 34 Minnesota Golden Gophers 27
Ford took this one over from the Little Caesars Pizza folks a few years ago and that plays right into GT’s wheel bearings. Fresh Oil in the Ramblin’ Wreck running machine will allow them to leave the Gophers defense laying on the field like some road kill.
Cheez-It Bowl – Phoenix AZ
California Golden Bears 24 TCU Horned Frogs 21
This is a marketing set-up! Bears ( Yogi, Winnie, Baloo and especially TED after he smoked a fatty!! ) all LOVE Cheez-Its!!! Never seen any frog, including a horny one, ever eat a Cheez-It. If this was still the Motel 6 Bowl ( as it was for the previous 2 years ), then ZT would lean back to the Horny Frogs.
More tomorrow…….ZT got hungry after writing about Cheez-Its and still has a few more lbs. to put on for the holidays!!!
Thursday December 27
Independence Bowl – Shreveport LA
Duke Blue Devils 31 Temple Owls 27
The Owls are 6-1 down the stretch with 1,000 yd RB Ryquell Armstead leading the way while the Dukies ( or Dookies ) are trying to win a 3rd straight bowl game under HC David Cutcliffe for the 1st time in school history. Blue Devils QB Daniel Jones is the real deal and will be playing on Sundays in 2019 or 2020 ( if the R/S junior stays around ). Like Duke in a tight one. ZT has been to this bowl a few times and was present for the infamous Joe Kines halftime interview….could hear him in row 35!
New Era Pinstripe Bowl – Yankee Stadium ( If you don’t know it’s in NYC, why are your reading this blog? )
Wisconsin Badgers 24 Miami Hurricanes 23
ZT is a big ( literally and figuratively ) Dolphins Fan and have seen all kinds of teams from Florida travel to colder weather and lay an egg!! There 2 teams met last year, IN MIAMI, and the Badgers thawed out and got the best of THE U. Both teams finished the 2018 season below expectations and ZT hopes you like to watch teams run because that’s what both of these squads like to do. 50’s and rain won’t change much but ZT likes cheese so leaning toward Wisconsin…..
Academy Sports Texas Bowl – Houston TX
Vandy 34 Baylor Bears 24
SEC, SEC, SEC……..and ZT went to grad school at Vandy so that is enough for me to pick the Commodores!! It helps that Bears WR Jalen Hurd is out but both teams have some injuries to deal with. Battle of the 6-6 teams to finish the season in positive territory ( unlike the stock market ) and believe the Commodores make it happen. After the game, Vandy Coach Derek “magic hips” Mason announces he will be on 2019 season of dancing with the stars.
Friday December 28
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl – Nashvegas!
Auburn Tigers 28 Purdue Boilermakers 24
Ok…….this will still be the theme……. SEC, SEC, SEC…….Auburn did not achieve what they wanted in 2018 but are playing a Purdue team that, outside of crushing OSU and their dreams in mid-October, is a typical mid-level Big 10 squad. Look for AU QB Jared Stidham to re-ignite his NFL stock after a below expectations season. War Eagle O-Line has been partially to blame as they were as absent as a beer vendor after the 7th inning stretch! Tigers pull it off late and then go to Opryland to listen to a Johnny Cash tribute band.
Camping World Bowl – Orlando FL ( Home of Co-National Champions UCF )
Syracuse Orangemen 38 West Virginia Mountaineers 28
WV will be going without QB Will Grier but Dana “I love Nick Nolte’s Hair” Holgorsen is confident in the abilities of QBs Jack Allison and Trey Lowe III. ZT likes the proven ability of ‘Cuse QB Eric Dungey who has thrown for over 2500 yds & rushed for another 700! Most WV fans will leave town disappointed after being refused entrance to Disney because no one told them shoes ARE required.
Valero Alamo Bowl – San Antonio TX
Washington State Cougars 31 Iowa State Cyclones 26
ISU is a great story for a team to earn 8 wins and knock off several solid squads including West Virginia when they were a playoff contender. HC Matt Campbell is very capable of stopping the kind of air attack he will see from the Cougars. The Riverwalk better get ready as the Des Moines airport was full of Cyclone Alumni and it was reported the TSA had already confiscated 31,000 ears of corn by 11 am. One Problem, WSU and HC Mike Leach will look to prove they were not a fluke and 5th year QB Gardner Minshew will be looking to lead his team vs. sitting out and waiting for the NFL draft like so many do today. After the game, Leach is spotted wearing an eye patch while sailing a replica of Black Bart down the San Antonio River and notes “Cyclones” are really a crappy mascot which reminded ZT of a previous Leach rant on College Mascots……
ZT is about to hit the sack after his 3rd piece of pecan pie of the evening because he only had 2 yesterday……..
The Piedmont Padre is IN THE HOUSE!!…..after a tremendous Christmas schedule, it is time to take the last few nuggets of divine power and focus them on College Football…
Playoff ( and one special Bowl Game ) Predictions….with a few “exhibition” games at the end…….
Michigan Wolverines 34 Florida Gators 16 – A Bowl Season Poem
‘Twas bowl season in America and my son will never be the same —- Because I am taking him to Atlanta for his first bowl game. I’ve explained to him that Florida will most likely lose— but he is convinced that Michigan is still singing the blues. From their loss to Ohio State that is, they have to be down Dad, right?— But unfortunately, I think, against my Gators they put up a good fight. Win or lose, we will have a fun and be in good cheer —- because despite what coaches always say, exhibition bowl games mean nothing for next year.
Clemson Tigers 33 Notre Dame 23 – Another Bowl Season Poem
Continuing the same day, the Tigers and Irish arrive—- at Jerry’s billion dollar playground with the goal to survive. Clemson is favored by a lot and there is no doubt —- that they are the favorite because Notre Dame always seems to sputter out. However, I think, this game is back and forth and rather tight —- Until Clemson takes a late INT the other way for a TD to put out the lights! Dabo is dancing and Touchdown Jesus’ tears begin to pour — the only question to remain is will it be Saban and Dabo. Part Four?
BAMA 44 Oklahoma Sooners 30 – A Final Playoff Poem
The final playoff game of the day and is Tua 100 percent? — Or is Jalen the QB that will need to represent? Oklahoma is a heavy underdog and the reason is obvious there — they seemingly can’t tackle a kid’s teddy bear! Yet their offense is stellar and their points are a ton — meaning, I think they may actually give Bama a run. But in the end the cream always rises to the top — and Bama puts it away late with a RB TD over the top! And so it shall be, Dabo and Saban once more — but I will wait till next week for my prediction on that score. One day us non-Bammers will look back and appreciate all that Saban has done —- oh yea right, we will be thankful someone else actually won!! That’s not “player hatin” at all you must see — it’s just good, old-fashion, pure “football hatin” jealousy!!
Padre “vow of silence” Exhibition Game Prognostications
Georgia Bulldogs 27 Texas Longhorns 23
Ohio State Buckeyes 30 Washington Huskies 24
UCF Golden Knights 30 LSU Tigers 26
Padre is headed to Atlanta to remove any demons that may be on the Gator sideline.
ZT is back…..Just ate some baked chicken in an effort to slow down the Holiday lbs. progression but chased it with some Italian Christmas cookies so the world is right…..
Saturday December 29
Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl – HOTLANTA
Florida Gators 27 Michigan Wolverines 20
Gators ready to put an exclamation on 2018 and generate some offseason momentum for 2019. No one south of Detroit area actually likes Jim Harbaugh but unfortunately he feeds off it ( and what he finds in his nose ). Come to think of it, not many north of Detroit like him either. Gator HC Mullen will have the team ready and add in a few Wolverines sitting out for the draft and ZT says the Gators will enjoy chomping some wolf meat…..
Belk Bowl – Charlotte NC
Virginia Cavaliers 28 South Carolina 24
VA HC Bronco Mendenhall ( got to love that for a football coach name ) has the Cavs playing solid ball lead by a great defense. Will be a good battle between their secondary and SC QB Jack ” I got to get in the NFL to buy a ” Bentley. SC Muschamp could not get his top WR to play due to NFL draft. VA QB Perkins is no slouch with 2500 yds. and can turn it up field as well. ZT breaks the SEC, SEC, SEC mold with a UVA upset win. Loser gets a shopping spree at Belk while the winner receives a pass to NEVER got to Belk again.
NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl – Yep, It’s in Arizona ( Tucson to be exact )
Nevada Wolf Pack 31 Arkansas State Red Wolves 28
Nevada wins because the Ark State team thinks they are in the Twilight Zone when they pass acres of empty aircraft at the Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson. Wolves vs. Wolves…..why did ZT spend this many keystrokes on this game?
Goodyear Cotton Bowl – Jerry World Arlington TX
Clemson Tigers 44 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 27
No one gives ND much of a chance ( including the Pope ) in this one. Neither does ZT. Now, to be fair, the Irish have run the table and are 12-0. QB Ian Book and RB Dexter Williams are solid and ND has simply found ways to win this season. Clemson continues to be a juggernaut ( ZT loves that word because it sounds like a really large candy bar ) under Dancing Dabo. A bit of distraction with the 3 player suspension but the Tigers are deep after years of solid recruiting and will fill the hole. On offense, QB Trevor “little Fabio” Lawrence throwing to a host of speedy receivers and RB Travis ” I love crawfish” Etienne averaging over 8 yds. per carry will prove just too much for the Irish defense. Even if Rudy shows up for ND, it won’t matter ( he was off-sides anyway ). After the game, Dabo calls the Pope to apologize for beating the Irish and ask for a blessing in the next game. Pope says he will if they play OU but reminds Dabo that Saban is Catholic, tithes very well, and sends him a new Mercedes-Maybach each year so he may want to contact the Dalai Lama…….
Capital One Orange Bowl – Miami Gardens, FL ( where ZT’s Dolphins play .500 ball )
Alabama Crimson Tide 45 Oklahoma Sooners 34
This game will be closer than Vegas or most people with less than 3 teeth think. Lots of storylines in this one. For OU, HC Lincoln Riley, Heisman QB Kyler Murray and the rest of the Sooners are VERY TIRED of hearing all the Bama hype and are just ready to play ball. That is not the real concern. The big question is can the OU defense deal with a very potent Bama offense. The Sooner D gives up an average of over 440 yards and 32 points per game. Bama QB Tua last reported at 85% on the repaired ankle but ask Georgia if QB Jalen Hurts has improved under OC Locksley and QB Coach Enos. IT DOES MATTER if Tua can play but expect to see both QBs in the game. If Hurts can make it happen with 4 solid RBs, a dose of strategic passes and some QB runs, ZT believes the Tide can still win, albeit at a lower score. ZT does want to see what the Bama defense can do against the OU attack. Believe if they can keep the Sooners to around 30 points, then Bama is headed to California next week. Looking for a little extra motivation? Remember OU beat a Saban-led Bama squad in the 2015 Sugar Bowl and he doesn’t forget ANY TEAM who beats him. Capital One Bowl and South Beach…What’s in your Wallet? Better be A LOT OF CASH as the Clevelander, Mangos and a few other choice spots ain’t the same as drinking a beer at Innisfree in Tuscaloosa!
Monday December 31…….Why even talk about games after the Playoff games? Because We Can, and still have some space on the blog….
Northrop – Grumman Military Bowl – Annapolis MD
Va Tech Hokies 28 Cincinnati Bearcats 27
Well….no way Northrop-Grumman allows Lockheed-Martin to out do them ( very common among defense contractors ). So, basically, our tax dollars are paying for this bowl gain in the form of a $123,784,238 lethal laser ( which ZT is told is no better than the one Dr. Evil had in Austin Powers but hey, we got a bowl game out of it ). Va Tech is a military college so they win, in an upset, after the Cincy team complains of massive headaches and vision blurriness after the Northrop-Grumman halftime “light show”…..
Hyundai Sun Bowl – El Paso TX
Stanford Cardinal 24 Pittsburgh Panthers 20
People from Stanford more likely to drive a Tesla while folks in Pittsburgh a Dodge Charger so who has motivation to be here anyway. Pitt did win their division and this is a chance for Tree Farm HC David ” I smile like Mona Lisa” Shaw to cap off the season with a win. CBS selected Gary Danielson to announce and after the game he is drug across the border with no wallet. Trump accuses the Democrats of setting this up as a ground swell of Americans realize if we had a wall, we could have never gotten rid of Gary that easy. 2 days later, President of Mexico calls Trump and says they WILL pay for the wall if Trump will take Gary back….No answer and 3 days later, Gary is found sitting in front of the US Embassy wearing an adult diaper and reading a low-end Mexican pornographic magazine…..
AutoZone Liberty Bowl – Memphis TN
Missouri Tigers 38 Ok State Cowboys 35
Perfect bowl game for 2 schools whose fan bases likely spend A LOT of time and 34% of their disposable income in an AutoZone. SEC, SEC, SEC….even if Ok State HC Mullet is a Man, he won’t stop the tigers in this one.
Redbox Bowl – Levi Stadium Santa Clara CA
Michigan State Spartans 24 Oregon Ducks 23
ZT thought the REDBOX had gone the way of Blockbuster……last one he saw was being drug on a chain by a 1984 Ford F-150 4-wheel drive truck from in front of a closed Winn-Dixie Grocery Store in southeast Alabama with 2 guys yelling “Hey Bubba, watch this!!!” Big 10 vs. Pac 12…..Spartans can kill wolves in the wild with their bare hands ( or they did in the movie 300 ) so no way a duck can take them out.
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl – Duh….San Diego CA
Utah Utes 19.8% Northwestern Wildcats 4.9%
When a credit union sponsors your bowl, it will cost you something. In this case, if you actually watch this one, it will cost you 3 hours of your life you can never get back.
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl – JAX FL
Texas A & M Aggies 30 N C State Wolfpack 21
Wow….Thanks TaxSlayer!!! Just reminded ZT to file his taxes for 2017 ( not to worry, got extra extension due to Hurricane Michael ). Pretty simply, Jimbo “where is Tallahassee?” Fisher will NOT lose to an average ACC Team. Just won’t do it. Oh yea…SEC, SEC, SEC……
ZT is hanging it up until he returns from Miami and the Orange Bowl…depending on the caloric intake, may prognosticate on the Jan 1 games…….
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
ZT is coming off a NyQuil Drunk and still groggy this AM while fighting a nasty winter cold….that said, ZT just knocked out a pan of homemade cinnamon rolls and is rallying for some New Years’ prognostications, so here we go……
OUTBACK BOWL – TAMPA
Miss State Bulldogs 24 IOWA Hawkeyes 20
ZT going with Bulldogs for 3 reasons: 1) SEC, SEC, SEC & their only losses to Bama, LSU, Gators, and a NY Day bowl team KY. 2) My daughter has 2 Bulldogs ( including the one on this blog ) and 3) Sat next to an Iowa fan at the Orange Bowl ( nice young guy who walked in at kickoff as he had been tailgating to the last-minute, which was smart with $11 Bud Lights inside! ) who was wearing an OU Jersey because he said it was his 2nd favorite team…….DUDE, you DON’T have 2nd favorite teams in college football…..Ok to “kinda like” someone for a season or so like ZT does with Pirate Mike and Wazzou but that is more like buying someone a beer vs. having them in for a sleep over!!…Go Bulldogs!!!
VRBO CITRUS BOWL – ORLANDO
Kentucky Wildcats 28 Penn State Nittany Lions 24 – Normal Upset Special
Believe the Wildcats will be ready as they were “written off” several times this year….love the Coach Franklin appeal to KY HC Stoops at the presser to “call off the KY fans” after trying to explain his “Kentucky, Kentucky, Kentucky….” Tweets that date back to his Vandy days. Stoops laughs and said “absolutely not, want them to be hostile!” Also, ZT was in State College in ’83 when Bama beat them 28-24 so still like that score! Also, enjoyed drinking a case of Rolling Rock at the Rathskeller ( not accepting the name change made there this year….you just don’t do that! ) so go Wildcats!!
Playstation Fiesta Bowl Glendale AZ
UCF Golden Knights 31 LSU TIGAHS 28 Stomach Upset Special sponsored by Pepto Bismol!
Killing me to pick the 2018 Co-National Champions over Coach O and the TIGAHS. Issue I have is LSU has so many players sitting out that I am not sure they even have enough DB’s to play a Dime Package. Already checked, Bobby Boucher is NOT available. Hope I am wrong on this one but got to go with my gut, no matter how much it hurts.
Rose Bowl – Pasadena CA
Ohio State Buckeyes 35 Washington Huskies 28
Urban is good when he is focused and convinced being his last game before he becomes the assistant AD and teaches ethics at OSU, HE IS. He will have the Buckeyes ready to avenge the 3-3 Big10 bowl record and nasty losses of Michigan & Purdue at the hands of the SEC ( had to toss that in! ). No Health issues or FMLA applications for Urban today, just a win over UW!!!
Allstate Sugar Bowl – NOLA
Georgia Bulldogs 45 Texas Longhorns 27
Georgia does not have a chip on their shoulder after watching ND get destroyed by Clemson or OU go behind 28-0 in the 2nd quarter to Bama………..they have a Sequoia Redwood on their shoulders! Kirby Smart will not let this team be anything less than wide-open for this one. They have to want it….a little concerned about the Bulldogs still tweeting about how they should be in the CFP but think it is a motivator, not a detractor. Bulldogs will be ready and BEVO will be on the carving block at Dickie Brennan’s by midnight!!!
ZT has 5 pounds of Black-Eyed Peas to eat to insure Bama is ready for Round 4 of Clemson as they don’t want to miss the opportunity to share a 2nd National Championship with UCF………….
Pigskin Prognostications by the Piedmont Padre and Zimmern's Twin 