It’s December and time to crown some conference Champs before we set the CFP, 6 major bowls then see where the other 66 teams land in the 33 remaining bowl games. ZT loves some of the names/sponsors to include the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, the Cheez-It Bowl in Phoenix and the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa.
Looks like they had fun last year!!!
Friday 7pm CST – Punk-12 Conference Championship Santa Clara, CA
#5 Utah Utes 31 #13 Oregon Ducks 20
Utes want a spot in the CFP so bad they would be willing to trade in a bike, white button-down, and an extra wife/girlfriend for it! Got to get past the Ducks, pull for LSU and pray Jalen doesn’t put on a Heisman-like show on Saturday. No question Oregon is the best team Utah will have played in 2019. Key match up will be the Ducks’ Offense vs. the Utes’ Defense. Watch the war in the trenches as Oregon has an excellent, senior group to protect QB Justin Herbert and open some holes for RB CJ Verdell. Looking at the other side, the Ducks’ D only allows 15.8 PPG and their rushing defense is ranked 10th nationally. Now, Utah is peaking at the right time. They are winning conference games by 29 PPG, have a great RB in Zach Moss and a solid QB in Tyler Huntley. Utes’ defense is solid and looks like this is their time to pick up a Punk-12 Title. They then get to wait to see if the CFP tribal council will allow them to join the big party or send them to a not-so-bad consolation prize of their 1st Rose Bowl. Likely only 2nd to their 1947 trip to the unsanctioned Pineapple Bowl in Honolulu where they didn’t win but drank so much vodka they all woke up with Russian accents…… ZT likes the Utes to finish what they could not due in 2018 with a win over some twice-cooked Ducks……
ZT going back to eating a Christmas Fruit Cake that he was going to hold for a neighbor ( who went to view the world’s largest snow globe collection in Branson, MO ) but since they don’t have a Ring unit on their front door, will blame it on the other neighbor’s French Bulldog named Jean Girard……Back with Saturday selections when done with the cake assuming he doesn’t choke on one of those green maraschino cherries.
Padre has emerged from the NC lighthouse after the rise of the Gators in the CFP to eclipse BAMA ( deservedly so! ) and notes his coastal sabbatical has provided clarity beyond human expectations…..here we go with Pac-12 prognostications and more to follow for Saturday…….
Oregon Ducks 26 Utah Utes 24 – Friday Minor Upset of Championship Week
Utah’s dreams die in Santa Clara. I’m honestly surprised the Bay Area still ALLOWS football to be played. I would expect they would at least put bubble wrap on the field and players. And of course, PETA would really have a problem with them being called Ducks. Man. California is slacking on their principles and deserves to see the Pac-12 chances for the CFP die in their backyard. Taxes for a ticket are 480% of face value…
Padre is back with his Championship Saturday Selections……
Saturday 11am CST – Big 12 Championship – Arlington, TX
#7 Baylor Bears 27 #6 Oklahoma Sooners 38
No “come back” needed this time. Riley and OU celebrate what is almost a for sure spot in the CFP!! Got to wait until early evening but……
Saturday 230pm CST – AAC Championship – Memphis, TN
#20 Cincinnati Bearcats 20 #17 Memphis Tigers 31
Norvell to FSU?? If so, he will become a part of Satan’s great legion. Go Bearcats if the dark prophecy comes true!!!
Saturday 630pm CST – ACC Championship – Charlotte, NC
#23Virginia – Apollo Creed # 3 Clemson – Ivan Drago from Rocky 4
Virginia doesn’t throw in the towel. —– ” If the Cavs die, they die!”
Saturday 700pm CST – Big 10 Championship – Indianapolis, IN
#8 Wisconsin Badgers 16 #1 THE Ohio State Buckeyes 44
Ohio State would score late to run it up more and try to maintain the #1 seed, but they don’t have to because……..
Saturday 300pm CST – SEC Championship – Atlanta, GA
#4 Georgia Bulldogs 27 LSU Tigers 26 – MAJOR UPSET OF THE WEEK ( YEAR? )
Yeah, Yeah..I know. But it’s more than my cynical Gator blood. It’s a genuine belief that Georgia is much more like 1992 Bama than people realize. The defense is that good. One rushing TD on defense ALL YEAR!!! And for some reason, in the biggest games, Fromm hits big time passes. I think it’s a crazy battle and Georgia edges out the win……….God, help me for how I feel about them and their fire engine red uniforms.
Saturday 1130am CST – Conference USA Championship – Does it matter where?
UAB Blazers – They have Football Again? Florida Atlantic Owls – Kiffin to Old Miss
What is going on to pick this one? Oh, didn’t actually pick….so, ok FAU 30 – 20
ZT back from a heavy intake of Camp Stew, “Healthy Fries” ( aka Fried Okra ), and some ribs…….better for the brain than any supplement on the market, particularly good for pigskin prognosticating….
#7 Baylor Bears 31 #8 Oklahoma Sooners 45
Sooners, led by former Bama QB Jalen Hurts, needs a W and a few style points to make the CFP ( Need LSU to win and an Oregon upset to make it easier ). Ran the table in November after dropping that egg in Manhattan, KS at the end of October. This one should be exciting after the 24-point comeback by OU in mid November. Sooner defense continues to be questioned even though they finished 1st in the Big 12. ZT thinks that is kinda like being the hot dog eating champ in a vegan community…….Baylor has some fire in their belly from the lack of respect nationally and have generally been a consistent team in 2019. ZT sees Sooners making it happen and with a little help, will be a CFP #4.
Saban trying to get Jalen’s attention to score some CFP Tickets…
Cincinnati Bearcats 31 Memphis Tigers 38
This is the real ground hog day match-up….just saw it last week, in the same stadium with Memphis taking round 1 in a closer-than-the-score 34-24 victory. We all know it’s more difficult the 2nd time. Add some distractions for Memphis with HC Mike Norvell being a hot name amidst the annual HC firings! Bearcats want to get the “tiger off their back” noting they have not beaten Memphis since 2013. Add in their 5-14 record against Memphis on the road and it looks worse. Perfect time to break some streaks as the winner has a good shot at the Cotton Bowl. Some have insinuated Cincy HC Luke “Love is” Fickel may have held back in the game last week…….hmmmm. ZT not buying that tactic you may see the Pros use near the playoffs. Bearcats O may have QB Desmond “I had a girlfriend once but got” Ridder back from injury and that will be a boost. What they really need to win is RB Warren to take advantage of a somewhat vulnerable Tigers D. Memphis O is powered by QB Brady White with 32 TDs vs. only 8 picks and loves his WR Damonte Coxie ( ZT refrained from several ” ” options noting church obligations on Sunday ). Add a RB named Kenneth Gainwell…..especially when he DOES with over 1,300 yds this season and you got something special. ZT knows the difficulty of winning back to back games but home field and a message from Elvis tipped it toward the Tigers.
#4 Georgia Bulldogs 27 #2 LSU Tigahs 35
The heavyweight battle of the day! Lots of speculation if the Dogs beat the Tigahs, then the SEC gets 2 in the CFP and all will still be right in the world of college football. GA HC Kirby “Get” Smart will need the running game to take hold in this one. QB Fromm will be missing WR Cager and also Pickens for a half. RB D’Andre Swift will play but needs that shoulder to hold out for 60 minutes so that mammoth O-line can take charge of this one. Defensively, this is THE test of the old statement ” Defense wins Championships” as it certainly seems less of a requirement in the RPO world. Bulldog stats are good with 10..4 PPG, 71 rushing yds. and 257 Total YPG while allowing less than 30% of 3rd down conversions. Coach O & the Tigahs will be ready and have been all year. Team is pretty healthy as well. Offense led by QB Joe “Turbo” Burrow is averaging 560 YPG and producing 48.7 PPG. If Joe hits anywhere near 78.3% of his throws and they get some production from baby rhino RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, it could be a long day for the Bulldog nation. Key to this prognostication: Coach O noted in the pregame presser the team had a meal of ” Smothered Pork Chops, Fried Chicken, Collard Greens and the guys loved it!”……sounds like a guy ZT could hang out with…. Gary Danielson, while watching the Christmas-themed halftime show, is caught on a hot mic stating ” Boy, Santa’s sack is really bulging tonight!”….
#8 Wisconsin Badgers 21 #1 THE Ohio State Buckeyes 41
OSU continues to look unstoppable after popping the Wolverines in Ann Arbor last week. From QB Justin Fields, RB JK Dobbins, WR KJ Hill, and DE Chase Young among others, it is just hard to find a weakness other than having to spend winters in Columbus. Badgers took apart the boat in Minnesota last week to earn the opportunity to ruin Christmas for a bunch of nutty Buckeyes. Biggest concern in Columbus right now is all that winning is getting in the way of recruiting. Man, they are winning so much they are getting tired of winning….heard that somewhere before I think. Big gap in these teams, not as big as the UVA – Clemson game but still big. Badgers would do well to take some advice from Dan Fouts when he was calling the Bourbon Bowl stating “Last game of the year Brent, can’t hold anything back now!” It is going to take some turnovers, explosive plays, and TD’s vs. FG’s in the redzone for Wiscy to pull this off. They have ALOT of adjustments to make after that 38-7 drubbing in late October. Love Wiscy RB Jonathan Taylor but just too much talent all over the field for OSU. Goal for the Junior Cheeseheads? Show well and find a nice bowl, like the Cheez-It Bowl in PHX, to go thaw out for a week or party with this guy………………..
#23 Virginia Cavaliers 17 #3 Clemson Tigers 41
Almost made this a Burnt Entrée submission as no one other than a few delusional Cavalier faithful, Clemson Alums, of the Cock Fighters Association of South Carolina would watch this one for very long. ZT’s pretty sure UVA still drinking shots of Fireball after snapping the 15-game losing streak with Va. Tech last weekend. Props to HC Bronco Mendenhall for getting them to Charlotte! Clemson is still not feeling the love from much of anyone. Sure, they haven’t beaten a CFP 25 team and while UVA is #23, they won’t be after this one. Clemson is just too much. Offense led by QB Trevor Lawrence who is currently on a 147 pass streak with no INTs and 19 TDs. On Defense, DC Brent Venables has studied and utilized the 3 down linemen scheme to better match the talent they have this year. Brian Griese is removed from the stadium at half time when he offers a group of kids some candy canes and then is allegedly overheard by security saying “I love licking the end till it’s real pointy!”
After the game, Dabo tells the world ” I’m happier than a tornado in a trailer park!”
ZT has been directed by Ms. ZT to get the Christmas Tree up before being allowed to watch any football or consume some Budweiser Reserves………so off to make it happen but hope she knows all her gingerbread men are going down!!!
Pigskin Prognostications by the Piedmont Padre and Zimmern's Twin 