CFB 2024 – Week 3

So……..Super Conferences and NIL may not change too much in College Football??? OK, Pac -2 just stole 4 from the Mountain West so now assume their new conference name will be The 6 Pac?…. AP Top 25 has 6 of the top 7 as SEC teams with Ohio State stuck in there like lettuce on a BLT sandwich. In full transparency ( trying to change America one blog at a time with this ), the Top 10 had 6 SEC, 3 Big 10, and 1 ACC ( not FSU but THE U! ). Big 12 is heavy in the 2nd 10 with 4 and great to see Mid- American conference Northern Illinois crack the AP Top 25 after taking out eternal independent ( but ACC surrogate ) Notre Dame this past week. Since no real details in the Tuesday debate ( other than keeping your pets inside if you live in Ohio ), the YTD record is as follows: Piedmont Padre 10-9 Zimmern’s Twin 8-9

Week 3, in the past, was a key start to conference play and generally had some really great games. Interestingly enough, only 2 Top 25 match ups this week with #20 Arizona vs #14 Kansas State on Friday and #24 Boston College vs #6 Missouri on Saturday. So, not loaded with ranked contests but plenty of solid football. Look for more surprises on Saturday!

Padre in the house 1st as the 2024 prognostication leader!!

Florida vs. Texas A&M: I am calling this game “The Buyout Bowl.” Whether it’s Jimbo making millions not coaching, or (most likely) Napier next season (and Mullen now), both programs are paying lots of green for subpar (at best) results. Gator Nation is already on the Lane Train, but I am not sure he can get off the tracks because Ole Miss is probably CFP bound at the end of the season. Or is it that we can’t board the train? — not sure the right metaphor here. Either way, this is the CBS 3:30 Eastern ga…I mean ABC 3:30 Eastern game. Usually, Week 3 has many good games, but if the Buyout Bowl is your best option, the pickins must be slim. I want to pick my Gators, but I rationally (and irrationally) observed the Miami game. I sadly say A&M beats my Gators 23-16. Then the seat goes from hot to the surface of the sun for Mr. Napier. 🔥🔥🔥

Bama vs. Wisconsin: Bama is favored by 16 on the road. I am not sure why, but I sense that is a little high. I still think Bama is finding themselves under their new coach. I also sense something else. Not sure what it is, but it’s something specific. Like Alabama is missing something. I can’t seem to put my finger on…..oh yeah, they no longer have the GOAT 🐐!!! I would say, “Thank you football gods, all of us can finally have a chance!”, but Kirby is at Georgia and football life will remain miserable. Although they are still growing together as a team, Bama is better than Winsconsin. Bama wins (closer than the spread) by a score of 30-20.

LSU vs. South Carolina: The real SEC Game of the Week…..which is still kind of sad. Anyway, is it just me or does it feel like Shane Beamer always gets a surprise upset AND/OR surprise blowout (like Kentucky last week)? And, is it just me or does it feel like his team then kind of comes back to reality every single time? I am going to pick coming back to reality this week. I don’t think it’s a blowout or anything, but I am going to take the Blamer (Kelly) over Beamer. LSU wins 34-30.

FSU vs. Memphis: “🎶🎶🎶 Put on my Gator blue shoes and I predicted the game // The Tigers touched down in the land of the Devil’s team // In the middle some acid rain // Coach Bobby Bowden, won’t you look down over me // You may be heaven, but I still super duper hate your team // When I was pulling for Memphis // Pulling for Memphis against the Noles // When I was pulling for Memphis // But do I really think that they will win? No 🎶🎶🎶”. FSU 37-20

Mizzou vs. BC: Are the Mizzou Tigers really #6 in the country? Are the BC Eagles really #24 in the country? Are McDonald’s hamburgers really meat? Some things won’t be answered this week no matter what. Mizzou wins at home 30-16.

West Virginia vs. Pitt: These two teams hate each other so much that when I watch fan videos of confrontations at their games, and witness the words and insults, I have to go to Confession….and I am not even Catholic. Country Roads is favored over The Steel City. For some reason, I think steel triumphs in a small upset. Pitt 27-24.

Georgia vs. Kentucky: I am typing this on Friday the 13th. That is appropriate. Georgia is Jason Vorheees. Kentucky can be those wild misbehaving camp counselors. And the game — well — the game is a machete. And then I have to go to Confession again for witnessing a massacre on live TV. The Dawgs slaughter the Cats 48-10.

Colorado vs. Colorado St: Never in history has bad football got so much attention. Never in my college football watching history have I cared less about a game I am predicting — and yet I am predicting it! DARN YOU, DEION!!! Buffs struggle but win 30-26.

I leave you with another (super unlikely but wishful) musical number: “🎶🎶🎶 They say Lane’s leaving (leaving) // Oh, leaving on that midnight train to Gainesville (leaving on that midnight train to Gainesville) // They say he’s going back (going back) // To save our program’s pride (whatever pride we have left) 🎶🎶🎶”

Cynical Gator out. 🐊🏈

ZT was in DC this week and attended a reception where, among other foods, had what he named “Bacon Popsicles”….. 4 trips to that spot and then told at the end of the event “please take some with you” ( which is music to ZT’s ears ) had ZT losing count after 30+ of these swine-based desserts ( and a few shrimp as noted below )…. ok, it was glazed bacon on a cocktail toothpick but Bacon Popsicle is a much better name!!

Well, Well, Well….ZT you say your are ranked #2 this year…..politically speaking, that is true! The follow up is you are currently #2 of 2!! Just to continue the efforts for transparency in a year that appears to be lacking that trait…….ok, no one cares just prognosticate and move on!!!

#4 Bama @ Wisconsin Badgers 11am

ZT saw Bama vs. USF in person….was sitting next to former lineman from the 70’s ( under The Bear ) who left at the end of the 3rd and said “I can’t take anymore of this!”…at one point, Bama had as many penalty yards than passing yards and seemed to be have less rhythm than an IT nerd attempting to break dance.….Defense was ok…did have a DB burned worse than a bathroom visit after a jalapeño eating contest. If the USF QB could throw better than Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite, Bama would have been down 2+ scores. Ok, on to this game. Badgers have had a couple of tune ups as well but will have Camp Randall rocking this Saturday. HC Luke Fickell may have been playing possum so expect some new wrinkles this week.. First road game for Bama and it will be hostile. Badgers SR. QB ( Miami Transfer ) Tyler “Dick” Van Dyke is a very capable leader and will look for support in the run game from Sr. Chez “Juicy” Mellusi. They will need to score as Bama has put up 105 points in 2 games but started slow in both. Tide gets 1st road win of year but closer than Vegas thinks. Bama 31 Cheese eating badgers 24

#16 LSU TIGAHS @ South Carolina Gamecocks 11am

LSU “recovered” in tune up vs. Nicholls Colonels in Baton Rouge…Columbia will be different with the Gamecocks feeling good at 2-0 and seeing the Tigahs appear a bit wounded. SC started slow vs. Old Dominion but bagged the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington 31-6 with QB LaNorris “rhymes with Delores“ Sellers tossing 2 TDs and the defense taking 1 of the 2 INTs to the house in the 4th. That Gamecock defense held KY to 183 total yards. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier threw 6 TDs and HC “Lyin” Brian Kelly only yelled at his kicker during the game. Tigahs better be able to run the ball this week or could be another long day. SC HC Shane Beamer knows he has a good defense and knows how to win big games…until Tigahs show me something…Upset Special. Gamecocks 28 Striped Felines 24

Memphis Tigers @ FSU Seminoles 11am

Well, well, well…who would have thought ZT would be asking in week 3 “can the Seminoles finally get a win this week?” ( Ok, a bunch of Gator fans may have wished it but if honest, even they didn’t see it.). So bad that even the Tomahawk Nation site had a big spread on women’s soccer beating the Gators ahead of the football update, which included losing some blue-chip D-Line recruits to Texas and the free market over the weekend. Tigers of Memphis are dangerous….a 40-0 win over North Alabama in the opener and a more impressive win over the Troy Trojans 38-17. HC Ryan “not gold but” Silverfield has this team in good shape after a 10-3 2023 season and now in the “way too early” talk about a spot in the 12-team CFP. FSU has been so bad even LUME deodorant can’t cover up the smell. Is this the week? Lots of StubHub tickets below $30 for this one in Tallahassee…..Upset Special #2. Tigers 27 Natives needing a bath 24

#24 Boston College Eagles @ #6 Missouri Tigers 1145am

ZT is fired up about this one… Early season Top 25 match up!! Eagles clipped FSU in their opener then steamrolled Duquesne (ok, who doesn’t but..) but…..Mizzou HC Eli “whom I would like to have a” Drinkwitz has Missouri ranked at #6 and they have yet to allow a score with an 89 – 0 tally in their 1st 2 games. The 16.5 line will NOT worry BC HC Bill O’Brien as that was the same line in the opener vs. the Seminoles. QB Castellanos has been good but Mizzou QB Brady Cook will likely pass the 7,000 career passing yds. mark on Saturday and the Tigers have a pride of WRs ( you trying to get on National Geographic with the “pride” remark ZT? ). Tigers. 34 Cathedral Eagles. 21

West Virginia Mountaineers @ Pittsburg Panthers 230pm

You know much these teams like each other? More likely to see Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump together at Thanksgiving than these 2 teams even smile at each other. Panthers are 2-0 with a nice Road W over the Cincinnati Bearcats in a late rally last week. Mountaineers had high hopes vs. the Nittany Lions in the opener. Instead, they got throttled in Morgantown but recovered with a good practice game vs. Albany last week. Yet another game where homefield is worth the 3+ points. Upset #3 Panthers 27. Moth Man’s kids ( google it ). 24

Texas A & M Aggies @ Florida Gators 230pm

Could it be 5-star Freshman DJ Lagway leading the Gator charge and not looking for any s’more Graham “Cracker” Mertz? ( really ZT?? ).. If Sun Belt Billy Napier knows what is good for him, he will try it!! Expect UF to start Mertz but bring in Lagway for a change of pace more than once with his cannon of an arm. Defensively, would note Gators better vs. Run while the Aggie air attack is NOTHING like Cam Ward of Miami…Tex A&M HC Elko noted “there are no easy road games” and The Swamp will be no different. This will be tight but will take the Gators in The Swamp as a home dog….Upset #4 Gators 20 A & M Agonies 17

#1 Georgia Bulldawgs @ Kentucky Wildcats 630pm

Well…if the Wildcats were looking ahead last week vs. the SC Gamecocks, that was a teaching moment for sure….would be like looking past Mike Tyson’s sister in grade school because Mike was waiting for you around the corner…likely means you get decked twice!!! ZT still looking for any weakness with the Dawgs…even the drum major upped his game last week with higher knee lifts so…. KY will be led by former Dawg QB Brock Vandagriff ( another of the 5- star QB’s Kirby has signed that have transferred but the 1st one he will face on the field ). Could say more, but WHY? Dawgs. 35 Scaredy Cats. 13

Colorado Buffaloes @ Colorado State Rams 630pm

Well….Coach Prime needs a line ( not the Hunter Biden kind ), an O-line! If not, Shedeur may not make it to Halloween. Rams needed a week off after being stampeded by the Longhorns 52-0. Only good part of that game for CSU?? It ended!! Rams would like to get some payback after losing in 2023 43-35 in OT. No question this in-state rivalry has intensified. Note Rams WR Tory Horton questionable with a groin injury but Buffs RB Dallen Hayden is also doubtful. Want to take the Rams but going with the bigger NIL $$ for Sanders and Travis Hunter…. Buffalos. 38 Dehorned Goats. 28

ZT is done and locking in for a full day of football, wings and finishing 2023 Taxes before “the tax man cometh” ( ZT, a “Murder, She Wrote” reference? no wonder the Padre is ahead of you! )….. ok and maybe some more Bacon Popsicles are in order!!