It’s set!! Exciting if you are an Irish or Buckeye’s fan for sure! Buckeyes 83-yard hit, scoop & score thwarted a late Texas effort to tie it up while the Irish kicked a 41-yard FG with 7 seconds left for a win over Penn State. That makes James Franklin 4-20 vs Top 10 opponents in case you were tracking.
Love a couple of teams with higher selection committee rankings vs the conference-infested ranking requirements being in the Championship. Enough of the background, let’s get on with it!
Prognostication Accountability Padre 92-51 ZT 90-48
TECHNICALLY ( ZT, that is how someone starts a sentence when they know they are wrong, have lost, etc. but want to toss in something to mute the issue ), ZT cannot catch the Padre on Wins for 2024-25 with only the Natty remaining. There is a chance ZT’s winning percentage will finish a bit higher ( Again ZT, you can go home and watch ESPN like Alabama, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Miami who lobbied they should be in the CFP and ended their bowl games with a 1-3 record! ) but we will keep you posted!
Padre up first..
CFB PICK — NATTY
Well, here we are. We have reached the pinnacle of the college football season. And like we all expected, Alabama is playing Georgia for it all (interrupted) — — — wait, what? Ohio State made it? Well, that makes sense. I may not like it, but I mean, yeah. It makes sense.
So let’s start again: We have reached the pinnacle of the college football season. And like we all expected, Alabama/Georgia is playing Ohio State for it all (interrupted) — — — wait, what? An SEC team didn’t make it?! Is this a joke?! So who are the Buckeyes playing?!
NOTRE DAME?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
I need some Gatorade to get myself together.
Okay, I’m back.
So it’s Ohio State vs. Notre Dame for all the marbles (that tasted like Unsweet Tea as I typed it — yuck). It’s the BigTen vs. Should be in Big Ten. It’s a team who did not win a conference championship vs. A team who who has never won a conference championship. It’s a team most everybody pulls against because of the unrealistic exceptions of their fans vs. A team most everybody pulls against because of the unrealistic exceptions of their fans.
What is America to do? The choices are like so many of our political elections — lesser (or less annoying?) of two evils. Well, because of how Buckeye fans treat Ryan Day, I am pulling for Notre Dame. I never thought I would say that, but Go Irish! ☘️
….And yet the football gods couldn’t care less about the team I pull for in this game (or any game for that matter — I think that has been proven the last 15 years).
Notre Dame has a lot of heart. They have a very likable coach — so much that Notre Dame (NOTRE DAME!!!) has become America’s Team. But Ohio State has a roster loaded with NFL players. NFL players beats Rudy every single time. Therefore, my prediction is that Ohio State continues their revenge tour and beats the Irish 34-16.
Ohio St won the first ever playoff. They will now win the first ever 12 team playoff. Clearly, they only win when the committee changes the format. Therefore, I know how to unite America! I will run for College Football President as a single issue candidate: Keep the CFB Playoff at 12 teams because Ohio State only wins it all the first year of the change.
I AM #MAOSFA = Make America Ohio State Free Again
That’s it for me for 2024/25. Until we meet again. Gator out.
ZT, where he has been most of the season, in 2nd place ( also known as the 1st loser & since only 2 of you on this blog, you are also eligible for a participation trophy ZT! ). Its the NATTY so here we go.
The Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 630pm
There will be so much “word salad” written about this game that its good you are reading what ZT prognosticates because you know he ain’t a salad guy! Also, 8-1 over the last 9 games ( more lobbying about your record vs. the Padre? ) so he must have gotten some full price brain supplements or was struck by lightening like the bishop in Caddyshack ( ZT, that movie is 45 years old…got any references in this century? )
ZT loves ND HC Marcus Freeman (yes ZT, we know, we know as you have told us that for over 10 weeks now…what do you plan to send him for Valentines Day? Geez!!! ) and apparently much of America now does as well.
ZT keys to a ND win: 1) No more than 1 mistake/turnover, particularly QB Leonard passing and not pulling a “Ewers” while being smart with his legs 2) Keep Game Speed at ND Speed 3) Defense, win on the line and mix up coverage with more zone than normal 4) if all else fails, switch to a Michigan uniform at Halftime!!
OSU HC looks like a miniature version of Rip Wheeler from Yellowstone and has the team playing like Rip’s ranch hands!
ZT keys to a OSU win: 1) Play the OSU game 2). QB Howard – Follow the song “ Billy Don’t be a hero “ ( ZT…not even sure Google can find that song originally written by Paper Lacy and then by Bo Donaldson and the The Haywood’s in ‘74 ) and use all your offensive weapons, not just WR Smith until in man coverage 3) Defense must key/spy on ND QB Leonard who is a solid passer but more dangerous with his proper mix of making plays with his legs ( Avg. 5.2 YPC with 16 rushing TDs ) 4) if all else fails, switch to a Northern Illinois uniform at Halftime!
At the end of Monday Night, we will have celebrated the life of Martin Luther King, the inauguration of the 47th President, as well as celebrated National Cheese Lover’s Day, National Penguin Day, National DJ Day and Camcorder Day ( which should be removed by Presidential decree on/before midnight as not sure anyone other than ZT still owns one in 2025! ). We will also have a new D1 College Football National Champion. Notre Dame has become a team that is hard ( or harder! ) to hate. Marcus Freeman has gotten more out of this team than anyone else could have ( yes, even Brian Kelly though he is the only one who begs to differ ). But Monday night will be for those boring, average people in the flat state of Ohio and particularly Columbus ( the home of Big Lots and Safelite Glass which speaks for itself ). Ryan Day will accept the trophy then explain to those who doubted him for years and, again, after the Michigan game, that they are still “Number 1” in his heart as he gives that particular group the middle finger. It will be close early, Buckeyes extend the lead early after the half and ND makes one last run. But in the end, THE Ohio State Buckeyes are your National Champions. Buckeyes 27 Fought Hard all Year Irishmen headed to have a Guinness 20
ZT and the Padre appreciate all who have risked their IQs and general cognitive abilities by reading our posts and telling your friends “Hey, if you are really bored or have a stomach disorder, read this!” Apparently there are a lot of bored people with upsets stomachs in America by our count! Enjoy the off season and back on line in the Fall ( unless we get moved to soccer or lacrosse in the sports journalists transfer portal……). Remember, this blog is worth everything you paid for it!!!
Pigskin Prognostications by the Piedmont Padre and Zimmern's Twin 