Tag: #BCS

Week Zero was much more than the equivalent of a free roll at Denny’s. 2 upsets and darn near a 3rd one! Hats off to Georgia Tech for traveling to Ireland and taking care of the Seminoles. DJ U is rumored to be checking the portal for his next team. GT HC Brent Key post game field interview was a winner! D2 Montana State ( who opted not to use the headset radios since the NCAA { aka LOSERS! } has not authorized them below D1 ) came from behind with 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to ruin NM HC Bronco Mendenhall’s return to CFB. And.. SMU had to rally for 16 points in the 4th quarter, the last with 1:18 remaining to avoid being the 3rd upset of the day. ZT was mentally exhausted after watching these 3 games ( ok ZT, word is you get “mentally exhausted” looking at a picture of a Rubik’s Cube ).

Sunday was a day of reflection and, after an afternoon NFL fantasy draft, ZT felt a tug at his football soul for basically blowing off Week Zero as nothing more than a good substitute for the Alouettes vs Elks in Canadian Football.

ZT contacted the Padre and asked if he could hear his confession….Padre advised him to either go find a priest or drive to South Bend. Well, this was the confession “Forgive me Football gods for I have stumbled by not showing love to Week Zero. I only judged from the outside and expected 3 big wins by the favorites. I was YE of little faith in the underdogs who agreed to play those teams for money, Montana State for less than a 3rd team Bama lineman’s NIL with Quaker Oats. I see the error of my ways and will make a renewed effort to show love and respect for every team, particularly those less fortunate or still in the Pac-12. I will no longer refer to the transfer portal as college football’s southern border. I will love the AAC and Mountain West as much as the SEC. As Penance, I will carry Walter Camp & John Heisman’s name in my wallet and look at a picture of Bear Bryant nightly.”

WOW…..confession really is liberating!!!!!

Now with a fresh mind and football soul, it is time to prognosticate!!!

#8 Penn State Nittany Lions vs West Virginia Mountaineers 11am Morgantown WV

Penn State has an easy September schedule, IF they can get past the Mountaineers. That’s a BIG IF as WV wants to show they are worthy of being a member of the Big 12 coming off a 9-4 campaign in 2023. Love WV QB Garrett ” I love carrots ” Greene ( 2,406 yds. 16 TDs 4 INTs AND 13 Rushing TDs!) who can beat you with his arm and legs ( wow, ZT, haven’t seen many great QBs without arms and legs.. ). Question is the Mountaineer defense, which allowed 26.2 PPG last, significantly improved? They better be better! Penn State and HC James Franklin will be balanced on offense and had the #2 ranked defense in 2023. They did have 8 players drafted so restocking efforts will be seen this week. Jr. QB Drew Allar needs to ramp it up and prove why he was a 5-star recruit… ZT going with Mountaineers as the local schools CLOSED on Friday noting the traffic snarls with Fat Pat McAfee hosting his show on campus…Not good for education but we are talking about West Virginia!! Upset Special Coal Miners’ Kids 27 Tamed Kittens 24

#11 Clemson Tigers vs. #1 Georgia Bulldawgs AFLAC kickoff – ATL – Noon

Can Dabo prevent Clemson from losing their 3rd straight opening game? Maybe if it wasn’t against Georgia who, by the way, has won 10 opening games in a row since last losing to…..yes, Clemson in 2013. Dabo will have the Tigers ready on defense and will be counting on Jr. QB Cade “I got it made” Klubnik ( 2,844 yds. 19 TDs 9 INTs ) to lead this offense. ZT loves playing a big game out of the gate as it helps in focus & preparation all off season. In this case, maybe playing #20 would be better. Where is Georgia weak? Maybe the backup drum major doesn’t prance high enough but that’s about it. Sr. QB Carson Beck ( 3,941 yds. 24 TDs 9 INTs ) behind an O-line several NFL teams would take “as is” is daunting. Dawgs look equally good up front on defense so no wonder they are a consensus #1. Dabo may go to the transfer portal after this ( 0 in and 12 out this year ). Dawgs 31 Orange Felines 17

#19 Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida Gators The Swamp 330 PM

Love this match up!! Both teams working to get back to consistent, national prominence. Winner in this one gets a jump start toward that goal. Hurricanes took advantage of the Pac-12 demise by landing WSU QB Cam “Shaft” Ward ( 3,735 yds. 25 TDs 7INTs and 8 rushing TDs ) and RB Damien Martinez of Oregon State ( 1,185 yds and 9 TDs ). Gators must have QB Graham “Cracker” Mertz take control of the offense, the O-line to play consistent, and the defense to play up to their ability. Gators have toughest schedule in the country so they must get off to a good start to help keep HC Billy ” you better be a hero” Napier off the hotter seat ( because it’s already hot! ). Not scared of the number of Miami’s portal players this early but…. Feelin the Swamp!!! Upset Special #2 Gators 27 Tropical Depressions 24

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. #5 Bama T-Town 6pm

Enter the Kalen DeBoer Era…. currently only 13% of Bama fans can spell it and only 19% pronounce it correctly. Ok, I will say it….he is NOT on the hot seat but will be if the Hilltoppers were to beat the Tide at Bryant Denny Stadium ( ZT pauses to look a picture of Bear Bryant ). WKY was 8-5 with an OT win in the Bahamas Bowl and have a solid Offense. Hilltoppers will be lead by a QB who has faced Bama 2 times already…What?!? Yes, T J Finley (6’7″ 238 lbs.) is that guy SEC fans recognize after time at LSU and Auburn before a 1 year stint with the Texas State Bobcats ( where he threw for 3,439 yds, 24 TDs, 8 INTs ). Bama will be lead by QB Jalen “I can throw” Milroe and expecting a high-octane offense ( ZT, what will you say when we have all electric vehicles? High voltage Offense? Did you have to buy carbon credits to say “high octane?” ). Run game will be a question as not a UW strength under DeBoer. Defense will likely be less “attacking” and more snap of the ball read/respond. Bama likes to win big in openers and play lots of players…need to this year as lost a lot of players in the portal. Bama players has over $500k in NIL so they better get it done! Bama 48 Kentucky Moonshiners 20

#7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. #20 Texas A & M Aggies College Station 730pm

Well……ZT must tread lightly in his new “enlightened state” of CFB awareness post Week Zero. ZT may not “love” ND but is a HC Marcus Freeman fan. Aggies begin with the Mike “not a deer but an” Elko era in a marquise game at home. 2 biggest challenges for ND?? 1) the defensive front for the Aggies vs. a remade ND O-line. 2) playing against the 12th man at Kyle field in an Aggie home opener. OH YE of little faith!!!! IT can be done. Do expect A & M to be very aggressive on defense and force Duke transfer now ND QB “Life of” Riley Leonard to make plays and hopefully, turnovers. Liking an upgraded ND Defense as well. Late in the game, Jimbo Fisher, who publicly said he is already tired of hunting/fishing ( likely by himself ), flies a drone over the stadium, taps into the A & M QB’s helmet, and tells him to take a knee on 4th and goal at the ND 3. More than just the luck of the Irish. Upset Special #2 Fighting Irish 24 13th Man 23

Sunday September 1

#23 USC Trojans vs #13 LSU Tigahs Modela Classic Vegas 730pm

Fun one with a new entrant as 1 of the 18 teams in the Big 10 vs. a perinneal SEC powerhouse (now with 16 teams but just more people to chant “SEC, SEC, SEC”) with this one being played at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas. ZT notes one can fly cross country on Allegiant Airlines for less than a ticket to see Honey Boo Boo in concert at Allegiant Stadium. LSU needs a win to end a 4 year opening day losing streak as well as “bank” a win now with their tough 2024 schedule… USC has won every opener since 2017 ( btw, Bama crushed them in 2016 52-6…just sayin! ). This gets a little more personal as USC being part of the infidels of the Big 10, the animosity is automatically deeper. New QBs on both sides as the Trojans have Miller “peat” Moss replacing Caleb Williams while Tigahs have Garrett Nussmeier (son of former NFL QB & CFL Coach Doug Nussmeier ). Garrett had a nice bowl game in relief of Jayden Daniels. LSU not good against the run in 2023 but that wasn’t and doesn’t appear to be part of the USC core offensive plan. Expect this one to have more air attacks than a dove shoot in Mexico. Tigahs 38 Prince’s Pocket full of Horses 31

Monday September 2

Boston College Eagles vs #10?? FSU Seminoles Tallahassee 630pm

Seminoles must have a win. PERIOD! BC has Bill O’Brian ( like FSU needs another dose of Ireland after last week ), who was NFL HC at the Texas in 2020. Eagles do have consistency with QB Thomas Castellanos returning. Decent passer ( too many INTs last year ) but a solid runner with 11 TDs. At 5’9″, got to do both. It is generally agreed teams improve must between game 1 and 2 opening a season. FSU is banking on it. BC played the Seminoles tough last year but don’t expect this one to be as close. Seminoles 31 Fly like an Eagle 20

ZT going to buy a 24-pack of Celsius, a bottle of B-12 and some Death Wish Coffee pods so he can stay up 72 hours straight for Live, Replay, and Talk Shows on CFB before having his 2nd NFL Fantasy Draft on Monday night.

Padre is in the HOUSE!!!! Been meditating over all the changes in Division 1 for 2024. Yes, he has had intent focus on his Gators but not at the expense of laser-focus on the entire CFB landscape.

Clemson vs Georgia

Dabo was once the super likable Andy Griffith of college football. Outside of the Gamecock fans, we all pulled for him! A good guy was winning championships. Awesome! – Fast forward about 5 years and he’s the grumpy guy yelling at you when your BMX comes within 2 feet from the edge of his lawn. I will still be pulling for Clemson because I am a Gator….and the Tigers are playing Georgia. But Captain Curmudgeon gets blasted by the cutthroat “Death Wish” coach who actually adapts to reality…and evidently teaches his players that the speed limit in Athens is 125 M.P.H. Georgia “speeds’ to a win 40-13.

Penn State vs West Virginia

Does West Virginia hate Penn State as well? Or just Pitt? And admittedly a question ( confession? ) from a southern boy: Why is West Virginia and Pitt so heated?? I have seen the videos and they really hate each other. It’s crazy hatred! I plead SEC Arrogance Ignorance Syndrome ( It’s a real thing). I also admit I have a soft spot for West Virginia’s logo – but I am also a logical person and as a logical person I know that Penn State has little something called “more talent”. Sadly, talent wins over a cool logo. Penn State takes this, well, not backyard brawl but “across town brawl”? I dunno. Super boring uniforms by a score of 30-17

Notre Dame Vs Texas A & M

Hey look, it’s the “Most Overrated Kickoff Classic: Sponsored by the Butch Jones ‘Champions of Life Foundation’.” The winner will receive a silver trophy ( made from aluminum foil – and yes, I made one of those as a kid ) that says, “Better Luck next year.” Yes, the winner gets that, because we know where this is going for the winner and loser. Oh, and the winner of this particular game is Notre Dame 24-23. Champions of Life – Fighting Irish style….which means lots of Guinness and singing. Actually sounds fun. Hey, Florida is always losing now too! Can I come to the party, Golden Domers?

USC vs LSU

Hollywood vs. Hillbilly ( and i mean that in a positive way). Tofu vs Crawfish. Kim Kardashian vs. the state that produced Bobby Boucher and his high quality H2o. All of this in Sin City ( what would Bobby’s mother say?!?!? ). I expect a high scoring game. I am going to say LSU by a score of 38-34.

BC vs FSU

Georgia Tech – Ireland – Perfection – Gator Bliss – World Peace. Okay,the last one is probably not true. But I had internal peace!! I would love to say FSU collapses at home this week, but it’s Boston College. The clowns enjoy their circus and beat BC by a score of 34-13.

Miami vs. Florida

Toughest schedule in the nation? Check. Hard rivalry opening game? Check. TV making teams play during the day in 90+ degree heat? Check. All my cynicism of the last decade plus on display before a snap of the new season? Super duper double check. You would think by now I am just numb to it all, but I still feel pain. I am only a man, friends. I still watch old games on YouTube to live in the past. I still keep a small grain of sand-sized hope each August. So for the Miami game, I pulled out that grain of sand and i make a wish – and fate laughed in my face and blew that grain of sand away. Miami wins by a score of 30 to NO!!!! WAIT!!!!!! In a twist of Forrest Gump floating feather fashion, fate has blown that piece of sand into my eye. It itches and makes me cry, but it is still with me. I have hope. It’s an irritating hope, but hope nonetheless. So I say my Gators will pull off the upset and beat Miami 27-24. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but it’s wishing season! I have the sand in my eye to prove it. GO GATORS!!!

SHOCKER of the Week Georgia State stuns Georgia Tech 27-26

My work here is done. Bobby Petrino is back. hide your daughters and watch out for Harley Davidsons on the road. Until next week. Cynical Gator OUT!!