No need to check your carbon monoxide detectors as your are not hallucinating! It is #1 Indiana vs #10 Miami for the National Championship. Cignetti’s Hoosiers shot down the entire flock of Oregon Ducks and they were the only ones in “V” formation at the end of Peach Bowl. This just one day after Ole Miss found out Hurricane Season wasn’t over. A much better game, but Carson “Timmy” Beck won it with a 3 yard scramble run.
Had you predicted this as we were coming out of the covid pandemic, you would have been institutionalized. Heck, if you predicted this on Labor Day you would have been banned from Buffalo Wild Wings for the rest of the year. But here we are and it looks fun so get fired up now!!
One more fun item….The Governors of Indiana and Florida made a food wager to include pies. We all know ZT loves pie!! Indiana will wager a Sugar Cream Pie….this is like a warm hug, sitting in front of a real wood fire place, and watching a rerun of “Leave it to Beaver.” Florida will wager a Key Lime Pie. This neon green citrus explosion is like a “mistake” at spring break from years ago that you still don’t regret!. …Maybe “Comfort vs. Chaos” is a subtitle for this game!
For the other 130+ teams, just remember this “You can’t win it, if you ain’t in it!”
Pigskin Prognostication Accountability Update: Padre 93-41 ZT 88-46 Padre bounced back with a 2-0 record in the semi’s while ZT got smacked one more time for doubting the Hoosiers and finished 1-1 (so, you’re basically like a coin toss ZT! ). As you say most years ZT……..
Padre goes wire to wire in 2025-26 leading off, again….
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PICK
Well, we are now at the final pick. America is curious—who wins this time? Bama? Georgia? Ohio State? Clemson? Wait… Miami? Is this 1987? Am I in an episode of Stranger Things? Okay. Okay. “The U” is back. 2 Live Crew’s Spotify royalties just increased by 10,000%. Well, who is “The U” playing? Is someone else back? Southern Cal? Texas? Wait, did Oregon make it? — No? Okay. Oh! My Gators? — No. We still stink. Oh no. Please don’t tell me Florida State. I may get sick. — Oh, they are worse than Florida. That helps a little. Okay then, who is it? — INDIANA?!?! My gosh. The end of the world came, and I was left behind (not my theology, but it works here—so go with me). Well, let’s make a pick.
Miami vs. Indiana: Flash vs. No-Nonsense. “The U” vs. “Are U kidding me?!” Picking against Indiana seems like a stupid move. But I sometimes make stupid moves. So, I am going stupid with Miami, as I think they somehow, some way come out of Hard Rock with a “W”… and a Natty. In a South Beach Classic — Miami 24, Indiana 23.
Another great year. Another losing season for Florida. Another pledge of loyalty to my Gators. And I wouldn’t have it any other way…… …outside of the losing! I do want to win! 🐊🏈
March Madness is just around the corner! Happy Spring! 🏀🌼
ZT is jacked up about this game for 2 reasons. 1st…IT”S THE NATTY! If you are not fired up, why are you even reading this blog??!!??!! ( ZT, we did a survey and found most of those that read YOUR part of the blog typically are just passing time while they get over a stomach disorder.. ). 2nd….Will note Indiana can do something that hasn’t happened at the FBS level since Yale in 1894 and that is to win 16 games in a season. Don’t look at some of the opponents names to include the Orange Athletic Club and Tufts ( at least you could spell it Toughs! )…. Will note for that season, Yale outscored their opponents 485 -13 ( nice use of Gemini and Wikipedia ZT..did you donate to keep Wikipedia going as well ZT?? ) .
Miami Hurricanes at Indiana Hoosiers
Can the Hoosier Hysteria continue? No question it is possible. QB Fernando Mendoza’s secret, per several defensive coaches who played him, is you can affect him but not rattle him ( well ZT, does this mean it’s no longer a secret?? ). Add in the supporting cast fits him well with plenty of RPO and screen options to draw you in then hit one of those underrated receivers downfield. Defense? They may not have a Lombardi winner but that got 11 that will just beat you like your grandmamma beat a throw rug. One more deal, fun article in the Wall Street Journal noting Coach Cig has eaten over 500 of the same burrito bowls at Chipotle in his 2+ years in Bloomington. Why? Because it is time he doesn’t have to waste on lunch decisions and can spend more time on film on the next opponent . Ok , he really may be an alien!
So…why does Miami even show up based on all that info on undefeated Indiana? Because they don’t give a “rat’s … well you know” about all the Hoosier hype…Being in the Natty after being questioned why they were in the group of 12 vs. some others is a good motivator. Cristobal will not have to fan the “ we are an 8.5 point UNDERDOG” flame either. ZT loves the Hurricane D-line and their RB corps.
At the end of the day, got to choose and while ZT will win a CFP pool if Miami wins, have doubted the Hoosiers too many times this season. The clincher is the newfound respect of Cignetti eating more Chipotle burrito bowls than ZT has Waffle House hash browns!! Hoosiers 24 Hurricanes 21 NOTE: Cignetti will still look somewhat annoyed during the trophy presentation….
Dad Joke: Why didn’t the skeleton play football? He didn’t have the guts.
Dad Joke Bonus #1: My wife doesn’t like football so she went to the aquarium but said she is not going back. Said there’s something fishy about that place.
Dad Joke Bonus #2: I went to a silent auction yesterday. Won a dog whistle and 2 mimes.
Dad Joke Bonus #3: Swimming with sharks is expensive! Cost me an arm and a leg!
Dad Joke Pro Bonus: What do you call 53 millionaires around a TV watching the Super Bowl? The Dallas Cowboys
Thanks for traveling with the Padre and ZT this season!
Pigskin Prognostications by the Piedmont Padre and Zimmern's Twin 