It still means something to win your Conference Championship….for now anyway!
SEC Officiating continues to be about the same quality as a Krystal burger 2 hours after closing but will hold off on that for now. Also we will go assess the Baskin Robins 31 flavors of CFB coaches next week. We do know where the most famous coach of this cycle went…..and pictures say 1,000 words at least!
Prognostication Accountability Update: Padre 84-33 ZT 78-39
Solid week for both but the Padre extended his lead with a 10-1 game record! Neither got the “Where in the world is Lane Kiffin” bonus selection correct but it was not for the absence of research and vetting stories to include Bama’s DeBoer was likely headed to Penn State and Kiffin ( aka Joey Freshwater ) was coming back to T-Town. No excuses, just note there were more fraudulent/fake stories around this than there are Rich, Saudi Princes whom you may be related to and for 1 email and a small payment, they will get you your millions.
Padre leads the charge for Conference Championship Weekend!
Troy vs. James Madison: JMU just hired Billy Napier, and I genuinely feel sorry for JMU fans. I am a pity picker (and JMU is better). Give me JMU big. JMU 34, Troy 13.
North Texas vs. Tulane: The Lame Duck Bowl — with the CFP at stake. We really do live in strange days. My new HC and the Tulane Green Wave are hosting, but unless there’s some special voodoo coming from the Mean Green, I think that offense is too much for Sumrall’s boys. North Texas 41, Tulane 27.
BYU vs. Texas Tech: Big oil money vs. big cookie money. Cookies taste good. Oil makes things work and, sadly, causes wars. That Texas Tea is too much for the Cougars. Texas Tech 38, BYU 16.
Georgia vs. Bama: Even with all the parity in the SEC since Saban left, it’s still Georgia and Bama in Atlanta — even when I’m not sure either team wants to be there because of the CFP. It’s like waking up as a Little Debbie Cosmic Brownie in Nick Saban’s pantry. You’ve been told he’s different since retirement, but when it matters most — he still takes the Oatmeal Cream Pies. In all honesty, if the Brownie were alive, maybe it wouldn’t want to be eaten. This is breaking down. And sadly, as a Gator, I think Georgia is about to break down Bama. I hope I’m wrong, but I say the Dawgs roll in the ATL. Georgia 27, Alabama 17.
Virginia vs. Duke: Dear ACC, we know you want us to take you seriously. However, your five-way tiebreaker rule picked Duke over Miami. Therefore, your request to be taken seriously is denied. Sincerely, All College Football Fans Everywhere. Virginia 38, Duke 24.
Indiana vs. Ohio State: #1 vs. #2. In 2005, this would be massive. David vs. Goliath. Rose Bowl on the line. In 2025? The winner gets the #1 seed. The loser? #3? Maybe #4? Heck, if things fall a certain way, the loser might even get the #2 seed. 🤣 You know what would be hilarious? If both teams sat their starters for the CFP. Although this game feels like a practice scrimmage, I’ll still watch! Whether they play the first string or the fourth string, I think Goliath wins this time. Mad props to Cignetti — he is the man — but Ohio State is the new Death Star. Buckeyes 34, Indiana 20.
Welp, my Gators didn’t win the Lane Sweepstakes. But I did get a $25 Starbucks gift card this week. So, to quote Caddyshack: “I got that going for me — which is nice.”
Go Gators!
ZT is just back from a trip to KC….will note he had some KC BBQ as noted below
ZT noted the menu was chock full of all kinds of meats and fixins….then he saw this…
ZT was immediately struck that his position vs. the Padre was like Tommy Callahan trying to save Callahan Auto Parts……so he immediately made his meal a “Tommy Boy”…….and that meant Double the Meat!!
Now on to the prognostications with the motivation of Tommy Boy!!
Friday
Troy Tojan vs 19 James Madison Dukes Sunbelt Championship 6pm
The Southern Trojans earned a trip to Virginia to play the Dukes. Never say never as this is why the game is ACTUALLY played but hard to see a winning path for Troy vs. Dukes team with a great passer and a 1,000 yd rusher. Will note Troy was founded in 1887, just 7 years after the other trojans of USC in 1880. ( thanks for auditioning for the History Channel ZT ) Pulling for the home boys but…. Dukes 38 Little Brother Trojans 13
20 UNT Mean Green vs 21 Tulane Green Wave AAC Championship 7pm
How funny would it be to see the AAC get a team in the big dance while the ACC may not? Ok, you can’t count Notre Dame even though they are connected to the ACC like having a Capital One card to get in an airport lounge. Pretty cool that both these HCs are moving to new jobs but being allowed to coach their teams anyway!!! UNT’s Eric Morris heads to Okie State ( gives him time to grow a mullet too! ) and of course Green Wave HC John Sumrall headed to the Gators. Note Lane K: Character still matters!! Mean Green Offense is prolific! ( you must be doing more Wordle lately ZT ) with Freshman QB Drew Mestemaker at almost 4,000 yds and 29 TDs. Green Wave is tougher than a paddle board holding up a duo of Lizzo and Holly Rowe. Home game for Tulane, weather expects some rain and Green Wave will thrive in a close one. Upset Special Green Wave 35 Mean Green Beans 34
Saturday
11 BYU Cougars vs 5 Texas Tech Red Raiders Big 12 Championship 11am
Guns Up Cowboys vs. Caffeine Free Coke drinkers. Red Raiders took care of business in Lubbock in early November 29-7 and only 1 team has scored more than 9 points in 4 of their last 5 games. Cougars did bounce back nicely after the TT loss with 3 straight wins. Something has to give in Jerry World and this will look more like a TT home game. Red Raiders 38 Cougarettes 21
4 Georgia Bulldogs vs 11 Bama SEC Championship 3pm
Hard to beat a team 2 times in the same season if they are good ( and that’s about the only way that happens in a Conference Championship unless you are in the ACC ). Dawgs look better and Tide looks a bit battered vs. the last meeting in Athens. But…DeBoer has the tide believing in themselves and that they can win. It will take the Bama Defense to keep this one in position for QB Ty Simpson to best Dawg QB Gunner Stockton. Expect another classic Dawgs vs Tide game in Atlanta. Dawgs 27 Low Tide 24
2 Indiana Hoosiers vs 1 THE Ohio State Buckeyes Big 10 Championship 7pm
This is one we want to see. Is Indiana “that team”?? Hoosiers have risen from a few years ago being a constant member of the ESPN Bottom Ten ( check it out ) with likes of the UMass Minutemen with 12 of 14 years before Cignetti as losing seasons ( 1 of the winning seasons was in Covid… thanks ZT for bringing up Covid…). Its a fun story.. BUT, Ryan Day got the Wolverine curse off his back last week in Ann Arbor and he is not about to let the “shiny new thing” distract him like multi-color topwater lure would a 9 lb. Bass ( wow ZT…now you’re a fishing expert? …that because you like Captain D’s? ) THE Ohio State Buckeyes 24 Hoosier Loser 21
Duke Blue Devils vs 18 Virginia Cavaliers ACC Championship 7pm
Why isn’t ND in this as they play about as many ACC teams as the rest of the conference? Whatever. May watch Tropic Thunder again vs. this. Expect almost 100 people to tune in to this game. Cavaliers 38 Pukes31
Dad Joke: Why shouldn’t you play football in the jungle? There are too many Cheetahs!
Bonus Dad Joke: What kind of shoes do frogs wear?? Open-toad sandals
Bonus Dad Joke#2: What do you call cheese that isn’t yours?? Nacho cheese!
Padre and ZT back next week for Army vs. Navy and CFP Comments!!
Pigskin Prognostications by the Piedmont Padre and Zimmern's Twin 