No more playing UMASS to pad your record as the 2025 version of the College Football Playoffs are here!……All the talk is done, time to just win and move ahead in the Playoffs. But be careful out there for a few are still a little sore about being left out…..
One item related to ZT and his favorite HC Marcus Freeman. It was noted ZT has not mentioned Marcus lately, even though the court has allowed him 2 more mentions this season. Helped by ND not making the playoffs and refusing a bowl game. ZT does know what he wants for Christmas though……
Pigskin Prognostication Accountability Update: Padre 87-37 ZT 83-41 Ok, ZT did pick up a game with the Navy prediction. If you didn’t watch that game, you missed a good one. Even with the win, you know what’s coming next…..
Padre STILL in the lead and has the honors for the 16th straight week
Let’s get the later—but lesser—games out of the way first. I’ve got nothing against JMU or Tulane (and for obvious reasons, I’ll be pulling for Tulane), but creating a playoff system that allows JMU and Tulane in while leaving out Notre Dame, Texas, and Vanderbilt is like promising your kid “a trip to Disney” for Christmas and then taking them to the Disney Store at the local mall.
So….off to the mall we go.
James Madison @ Oregon: Disappointed by the Disney Store, we settle for some of that “authentic New York–style pizza” at Sbarro. This game is the Sbarro slice of college football. I know it’s going to disappoint me — and I know I should try that never-heard-of Asian place across the food court — but I can’t help it. It’s pizza; it’s football! Like the mall pizza, I know exactly how this game will end. I should ignore it and read the novel on my nightstand that I’ve been putting off (Theo of Golden), but I will not. I will suffer the heartburn and eventual boredom. Ducks destroy the Dukes. Oregon 48, James Madison 13.
Tulane @ Ole Miss: Once again, I’m disappointed in the pizza, so the next stop is The Gap. But like how Ole Miss feels without Lane, I feel painfully uncool as I look for jeans. I don’t belong there—just like Tulane doesn’t belong in the CFP. Still, I’d love for my future head coach to prove me wrong. Unfortunately, I think Tulane will give up points the same way Florida is giving up players to the transfer portal. Ole Miss 45, Tulane 17.
Bama @ Oklahoma: After feeling super out of touch at The Gap, I head to Dillard’s. Good ole, reliable Dillard’s. Just like Bama and Oklahoma — reliable name brands. I’m looking for jeans but settle on my typical khakis. It’s my middle-aged uniform now. Every day is the same, like every game for Bama and OU in their crimson and white. I keep hearing Bama’s QB is playing hurt, but I’ll assume he’s healthy. Oklahoma may have won the first game, but I find their brand of football more boring than my khakis, blue oxford, and quarter-zip uniform for work. I’m rolling with the Tide in Norman. Bama 23, Oklahoma 20
Miami @ Texas A&M: I leave Dillard’s and head for the exit. I got what I came for, so why shop for anything else? (The unofficial motto of every middle-aged father.) But my son is with me, and he wants to do something fun before we leave. He convinces me to go into Palmetto Moon — a fun store here in South Carolina with laid-back clothes and beachy vibes. As soon as I walk in, I’m reminded of my Florida roots. It may be a store made for South Cackalacky, but the energy is somewhat Gulf Coast. I lighten up. I don’t have to be khaki-uniform guy forever. I can wear fun stuff. I leave decked out in something perfect for South Beach. It feels like a premonition for the final game on my list. This one’s all about The U in Round 1. The Canes roll into College Station like a Category 5 and leave victorious. Miami 24, Texas A&M 16.
That’s it for me this week. This is the 12th year of the CFP, and this will be the 12th year Florida has missed the CFP. But it’s Christmas time, so I’ll focus on the positive. I hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas! And I look forward to posting pics of my presents from December 25th — the 20th year in a row of getting Christmas khakis.
Middle-aged Gator Dad out. 🐊
ZT can actually see the light at the end of the prognostication tunnel!! Hoping it is not the Padre train or Lane train coming to finish him off!
Friday Dec 19 7pm
9 Bama vs 8 Oklahoma Sooners
Look who snuck into the party like Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn in Wedding Crashers!! ZT believed ND would be ahead of the Tide because of their dismal performance in the SEC championship and the fact Marcus looks better in a hoodie than Kalen DeBoer. Sooners took care of Bama in T-Town in November 23-21 even though Bama outgained 406 to 212 and over 9 minutes more in Time of Possession. OU defense is solid and QB Mateer continues to improve each week after an early season injury. This one is in Norman and while Bama has shaken off the “take me home mommy” issue this year, the direction is more of a “tide going out” vs. rolling in. Upset Special. Sooners 24 Good St. Nick Saban 20
Saturday Dec 20
10 Miami Hurricanes vs 7 Texas A & M Aggies 11am
Mario needs a good reading from his crystal ball as much of the CFB world questioned them being part of the CFP. IT doesn’t matter what people questioned as they are in. This be the best game of Round 1. Key battle will be the Aggies O-line vs. the Hurricanes front 7. Can the Aggies rebound from the loss at Austin? Sure & that loss doesn’t matter now but lose this one and the chants of “overrated” will be all over the sports blogs. Why, Aggies did not play the other 4 SEC teams in the big football dance. Hurricanes are here because the beat the Irish, although ZT likes how they are peaking. ZT loves Aggie QB Marcel Reed and could care less if The U QB Carson Beck got lost in the Everglades but calling for another upset.. Hurricanes 27 11 Men 24
11 Tulane Green Wave vs 6 Ole Miss Rebels 230pm
Fun game from the HC perspective. Tulane HC Jon Sumrall is coaching the Green Wave because Tulane is confident in his character and knows he is focused on helping new HC Will Hall who is the current passing game coordinator. Much different than at the Rebels where Lane took the train to Baton Rouge and Mississippi Highway Patrol will keep all entry points blocked to make sure he stays away. New HC Pete Golding ( yes, former Bama DC ) will be leading the Rebels with a 5 of the soon to be LSU staff helping him through the CFP. Maybe they should go re-read the story of the Trojan horse before allowing the infidel hang around in Oxford. Love to call if for the Green Wave but Oxford is a long way from the coast. Rebels 35 Wave Pool 17
12 James Madison Dukes vs 5. Oregon Ducks 630pm
Dukes HC Bob Chesney is coaching but headed to UCLA. Again, good to see a HC that has the character to be allowed to coach his team. The Dukes have as much of a chance of winning as the Bad News Bears ( 1976 version ) vs the Yankees but they did make it to the dance! ZT does love that JMU has been trolling the Ducks all week…Why not? Grab some attention while you can! Dan Lanning and his Ducks will look at the Dukes more like a micro-wrestler or Miles Finch ( ZT, you really referenced a character from the movie Elf? Are you a cotton-headed ninny muggins ? ) than a formidable opponent. The Ducks better be careful….but believe they will. Ducks 38 Micro Team 17
Dad Joke: What does a bad football team and a possum have in common? Both can play dead and get killed on the road.
Dad Joke Christmas #1: Why does Santa have 3 gardens? So he can hoe, hoe, hoe…
Dad Joke Winter #2: What do you get when you cross a snowman and a vampire? Frostbite
Padre and ZT wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!! Back for Round 2 of the CFP and maybe a bowl game or 2 ( Just not the Birmingham Bowl! )
Pigskin Prognostications by the Piedmont Padre and Zimmern's Twin 