After watching the College Football Playoff National Title Game Monday night, I became overwhelmed with feelings.
First, anger, because I had Clemson (LOL). Next, some sadness, because it meant saying goodbye to one of the most exciting college football campaigns in years.
Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers deserve all the praise in the world as they ran the gauntlet, going 15-0, and beat Clemson with ease to earn the national championship. In the beginning of the season, very few gave them any chance to overthrow Alabama in the SEC, much less take the whole ball of wax.
I have stated that in the collegiate level, particularly in the Power 5 conferences, that one player never makes or breaks a team. This is due to the fact that they are so stacked with talent. But, replacing a quarterback like Burrow is going to be near impossible, so I don’t expect the Tigers to repeat. Especially with a Nick Saban-led Crimson Tide squad that does not take losing lightly. Look for ‘Bama to recapture their throne.
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If you are going to bet futures, the time is now. Teams like Oklahoma, Oregon, Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas A&M, and Auburn all offer tremendous value at 30-1. But to be quite honest, I don’t see any of the top-three favorites rolling over so easy. Clemson, Ohio State, and Alabama are all loaded with talent, experience, and intelligence. It’s just that odds of 9-4, 3-1, and 6-1 offer very little return on a long-term investment.
Some of the biggest disappointments in the 2019-2020 season reside in both the Pac-12 and the Big Ten conferences. Oregon, Washington, Michigan and Wisconsin all had high hopes before the season began and fell way short of expectations. But, in all sincerity, these teams are all solid and have a puncher’s chance next season.
One of my favorite season-ending cliffhangers is waiting to see how new hired head coaches turn out. Greg Schiano is back at the helm at Rutgers, where he spent 11 seasons as the head coach (2001-2011). The fans and the alumni adore him and he knows the team and the conference well. The Scarlet Knights will prosper with his return.
One thing I look for when new coaches take the reins is the existing talent on the team. Having said that, perhaps the most coveted new hire is Mike Norvell at Florida State. A very good coach with a talented squad returning.
However, I feel the new coach in the best situation to win is Jimmy Lake at Washington. Lake spent four years as the defensive coordinator under Chris Petersen, knows the team, and is well-liked. He has a true opportunity to win the conference next season.
Last week: 0-1
Season: 37-34-2