The dawn of a new year always brings with it hope and change. Unlike the hollow rhetoric at 1600 Pennsylvania NW, there is a whole lot of real change going on in the football world. And some actual football too!
Let’s start with the hope and change. Because that is always wonderful when it is actually in play. So far, there has been change noted in Detroit, Washington, Houston, Minnesota, Tampa and Cleveland. They may all think they have immediate hope, but Detroit is the place where it really may be true. The Lions are chock full of talent and if they pick the right new coach to bring some discipline, both mentally and physically on the field, they have a real shot at being elite.
The team that everyone is talking about, the Skins, is going to be a tougher road. RG 3-13 is a self centered basket case with a father that needs to find a different hobby. And while Griffen is the focus, the root fact is Washington is pretty bereft of on the field football talent and leadership on both sides of the ball. And the retirement of London Fletcher is only going to make the situation worse. Houston might have some hope, but their QB situation is a real problem that new coach Bill O’Brien will have to solve. Matt Schaub went from solid to flimsy in less thatn a year. Will O’Brien try to coach him back up, or will the Texans cut bait?
Okay, on to the bowl games. There were a couple of big ones yesterday, and the big ones start up today. Yesterday the story was, as it probably should have been, the most exciting man in college football. Johnny Football. Give the Dookies credit, they put up an unexpected hell of a fight in the Chick-fil-A Eat More Chickn Bowl. But they don’t call him Johnny Football for nuthin. The evidence is in the video above. Wow. In two seasons at Texas A & M, here is the kid’s bottom line: 63 passing touchdowns, 30 rushing touchdowns, 20 wins and a Heisman Trophy. Not bad.
In two other New Year’s Eve games, the Pac-12 kicked some ass. Which was good seeing as how the ASU Sun Devils got their ass kicked the night before. UCLA killed Virginia Tech, and Rich Rod’s Arizona Wildcats put a licking on Boston College.
But that was all then, it’s a New Year baybee! We have games to be played in the new year. Bowl games, including the Grandaddy Of Them All. Which, of course, will feature a conifer tree instead of the Devils and, thus, Bmaz will be watching from the comfy confines of his couch instead of Pasadena as he was hoping for. Oh well, whadda ya gonna do? The Tree is ranked number 5 in the country, but Sparty is number 4 and has an absolutely killer defense. My gut tells me to go gang green here, but there is one hard and fast rule in life that, while not totally perfect, is close to it: NEVER BET THE BIG-10.X IN THE ROSE BOWL. Never. Remember hallowed names like Bo and Woody? People in the Pac do. Cause they kicked their asses so consistently.
Nebraska has no business being in a New Year’s day bowl game and you have to think the Dawgs will remind them of that. Same goes for Iowa, and LSU will so instruct them too. Wisconsin is a closer call with South Carolina, although the ‘Cocks are a lot better team on paper and should win the game on the field. If all goes according to plan, it will be yet another 0 for New Year’s Day for the B1G. Yeah, I know, nobody saw this coming.
Which leaves UCF versus Baylor here in the Fiesta Bowl. Looks boring from the names, but could be an excellent game. Nobody knows the Knights of UCF, but they have a good coach, George O’Leary, and a really good QB, Blake Bortles. For all the hype surrounding Johnny Football and some other college QB’s, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bortles is the first QB off the board come NFL draft day. Baylor has the better reputation and national profile, but I am taking the Knights in an upset.
On January 2nd, look for Alabama to take out their frustrations on Oklahoma. Big time. Well, that is it for now, more trash this weekend.