I am nothing if I’m not a man of my word. I mentioned on last year’s finale blog (yesterday’s NFL Picks) that 2024 will be a year of growth for us here at BO Blogs. Well, that all starts on day one of the year. I assume, much like most New Year’s Resolutions, this energy will fade by about Martin Luther King Day. But hey, got to at least start with some gusto.
So, instead of taking a few days to hammer out a coherent plan, and start putting it into action, I took an idea I had 3 years ago, and just applied it to college football. So, here we go with the first NCAA Playoff Pick Special!
First off, I have to start by saying that I don’t think the 4 best teams are in this year’s playoff. What happened in the final week of the college football season was beyond robbery. I realize that Alabama beat Georgia in the SEC Championship. I get that recency bias is a rea phenomenon in sports that we all fall victim too. But can you imagine being number 1 in the country all year. Then being put up against a perennial powerhouse like Alabama, that themselves ended up a playoff team. Then losing in a close, hard fought game. And as a result, being dropped out of the top 4. In my opinion, Texas’ whole argument for getting into the playoff was that they beat Alabama. Georgia beat everyone else, and narrowly lost to Alabama, who by the way is in the playoff. Just seems odd to me. Georgia took out their frustrations on Florida State, who I think we can all agree, had no business in the playoff.
Anyway, my gripes aside, Concret3Cowboy, BrendawnoftheDead and I will give you our picks for the 2 semi finals happening on this first day of 2024! No records, no high stakes (like next week’s NFL Picks), just a little helping of what’s to come in the coming year for BO Blogs!
Alabama vs. Michigan: Michigan -2
Blind Owl: A lot of people aren’t going to be happy with me about this one. Michigan had a great win over hated Ohio State in the last week of the regular season, and coasted their way to the Big 10 title against Iowa. JJ McCarthy is getting some attention as a potential NFL QB. All good things you’d think heading into a playoff game. But, in traditional Harbaugh fashion, a story broke that Jim Harbaugh has hired agent Don Yee to represent him moving forward. To the keen observer, this signals he is looking to go back to the NFL. I’ve even heard ramblings in the New England area of a Harbaugh/McCarthy combo ending up in Foxboro. You never know…but that’s for another day.
The big concern here is not whether Harbaugh will move on. The serious issue is the coaches split focus while going up against maybe the best college coach in history. Nick Saban and Alabama feast upon coaches who take them lightly and don’t fully dedicate themselves to the task at hand. You know the Crimson Tide will be riding the high of beating what I think is still the best team in the country, and Michigan has been somewhat indifferent after beating Ohio State. This game has potential to be a good old fashioned Southern-style whoopin. Michigan will come out flat, and Alabama will get up front and never look back. We’re not talking Georgia/TCU level smack down, but I think this one will be a snoozer by the 3rd quarter. I am going to take Alabama by 17 points in romp over the departing Harbaugh.
Concret3Cowboy: Even an LSU fan.. does anyone really doubt that Bama is going to win it all? That’s just how the cookie crumbles. As for the spread in this one, I don’t know how Michigan is favored? But I revert back to the saying “Vegas knows.” But still, I don’t see how Bama doesn’t walk away from this one with a win. That Milroe kid is dangerous.
BrendawnoftheDead: Even though I like Harbaugh, the only time I ever route for Michigan is when they play Ohio State. Now that they're out of the picture, time for honesty. The big 10 is trash and has been for a long time. Penn State is always ranked but they NEVER win big games or beat other ranked teams. Ohio State is a shell of it's former self. Who else is supposed to be good? Right, nobody. The SEC had a down year but atleast Bama to get through Georgia to be here. There's an old saying in football that speed kills and that's why Bama is going to win here.
Texas vs. Washington: Texas -4
Blind Owl: Ok. This will be the better game of the day. Unfortunately for me, it is airing late and tomorrow starts the new year for us teachers at school. I’ll be DVRing it, but I’m sure I’ll wake up mid-game and watch at least a piece of it. Unlike the previous game, this one is more of a traditional playoff matchup. Washington is fighting for the legacy of the PAC 10(12) and Texas is looking to blow the doors down in their entry to the SEC next year. Beating Alabama was a great appetizer for SEC fans, but a Championship appearance would be a great entree for Longhorn fans as well.
I honestly haven’t followed college football as much as I usually do, but I rolling with my gut feelings. I like what Washington has done. They’ve been fun to watch and I loved their close wins over some good teams like Oregon, USC and even rival Washington State. But, shamefully, I don’t think they have the overall team speed to compete with an SEC-esque team in Texas. The Huskies will hang on for some time, but a few late scores and perhaps a desperation mistake will lead to a Texas two score win. A valiant effort, but a Texas/Alabama rematch is what we have to look forward to for the National Title Game.
Concret3Cowboy: Georgia should be at 4 besides Washington. The playoff committee's greatest fear is Washington winning this game and being rolled exactly like how TCU did last year. Fortunately for them, Washington isn’t going to win this one. Side note, it was weird when Texas and Oklahoma were announced to be moving to the SEC. They were at some of their weakest states. But here Texas is, in the playoffs the next year.
BrendawnoftheDead: I'll admit I didn't see Washington coming this year. They beat Oregon twice, that has to count for something. Patriots fans should watch this one, Pennix Jr (unfortunate last name) is a day 2 quarterback draft possibility. Texas… I don't trust you. I want you to be good like the good ole days, but…it's not the same. For no good reason I'm picking Washington.