College Football Update w/NFL Week 15 Picks
College Football Playoff is Set
The College Football Selection Committee finalized the invites for the first-ever, 12-team college football playoff Sunday.
I like the current 12-team format that provides first-round byes to four conference champions and I am happy with the selections for this year’s title tourney.
Former Alabama coach Nick Saban is not happy with the selections. On the ESPN selection show, Saban made a veiled argument against the exclusion of a three-loss Alabama team. He pointed to the strength-schedule selection criteria along with the demands of a SEC schedule and high-profile non-conference games that the college football “blue bloods” commonly play.
I think we can all agree the SEC is the best college football conference, followed closely by the Big Ten with the Big 12 and ACC a little more distant third and fourth. The SEC and the Big Ten garnered seven of the 12 selections. It seems to me that the strength of the top two conference schedules WAS taken into account, it’s just that Alabama lost three games with two of those losses to middling Vanderbilt and Oklahoma teams.
Saban’s argument about a tough non-conference schedule is complete horseshit, especially this year. First off, SEC teams only play eight conference games, instead of nine like the other Power Four conferences. Bama did not play one elite team in their non-conference schedule of Western Kentucky, South Florida, Wisconsin and Mercer (an FCS school for goodness’ sake) this year.
Of course, Saban’s counterparts on the selection show received his argument favorably and backed his argument. What would you expect from Joey Galloway (Ohio State alum) and Greg McElroy (Alabama grad)? To some extent, the drumbeat of SEC dominance is invented and promulgated by an incestuous media populated by former players and coaches from elite programs.
Many of those pontificating about the crime of Alabama’s exclusion also forwarded complaints about the format that includes byes for conference champions. The format did allow for a #9 Boise State and #12 Arizona State gaining byes and what could be precious additional rest. But those teams did win their conferences and that adds significant value to the regular season.
Win your conference or win 10 games in the regular season and you are likely in the “big dance.” If this format results in SEC teams constantly populating the semi-finals and winning the overall tournament, then I will have to reconsider my take. Until then, I love the way it played out this year and am excited to see if my viewpoint is correct or not.
Army/Navy is Here
A month or so ago when the Army Team was undefeated with a game against Notre Dame ahead of them and a conference championship a possibility (which they ended up winning), I had many loyal HOTPO subscribers hitting me up about the potential of Army being included in the CFP. I never bought in – beating Notre Dame, winning the AAC conference and punching a ticket to the CFP all meant nothing to me in comparison to beating Navy. Beating Navy not only means more than anything else – it is really THE only thing that matters.
I have no desire to see Army ever in the CFP. If those directly involved in Army football ever make inclusion in the CFP a goal, it would be complete loss of focus. In my opinion (which I know doesn’t matter), the purpose of Army football is to provide a community rallying point for Army backers and, most importantly, to develop leaders who can defend the country in times of conflict.
The elite level of college football is populated by narcissists and grifters. There is no need to focus on competing at the highest levels in such a cesspool. Army football needs to stay focused on beating Navy and developing leaders for the nation.
With that, the HOTPO staff will be covering the Army/Navy game tomorrow. To get the most detailed preview of the game, see my man Dan Head at As For Football for expert insights. I hope to see many loyal HOTPO subscribers there.
NFL Week 15 Picks
I have not been doing well with these picks for about a month now – missing roughly two games a week in comparison to the leaders in my two pick ‘em leagues. With Army/Navy this week, I am taking a little bit of a personal bye week and making rapid fire picks. Maybe not over thinking it this week will help me get back on track.
Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers (-3): Carolina is playing much better lately and they could easily make me regret this pick. – COWBOYS
Kansas City Chiefs (-4) at Cleveland Browns: Script writers will keep this close, but we know the eventual result. – CHIEFS
Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans (-3): Houston is coming off a bye week. – TEXANS
New York Jets (-3.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars: Do yourself a favor – don’t watch this game. – JETS
Washington Commanders (-7.5) at New Orleans Saints: Washington is also coming off a bye. – COMMANDERS
Baltimore Ravens (-16) at New York Giants: Don’t believe I have ever seen a 16-point spread in an NFL game. – RAVENS
Cincinnati Bengals (-5) at Tennessee Titans: Cincinnati still mathematically has a chance to make the playoffs. – BENGALS
New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals (-6): Arizona still has an outside chance at the playoffs, too. – CARDINALS
Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos (-4): Indianapolis playoff hopes will be extinguished in Denver. – BRONCOS
Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions (-2.5): Is this a possible Super Bowl preview? – LIONS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Chargers (-3): Los Angeles is always ready for game day under head coach Jim Harbaugh. – CHARGERS
Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles (-5.5): There is a lot of talk about dissension in that Philadelphia locker room and another late-season collapse is still possible. – EAGLES
Green Bay Packers (-2.5) at Seattle Seahawks: This is a tough one to call. – SEAHAWKS
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings (-7): This is not a tough one to call. – VIKINGS
Atlanta Falcons (-4) at Las Vegas Raiders: Atlanta needs this game to keep their fading playoff hopes alive. – FALCONS
BEAT Navy!
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