B&S BOWL BONANZA
The SEC has 13 teams that made a bowl game, more than any other conference. It’s time to get our previews on.
By: Bossman Slim, The Hammer, The Waco Kid
Can Tombstone Bennett get it done and bring home the title for the Dawgs? (Photo: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
Bowl season has arrived, and so has the last chance for Bossman Slim and The Waco Kid to catch The Hammer on this year's weekly picks. The Hammer has a two-game lead over second-place right now, but with the chaos of 2021, and annual chaos that comes with bowl season, no lead is safe right now. Everyone is still in this.
The Hammer: 83-20 overall
Bossman Slim: 81-22 overall
The Waco Kid: 78-25 overall
Let’s dig in.
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Missouri vs Army
December 22 at 8:00 pm ET on ESPN (Army -4)
Bossman Slim: Army was 8-4 this year with a couple of nice wins and one dud. The Black Knights had wins over Western Kentucky (who ended up 9-5 and had the all-time single-season TD leader in Bailey Zappe) and Liberty (who finished 8-5 and had dual-threat Malik Willis), and played Wisconsin to the wire. The dud was against their arch-rival Navy, who finished the year 4-8 but got a win over Army so it was a successful year. Mizzou was an overall disappointment as Eli Drinkwitz team took a step back in a weak SEC East. Tyler Badie was the lone bright spot for the Tigers, earning the SEC rushing crown, but he’s not playing. Eli Drinkwitz has some momentum in recruiting, reeling in the #12 class in the country according to 247Sports. Unfortunately for Mizzou, that cavalry doesn’t arrive until next year, and without Badie…I think the Black Knights pull it off.
Army 26 - Mizzou 20
The Hammer: At first glance, it’s surprising to see an SEC team as a betting underdog to a service academy. Then you recall that Army runs the triple option and Mizzou has the 125th ranked rush defense in the country, allowing 228.8 yards per game. The Tigers defense showed improvement late in the year, which is a big reason they are even in a bowl game, but it’s still a very tough matchup. This game should be close simply because of how Army plays. They run the hell out of the ball and eat clock. This is old-school football and the Black Knights do it quite well. First-team All-SEC tailback Tyler Badie has opted out for Missouri, and without him, I’m worried about the Tigers offense. I like Mizzou to cover but think Army will sneak away with a win here.
Army 28 - Missouri 27
The Waco Kid: This is an intriguing matchup. A service school playing against an SEC opponent is not a game that you see every year. Army could make this a good one, they have an outstanding rush attack, like they do every year, and have 8 wins with wire to wire contests with some surprising teams. Still, when I see a duck I call it a duck and with the Black Knights I see a very one-dimensional offense that eats clock and banks on methodical first downs. Playing in the Southeast prepares you for one thing on a weekly basis and that is for opposing teams to try to beat you down with the run and raid you through the air once you are tired. Army will be able to hit the trenches hard but the Tigers are used to that physical play between the tackles. Drinkwitz’s will load the box and force the Knights to put the ball in the air which will ultimately deflate their game plan. Mizzou covers and wins by at least 10.
Missouri 34 - Army 21
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Florida vs UCF
December 23 at 7:00 pm ET on ABC (Florida -7.5)
Emory Jones will play one final game for the Gators before finding a new school. (Photo: John Raoux, AP)
Bossman Slim: The upstart Golden Knights vs. the legendary Gators. This one will be exciting just for the bragging factor. Even with both of these teams down, it’s still going to be fun to watch, because if UCF can pull off an upset, they will probably give all the players “national championship over Florida” rings. The problem is UCF just isn’t that good. Any decent competition they faced this year they lost to (including a terrible Navy team). On the other side, Florida is a mess after firing Dan Mullen. Emory Jones is set to play and then transfer, and it’s hard to think the players give a damn about this game. They showed fight against FSU though, and I think the Gators will get up for this one because they won’t want to hear to trash talk from one of the most annoying fan bases in college football for the next decade. Florida gets it done.
Florida 31 - UCF 27
The Hammer: UCF has been wanting to play Florida (or any other Power 5 team in the state) for years. The Golden Knights finally have their chance in this bowl game against big bad Florida, only both teams are limping into this one. The Gators fired coach Dan Mullen and UCF had a tougher than expected year as star QB Dillon Gabriel got hurt. I don’t know if Florida will give a damn about this game, and their top wideout Jacob Copeland is in the transfer portal and won’t play, but given what I saw against Florida State in the final regular-season game, I like the Gators in the matchup. Emory Jones will be under center for the Gators despite his intent to transfer after the game as AR15 is recovering from injury. Maybe Jones will ball out in his final game? Either way, I think Gator players will be motivated to beat an in-state foe and show their new coach what they are capable of.
Florida 38 - UCF 24
The Waco Kid: I am going to use the same gauge I used earlier in the year to determine this one. How close did each team let South Florida play them? The Bulls are a horrible team and should be used to compare only how bad other teams may be. So in this one the Gators won by 22 while the Knights won by an underwhelming 4 points. Wha Whaaa. However, you just know Gus Malzahn is licking his chops at a chance to beat an SEC team less than a year after getting the boot from the conference. This could be a chance for the former Auburn head coach to redeem himself and put the AAC on the map with not just Cincinnati as a premier team but possibly Central Florida as well. Do I think it will happen? No, but it would make for a heck of a story. Unfortunately, Florida is dripping with talent, whether or not they have shown that, and skillset and the desire to start the Billy Napier regime on a high note will give the Gators enough willpower to push through a game most do not want to be playing. Expect Florida to cover and a bad welcome back to the SEC for Malzahn.
Florida 41 - UCF 27
TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl: Auburn vs Houston
December 28 at 12:00 pm ET on ESPN (Auburn -3)
Bossman Slim: It’s hard to discount Houston going 11-2, but…THEY AIN’T PLAYED NOBODY PAWWWL. The two teams they did play that are worth mentioning are Texas Tech and Cincinnati, both of whom the Cougs lost to. Still reeling off 11-straight wins is not easy and Dana Holgersen has Houston on the right track. Auburn had an up and down year, at one point controlling their destiny in the SEC West until Texas A&M shut them down in Kyle Field. Their final performance against Alabama was what gives me hope. The Tigers played valiantly in a devastating loss to their arch-rival. At the end of the day, Auburn has Tank Bigsby and SEC-talent. Give me the Tigers.
Auburn 34 - Houston 31
The Hammer: The last time we saw Auburn, they lost a 4 overtime thriller in Jordan Hare to current #1 ranked Alabama. And they did that with their backup QB TJ Finley to boot. The Tigers really struggled down the stretch, even with Bo Nix, losing four straight to close out the year. Houston, on the other hand, lost their first game of the year then reeled off 11 straight wins before getting thumped by Cincinnati in the AAC title game. But their schedule was atrocious. Dana Holgerson and the Cougs will be feisty, but I like Auburn in this one. Bryan Hard Ass Harsin is not messing around on the Plains and already fired his OC, Mike Bobo. He needs this game to get some positive momentum heading into his second season. I think Auburn’s defense will be able to handle Houston’s offense, and I like Auburn’s run game with Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter to find just enough running lanes in this one. Should be a good game.
Auburn 27 - Houston 21
The Waco Kid: Same story different year, Group of 5 team plays major conference team only to realize they do not belong. Sure there are outliers like your Cincinnati's or UCF’s of the early 2010s. But overall when facing the SEC, these non-Power 5 teams do not fare well. In fact, the only conference to have a winning record against the top conference in the nation is the now disbanded Big East. As far as the AAC goes, they are looking at the losing side of a 12-5 record. Even though the Auburn offense will play without Bo Nix, they have an impressive backup with starting experience in TJ Finley. The Cougars may be 11-2 this year but Finley will be too dynamic of a player to stop on offense. The Tigers will run away with this one and look to give Bryan Harsin his first bowl game victory in the SEC.
Auburn 45 - Houston 24
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Mississippi State vs Texas Tech
December 28 at 6:45 pm ET on ESPN (Mississippi State -9.5)
Bossman Slim: I’m excited for this one. Mike Leach can get revenge on the Red Raiders who unceremoniously fired him after a bogus allegation from former ESPN announcer and Pony Express member Craig James. If the Bulldogs get a lead, I think Leach will beat Tech by 100 if he can. In my opinion, they can. Cowboy Will Rogers is playing great football and took hold of Leach’s offense from mid-to-late year, throwing seeds all over the field. Texas Tech had a tough year and saw their coach fired, but somehow made a bowl. They got a good win over Houston and somehow beat Matt Campbell’s Iowa State team. They also played the Big 12 champion Baylor close, only losing by a field goal. At the end of the day, I think Leach schemes this one up and Rogers is too much for Texas Tech, who despite signs of toughness, is adrift with an interim coach. Bulldogs, big.
Mississippi State 48 - Texas Tech 28
The Hammer: Mike Leach going up against his old employer, who he despises and believes still owes him millions of dollars, is the kind of matchup I live for during bowl season. Leach hates Texas Tech, that’s no secret. I think he relishes this opportunity to stick it to his old school. Plus, Mississippi State is a better team than Texas Tech. I’m sure there will be a similar dynamic in this one as there will be in the Florida game, a tryout of sorts for Texas Tech players to impress their new coach, but Mississippi State is too good to let the Red Raiders sneak up on them. Cowboy Will Rogers has complete control of the Bulldogs offense right now and if they can avoid the disastrous drops that haunted them in the Egg Bowl, the Bulldogs will be just fine.
Mississippi State 42 - Texas Tech 24
The Waco Kid: Gotta love this matchup. This will be like fireworks on the fourth of July if fireworks had a very monotone sound with an underlying sarcasm attached to it. I think both teams are teams that surprise and disappoint on a week-to-week basis, so this could go either way. The differentiating factor is that Mike Leach has a little more skin in the game than anyone on the Texas Tech sideline. His former employer is best known for firing Leach after a series of scandalous events under his leadership. That is why Leach will lead the Bulldogs and impressive quarterback, Will Rogers, into this game fully prepared and ready to beat the Red Raiders. And if given the shot, State will beat Tech as badly as possible to remind the team from Lubbock exactly who they are dealing with.
Mississippi State 52 - Texas Tech 18
Duke's Mayo Bowl: South Carolina vs North Carolina
December 30 at 11:30 am ET on ESPN (North Carolina -6)
Bossman Slim: This one is interesting because of the border rivalry. These two teams recruit in the same region and there’s a bit of a USC-UNC rivalry based on the history of the states. Mack Brown’s team had a down year coming off an Orange Bowl appearance. South Carolina had a tough year as expected, but Beamer managed to notch some big wins in year one that has Gamecocks fans believing in what he’s selling. The question for Beamer is: who the hell is starting at QB? It looks like Col. Zebuliah Noland will get his final start for the Gamecocks, as Jason Brown has entered the transfer portal and Luke Doty remains injured. For UNC, Sam Howell has been silent on declaring for the draft, but it sounds like he’ll be in Charlotte to play against the Gamecocks. I think that is what gives the Tar Heels the edge in this one.
North Carolina 38 - South Carolina 21
The Hammer: This matchup is really a tale of two seasons. UNC came into 2021 a top 10 team with a Heisman hopeful at quarterback and finished at 6-6. A massive disappointment in Chapel Hill no matter how you spin it. Meanwhile, South Carolina was not expected to sniff a bowl game. Getting to 4 wins at the beginning of the year would have seemed like a big accomplishment given the situation that first-year head coach Shane Beamer took over. But Beamer rallied the troops, and the Gamecocks scratched and clawed their way to 6 wins, using three different quarterbacks throughout the year. I believe the Gamecocks will be excited for this game and I’m not sure what the vibe will be for the Tar Heels. However, UNC played A&M really close in the Orange Bowl a year ago despite some key opt-outs. And Sam Howell is going to play in the game, which is big for Carolina. I’m not sure who will be under center for the Gamecocks as Jason Brown has entered the transfer portal, Luke Doty is hurt and Zeb Noland was hurt during the final few games but maybe will return? I can’t find much info anywhere on that situation. With this being Howell’s final game, I’ll take UNC here but I don’t feel great about it.
North Carolina 34 - South Carolina 24
The Waco Kid: A battle of the Carolinas. Everyone loves a good ol’ state to state rivalry especially between a state with the same name only separated by North and South. And just like the North and South, this is old-school vs new-school. Mack Brown vs. Shane Beamer, Sam Howell vs, one of the many South Carolina quarterbacks. And there will be blood boiling during this matchup and I personally love it. I don’t see a Gamecock offense that does not know who its leader will be, being able to topple Sam Howell and the Tar Heels. This game should serve as Howell’s swan song and will hopefully increase his stock draft going into the 2022 Draft.
South Carolina 12 - North Carolina 34
TransPerfect Music City Bowl: Tennessee vs Purdue
December 30 at 3:00 pm ET on ESPN (Tennessee -4)
Bossman Slim: Hopes are starting to get high in Knoxville, and rightly so. After a mass exodus to the portal after Jeremy Pruitt was fired, Josh Heupel took a depleted roster and put the SEC East on notice. After Tennessee traded Joe Milton’s rocket launcher for Hendon Hooker’s steady play, the Vols started to take off. Purdue had a solid year, finishing 8-4 and second in the Big 10 West. The Boilermakers lived up to their name as giant slayers again this year, taking down #2 Iowa and #3 Michigan State in the span of four weeks. I like where Tennessee is headed as a program, and Jeff Brohm has Purdue in a good place. I like what the Boilermakers have built, and I think it gives them the slight edge here.
Purdue 34 - Tennessee 33
The Hammer: Purdue’s best two players, wideout David Bell and edge rusher George Karlaftis have opted out for this game. Meanwhile, Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker will be playing and has announced he’ll return for one more year in Rocky Top, his sixth year of college football. Things are trending up in Knoxville and after a solid signing day showing, Josh Heupel will want this win to get to 8 wins in his first year and continue building momentum for next fall. Purdue slew a few “giants” this fall with upsets over Iowa and Michigan State, but without their two best players and how Tennessee was playing down the stretch, I don’t think the Boilermakers will be able to keep pace in this one.
Tennessee 45 - Purdue 28
The Waco Kid: Two words, one man, and a clear path to victory. With Hendon Hooker at the helm of this Tennessee offense, Purdue does not have a shot to even make this close. Sure the Boilermakers went 8-4 this season, which is a great stepping stone for the program but are they ready to hang with the SEC? I do not think they have hit that point quite yet. While on the flipside Josh Heupel seems to have fans thinking that the second coming of Robert Neyland has arrived. The Vols have looked impressive in the majority of their outings this season and have won big in multiple contests. Once the switch to Hooker was cemented, UT never looked back and continued to roll. They will continue to steamroll the competition through Bowl season.
Tennessee 56 - Purdue 35
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: #25 Texas A&M vs #17 Wake Forest
December 31 at 11:00 am ET on ESPN (Texas A&M - 5.5)
😢😢 Texas A&M is unable to play due to COVID cases in the program.
Outback Bowl: #21 Arkansas vs Penn State
January 1 at 12:00 pm ET on ESPN2 (Penn State -2.5)
Bossman Slim: This is going to be a great game. We saw a similar matchup early in the year between Auburn and Penn State, with Penn State besting the Tigers. I’m looking forward to seeing another mid-tier SEC West team go up against a mid-tier Big 10 East team. These two teams had similar seasons: starting the year off red hot before sputtering. Both programs are on an upward trajectory and should be a factor in their conferences for at least the next few years. These teams are evenly matched, and I’m looking forward to seeing who comes out on top. Razorbacks top WR Treylon Burks has opted out, and it’s unclear of top Penn State WR Jahan Dotson will play. Sad for college football fans, because Burks is a joy to watch. In the end, I think Sean Clifford’s experience plays a factor in this one as Penn State eeks out a win.
Penn State 28 - Arkansas 26
The Hammer: I’m pumped for this game. I think it’s one of the better matchups in bowl season. Penn State is a solid team that lost a bunch of very close games and was a different team after Sean Clifford got injured. Clifford will be back for this game and presumably more healthy than he’s been since September. For Arkansas, star wideout Treylon Burks declared for the NFL draft and opted out of this game, but the rest of the Razorback crew should be there. KJ Jefferson will have his hands full without his favorite target against a stout Nittany Lion defense. If Arkansas can run the ball, I like their chances here. Penn State’s star wide receiver Jahan Dotson’s status is unknown right now, as he has not publicly announced whether he will play or not, so for now I’ll just assume he plans to play. Given Penn State’s lack of run game, and the Hog’s propensity to drop 8 into coverage, I think Barry Odom and veteran Razorback defense will be up for the challenge. And Sam Pittman and Arkansas will be pumped for this game having missed out on bowl games for several years.
Arkansas 27 - Penn State 21
The Waco Kid: The Outback Bowl lucked out getting this matchup. This may be my favorite bowl game, team-wise, besides the Orange Bowl. Two historic powerhouses out of two of the top conferences in the nation. It doesn’t get any better than that. Neither team finished the year with the records they were hoping for but both won big-time games under the big-time lights. Arkansas knocked off a top-ranked Texas A&M team while Penn State took down a red-hot Auburn team. Both squads are well-coached and usually, I would take the more experienced head coach but in this one, I would like to see that damn jukebox turned up. KJ Jefferson will be leading a razorback offense that unfortunately will be down top playmaker Treylon Burks but still have enough firepower to keep up with the Nittany Lions. A win of this caliber could propel Woo pig to a whole new level with recruiting and expectations. Because they have more to gain, I am taking AU with a close win.
Arkansas 34 - Penn State 28
VRBO Citrus Bowl: #22 Kentucky vs #15 Iowa
January 1 at 1:00pm ET on ABC (Kentucky -2.5)
Bossman Slim: Iowa and Kentucky are similar states to me. Lots of agriculture, good, salt of the earth people, good food and proud history. However, only one has a proud football history, and that’s Iowa. Until Mark Stoops took over, the Kentucky football program had a few bright spots but was largely a doormat. Most Wildcats fans would watch a game or two during the fall waiting for the beginning of basketball season. No longer. The Wildcats are the real deal and put a product on the field the Bluegrass State can be proud of. This year, Kentucky was on the verge of a top 10 finish but faltered down the stretch. Iowa was poised for a run at the playoff before Purdue dashed those dreams. These two are evenly matched - which is the fun of bowl season: evenly matched out of conference opponents playing for made-up trophies. Kentucky will be without Josh Ali and Isaiah Epps, so the WRs will need to step up. Kentucky’s offense has struggled all year, which is why I like Iowa in this one.
Iowa 24 - Kentucky 21
The Hammer: Another great matchup here. I think both Kentucky and Iowa benefitted from playing in their conference’s weaker division, but credit these programs for winning a bunch of games this fall. Kirk Ferentz and Mark Stoops are both excellent coaches and maximize the talent they have on their rosters year in and year out. Both teams play tough and rarely beat themselves. The key in this game is simple: turnovers. When Iowa’s defense can force turnovers, which they are very good at, they usually win. When they don’t, the Hawkeyes look awful because their offense is putrid. Apologies to fullback Monte Pottebuam, who looks like an absolute baller in this video, but without advantageous short fields off turnovers, Iowa has not been able to score consistently all season. Will Levis and Kentucky’s offense have had their turnover issues, but I’m banking on them taking care of the ball in this one because why not. I think Kentucky can find some running room if they get Levis going on the ground and Wan’Dale Robinson is a matchup problem for any defense. Oh, and Chris Rodriguez is built for tough, physical games like this (as long he doesn't fumble which has been an issue). Give me the Wildcats in this one.
Kentucky 24 - Iowa 17
The Waco Kid: This will be a very slow game. These two teams are based on establishing the run and playing dominant defensive football. Great matchup but a bit of a boring one to watch. Both had their shot at top ten berths that were spoiled by teams that should not have beaten them. I don’t have much to say about this one but with the absence of two Wildcat receivers due to a car crash, I am going to have to go with Iowa and possibly skip watching this contest.
Kentucky 20 - Iowa 31
Allstate Sugar Bowl: #8 Ole Miss vs #7 Baylor
January 1 at 8:45 pm ET on ESPN (Ole Miss -2)
Bossman Slim: I’m stoked for this game. Ole Miss will be wearing some Houston Oilers-looking jersey’s and they are cleaaaan. As for the game, Matt Corral is definitely playing which is a huge boost for the RebOilers. Baylor had a remarkable year under second-year head coach Dave Aranda, winning the Big 12 over what looked like a playoff-bound Oklahoma State team. Baylor seems to have struck gold two coaches in a row since the Art Briles era ended in scandal and a near-death penalty for the program. Lane Kiffin and Jeff Lebby are offensive geniuses, and Dave Aranda is a stoic, hardass former DC who is one of the most respected defensive minds in the game. I. Can’t. Wait.
Give me the Rebels by a score, but it should come down to late in the 4th quarter.
Ole Miss 35 - Baylor 27
The Hammer: I don’t blame any player for opting out of bowl games. However, it’s awesome to see a guy like Matt Corral playing in the Sugar Bowl. This is a massive game for Ole Miss and Corral playing is great for the Rebels and college football fans. On the other side, Baylor is tough as nails and Dave Aranda can coach. The Bears are coming off a thrilling victory over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 title game, and starting QB Gerry Bohanon (great name) should be back under center for the Bears. Both teams should be at full strength and I am fascinated by the coaching matchup. Defensive guru Dave Aranda against offensive genius Lane Kiffin. The Rebels OC, Jeff Lebby, is leaving for Oklahoma but will still coach in this one, adding to the intrigue. Both teams exceeded expectations this year and coaching is a big reason for that. I think Aranda will have an excellent game plan for Ole Miss given the long preparation time, but I can’t bet against Matt Corral in his final game. He’s been so good all year, even when he was hampered with an ankle injury and what felt like the entire receiving room was injured for several games as well. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Baylor sneak up and win here, Aranda and his staff are that good, but I’m done betting against Corral and the Rebels. The X factor here is DJ Durkin and the Rebels defense against Baylor’s offense. That group showed tremendous improvement over the second half of the year and if they can create issues for Baylor up front and stop the run, Ole Miss could cruise.
Ole Miss 35 - Baylor 27
The Waco Kid: The Dave Aranda era has hit its stride at Baylor. Not only did they post an 11-2 record but they won the Big 12 Championship and were knocking on the College Football Playoff’s door. They ended up being left outside looking in but still, they improved leaps and bounds since the first year under the former LSU defensive coordinator. 2 wins to 2 losses is an incredible turnaround in only 12 months. The only thing that stands in their way of greatness is Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss and boy is that quite a roadblock. The Reb’s have a high-flying offense led by quarterback Matt Corral, who is actually playing in this big-time game even though he is set to be drafted in April 2022. Kudos to Corral and Kiffin because it is apparent the head coach has his players all in even when they do not have to be. This should be a heck of a matchup and an exciting Sugar Bowl to watch. The last few January bowl games the Bears have participated in have not gone well for the team from Waco and I expect they may fall down the same path this year. They may call me the Waco Kid but I have no allegiance to Baylor and especially not the Big 12 so on January 1st I will be rooting for the Powder Blue and the SEC.
Ole Miss 52 - Baylor 31
And now for the CFP…
Goodyear Cotton Bowl: #1 Alabama vs #4 Cincinnati
December 31 at 3:30 pm ET on ESPN (Alabama -14)
Bossman Slim: Cincinnati is going to stomp Alabama. I’m serious…hahaha no, I’m not serious. Now that I have your attention though, here’s my real prediction: Alabama rolls to a big win, making future committees rethink whether they ever let a group of 5 team into the playoffs ever again. Before the Alabama-Georgia SEC title game, I might have given Cincinnati a chance if they had been matched up against a team like Oklahoma State. Instead, the Tide thrashed one of the best defenses in recent memory and look like they could capture another Natty for Nick Saban. Desmond Ridder is a good QB. Luke Fickell can coach. The Notre Dame win in South Bend was a great feather in the cap. Doesn’t matter. Alabama has Bryce Young, ridiculous talent all over the field, and they’re hitting their stride late in the year…which makes this Bama team as scary as any we’ve seen. This one is over by the 3rd quarter. Tide, big.
Alabama 41 - Cincinnati 24
The Hammer: The last time we saw both of these teams, they were cruising to conference championships. Cincinnati soundly defeated Houston 35-20 and of course, Alabama defeated #1 Georgia 41-24 in Atlanta. I have no issue with Cincinnati making the playoff, they are a good team and earned their spot in the CFP. But they ain’t beating Alabama. If the Bearcats played in a Power 5 league, I don’t think they’d be unbeaten and would probably have lost multiple games. That’s not their fault, they can only play who is on their schedule, but it’s reality and that will come home to roost against the Crimson Tide. The John Metchie injury is tough news for Alabama, and you hate to see it for Metchie, but Bryce Young is playing so well right now that Alabama’s offense will be fine. I know Cincy has some very good corners, but no one can guard Jameson Williams right now. On the other side of the ball, look for Will Anderson to have a huge game. He’s been unblockable all year and I don’t see Cincinnati being able to contain him, especially if they get behind early and are put into obvious passing situations. Cincy must start fast if they have any chance here. You’d be a fool to bet against Nick Saban though so I see the Group of 5 underdog story coming to an end here, and who better to finish it but the almighty Alabama Crimson Tide.
Alabama 38 - Cincinnati 20
The Waco Kid: No shot for Cincinnati. The Group of 5 finally got their wish and were given a pity invitation to play at the big table. Now we all get to see how this one unfolds and why the complaints on a year-to-year basis are invalid and hopefully we can see these arguments disappear into obscurity going forward. Yes, the Bearcats went undefeated but also only beat Navy by 7 points and Tulsa by 8. That does not bode well for a team that is about to play their biggest bowl game against Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. They are no Navy or Tulsa, in fact, if that is the same team that shows up to the Cotton Bowl, this game will be over by the end of the first. Desmond Ridder has continued to prove he is tough and can will his team to a win. But stacked against Heisman winner Bryce Young and an offense that can score at will means the Red and Black will need to put up points fast. Unfortunately, they may be playing the best defense they have seen all year so this will be no easy task. There will be no repeat of last year’s Sugar Bowl, this will not be close and the most Cincy can take away from this one is a sense of pride. Young and Jameson Williams should put together three touchdowns through the air and 21 points is more than enough needed to ensure a win. The Tide rolls and they roll big.
Alabama 49 - Cincinnati 13
Capital One Orange Bowl: #3 Georgia vs #2 Michigan
December 31 7:30 pm ET on ESPN (Georgia -9)
Bossman Slim: This one should be some fun, old-school low-scoring football. Michigan is resurgent but Georgia is dominant. Until the SEC Championship, it looked like the Dawgs would skate to their first national title since 1980. And then they met a lone desperado named Nick Saban, a man who takes prisoners - namely, former assistant coaches. The question that has been looming over this UGA program since early in the season is one that remains: Can Stetson Bennett be the QB that leads the Dawgs to the title? It seems that Kirby has decided to live and die by Tombstone Bennett, and he will have to in the Michigan game as it looks like JT Daniels will be unavailable due to COVID. Michigan is a solid team and will be in this game until the end, but the Georgia defense will be angry and hungry for redemption, and one more shot at the Tide.
Georgia 27 - Michigan 20
The Hammer: What a matchup we have here. Plenty of CFP semifinal games have been blowouts but that won’t happen in this one. Both of these teams have a clear identity and play with serious physicality. They want to run the ball and play sound defense. So this one comes down to who can impose their will more than their opponent? Who will win more one-on-one battles inside? My gut says Georgia. I mean did y’all really think I would pick a Big 10 team over Georgia? I have principles, people. No one has been able to run on the Dawgs all year so despite how effective the Wolverines have been on the ground, the key to beating Georgia is through the air. I don’t have enough faith in Cade McNamara and the Michigan wideouts to get it done. No offense to those guys, but there’s no Bryce Young and Jameson Williams suiting up in maize and blue. For the Georgia offense, it’s going to be interesting to see how they play this one because I don’t think they’ll be able to run the ball very well either. Michigan is great in run defense and they’ll be selling out to try and make Stetson “Tombstone” Bennett beat them through the air. Keep an eye out for George Pickens here as he could make a few key plays downfield. But more importantly, Brock Bowers is a man among boys out there at tight end. I think Bowers has a big game and is the key to Georgia pulling out a close one here. Both Kirby and Harbaugh have been labeled as coaches who can’t win the big one, fair or not. A win here would be huge for both coaches, I just don’t see Michigan scoring enough to get a win.
Georgia 20 - Michigan 17
The Waco Kid: This is a heck of a matchup. Georgia vs. Michigan is a wet dream come true for any CFP committee member and it just fell into their lap. These are two massive programs with a huge fan base looking to take that next step for their program. The Dawgs have been hanging around the top of the stairs for a while now but it seems Big Blue has finally made an appearance. To start we found out Georgia’s JT Daniels has tested positive for Covid and will be unable to make an appearance in the Orange Bowl. Luckily, Smart’s team has become accustomed to playing without him and will start Stetson Bennett once again in his place. The Athens boys have been playing defense at an extremely high level outside of their meeting with Bama. They will get back on track against Michigan and will be a nightmare for Jim Harbaugh’s offense. The Jim Reaper will be back in full force and will ultimately lose this game to Kirby Smart. I would like to see a close game but I do not expect it. I expect that nasty Dawg defense to hold UM’s offense to under 10 points and for Bennett and the trio of running backs to put at least 21 on the Blue and Yellow. Go Dawgs.
Georgia 38 - Michigan 10