The tour makes its annual trip to Phoenix this week for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The 16th hole at the Waste Management is a spectacle. Like an Alabama-Auburn game, a perfect tourney for Super Bowl Sunday with all the electricity of that hole providing a great precursor to the Patriots-Rams in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The defending champion is Gary Woodland who shot -18 last year and won in a playoff over Chez Revie. Last week, world number 1 Justin Rose cemented his spot with a huge victory at Torrey Pines in the Farmers Insurance Open, finishing -21, 2 shots clear of Adam Scott. Rose is phenomenal right now. I thought his change in equipment might cause him some issues early, but he looks to be in midseason form. Rose, world number 2 Brooks Koepka, world number 3 Dustin Johnson, and world number 5 Bryson DeChambeau are in Saudi Arabia this week for the first ever Saudi International. Should be a fantastic tournament there as well.

This field is pretty outstanding at Phoenix, too. 3 of the top 7 players in the world, Justin Thomas (4), Jon Rahm (6) and Xander Schauffele (7) are all playing. Rickie Fowler (14) and Phil (29) are both playing as well. Phil has won in Phoenix 3 times.

Also of note, this will be Johnny Miller’s last NBC golf broadcast of his career this weekend. Hate to see Johnny hang it up, he’s been a spectacular voice of the game, but he’s 71 and ready to spend more time with his kids and grandkids. He’ll be missed. Paul Azinger will take over in the booth. Paul is good, too, so it should be a pretty good transition, though it’s hard to replace Johnny. Johnny will finish up on Saturday afternoon as the network will focus on who wins the tournament on Sunday. Saturday should be interesting and pretty moving to watch. Johnny’s has been a legend in the game, both as a player and as a broadcaster. Will never forget his 63 at Oakmont on Sunday at the 1973 U.S. Open. It was historic stuff. His commentating has been just as memorable.

TV

Thursday-Friday, Golf Channel, 2-6 PM CT; Saturday-Sunday, GC, 12-2 PM CT, NBC, 2-5 PM CT.

Weather looks pretty good overall. Sunny tomorrow, 75; Friday and Saturday chances for rain, Sunday, 65 partly sunny. Wind anywhere from 5-8 MPH.

Of course, at TPC Scottsdale (7,261 yards, par 71) the 162 yard par 3 16th hole is a spectacular sports setting. The Stadium hole features 20,000 rowdy patrons cheering on every good shot and booing every not so good shot. Players throw footballs to the crowd, they wear jerseys of their favorite teams and high five, fist bump, shoulder bump, they do it all on the 16th. It’s terrific entertainment. The hole is kind of straight forward. There is a pretty wide green and the player needs to carry the waste area in front. There is sand on the left and a run off on the right. A lot of pressure. Maybe not as much as the 17th at TPC Sawgrass,, but certainly pressure to produce on this hole for the players. Should be classic on Saturday and particularly on Sunday with the tournament on the line. The 17th is a birdie and potential eagle hole. The hole is 332 yards and a par 4. The players need to avoid a waste area and a couple of bunkers when taking a rip at this hole. In 2001, Andrew Magee gained notoriety when, after carding a double on 16, he impatiently teed off on 17. His ball ran up to the green banked off a player, Tom Byrum’s, putter, and rolled 8 feet before going in the hole. So players will be going for this green particularly if their tournament hopes are on the line. The 18th is a par 4, 438 yards and has a lake running from the front of the tee box and consuming the entire left side of the hole. Deciding how much lake to cut off when driving is a critical decision for the players because a draw will put you in the water and a cut that doesn’t cut enough could be wet as well. There are bunkers on each side of the fairway, so playing up the right side can be tricky as well. The sand can save a player if he’s too close to the water on the left side. If the player navigates his drive well, the second shot is a lot less challenging though there’ll be plenty of pressure on Sunday, so that’ll make it compelling.

Winner

I’m pretty bullish on Justin Thomas. Jon Rahm, Phil, and Xander Schauffele this week, but I’m going to take the 2016 and 2017 back to back winner. He also shot 67 last Sunday at Torrey Pines to finish tied for 3rd at the Farmers. I’ll take the 26 year old from Matsuayama Ehime, Japan.

Hideki Matsuyama

Winner at the Saudi International,

Coverage Sunday, 3:30-8 AM CT on the Golf Channel. A little early, but may catch the last 5 or 6 holes.

A friend of mine asked me today who I thought is this year’s and the coming years’ Brooks Koepka, a guy who’ll light it up. It was ironic he asked that because the Golf Channel had just discussed who will be the best player in the next 5 years between Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. I’ll take the winner of 5 tournaments in the last 2 years (John Deere Classic in 2017, Memorial, Northern Trust, Dell Technologies Championship, and the Shriners Hospitals for ChildrenI in 2018) ’ll go with the 25 year old from Modesto, California by way of SMU, who won last week at the Dubai Desert Classic, and I like him to win again this week in Saudi Arabia.

Bryson DeChambeau

A while back, I was drug to a Sting concert in Chicago. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Chicago, but was not as keen on seeing Stung perform. Sting’s fine, just not my favorite. But the opening act was Tracy Chapman. She rocked. Here’s the great Tracy with rock icon Eric Clapton jamming in 1999.

Farmers Insurance Open

Torrey Pines Golf Club, San Diego

South Course, 7,698 yards, Par 72, North Course (will be played on Thursday and Friday) 7,258, par 72

Defending champion: Jason Day. Defeated Thomas Bjorn in a Monday playoff finish winning on the first playoff hole with a birdie.

Last week: Adam Long, a 31 year old former Duke player, shot 65 on Sunday and sank a 13 foot birdie putt on 18 to defeat Phil Mickelson and Adam Hadwin at the Desert Classic in La Quinta, CA. Pretty dramatic stuff from a player who had never won on the European, the Latin American or the Web.com tours. Amazing stuff..

Weather: Perfect, low to mid 70’s all weekend and sunny. Tough life for these PGA players this week.

TV: Thursday-Friday, Golf Channel, 2-6 PM CT; Saturday, GC, 12-1:45 PM CT, CBS, 2-5 PM CT; Sunday, Golf Channel, 12-1:45 PM CT, CBS, 2-5 PM CT.

The key holes are 13, and 16-18. No. 13 is a 614 par 5, in which you have to drive it 240 yards to carry the canyon and the Pacific. Not a huge challenge for the players, but some pressure. If the players decide to go for it in 2, they’ll need to carry it 260 yards as the green is elevated and protected by bunkers and rough in front. No. 16 is a 223 yard par 3. There are 3 bunkers on the left and a big bunker on the right surrounding the green. The wind will play a factor on this hole as the front is open but club selection will be important against a prevailing breeze. The winds will be 5-8 all weekend, so not a huge factor, but enough of a factor to get the players thinking carefully about what club to employ. No. 17 is a 442 yard par 4. Trees line both sides of the fairway off the tee. There is a bunker on the front right and the front left. Tiger Woods dramatically sank a bunker shot from the front left bunker in 2008 on the Saturday of his U.S. Open playoff victory over Rocco Mediate. He went on to eagle 18 from 30 feet that round. No. 18 is quite a famous hole on tour. It’s a 570 yard par 5. There are bunkers on both sides of the fairway off the tee. Players like to go for it if possible, but they have to clear the lake in front of the green. There have been some disasters like Bjorn’s second shot in his playoff last year with Day in which he seemingly had cleared the lake by a couple of feet only to have it bounce back in the water and ruin his chance of winning. Kyle Stanley had a colossal breakdown on 18 in 2012, triple bogeying the hole allowing Brandt Snedeker to win the tournament. Of course, Tiger birdied it in the 2008 U.S. to force an 18 hole playoff with Mediate on Monday which he won. Classic finishing hole.

Tiger Woods has won at Torrey 8 times including the U.S. in 2008. He won this event 4 straight years from 2005-08. He’s got momentum in a sense after winning the Tour Championship to close out the 207-18 season, but he hasn’t played a lot of competitive golf since, so there could be rust.

Super field with Woods, Day, who also won it in 2015, 2017 champion Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Rory, Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose, Patrick Reed, 2012 and ‘16 champion Snedeker and Adam Scott.

Winner

I was thinking Rahm, Reed or Rose, but I’m going with the 38 year old, 9 time PGA Tour champion and 2 time winner here. I’ll take my man from Vanderbilt University.

Brandt Snedeker

In a complicated world sometimes, this is a nice “easy” song.

The Saints, Rams, Patriots and Chiefs clash tomorrow with the winners earning a trip to Super Bowl 53 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on February 3 at approximately 5:30 PM CT. Gladys Knight will sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. I wish she’d add Midnight Train to Georgia right afterwards. Maroon 5 will perform at halftime. So good acts, hopefully good commercials and great football.

But first, we have to find out which 2 teams will advance. The Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints have identical records at 14-3. They played in the regular season at the Superdome with the Saints winning, 45-35. The home field is huge in these championships as both teams feature 2 of the best 3 home fields in football along with the Seattle Seahawks. Arrowhead Stadium registers around 3.0 on the Richter Scale at times, good for a minor earthquake. The Superdome can get just a loud with fans streaming in from the Quarter to pull on their beloved Saints. The Patriots and Chiefs met in the regular season with Tom Brady just outlasting the sensational Patrick Mahomes, 43-40. So these 4 teams matchup extremely well competitively, and should provide an electric Sunday afternoon and evening.

Here’s a look at both games along with predictions for which teams will advance to Super Bowl LIII.

Last week: 2-2

Overall: 4-4

Los Angeles Rams (13-4) @ New Orleans Saints (13-4)

Mercedes-Benz Superdome, 74,295

2:05 PM CT

FOX

Joe, Troy, Erin, Chris Myers

Laundry, Bill Vinovich

Saints by 3

If it wasn’t for Patrick Mahomes’ terrific season, Drew Brees would win the Most Valuable Player Award in the NFL. Brees has been phenomenal completing 364 of 489 passes, 74%, for 3,992 yards, 32 TDs against just 5 ints. At 40 years old, he just turned 40 on Tuesday, Brees is drinking from the same fountain of youth that 41 year old Tom Brady is drinking from. Both play like 25 year olds with the wisdom of 40 year olds. He’s got some serious weapons in his arsenal. Michael Thomas has 125 receptions for 1,405 yards and 9 TDs. The great Alvin Kamara has rushed for 883 yards and 14 TDs, and caught 81 passes for 709 yards and 4 TDs. Mark Ingram adds 645 yards and 6 more TDs. And there are other receivers who have developed as Tre’Quan Smith has 28 receptions for 427 yards and 5 TDs. Keith Kirkwood has come on lately with 13 receptions for 209 yards and 2 TDs. And Ted Ginn, who battled injuries this season, caught 17 passes for 209 yards and 2 TDs. Ginn is the deep threat many times. He runs like a gazelle. The Saints defense is led by linebacker Demario Davis, who has posted 110 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. The secondary is excellent led by superstar corner Marshon Lattimore, who has 4 ints on the season. Will Lutz is a tremendous kicker converting on 28 of 30 field goals this season.

For the Rams, the offense is electric as well. Quarterback Jared Goff has completed 364 of 561 passes, 65%, for 4,688 yards, 32 TDs against 12 ints. If Goff has time, he can be extremely effective. The great Todd Gurley, another candidate for the MVP, has rushed for 1,251 yards and 17 TDs. C.J. Anderson came in late this season as he was picked up off waivers and rushed for 299 yards and 2 TDs. Anderson rushed for 123 yards last week against the Cowboys along with 2 TDs in a 30-22 victory. Gurley added 115 yards and another 7. Gurley also has 59 receptions for 580 yards and 4 TDs. Robert Woods leads the Rams in receiving with 86 receptions for 1,219 yards and 6 TDs. The explosive Brandin Cooks, a former Saint, has 80 receptions for 1,204 yards and 5 TDs. On defense, another MVP candidate, defensive tackle Aaron Donald, leads the NFL with 20 1/2 sacks. He’s a sacking machine. Linebacker Corey Littleton leads the defense in tackles with 125. Strong safety John Johnson adds 119. Johnson also leads the team in interceptions with 4. Cornerback Marcus Peters has 3 ints for 107 yards and has taken one back for a house call. With Peters and Aquib Talib, the Rams feature 2 of the best corners in the NFL, though the Saints have a say in that too with Lattimore and Eli Apple. Kicker Greg Zuerlein has converted 27 of 31 field goal attempts.

Final Analysis and Decision

These 2 teams are evenly matched in explosive playmakers, so there should be a ton of electricity in the Superdome. I really like the Saints home field. I like Drew and the Saints to advance behind a passionate crowd in the Crescent City.

Saints 34, Rams 30

New England Patriots (12-5) @ Kansas City Chiefs (13-4)

Arrowhead Stadium, 76,416

5:40 PM CT

CBS

Jim, Tony, Trace, Evan Washburn, Jay Feely

Suds and Duds, Clete Blakeman

Chiefs by 3

It’s going to be brisk in KC with temperature at kickoff at 25 with the real feel 14. The wind will be 13 and 10 in the first half, but then will settle down to 8 and 6 in the second half. This is a matchup of the all time standard for quarterback play in Tom Brady versus a superstar newcomer in Patrick Mahomes.

For the Patriots, Brady is 375 of 570, 66%, for 4,355 yards, 29 TDs against 11 ints. Some people said during the season that Brady had lost a step, and he has thrown more interceptions than usual, but last week against the LA Chargers he was 34 of 44 for 343 yards, 1 TD and 0 ints in the Patriots 41-28 victory, which they led 35-7 at halftime and gave up some late TDs when it didn’t matter. He kind of put that myth to rest. Sony Michel has been terrific in his rookie season. As the last player drafted in the first round last April by the Patriots, I thought he was the best player picked in the first round and a steal for Bill Belichick. He’s rushed for 931 yards and 6 TDs and added 129 yards and 3 TDs on the ground last Sunday against the Chargers. James White is a valuable RB as well, especially in the receiving department. White has caught 87 passes for 751 yards and 7 TDs. White caught 15 passes for 97 yards last Sunday. Julian Eddleman adds 74 receptions for 850 yards and 6 TDs and grabbed 9 for 151 last Sunday. The great Rob Gronkoski has been accused of losing a step, and his numbers are down as he has 47 receptions for 682 yards and 3 TDs. But he still can be a force and could be a major weapon tomorrow. Phillip Dorsett is also an excellent receiver with 32 receptions for 290 yards and 3 TDs. Another weapon in the arsenal is Chris Hogan who corralled 35 passes for 532 yards and 3 TDs. On defense, linebacker Kyle Van Noy leads the Patriots in tackles with 92. Defensive end Trey Flowers has 7 1/2 sacks on the season. Former University of Alabama star Dont’a Hightower has 48 tackles and an int for a 27 yard house call. Duron Harmon leads the defense in ints with 4. The Patriots have amassed 18 interceptions this season. The Patriots were 4th in the league in scoring defense giving up 22.3 points per game. Stephen Gostkowski is a reliable veteran who has converted 27 of 32 field goals.

For KC, Mahomes has completed 383 of 580 passes for 5,097 yards, 50 TDs against 12 ints. He’s been spectacular and can throw on the run with accuracy better than any quarterback I’ve ever seen . Damien Williams has come on at running back after the Chiefs released Kareem Hunt who was accused of having committed an assault on a woman. Williams has been spectacular rushing for 256 yards in 4 games and 4 TDs. Against Indianapolis last Saturday, Williams rushed for 129 yards and a TD. Spencer Ware added 246 yards and a pair of 7’s. Their phenomenal tight end, Travis Kelce, posted 103 receptions on the season for 1,336 yards and 10 TDs. Kelce is a game changer at tight end. The explosive Tyreek Hill posted 87 receptions for 1,479 yards and 12 TDs. He’s a house call waiting to happen every time he touches the ball. Sammy Watkins has come into his own again this season. Watkins posted 40 receptions for 519 yards and 3 TDs. Chris Conley, the former University of Georgia great, pulled in 32 passes for 334 yards and 5 TDs.

The Chiefs defense really stepped up against the Colts in a 31-13 victory. Awesome linebacker Justin Houston had 2 sacks and 2 tackles for loss in the victory. Former Auburn great Dee Ford had a sack and 2 tackles for loss. Andrew Luck never had a chance. Linebacker Anthony Hitchens leads the team in tackles with 135. Defensive end Chris Jones leads the defense in sacks with 15 1/2. Ford has 13 and Houston has 9. KC has 15 ints on the season led by cornerback Steven Nelson, who has 4. Jones has an int he’s taken back to the house for 20 yards. KC is 24th in scoring defense allowing 26.3 per game. That’s quite a difference from the Patriots though the Patriots did give up 40 to Mahomes and the offense in the regular season at Foxborough. Kicker Harrison Butker has converted 24 of 27 kicks. Like the other 3, he’s pretty reliable, though I like Lutz of New Orleans the best.

Final Analysis and Decision

I’m going to take an upset here, though it’s hard to call Brady and the Patriots defeating anybody as an upset. The Patriots advance to Super Bowl LIII.

Patriots 35, Chiefs 31

La Quinta California hosts the 60th Desert Classic on the PGA Tour this week. It’s been raining a good bit in California, but the rain is supposed to subside tomorrow afternoon and the temperature will be in the low 70’s and sunny Friday through Sunday.

Jon Rahm is the defending champion. He shot 62-67-70-67 to outlast Andrew Landry in a playoff last year. Last week’s winner on tour was Matt Kuchar, who was victorious at the Sony Open in Hawaii shooting -22 to win by 4 shots over Andrew Putnam. Kuchar also won the Mayakoba Classic in early November. He has 15 victories in his career. The 40 year old said after the Sony victory that “40 is the new 20.” It does seem pretty young and it looks like some of the 40 year olds can hang with the young guns on the tour.

The winner 2 weeks ago at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Maui was Xander Schauffele.

World No.1 Justin Rose is in the field and he’s changed clubs, at least 10 of them. He signed a contract with Honma, a Japanese club manufacturer, to use a “10 club” deal. He will still use his Taylor Made driver and will keep his putter. He’s also got Henrik Stenson’a caddie on his bag as his regular caddie, Mark Fulcher, is having heart surgery. Garreth Lord will be on Rose’s bag. He and Stenson are taking a break from each other. I don’t really get why a No.1 player in the world, who won the Fed Ex Cup in 2018, would switch clubs. The last player to do that was Rory when he switched to Nike Clubs in 2013 and that was disastrous. So I don’t like Rose’s chances this week and I’m not sure he’ll figure it out before Augusta National. It’s a questionable decision.

Jordan Spieth seems like he’s fallen off the edge of the Earth. His game has digressed significantly since his victory at the Open Championship in 2017. Last year at the Open Championship, he seemed on edge, and frankly, arrogant. That attitude continued into the PGA Championship and in the Ryder Cup and it’s gotten him nowhere except below average results. I don’t know what’s cookin in Spieth’s head, but he needs to turn around his attitude if he wants to be successful again. He got married recently so that should help him. He’s got 3 majors, the Masters and U.S. Open in 2015 and the Open Championship in 2017. Needs to get his attitude back together and become a classy guy again like he had been before last season’s meltdown.

The Desert Classic in La Quinta, California starts the California Leg of the tour. Next week the players will be at famed Torrey Pines for the Farmers Insurance Open. Should be a top flight field for that. Jason Day is the defending champion. The TPC Stadium at PGA West course hosts this week. It’s 7,113 yards, and a par 72. It’s a Pete Dye design and features a lot of sand and a lot of water. No.’s 9, 17 and 18 stick out to me.

No.9 is a 452 yard par 4 and the No.1 handicap hole on the course. It’s a slight dogleg left to right. There is trouble off to the left off the tee and a large sand trap on the right. The better play is to favor the left side of the fairway as there is also water on the right. The green is guarded by bunkers to the right and left and in back and there is water to the right. The green breaks back to front and left to right. No. 17 looks very similar to the Island Hole at TPC Sawgrass, home to the Players Championship which will be played in March this year as the PGA Championship will be played in May and the Fed Ex playoffs will finish up at the end of August so as not to conflict with college and pro football. The focus can be on golf for all of the summer months. No.17 is an island hole with water surrounding the green on all sides. You can’t miss right, left, short or long or you’re in the water and staring at a possible double. Could lose the tournament here. No. 18 is the No.2 handicap hole, a 439 yard par 4, that has water on the entire left side of the hole and sand covering the right side. There are 4 sand traps on the right side with one pretty large one the furtherest from the tee. The approach needs to be to the right hand side of the hole with water covering the left side. There is more bail out on the right. The scores are usually low here, but it’s a challenging course that can eat the player’s lunch on some holes if he’s not focused.

Winner

There’s a highly competitive field this week for the tournament. The stars in the tourney are Rose, Phil Mickelson, Zach Johnson and Rahm. It’s a pro-am so they’ll also play the Nicklaus Tournament Course (7,159/72) and La Quinta Country Club course (7,060/72) as well. The players competing on Sunday will be at the Stadium Course though. All 4 of those guys I mentioned above are contenders though I’m not sure how great Rose will be. I’m going to take somebody else though. This guy won here in 2017, and he finished tied for 3rd last week at the Sony shooting a 64 on Sunday. I’ll take the 31 year old from Tallahassee, Florida by way of the University of Georgia.

Hudson Swofford

Astra Sharma fell just a little short at the Australian Open, falling to Greece’s Maria Sikkari, 1-6,4-6, in the second round. Still an awesome showing by Astra getting through 3 rounds of qualifying and defeating 3 talented Russian players and winning her first match over Priscilla Hon of Australia in 3 sets. The 23 year old was in her first major and there are a lot of tournaments left which she can do well in and then qualify for the second Slam of the year, the French Open, in May. Awesome stuff from AS. Will keep you posted on her progress. I will talk to Geoff McDonald soon on Astra and his 2019 team, which looks very promising.

Also, basketball in action tonight facing South Carolina, which is 3-0 in SEC play. We’re now 0-3 and 9-7. We need to turn it around starting tonght. 6 PM CT on the SEC Network. We lost a lot when Darius Garland went down with a torn meniscus, losing Darius for the year. But we’ve got good talent that is still learning to play together and get the chemistry right. Tonight would be a great start to turning this season around. Know Bryce is doing everything possible to get this team to start playing good basketball. He’s got 2 signees and a commit for the 2019 class. We have 2, 4 star signees, 6’8″ power forward Dylan Disu of Pflugerville, Texas and 6’5″ shooting guard Austin Crowley of Wichita, Kansas. Both are having excellent senior seasons. We got a commit from high 3 star Scotty Pippen, THE Scottie Pippen’s son. Scotty Jr is a 6’0 point guard and a high 3 star, who could become a 4 star before the season is over. He’s a terrific player. So a lot to be optimistic about with most all of our players returning next season. Just need to get it crankin this year. I know with Saben, Simi, Joe Toye, Maxwell Evans, Aaron Nesmith, etc we have the talent to turn it around. Big game tonight. Will have a report tomorrow. Need to get it done at home tonight. Hope we have a big crowd because this team CAN turn it around.

VU baseball looks electric. We are ranked No.1 in the country in the D-1 Baseball preseason poll. We are No.2 by Collegiate Baseball and No.3 by Perfect Game. I don’t know about you, but I believe the D1 poll is the most accurate assessment of this team. With Austin Martin, Stephen Scott, Ethan Paul, JJ Bleday, Pat DeMarco, Philip Clarke and many other bats and gloves to go along with a massive amount of arms, there is a lot to be excited about with this baseball team. Interviewing Corbs next Monday. Will have that interview next Tuesday on the blog.

Football signed 19 players in the 2019 class and Coach Mason is looking for more. We got size and athleticism in this class. Very good class to back up an outstanding 2018 class. We also got graduate transfer quarterback Riley Neal from Bowling Green who put up some excellent numbers last season. He’ll join the Deuce, Deuce Wallace, who is back, along with talented redshirt freshman Allan Walters and talented incoming freshman Jamil Muhammad in the quarterback competition this spring. We have good options to replace Kyle, who should be drafted in the April NFL draft and should have a very good carer in the National Football League along with Joejuan Williams who declared for the draft after his junior sesaon. We have some other seniors like Jordan Griffin, Dare Odeyinbo, Justin Skule, Bruno Reagan and Josh Smith, who can make it to the next level. So it’ll be exciting to watch our guys’ progress.

I like the pieces we have returning for 2019. Ke’Shawn Vaughn is returning. The Mamba is primed for a huge season next year. Jared Pinkney is coming back at tight end, which is huge news. So is Kalija Lipscomb.  Our offense could be electric. Coach Mason will be hiring a new offensive coordinator as Coach Andy Ludwig took the offensive coordinator job at Utah. It’s a great opportunity to open the offense up with so many tremendous athletes. We’ve got the pieces in place to have a good defense on all 3 levels. A lot of good players in the secondary, d line will be stronger. Need to fill Jordan Griffin’s and Josh Smith’s positions at linebacker, but we’ve got talent led by 2018 high 4 star Alston Orji. So 2019 looks riveting for the team. The SEC is not getting any easier, but we’re getting better. Open with Georgia at home, which is tough, but we’ve got a shot with a lot of hard work in the weight room with Coach James Dobson and then in spring and fall drills. Like the team we have returning.

Will have the rundown on our 2019 class coming up in the next week or so. Sorry I’m late getting this out. Been kind of jammed up during the bowl season and NFL playoffs, along with some other stuff. Will get it out soon with complete breakdown of each player.

Also, baseball interview coming up with Corbs, football signee breakdown, interview with Geoff McDonald on his 2019 women’s tennis team, Men’s Golf preview with the great Scott Limbaugh, and Women’s Golf looks very exciting. Will check in on that. Men’s tennis, which looks promising as well, I’ll check in on them. So a lot to discuss.

‘Great effort by Astra, will keep you posted on her progress as she matriculates towards the season’s next slam, the French. Basketball in a key game tonight.

Astra Sharma will take the court at approximately 8 PM CT to face Maria Sakkari of Greece in the second round of the Australian Open in what promises to be a riveting match between 2 power players. ESPN2 will have coverage, but ESPN+ may be the best bet to watch Astra’s match in its entirety. The match will be played on Show Court 3 in Melbourne.

I caught up with Vanderbilt Women’s Tennis Coach Geoff McDonald and we discussed Astra’s journey to reach this penultimate point in her tennis career so far. Geoff also previewed tonight’s match with Sakkari, the 43rd ranked player in the world. Sakarri is 23, has been on the tour since 2015, and is a powerfully built player. She is a powerlifter. But Astra has strong strokes too and looks to be a more consistent player with her ground strokes. So this should be a classic.

Here’s my interview with Geoff.

DW: Tell me how Astra got to this point.

GM: Astra came into the summer ranked 230 in the world and is now 96. In the first round of qualifying she drew the No.1` seed, Vera Zdonereva of Russia. Vera is 34 and is making a comeback. She made the Wimbledon final at one point in her career. Astra defeated her 6-3, 6-2. Then Astra played another good Russian, Vavara Fink, and defeated her 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. In the final round she faced another Russian and won 5-7, 7-6 (11-9) and 7-6 (12-10). Astra was down 0-1, 1-2, 2-3 and 5-6 in the match and kept fighting back. It was an unbelievable effort.

DW: Astra’s victory over Priscilla Hon in the first round was quite exciting as well. (She won in 3 sets)

GM: Hon is a really good player. Astra was down break point 13 times and won 10 of them. It was an awesome effort.

DW: Tell me about Sakkari, tonight’s opponent?

GM: She is powerful. She could play outside linebacker for the Dores. She’s a power lifter. She hits the cover off the ball. If Astra can mix it up well with her she’s got a shot.

DW: What does this say about Astra and her abilities?

GM: She is such a hard worker and such a charismatic young lady. She just oozes charisma. She’ll have a lot of Australians cheering for her tonight (Astra is a Perth, Australia native). This is huge for her family and for her and the Vanderbilt tennis community. Top players are looking at Astra and see this as a place where they can develop their games and take it to the next level. It’s just awesome stuff for Astra, her family and the Vanderbilt tennis community.

Astra on court 3 tonight around 8 PM. It’ll be sensational watching our dedicated player home in on advancing against a top flight opponent. Here’s Astra’s press conference from Monday after her victory over Priscilla Won.

The fortnight in Melbourne Australia for playing of the 107th Australian Open begins tomorrow night at 6 PM CT on ESPN2. ESPN2 will provide coverage for the Open up through the women’s semifinals on Wednesday, January 23rd @ 9 PM CT.

ESPN will cover the men’s first semifinal on Thursday, Jan. 24th at 2:30 AM CT, and the second semifinal on Friday, 1-25 at 2:30 AM CT. ESPN will also carry the women’s final on Saturday, January, 26th at 2:30 AM CT and then will broadcast the men’s final Sunday, 1-27, at 2:30 AM CT.

So who’ll win in Melbourne where temperatures on Monday and Tuesday will be 99 and 93 on Wednesday before cooling off for the rest of the fortnight, at least that is what is predicted. So early rounds will be a battle of endurance, will and survival for the men and women on the hard courts.

I like the way Naomi Osaka defeated Serena in that controversial U.S. Open final last September. She was booed loudly in a classless manner by the New York City fans after her victory over Serena who had exploded during the match at an official who had accused her of looking at her coaching box for coaching. Players have been warned repeatedly about this and Serena was looking at her box, so the call was made. The fans took Serena’s side though she acting very classless and out of control, not becoming of a female tennis player. It was typical Serena bad behavior yet Osaka controlled the emotions and was iron. I really like this 21 year old from Japan to excel on tour this year and in the future. She plays like a younger Serena and could dominate in years to come. But I do like Serena to emerge in the top half of the women’s draw, however I’m picking her to fall in the final to Angelique Kerber of Germany.

Kerber over Serena 7-5, 4-6, 6-3

Sleeper, Osaka

She’s got the strokes to be elite. She has felt a lot of pressure since winning the U.S. but I see her stepping up in Melbourne.

Men

On the men’s side, it’s hard to pick against Novak Djokovic. I like Novak to play Roger in the finals on January 27th and hoist his 7th Australian Open title trophy and his 15th all time major. He’s creeping up on Rafa, who has 18, and Fed, who has 20. Fed is 37 years old, and Rafa and Djoker are 31.

Djoker over Federer, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3

Sleeper, Kei Nishikori

I like the 29 year old Japanese player to have a shot. He just won at Brisbane a couple of weeks ago, and is playing really excellent tennis.

There were 5 game changing moments for me Monday Night in Clemson’s 44-16 national championship victory over the Crimson Tide.

1. Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell’s 44 yard pick 6 off a Tua Tagovailoa pass on Alabama’s opening offensive possession.

2. Jedrick Willis’s false start when Alabama had the ball 1st and goal at the 1 in the first quarter and the Tide could only get a field goal out of the drive.

3. The failed fake field goal on 4th and 6 in the third quarter which should have been a go for it with Tua and the receivers.

4. Tua getting stopped short of the first down line on a scramble in the 3rd quarter on 4th and 6.

5. And finally, the play call to run Tua around the left side on 4th and goal at the 4 in the 4th quarter.

   It was just Cemson’s night in Santa Clara. Trevor Lawrence, the great Justyn Ross, from Central-Phenix City, Travis Etienne, Tee Higgins, Mitch Hyatt and the offensive line and Christian Wilkins and the defense were not going to be denied. Dabo, defensive coordinator Brent Venables, co offensive coordinators Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott and the entire Clemson coaching staff had a masterful plan and coached a flawless game.

So they need to be applauded. But the Crimson Tide will be back in 2019 with a chip on their shoulder and a lot of talent to go along with that with Tua, who is still a stellar quarterback, Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Henry Ruggs III and Irv Smith, he’s a junior but he should be back, an offensive line that will have talent led by Alex Leatherwood and Willis, and a defense that will need to fill some holes up front, but Dylan Moses will return at linebacker and maybe Mac Wilson will return, he’s a junior. The secondary is young led by Deionte Thompson, and there is a lot of young talent, so the Tide should be pretty stout back there next season. The 2019 signing class in No.1 in the country, so talent is coming Tuscaloosa’s way. And S is angry. He found that unacceptable, so the players will be trained extremely hard this winter by Scott Cochran and be ready for the spring.

Vegas already has the Crimson Tide as 1:1 favorites to win it all in 2019. Clemson is 3:1. I like Bama and Clemson in the playoff next season along with Georgia, which has 69 percent of their team as freshmen and sophomores. Ohio State, particularly if Justin Fields is eligible to play, will be right there, along with Oklahoma, which just brought in a 5 star quarterback, and is in the Jalen Hurts sweepstakes among many others including Houston, where Dana Holgerson takes over coming from West Virginia and he’s a coach who knows how to develop quarterbacks even further. TCU is in it. All the Texas schools are maybe not Texas as much as they are set at quarterback for a couple of years. UCLA with Chip Kelly is in the mix, too. So it’ll be interesting to see where Jalen ends up though I know Crimson Tide fans are sorry to see him leave. He’s been an awesome representative of the football program and the university. Class act.

My sleeper teams for the playoff are LSU, with O and Joe back, Florida, Dan Mullen has it cookin in Gainesville, and Texas, coming off their upset of Georgia in the Sugar Bowl and Tom Herman having an excellent team coming back led by quarterback Sam Ellinger.

So 2019 isn’t far away. We’re only 2 1/2 months from spring football cranking up, there’s still some recruiting to be done, and college basketball looks pretty interesting with Alabama, Auburn and UAB fielding good squads. Though the Crimson Tide and Tigers lost last night, they look solid. The Crimson Tide had a tremendous 77-75 victory last Saturday over Kentucky. That tells me this team is for real. A very talented group of players. The awesome Tevin Mack and super freshman point guard Kira Lewis Jr. are key players. Auburn had a tough time last night in Oxford, but the talent is apparent and they’’re right in the SEC and national mix to excel. Jared Harper and Bryce Brown lead a super talented Auburn basketball team. UAB is 2-0 in C-USA and looks like they have a shot to make the NCAA tourney. So great stuff going on this winter and spring.

I know Auburn fans were encouraged by the Tigers’ 63-14 dismantling of Purdue in the Music City Bowl. The Tigers looked great. There’s a lot of talent returning though a quarterback will have to step up in the spring. Redshirt freshman Joey Gatewood, a 6’5”, 235 pound talent, incoming 5 star Bo Nix, and Malik Willis will compete in the spring. Nix is a major talent and Gatewood was a high 4 star out of high school. Those look like the 2 competitors for the starting job. There are some good underclassmen returning and a pretty solid signing class coming in, so the Tigers should be a lot better. Gus will call plays, so that could make a difference as well.

Spectacular 2018 and 2019 looks just as promising. It’ll be here soon. Meanwhile, there’s college basketball, PGA Tour cranking up, the Australian Open coming up in professional tennis, the season’s first Grand Slam event, and the NBA and the NHL which will also be interesting especially when the playoffs crank up. So looking forward to a stellar 2019.

Final Record

Regular Season: 229-72, 76%

Bowls, 21-18

Overall: 250-90, 74%

NFL Divisional Rounds predictions

The National Football League is electric right now with week 2 of the playoffs cranking up on Saturday and continuing into Sunday. Here’s a look at this weekend’s 4 games along with predictions.

Last week: 2-2

Saturday

Indianapolis Colts (11-6) @ Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)

Arrowhead Stadium, 76, 416

3:35 PM CT

NBC

Al, Cris, Michelle

Lead Ref, John Hussey

Chiefs by 5 1/2

I’m really starting to trust Andrew Luck. He completed 19 of 32 passes for 222 yards, 2 TDs against 1 interception last Saturday in the Colts 21-17 upset of the Houston Texans in Houston. I like Luck, receiver T.Y. Hilton, running back Marlon Mack, an awesome offensive line anchored by former Alabama center Ryan Kelly and former Auburn offensive guard and Indy right tackle Braden Smith, and a stellar defense to go into Kansas City and pull off the upset.

Colts 30, Chiefs 27

Dallas Cowboys (11-6) @ Los Angeles Rams (13-3)

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 78,467

7:15 PM CT

FOX

Joe, Troy, Erin, Chris Myers

Laundry, John Parry

Rams by 7

I like Dak, Zeke, Amari and an awesome defense that was 6th in the league in scoring defense at 20.3 to go into LA and upset the Rams. Rams are 20th in the league in scoring defense at 24.5. Like them Cowboys. Jerry moves on to the NFC Championship.

Cowboys 31, Rams 28

Sunday

Los Angeles Chargers (13-4) @ New England Patriots (11-5)

Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass., 66,829

12:05 PM CT

CBS

Jim, Tony, Trace, Jay

Stripes, Ron Torbert

Patriots by 4

The Patriots are 8-0 at home this season. Like Brady over Philip Rivers. Rivers is 0-7 against Brady lifetime but I look for him to play well and the Pats to barely win.

Patriots 28, Chargers 27

Philadelphia Eagles (10-7) @ New Orleans Saints (13-3)

Mercedes-Benz Superdome, 74,295

3:40 PM CT

FOX

Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis, Pam Oliver, Pter Schrager

Laundry, Carl Cheffers

Saints by 8

Like the great Drew Brees and the Saints to move on and host the NFC Championship game a week from Sunday in Who Dat Country. Nick Foles is spectacular and the Eagles are resilient and tough defending champions after going into Chicago last Sunday and upsetting the Bears, but I’ll take my chances with Drew and the Saints.

Saints 31, Eagles 27

The No.1 Alabama Crimson Tide and the No.2 Clemson Tigers meet for the 4th time in 4 years with the Tide defeating Clemson in the 2016 National Championship game, 45-40, the Tigers defeating the Tide in the 2017 national title game, 35-31, and the Tide defeating Clemson in the semifinals of the playoffs last season, 24-6. The teams will collide tonight at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, about 50 minutes south of San Francisco. Here’s a look at this classic along with the predicted winner.

No.1 Alabama (14-0) vs. No.2 Clemson (14-0)

Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA. 68,500

7 PM CT

ESPN

Chris, Kirk, Maria, Tom

Whistles, Big Ten, Mike Cannon

Bama by 5 1/2

Coaches

Nicholas Lou Saban

Born: October 31,1951, Fairmont, West VA, 67 years old.

12 years at Alabama

141-20, 88%

8 SEC Championships, 2003,, ‘09, ‘12, ‘14-’16, 2018.

5 National titles at Alabama, 2009, ‘11, ‘12, ‘15, ‘17. 1 national title at LSU, 2003

Bowls, 14-9

CFB Playoff, 6-2

Overall: 232-62-1, 79%

The gold standard for college football coaches in the history of the game. Bear Bryant always has a good argument with his 6 national titles, and I don’t want to compare them really. Both were and are the best of all time. Bear had man terrific teams and years and so has Saban. Saban has a contract through 2025, so there could very well be several more national titles which would cement his legacy as the greatest of all time.

William Christopher “Dabo” Swinney

November 20,1969, Pelham, AL. 49 years old.

11 years at Clemson

115-30, 79%

5 time ACC Champion, 2011, 2015—18

Bowls, 8-5

Playoffs, 4-2

1 National Championship, 2016

If S is the greatest in the game today and maybe of all time, Dabo is second in greatest today. He came in as an interim coach in 2008, and has hung in there and built a juggernaut with his terrific recruiting, his family atmosphere in a place where it’s fun to be a football player, and his development of players along with his coaching acumen. He’s not playing for second place tonight.

The Players

Alabama

Tua Tagovailoa, 223-of-321, 70%, 3,671 yards, 41 TDs, 4 ints. Tua has put on a clinic in 2018 on how to play quarterback in college football, or at any level. He was superb in the Tide’s 45-34 semifinal victory over Oklahoma, completing 24 of 27 passes for 318 yards, 4 TDs and 0 ints. He has 400+ family members coming to the game. My response to that is how is it possible to have that many family members? Wow. For Tua to be here in pretty much peak physical health, after a high ankle sprain in the Georgia game looked ominous going forward, you have to give a major assist to Dr.’s. Lyle Cain and Norman Waldrop, the orthopedists who performed the “tightrope” procedure on Tua’s ankle. It’s an intricate surgery that was invented by Dr. Thomas Clanton of Vail, CO. It’s a procedure in which surgeons slip a high strength suture through small holes in the bone, fasten it with small metal buttons and then tighten it as you would a zip tie (information from SI.com). Pretty intricate and cutting edge procedure by Dr.’s Cain and Waldrop. They deserve a major amount of credit. Tua is healthy and ready to take on the Tigers. The 2 doctors performed the same surgery on Jalen Hurts, Jonah Williams and Ross Pierschbacher as well and their respective recoveries were equally as impressive.

Damien Harris is the Tide’s leading rusher with 819 yards and 9 TDs. But Josh Jacobs may be the Bellcow with 593 yards and 11 TDs. Jacobs rushed for 98 yards against the Sooners. He’s a workhorse and a take it to the house back. Quite a player.

On the perimeter, there are a wealth of weapons. Jerry Jeudy leads the team with 63 receptions for 1,176 yards and 13 TDs. Henry Ruggs III is next with 45 receptions for 738 yards and 11 TDs. The explosive Jaylen Waddle has pulled in 43 passes for 823 yards and 7 TDs and tight end Irv Smith Jr. has 40 receptions for 667 yards and 7 TDs. And the awesome DeVonta Smith adds 36 receptions for 626 yards and 6 TDs.

On defense, outside linebacker Dylan Moses leads the team with 82 tackles, has 10 for loss and 3 1/2 sacks. The great defensive tackle Quinnen Williams has posted 67 tackles, 18 for loss and 8 sacks. He’s the enforcer in the middle of the Crimson Tide defense. The Tide has 14 interceptions on the season led by cornerback Saivion Smith’s 3. Deionte Thompson, Xavier McKinney, Mack Wilson and Shyheim Carter each have 2. Carter has taken 2 back to the house and Smith and McKinney have each taken one int the distance. Defensive end Isaiah Buggs has 13 1/2 tackles for loss and a team leading 9 1/2 sacks. Outside linebacker Christian Miller, who is questionable tonight with a hamstring injury, has 11 TFLs and 8 sacks. So a highly formidable defense. The Crimson Tide is 5th in the country in scoring defense giving up 16.2 points per game.

Clemson

The No.1 high school player in the country in 2018, Trevor Lawrence, has been nothing short of spectacular in his freshman campaign for the Tigers. After becoming the starter in game 5 this season season, taking over from Kelly Bryant, who eventually transferred to Missouri, Lawrence has completed 239 of 366 passes, 65%, for 2,933 yards, 27 TDs against only 4 interceptions. Against Notre Dame in the semifinal, Lawrence was 27 of 39 for 327 yards, 3 TDs and 0 ints. The young guy plays like a fourth year senior. He throws a perfect ball from his front foot and his from back foot.

And he has the weapons around him that make him so effective. Running back Travis Etienne has rushed for 1,573 yards and 22 TDs. He’s a gamebreaker. 6’4” wide receiver Tee Higgins has caught 56 passes for 855 yards and 11 TDs. Amari Rogers has 52 receptions for 540 yards and 4 TDs. Stud freshman Justyn Ross, from Central Phenix City High School in Alabama, is 6’4”, and has 40 receptions for 847 yards and 8 TDs. Ross was superb against Notre Dame catching 6 passes for 148 yards and 2 TDs. And the always reliable and ageless one, Hunter Renfrow, has pulled in 47 passes for 534 yards and 1 TD. He’s a Wes Welker, Danny Amendola receiver for the Tigers. Highly clutch.

On defense, the Tigers will once again be without first round draft pick and 340 pound defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Lawrence is suspended for this game and was suspended in the Notre Dame game by the NCAA for taking a banned substance. But tackle Christian Wilkins, (13 TFLs, 5 sacks) and ends Clelin Ferrell (18 1/2 TFLs and 11 1/2 sacks) and Austin Bryant (14 TFLs and 8 1/2 sacks) make up a very stout threesome that Ross Pierschbacher, Jonah Williams and company will have to block. Clemson’s leading tackler is linebacker Isaiah Simmons who has 79 on the season with 8 TFLs. The Tigers have posted 12 interceptions on the season with Simmons taking one back to the house for a 27 yard TD.

The Clemson defense is No.1 in the country in scoring defense giving up only 12.9 points per game.

Final analysis and prediction

This is a heavyweight bout for the ages. Ali-Frazuh, Tyson-Holyfield, this game has it all. The lines of scrimmage on both sides will be critically important as you would expect. Can Jonah Williams and the Crimson Tide o line hold up against Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins, Austin Bryant and the vaunted Clemson front 7. Can Clemson’s offensive line led by tackle Mitch Hyatt hold off Quinnen Williams, Isaiah Buggs, Raekwon Davis and company. And how will the teams’ respective secondaries hold up against the potent passing attacks each teams possess. Will Clemson go after talented but young freshman Patrick Surtain II who had a tough night against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, and will Alabama take advantage of the Clemson secondary with their superb receivers. Can Travis Etienne get yards and get in the open field and take it to the house for the Tigers. That’ll be tough against the Crimson Tide front 7. Can Jacobs and Harris pound out the yards for the Tide and break explosive plays.

And finally, which quarterback will shine the brightest. Will it be Tua or Trevor.

That’s where I see the Tide having a slight advantage. Tua has the experience in this game and his numbers are all off the charts. So are Trevor’s, but he just doesn’t have the experience that Tua does in this game. I think Tua having his 400+ family members at Levi’s Stadium will be totally amped up. I look for Tua to have a little better game than Trevor and earn the Crimson Tide their 18th national championship all time and 6th under Nick Saban.

Alabama 35, Clemson 31