I think I like the Bryan Harsin hiring by Auburn. Harsin accumulated a 69-19 record at Boise State, 78%, which is strong. He was 12-2 in 2014, his first year, and won the Fiesta Bowl. He was 12-2 in 2019 and 8-0 in the Mountain West. He was 9-3 in ‘15, winning the Poinsettia Bowl, 10-3 in ‘16, losing the Cactus Bowl, 11-3 in 2017, winning the Las Vegas Bowl, and 10-3 in 2018. Their bowl game that year was canceled due to weather. This year his team finished 5-2 losing to San Jose State in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game.

So some good overall numbers. It was definitely an outside the box hire by AD Allen Greene and President Jay Gogue. Some were expecting a Kevin Steele-safe hire, or a dangerous hire in Hugh Freeze or Lane Kiffin. Sark was in the running as was Billy Napier. I was high on a Napier hire, but he pulled out. Still, this hire shows promise. He’s a high character guy, which does matter. Auburn leaders, Greene and Gogue were impressed with his competitiveness as well.

So I say give Bryan a shot. I know the Mountain West isn’t the SEC, but coaches come from different backgrounds and succeed in the SEC. He’s a quarterback guru, too, which Bo Nix desperately needs. If he can get Bo Nix playing very good, consistent football that would be a gigantic boost for the team. I wouldn’t mind seeing him keep Steele because Steele is an excellent defensive coach and brings more stability to the program. We’ll see what direction he goes there, that’ll be interesting.

The hire meant Auburn was going a different direction from the standard Auburn background hire. I like it. I’m not saying Harsin will be a resounding success, but I like the out of the box thinking here by Greene and Gogue. Hoping the Tigers can get this program turned around and be competing with the Crimson Tide for championships. The foundation is there. Harsin seems like a strong leader, what the Tigers need. He’ll need a good staff on both sides of the ball that can recruit and develop. But, I like Auburn taking a shot with a guy who’s a standup, straight-shooter guy. Will be very interesting to see what happens on the Plains in recruiting the rest of 2021 and then in the 2021 season. I’m looking forward to seeing the Tigers compete next Friday in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl (12 PM CT. ABC) versus Northwestern to see if the team is excited about their new coach and bring that energy to Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

With DeVonta, Mac, Kyle Trask, and Trevor as the 4 Heisman finalists, I still like DeVonta to win it. Najee finished 5th in voting. I have no idea why they didn’t include Najee in the finalists. He rushed for 1,262 yards, 24 TDs and caught 32 passes for 316 yards and 3 more TDs. What else does he have to do to be a finalist? After the SEC Championship Game, I almost made him my winner with his 5 TDs accounted for. He, DeVonta and Mac are the best in the country, and one of them, as hard as it is to decide, will win it. Unfortunately, Najee didn’t get that opportunity. But Najee can have a big Playoff performance, win a national championship and get picked in the top 5 of the NFL draft April 29th. Najee can be a Derrick Henry in the National Football League. He’s potentially as good as Derrick (O’Neal), and the way he catches the ball out of the backfield, wow, what a weapon. DeVonta is a top 5 or 6 pick as well if I’m looking at the same player as these NFL scouts are. I’d put Mac in the first round as well. Maybe a top 15-20.

Like DeVonta to win it and become the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since 1991 when Des Howard did it and the first non quarterback since 2015 when Derrick won it. But Najee and Mac are so close. You can’t knock what Trevor Lawrence and Kyle Trask have done either. Just a superb group. Lawrence looks like he’ll be the first player selected in the draft. Of course, he’s got a playoff he wants to win in college first. Trask threw for 43 TDs this year and was spectacular and capped it off with a phenomenal SEC Championship Game. it’ll be interesting to see how “interested” the Gators are in facing Oklahoma Wednesday Night in the Orange Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX at 7 PM on ESPN. Looking forward to that one.

Today’s Games/Predictions

Record so far: 5-2

ServPro First Responder Bowl (couldn’t be more deserving people in this country to salute)

No.19 Louisiana (9-1) vs. UTSA (7-4)

Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Anish Shroff, Lugues, Quint

Laundry, ACC, Riley Johnson

LA by 14

Like Billy Napier and his squad to finish off a spectacular season. Napier is going to be an SEC coach sooner rather than later one would think.

Louisiana 35, Texas-San Antonio 17

LendingTree Bowl

Western Kentucky (5-6) vs. Georgia State (5-4)

Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Goin’ Mobile, AL.

2:30 PM CT

ESPN

Mike Couzens, Jay Walker, Dawn Davenport

Whistles, Mountain West, Mike Cuttone

GA. State by 3 1/2

Give me the Panthers. Shawn Ellitott does a solid job in Atlanta and I’ll take the Sun Belt again over C-USA, though it’s a shame the UAB Blazers aren’t playing today against South Carolina in the Gaspirilla Bowl. Blazers are a very solid outfit.

GA State 30, Western KY 24

FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl

Liberty (9-1) vs. Coastal Carolina (11-0)

Camping World Stadium, Orlando

6:30 PM CT

ESPN

Roy Philpott, Kelly Stouffer, Alex Chappell

Suds and Due Rights, MAC, Ron Hudson

Coastal by 7

I like the Chants to win, but I like a very competitive game.

Coastal 40, Liberty 35