Our Vanderbilt Commodores Basketball Team took it to the South Carolina Gamecocks last night at Memorial, 93-81.

Max Evans led all scorers with 29 points, going 9 of 15 from the field and 5 of 8 from trifecta range. Scotty Pippen Jr. played another stellar game pouring in 23 and dishing out 7 assists. One of our other tremendous sophomores, Dylan Disu, added 17 points and 7 boards. It was an all around superb team effort from the guys.

Happy for Coach Stackhouse and the team. We moved to 5-8 overall and 1-6 in the SEC, but the way we played last night, we’re going to win several more SEC games. Up next is a matchup with Texas A&M on the road at 7:30 PM this Wednesday on the SEC Network.

We sank 13-of-33 three pointers, 39%, good number and were 29-of-59 from the field, 49%, which is excellent. We had 21 assists and 9 steals with Dylan getting 5 of those steals. We out-rebounded the Gamecocks, 38-31.

Overall, an excellent effort by Stack and the boys. Really happy for them because it’s been a tough time, but the work ethic and the enthusiasm to play has always been there.

The Florida game on the road Wednesday may have been a harbinger of things to come as we were down 22 in the second half and came back to lose by only 6, 78-71. While we took the loss, the fight we showed in coming back seemed to carry over into last night. We played last night like Vanderbilt teams play at Memorial. The way that Scotty has developed over the last 2 years as well as Dylan has been beyond spectacular. They are outstanding basketball players. Love seeing Max as our third option and we’ve still got guys like Jordan Wright, D.J. Harvey, Myles Stute, Trey Thomas, Isaac McBride, Ejike Obinna and Clevon Brown who can all make major contributions. I really like what Jordan and D.J. can do for us going forward to help our main three guys and the other guys can play a big role in helping this team be tremendous successful the rest of the season.

I liked what I saw out of Akeem Odusipe at the end of the game. Akeem is going to help us down the road, hopefully this season. We are missing Quinton Millora-Brown, who has been in COVID protocol, so it’ll be outstanding to get him back at some point this season. Tyrin Lawrence, a highly rated freshman, is out for the year with a knee injury. We’ll have him next season though.

Just a real phenomenal effort by the guys. Proud for Stack and the team and all the hard work they’ve put in. The future, this year, looks very bright. Time to go on a winning streak.

Tampa Bay 31, Green Bay 26

The Bucs relied on super play from Tom Brady in the first half including a 39 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Scotty Miller with 7 seconds left in the first half, an amazing play by Brady and Miller, and an ultra bad breakdown by the Green Bay secondary. The Bucs defense played well and sacked Aaron Rodgers 3 times, had him scrambling all afternoon, and the Bucs secondary kept Rodgers and Davante Adams neutralized throughout the game. And there were 3 major mistakes that cost the Packers the game. Green Bay scored a touchdown to cut the Tampa Bay lead to 28-23 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter. Tampa led 28-10 at halftime, but the Packers scored quickly in the second half. Instead of kicking the extra point midway through the third quarter, Coach Matt LeFleur decided to go for 2. Rodgers threw a bullet to Equanimeous St. Brown, but the former Notre Dame player, dropped it inexplicably. The Packers were now down by 5, 28-23, and if the Bucs kicked a field goal, which they did later, the Packers would have had to score a TD and go for 2 again. The 2020 stats aren’t in on the percentage of success on 2 point conversions, but in 2019 and 2018, the success rate was 49%. Not that high of a percentage. I don’t agree with LeFleur forgoing the extra point. While ESPN wrote that its analytics agreed with LeFleur, sometimes you just need to use common sense and look ahead at how the scoring will go moving forward. Down 28-24, a TD and extra point puts the Packers ahead 31-28, instead of 29-28 with a TD and a 49% chance of a 2 point conversion. If you miss the 2 pointer, you’re ahead 29-28, and Tampa can kick a field goal and win. I don’t agree with chasing points too early. It seems to be what these younger coaches are doing now, and it’s not the right decision for their respective teams. LeFleur blew it there. That was the first mistake. The second mistake was made by Rodgers on 3rd and goal at the 8 yard line with Green Bay down, 31-26, with 3 minutes left in the game. Rodgers dropped back to pass, and had a wide open running lane to the end zone, but instead of running it in, he was right at the line of scrimmage and it looked to be clear sailing, he passed it right at the last second and overshot Adams in the end zone. That was on Rodgers. The third mistake was again made by LeFleur, who decided, inexplicably again, to kick a field goal instead of going for it on 4th down. Aaron Rodgers threw 48 TD passes in 2020, give him the ball, Matt. LeFleur is 41 and needs to learn quickly how to manage a game, particularly one as important as the NFC Championship Game. If he doesn’t, he’ll have to find employment elsewhere.

I picked the Packers, and put a lot of faith in Rodgers and felt good about it. But I knew I was in trouble when I watched a clip Friday Night of Stephen A. Smith going off on Aaron Rodgers being the greatest quarterback of all time. Smith had picked Tampa Bay to win the Super Bowl earlier in the year, but when it came to picking against Rodgers and going with Brady and the Bucs, he went with Rodgers. He misses a lot predictions, so I knew it would be tough to win on Sunday. Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time. I’ll go with that. There’s so much “greatest of all time” talk every week, that it gets old. Brady is going to his 10th Super Bowl in 20 years of playing in the NFL and he’s won 6. That’s better than anybody else who has played the game. So he is the best “quarterback” of all time, though Joe Montana was pretty spectacular as well. I become a victim to that best of all time stuff, too, so I’m going to try to do better in that department. It’s tiresome to hear that stuff.

The Bucs will face Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, and a machine like Chiefs’ offense, which blasted the Buffalo Bills, 38-24, in the AFC Championship Game, in Super Bowl LV. Mahomes is the present and future. And Brady is still the present and playing at an astonishingly high level. The game will be at Raymond James Stadium at 5:30 PM CT on CBS. Super Bowl 55 looks spectacular on paper. The Chiefs are a 3 point favorite after opening as a 2 point favorite. The gamblers are bullish on Mahomes and his exceptional offensive weapons. The Chiefs will be without star left tackle Eric Fisher, who suffered a torn ACL this past Sunday against Buffalo. They have a superb offensive line, but that’s somewhat of a factor. One of the best linemen in the NFL being out makes a difference. The Bucs have an excellent pass rush, so being without your left tackle is a factor.

Should be a riveting game. Can’t wait.

The Farmers Insurance Open Preview, Prediction

Torry Pines, San Diego

North Course, Thursday and Friday, 7,258 yards, Par 72. South Course, Thursday-Sunday, 7.765 yards, Par 72. The South Course is the longest course on Tour this year and will also host the 121st U.S, Open June 17-20th. NBC will televise the Open The defending champion is Bryson DeChambeau who won at Winged Foot in September. Also, the 85th edition of the Masters will commence on April 8th-11th with limited fans, but it’s still the Masters. The defending champion is Dustin Johnson, who won in November putting on a clinic. The 103rd PGA Championship will be held at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island, S.C. May 20-23rd. These are all Thursday-Sunday majors. The defending champion at the PGA is Collin Morikawa who won at Harding Park in San Francisco. And the 149th Open Championship will be held July 15-18th at Royal St. George’s in England. Royal St. George’s was supposed to host in 2020, but the tournament was canceled due to COVID concerns. The 2019 champion was Shane Lowry, who won on his home turf at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. The Olympics are scheduled to be held July 29th-Aug 1st at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama, Japan, but there is kind of a to be determined outlook with more virus concerns for Japan and a question of the viability of hosting the Olympics. Hopefully, by then, most of the world will be vaccinated and the games can go on as scheduled. Right now, it’s up in the air. The 43rd Ryder Cup will be held September 24-26th at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wisconsin, one of the more revered courses in the country that has hosted 3 PGA Championships in 2004, 2010 and 2015The winner in 2004 was Vijay Singh, the winner in 2010 was Martin Kaymer, and the winner in 2015 was Jason Day. The European team won in 2018 at Le Golf National just outside of Paris. They dominated the American team, 17 1/2-10 1/2. The U.S. captain is Steve Stricker and the European captain is Padraig Harrington. There will be 6 U.S. players who automatically qualify by virtue of winning points on 2019 and 2020 events as the Cup was supposed to be held in 2020, but was pushed back because of the pandemic. Additionally, there will be 6 Captain’s picks. It was 8 automatic qualifiers and 4 captain’s picks in the past, but has been changed for the 43rd Cup. For Europe, the leading 4 players on the Race to Dubai Points List from Sept. 2019 to September, 2020, automatically qualify. The next 5 players on the World Points list in the Official World Golf Rankings from Sept. 2019-Sept. 2020 automatically qualify. And Harrington will make 3 captain’s picks. Should be an epic as always. Europe really gets charged up for the Cup and the U.S. Team does, too.

So, a very captivating calendar year in golf. Should be remarkable.

Jon Rahm, the World Number 2, is the favorite in Vegas at +700 to win at Torrey Pines. Rahm won the Farmers in 2017. Rory is at +800, Xander Schauffele is at +1100. Interestingly, Xander, a San Diego native, has missed the cut 4 of the 5 times he’s played at the Farmers. Tony Finau is at +1600, Harris English, who won at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Maui three weeks ago, checks in at +2000. Other notables are Patrick Reed at +2200, Viktor Hovland at +3000, Jason Day, the 2018 winner, at +3300. Justin Rose won in 2019, but he’s playing on the European Tour this week. Billy Horschel is at +3300. Scottie Scheffler is at +3300. Si Woo Kim, who won last week at the American Express in La Quinta, CA, is also at +3300. Brooks Koepka is at +3500 and Sungjae Im is at +3500. Last year’s winner at Torrey, Marc Leisman, is at +4000. Other notables in the field are Adam Scott (+4000), Bubba Watson (+4500), Rickie Fowler (+6600) and Francisco Molinari (+6600). Jordan Spieth and Gary Woodland are at +8000.

The South Course has a series of tremendous holes. The 18th is a classic 570 yard, Par 5, that has featured its share of dramatics. Tiger Woods in the 2008 U.S, Open comes to mind. He sank a 10 foot birdie putt to send the Open into a playoff with Rocco Mediate on a Monday, the day after the final round. Woods won the 18 hole aggregate playoff for his 14th Major. He won his 15th at Augusta National in April of 2019. He’s out after having back surgery. No known timetable for his return, though I’m guessing by the Arnie in March, he should be good to go. He’s won 8 times at Torrey, so he’ll definitely miss playing there.

Weather has been sketchy in San Diego this week with a lot of wind and rain. Thursday, it’ll be 63 and Partly Sunny with winds at 11. Friday is 58 with a 100 percent chance of rain, could be heavy, with winds at 12. Saturday gets better at 61 and Sunny with winds at 9. Sunday is an awesome day, 65 and Sunny with winds at 8.

TV: Thursday-Friday, 2-6 PM CT, Golf Channel. Saturday, 12-2 PM CT, Golf. 2-5 PM CT, CBS. Sunday, 12-2 PM CT, Golf. 2-5:30 PM CT, CBS.

Prediction

I’m going to take the 21 year old stud from Simi Valley, California by way of Oklahoma State. This will be a bombers course among other things, while putting always matters too, and this young guy pounds it 320-330, even longer. He won the 3M Open in July of 2019 and finished second to Bryson D. at Winged Foot in the Open in Sept of 2020. Of course, Bryson put on a clinic and won by 6 strokes at -6. This guy had the 54 hole lead, but Bryson was not going to be denied. Bryson is hitting it 380 and had a 400 yard carry off the tee in practice last fall. That’s insane. But I like this guy to come through at Torrey and have a good shot at winning a major this year. He’s got all the tools in the toolbox to do that. Give me the Wolff Man at +3300.

Matthew Wolff

Darkhorse

I’m going to take the leader of the Korn Ferry Tour money list last year, the triple A of Professional Golf. Give me the 24 year old from San Francisco by way of Wake Forest. My older daughter might like this pick as she has been a Bay Area native for going on 4 years now.

Will Zalatoris

Winner at Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emrites Golf Club in Dubai, United Arab Republic

Thursday-Sunday. Golf Channel will televise. Tonight 10 PM-3 AM CT, but also on tomorrow 5:30 AM-7:30 AM CT and 7:30 AM-10:30 AM CT. Friday, 1:30-7:30 AM CT and 7:30-10 AM CT. Saturday, 2:30-7 AM CT, might need to tape it,. Sunday, 2:30-7 AM CT. Tape job.

The field includes Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia, Collin Morikawa, and last week’s winner at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in the UAE and the 2020 Arnie winner, Tyrrell Hatton. Lee Westwood is also in the field as is Padraig Harrington, Shane Lowry, Danny Willett, Graeme McDowell, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Henrik Stenson and Martin Kaymer.

I’m going to take the 30 year old Brit in Dubai. Give me,

Tommy “with a Little English” Fleetwood

Friday’s Column

College Basketball intel with Alabama playing superbly and Auburn getting it together. A lot on our 2 state teams. The Crimson Tide is now No.9 in the country and is coming off a 70-59 victory over Kentucky last night at Coleman Coliseuim. Auburn defeated No. 12 Missouri 88-82 in the Jungle as elite freshman Sharife Cooper, who scored 28 last night and is averaging just over 22 per game, continues to dazzle and lift his teammates on his shoulders. More on both teams and a look at what I would call John Calipari’s underachieving resume on Friday.

Last week : 1-3

Overall: 76-48, 61%

An electric Sunday is in store in the the National Football League. Here are predictions for the 2 blockbusters..

NFC Championship

Tampa Bay Bucs (13-5) @ Green Bay Packers (14-3)

Lambeau Field (8,456 10-11% capacity of 81,441)

2:05 PM CT

FOX

Joe, Troy, EA, Tom Rinaldi, now a FOX reporter, MIke Pereira, Rules Analyst, Excellent

Lead ref, Clete Blakeman

Packers by 3 1/2

Some people keep writing Aaron Rodgers’ obituary, that he’s going to be replaced after this season by rookie Jordan Love. I don’t know what they’re tokin, but ARodg has thrown for 48 TDs against only 5 ints. He and wide receiver Davante Adams, 115 receptions, 1374 yards, 18 TDs, are on a mission to raise the Lombardi Trophy on February 7th in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium in Super Bowl LV. Give me ARodg and Davante at home in the snow and low 30 degree weather at game time. The limited fans at Lambeau will still make noise and be a factor. They’re passionate about their team. Brady and company are tough, but these Packers are unstoppable looking.

Packers 35, Bucs 30

Game 2

AFC Championship

Buffalo Bills (15-3) @Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)

Arrowhead Stadium, KC, (around 16,500 fans, out of 76,416

5:40 PM CT

CBS

Jim, Tony, Trace, Evan Washburn, Jay Feely, Gene Steratore, Rules Analyst, Excellent again

Laundry, Bill Vinovich

Chiefs by 3

Patrick Mahomes has been in concussion protocol all week since the hit he took by former Alabama linebacker and now Cleveland Browns linebacker Mack Wilson, but is expected to play. I like the Chiefs to barely survive a really good Buffalo team. Even if Chad Henne is the starting quarterback for the Chiefs, they’re so good around the quarterback that they can get away with it. But Buffalo is a team that is right on the precipice of winning it all. They’re going to give the Chiefs everything they want with or without Mahomes. The home crowd, another highly passionate group, maybe the loudest in the NFL as it registers 3 something on the Richter Scale at times, a minor earthquake, will be a huge factor in the Chiefs escaping and reaching their second consecutive Super Bowl with a chance to repeat.

Chiefs 31, Bills 30

Maybe the line of the year in college football, and I’d say there’s no maybe about it, was when the great DeVonta Smith was asked how his finger was on Monday Night after the Tide’s dominating 52-24 National Championship victory over Ohio State. A happy Devonta, after Alabama had just won its 6th National Championship under Nick Saban, said, “i’ll be a’light.” I’d say the Crimson Tide, like the Who’s great song are “kids who are all right.”

This team was spectacular in so many ways and not just on the field. The offense was one of the great college offenses of all time with DeVonta, Mac, Najee and company excelling beyond any other team in college football this season and it was really not even close. They were an unstoppable force. Just ask the 13 teams they played. The defense turned it on in the second half against Ohio State and dominated them. Christian Barmore was and is a force. And quite a character. He’s an entertainer. An entertainer who just earned himself a great rookie contract in the NFL next season. I’d say DeVonta, Mac and Najee along with Patrick Surtain II and Barmore are first round picks. I’d put DeVonta in the top 5, Najee a top 10-12 pick, Surtain a top 10 pick, Mac a top 15 pick, excited to see him under center in the National Football League, and Barmore a top 20 pick. And there will be others. Alex Leatherwood, Deonte Brown and Landon Dickerson are looking like first round picks as well. It’s astounding how many Crimson Tiders are playing in the NFL. You want to win a Super Bowl? Draft Alabama players.

And what they went through to get to 11 PM on Monday. The discipline it took to just make it through the season without the albatross of the pandemic affecting the team. They stayed together and came one of the closest teams you’ll find in history. No off field issues, grades good, and a chemistry, closeness and continuity that was second to none. If any team earned the National Championship Trophy ever, it was the Crimson Tide with the discipline and integrity they showed throughout the season. It’s hard to say which team is the greatest team of all time. Nebraska was really good in 1971 with Johnny Rogers, the MIami Hurricanes in the late 80’s early 90’s. Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio State and USC have had superb teams. But with all this team went through in this pandemic laden season, I’ll say they’re all the greatest group of players ever assembled with all they accomplished. It was beyond a memorable performance by a football team. They’ll be in Crimson Tide lore forever.

That leaves the great Nick Saban, and his legacy. It’s far from over for one thing. The man looks like he can coach another 10 years and excel doing it. He’s in superb shape mentally and physically, he recruits better than any coach in the country, his assistants are superb, even when he loses one, like his team, he reloads. Next year he’ll have 5-star quarterback Bryce Young under center, Jaheel Billinglsley, John Metchie IV and a slew of 4 and 5 star freshmen coming in in the top rated class for 2021, will be on the perimeter. The Running back position, if Brian Robinson Jr. decides to comes back for a fifth year along with some younger studs and a couple of studs in the 2021 class, could be excellent. The O line will have right tackle Even Neal back and maybe right guard Emil Ekiyor, who is a redshirt sophomore and eligible for the draft, but he might want to come back and improve his stock even more and become a first round pick in 2022. The Brockermeyer twins from Fort Worth, Tommy a 5 star o tackle, and James, a 4 star center, could make an immediate impact. Defense will have superb linebacker Christian Harris back, some good defensive backs in Josh Jobe and Jordan Battle and another really good player in DeMarco Hellams, so the foundation is good for the secondary. There will be good size coming in for the defensive front in this freshman class. Mr. Fun has been watching film on 5 star defensive end Dallas Turner out of Florida and says he’s a dominant, physical player. There’s a lot of talent coming in for this 2021 class.

So Coach Saban’s story is far from written. The excitement for the Alabama faithful in the future will be electric.

And DeVonta, Mac, Najee, Surtain II, Barmore, Leatherwood will be remembered for their excellence for a long time as it should be.

Final Regular Season Record, 222-89, 71%

Bowls, 15-11

Today’s games in the National Football League

NFC Divisional Round

Los Angeles Rams (11-6) @ Green Bay Packers ( 13-3)

Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI.

3:35 PM CT

FOX

Kevin Burkhardt, Darryl “Moose” Johnston, Pam Oliver, Kristina Pink

Laundry, Ron Tolbert

Pack by 6 1/2

Rams have the No.1 defense in the NFL, but it’s at Lambeau and Aaron Rodgers, as Mr. Fun said earlier this season, is on a mission. Jared Goff is going to have a hard time leading his team in 30 degree weather. Aaron Donald is an elite defensive end in the League, but give me ARodg, Davante Adams and an underrated Packers defense.

Packers 27, Rams 17

Tonight

Baltimore Ravens (12-5) @ Buffalo Bills (14-3)

Bills Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y.

7:15 PM CT

NBC

Al,, Cris, Michelle

Yella, Carl Cheffers

Bills by 2 1/2

I’m going to take Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to pull off the upset in Buffalo.

Ravens 24, Bills 21

Sunday

Cleveland Browns (12-5) @ Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)

Arrowhead Stadium, KC

2:05 PM CT

CBS

Jim, Tony, Trace, Jay Feely, Evan Washburn

Aladdin, Clay Martin

Chiefs by 10

This is a real reach, but sometimes you have to roll the dice. I’ll take Bake and the Browns to pull off the colossal upset in KC.

Browns 34, Chiefs 31

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-5) @New Orleans Saints (13-4)

Mercedes-Benz Superdome, N’awlins

5:40 PM CT

FOX

Joe, Troy, EA, Tom Rinaldi

Burg, Shawn Hochuli

Saints by 3

This should be a Brees-Brady matchup for the ages with Brees likely retiring after this season, while Brady looks like he’ll give it another shot next season. Brees holds a 5-3 all time mark over Brady, which is unusual for any quarterback to have an advantage over Brady. The Saints have defeated the Bucs both times they’ve played this season, 34-23 at home to open the season on September 13th, and 38-3 in week 9 on November 8th in Tampa, in a spectacular performance by Brees and the Saints. It’s hard to beat a super opponent 3 times, but I’m going with my Super Bowl winning pick to get’er done in an epic.

Saints 34, Bucs 30

Week 16 record, 8-6

Overall: 73-45, 63%

It’s been quite a tumultuous season in college football, but it’s also been extraordinary.

We’ve seen some of the best offensive performances in 2021 put up by some of the most spectacular players who have ever played college football. And there are 3 of them playing tonight for the No.1 Crimson Tide versus one of the most dynamic quarterbacks, a stellar running back, and a stable-full of receivers for the No.3 Ohio State Buckeyes squaring off in the CFB National Championship Game at 7 on E-S-P-N. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbistreit, Maria Taylor and Allison Williams will call the action.

DeVonta Smith, Mac Jones and Najee Harris have become the Three Dominant Amigos of College Football. Smith led the nation in receptions with 105, receiving yards with 1,641, and receiving touchdowns with 20, and carried home a wheelbarrow full of trophies as he won the Biletnikoff Award for Most Outstanding Receiver, the Maxwell Award for College Player of the Year, the Walter Camp Award for Player of the Year, the Associated Press Award for Player of the Year, and the most historic and revered of them all, the Heisman Trophy. DeVonta was the first receiver to win the award since 1991 when Desmond Howard won it. And he couldn’t be a classier young guy with equally and amazingly classy, humble parents. The great Mac Jones completed 275-of-357 passes, an astounding 77%, for 4,036 yards, 36 TDs and 4 ints. Mac took home the Davey O’Brien Award for Most Outstanding quarterback. The equally sensational Najee Harris rushed for 1,387 yards and 24 TDs and caught 36 passes for 346 yards and 3 TDs. Just a complete running back and as good a hurdler as the great Olympic Champion Edwin Moses was. Wow, what hops. Someone wrote yesterday that Najee is not Derrick Henry. I’m not sure about that. He’s pretty spectacular. I don’t like to compare two players when they’re on different levels. Why don’t you give Najee a chance to play in the NFL before belittling him as a player. Derrick Henry is elite without a doubt, but Najee is pretty sensational and elite himself. He can be as good or even better than Henry. He’ll get another chance to showcase that talent tonight at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami before a crowd of around 13-14,000 and many millions of Americans watching. But there are other dynamic players on the Crimson Tide offense. Miller Forrestal and Jahleel Billingsley are terrific tight ends. John Metchie caught 47 passes for 835 yards and 6 TDs. And then you have one of the most dominant offensive lines at least in this century. The Alabama O line won the Joe Moore Award for the most outstanding offensive line in College Football. Left tackle Alex Leatherwood won the Outland Trophy for most outstanding Interior Lineman. Landon Dickerson won the Rimington Award for Most Outstanding Center. He will most likely be out tonight and Chris Owens will take his position. Owens also started against Notre Dame in the semifinal game as Dickerson hurt his knee and was ruled out for the season in the SEC Championship Game. Owens held his own against Notre Dame. Ohio State has a pretty stout defensive line, so the O line will be tested. Owens will be on alert against a formidable opponent.

So all good with this offense. Nicholas Lou Saban is 164-23 as Alabama Head Coach. That’s 87 percent. Pretty extraordinary. He’s won 5 National Championships at Alabama in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2017. He also won the National Championship at LSU in 2003. If he wins tonight, he will surpass the great Bear Bryant with 7 National Championships. He is elite without a doubt, but at the same time, it’s not like it hasn’t been done before at Alabama. Before Saban, the Crimson Tide had won 12 National Championships. “The Bear” won National Championships in 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, and 1978 in his illustrious career. Wallace Wade won National Championships in 1925, 1926 and 1930. Frank Thomas, the father of the great “Tucky,” who liked to hit line drives at his Little League Baseball Teams from 10 feet away, just so he made sure “His Boys could catch,” just ask Mr. Fun/Little Omaha/Watergate, the great break-in at Cherokee Bend School equivalent to the Nixon Break-in of the Democratic Headquarters in 1972. Thomas won National titles in 1934 and 1941. And Gene Stallings won a National Title in 1992. So it wasn’t unprecedented for Saban to win national championships at Alabama. He’s done well though, no doubt.

The defense has elite players, but at times has been torched by great quarterback play. The Ole Miss game was a while back, but the Rebels and Lane scored 48 points on the Crimson Tide on October 10th. But the Florida Gators and Kyle Trask and his prolific receivers scored 46 points against the Crimson Tide defense in the SEC Championship Game in December, so the defense will be tested by the spectacular Justin Fields and this high octane Ohio State offense. Interestingly, and I read this in a Washington Post article yesterday, written by Post writer Chuck Culpepper, Fields will be throwing against 4 Crimson Tide defensive backs who all hail from South Florida. Junior Cornerback Patrick Surtain II if from Plantation, FL, about 25 miles from downtown Miami. Sophomore safety Jordan Battle is from Fort Lauderdale. Redshirt Junior safety Daniel Wright is from Fort Lauderdale. And junior cornerback Josh Jobe is from Miami. So he’ll be throwing against the hometown boys. May not be a factor at all, just an interesting fact.

Ohio State has won 8 national championships in its rich football history, so they’re no stranger to this arena. The Buckeyes boast Championships in 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, split with Alabama, 1968, 1970, 2002 and 2014. Ryan Patrick Day has been spectacular as head coach. He was an interim when Urb was suspended for 3 games for ignoring an assistant coach’s wife assaulting behavior and Day went 3-0 in 2018. At the time I thought, “Just forget about Urb, keep this guy.’ When Urb retired, once again, Urb gets tired then misses the limelight, Day went 13-1 last year, losing in a phenomenal Semifinal Fiesta Bowl game to Clemson on an interception in the endzone as Clemson won 29-23. That game stuck with Day and his team, and Dabo Swinney even fueled this teams’ fire even more by voting them 11th in the final coaches poll this season and blatantly disrespected them in the process to the media. Swinney got what was coming to him in a 49-28 defeat in the Sugar Bowl semifinal. Day went 7-0 this year, and is now 23-1. I’ve read a lot about him. He was an accomplished quarterback at New Hampshire. He is 41 years old. Saban is 69, but I don’t see any major coaching advantage. This a really good head coach and a really good staff.

Fields is a phenomenon as well. He has completed 141 of 192 passes, 73%, for 1,906 yards in 7 games, with 21 TDs and 6 ints. He really made his statement in the semifinal game against Clemson. Clemson was a 7 point favorite and nobody really gave Ohio State a real chance besides Walter Pittman on this blog. Fields completed 22-of-28 passes for 385 yards, 6 TDs against only 1 int. He threw for as many touchdowns as he threw incompletions. And much of his stellar work was after he got blasted in the ribs on a targeting tackle by Clemson linebacker James Skalski. Ryan Day said Fields had a good week of practice last week. He will be wearing some sort of protective vest tonight, and it’ll be interesting to see how he takes the physicality of this game, but he’s a warrior, so I expect him to play well. Trey Sermon has rushed for 868 yards and 4 TDs. The transfer from Oklahoma has made his mark in the last 2 games, after a somewhat slow start to the season. Against Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis, Sermon rushed for a mind boggling 334 yards and 2 TDs. He single handedly won the game for the Buckeyes, which struggled as Fields was only 12-of-27 for 114 yards and was sacked twice. Sermon carried the load and led the Buckeyes to a 22-10 victory over a very solid and tough defensive Northwestern Football team. Just ask Auburn about Northwestern. They won’t be belittling them. The Wildcats handed it to the Tigers on New Year’s Day, 35-19, in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl. Then in the semifinal game, Sermon rushed for 193 yards and another TD. He’s a force. Wide receiver Chris Olave has missed some time due to Covid, as a lot of Buckeyes have, but he’s a beyond stellar receiver. He has caught 42 passes for 660 yards and 7 TDs. He caught 6 passes for 132 yards and 2 TDs against Clemson in a game where he showcased what a spectacular player he is. Fields hooked up with Olave on a beautiful 56 yard TD pass. It was thrown perfectly and caught and run in perfectly. Garrett Wilson is another threat on the perimeter. Wilson caught 40 passes for 673 yards and 5 TDs this season. Tight ends Jeremy Ruckert and Luke Ferrell are more weaponry for Fields. Ruckert hauled in 2 TD passes against Clemson and Ferrell added another TD catch.

Ohio State’s secondary is vulnerable. Cornerback Shaun Wade could be a first round draft pick, and he’ll be squaring off with DeVonta, and that will be a heckuva challenge for Wade. The front seven is pretty stout, so that will help the secondary, even though the Buckeye front 7 will be going against a dominating, physical offensive line.

Alabama has the edge at kicker as Will Reichard has been sensational for the Crimson Tide. It’s the first time you can say that Nick Saban has had an elite kicker. It’s usually been a trouble area for the Crimson Tide. But Reichard hasn’t missed a kick this year. He’s 77-of-77 on extra points and 13-of-13 on field goals with several 40+ yarders and a couple of 50+ yarders in there. He’s terrific. Neither team punts much, but that could be a factor if the defenses can make some stops.

A real X factor is Jaylen Waddle. He’s been practicing with the team. My inclination is the electric playmaker for the Crimson Tide will have a hard time making a major impact on this game coming back from a broken ankle suffered back in October against Tennessee. But you never know. He could be a surprise, and he certainly would be a game changer if he is available and able to be Jaylen Waddle.

One final thing, the draft is going to be loaded with players from these 2 teams’ rosters. Devonta Smith, Mac Jones, Najee Harris, Alex Leatherwood, Landon Dickerson, Surtain II, Christian Barmore, the great defensive tackle for the Crimson Tide, all those guys could and should be first rounders with Smith going top 3 and the others all in the first round. Three more, Harris, Surtain II and Jones may go in the top 10 to 12 picks as they are projected by Kiper and McShay the ESPN gurus of the draft.. Fields looks like a lock top 10 pick. Olave is top 10 to 12. Sermon could be a top 20-25 pick. Wade a first round pick. So the talent is extraordinary in Hard Rock Stadium tonight. Has all the makings for a historically epic National Championship Game.

Final Decision

These 2 teams are almost carbon copies of one another. A dynamic threesome on each offense with Smith, Jones and Harris, and Fields, Sermon and Olave, and complimentary players like Metchie, Billingsley and Forrestal for Alabama, and Wilson, Ruckert and Ferrell for Ohio State. The defenses have elite players on each unit, so they could make big plays, sacks causing fumbles, game changing interceptions, tackles for loss, stopping drives, so there is no shortage of talent on either one of these defenses.

So, its’ a tough call, because this is such a remarkable matchup of talent on one football field. After much deliberation, I like the Crimson Tide to be able to score one more touchdown than the Buckeyes. Give me the Crimson Tide in an all time classic National Championship Game. DeVonta Smith finishes off his illustrious career as a Crimson Tider as the MVP of the National Championship Game.

Alabama 42, Ohio State 38

The No.1 Crimson Tide looked good defeating No.4 Notre Dame, 31-14, and No.3 Ohio State looked spectacular in dismantling No.2 Clemson, 49-28. I have to say I didn’t see that coming with Ohio State. But Justin Fields, Tre Sermon and Chris Olave put on a clinic. The Ohio State defensive line dominated in the second half as well. The Crimson Tide defense will have its hands full with this Buckeyes offensive arsenal and there will have to be a lot of No.10, No.6 and No.22 to counteract the offensive artillery that Ohio State will put on the field at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, next Monday, 1-11-21 at 7 PM on ESPN. Will have more this coming week.

Here’s a look at today’s games.

Yesterday: 3-1

Bowl record: 12-9

Capital One Orange Bowl

No.5 Texas A&M (8-1) vs. No. 13 North Carolina (8-3)

Hard Rock, South Beach, site of the National Championship game a week from Monday, 1-11-2021

7 PM CT

ESPN

Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky, Katie George

Refs, Big Ten, Larry Smith

A&M bv 8 1/2

Kellen Mond ended the season up strongly completing 172-of-271 passes, 64%, for 2,050 yards, 19 TDs against only 3 Ints. He’s got a chance to do well at the next level. And he stuck around, didn’t get frustrated or transfer and wants to play in this game. Isaiah Spiller is a superb running back who rushed for 993 yards and 7 TDs. I like A&M to get it done over UNC though quarterback Sam Howell (219-of317, 69%, 3,352 yards, 27 TDs, 6 ints) is a stud. The Tar Heels are missing a lot of players due to opt outs.

A&M 42, UNC 28

PlayStation Fiesta Bowl

No.25 Oregon (4-2) vs. No. 10 Iowa State (8-3)

State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ.

3 PM CT

ESPN

Dave Pasch, Mike Golic Sr., Quint Kessenich

Laundry, SEC, David Smith

Iowa State by 5 1/2

Give me Mario Cristobal and his Ducks to pull off an upset and set the table for a stellar 2021 season.

Oregon 34, Iowa State 30

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

No. 23 N.C. State (8-3) vs. Kentucky (4-6)

TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL.

11 AM CT

ESPN

Anish Shroff, Luges, Lericia Harris

Yella, Big Ten, Reggie Smith

KY by 2

Give me Stoops and the Cats to get’er done in JAX. Kentucky finishes off its season at 5-6, but with a lot of momentum heading into next season.

Kentucky 31, N.C. State 28

Outback Bowl

Ole Miss (4-5) vs. No. 11 Indiana (6-1)

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL.

11:30 AM CT

ABC

Tom, JRodg, Cole

Wood, ACC, Gary Patterson

IU by 9 1/2

Indiana is second in the country in interceptions with 17, Georgia Southern leads at 18. The Hoosiers have 2 players with 4 apiece, cornerback Jaylin Williams and nickelback Jamar Johnson. The defense also leads the Big Ten in sacks with 22. I like the Hoosiers defense to control Matt Corrall and the Ole Miss offense just enough and barely get over the top of KIff and the Rebels in Tampa Bay.

Indiana 34, Ole Miss 31

Yesterday was an interesting one and not the best representation of college football. Mississippi State defeated Tulsa, 28-26 in the Armed Forces Bowl, but the main story was the massive brawl that ensued after the game. It wasn’t a good look for either team as there were multiple punches thrown, kicking players who were down, just an absolute disaster for College Football. That should never happen. Football players are tough, no doubt, but that is basically criminal behavior. One of the Tulsa players was helped off the field with a concussion and maybe some other injuries. Mike Leach said you have fights in football games. You really shouldn’t have anything like that happen. Leach sounded like a thug. Need to be some consequences for that out of control behavior.

Army fell to West Virginia, 24-21 at the Liberty Bowl, and this is in light of a cheating scandal at West Point involving 24 football players. Seventy three Cadets were accused of cheating on a calculus final exam and 55 of those were athletes, 24 of whom were football players. Seventeen played in the bowl game. The last time a cheating scandal occurred at West Point was in 1976, when 153 cadets were caught cheating on a mechanical engineering exam. So, I’m sorry for the Army players who didn’t cheat who played yesterday, but it’s kind of poetic justice that Army lost. Jeff Monken needs to clean that program up. Very surprising.

Now we have teams that really want to be in the postseason. The No.1 Crimson Tide squares off with No.4 Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl in Arlington. TX. The Rose Bowl was moved from Pasadena due to inability to allow families of players into the stadium there because of California laws not allowing any gatherings in public places. California Governor Gavin Newsom has the state on lockdown pretty much. So the Tide and Irish will square off at AT&T Stadium.

Following the Rose Bowl, the No.2 Clemson Tigers lock horns with the No.3 Ohio State Buckeyes in the Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Also, today, the No.9 Georgia Bulldogs play in a New Year’s Six Bowl, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, vs. No.8 Cincinnati. And the Auburn Tigers face off with No.14 Northwestern in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl.

Here’s a look at today’s riveting slate on New Year’s 2021. Hoping for a very positive year starting today. Happy New Year.

Playoff Games

The Rose Bowl

No.1 Alabama (11-0) vs. No.4 Notre Dame (10-1)

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX.

3 PM CT

ESPN

Sean, Todd B., McShay, Allison

Laundry, Big Ten, John O’Neill

Crimson Tide by 19 1/2

The Alabama defense’s No.1 mission is stopping Fighting Irish quarterback Ian Book. Alabama has had trouble with mobile quarterbacks through the years. DeShaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence, Kellen Mond, Matt Corrall and Kyle Trask, who didn’t run a ton, but was pretty effective against the Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship Game, have all given the Tide defense fits. Book has completed 201-of-314 passes, 64%, for 2,600 yards, 15 TDs against only 2 interceptions. He’s rushed for 430 yards and 8 more 7’s. Running back Kyren Williams has rushed for 1,061 yards and 12 TDs. Book’s leading receivers are Javon McKInley (40-697, 3 TDs), Michael Mayer (35-388, 2) and Ben Skowronek (25-398, 5). Clemson, without several key defensive players and Trevor Lawrence in their first game with Notre Dame in South Bend, had trouble with Book and company in a 47-40 double overtime loss. But in their second encounter in the ACC Championship, they corralled Book and the Notre Dame offense and won, 34-10. Bama will score points. Mac Jones (250-of-327, 77%, 3,739 yards, 32 TDs, 4 ints.), DeVonta Smith (98, 1511, 17 TDs) and Najee Harris (1,262 yards, 24 TDs, 32 receptions, 316, 3 TDs) will light it up, most likely. It’s just a matter of Christian Harris and the defense controlling Book. Center Landon Dickerson is out, so fifth year senior Chris Owens will get the start. Notre Dame’s defense has been pretty solid this year, though Clemson pretty much had their way with them in Charlotte at the ACC Championship Game. So I like the Crimson Tide to once again rack up the points, and the defense to neutralize Book for the most part. The Tide is 4-0 at Jerry World and have blown out opponents there. I like them to advance impressively here.

Alabama 45, Notre Dame 24

The AllState Sugar Bowl

No.2 Clemson (10-1) vs. No.3 Ohio State (6-0)

Mercedes-Benz Superdome, N.O., LA.

7 CT

ESPN

Chris, Kirk (from Nashville, has COVID), Maria, Tom

Laundry, Big 12, David Alvarez

Clemson by 7

Clemson, like the Crimson Tide, is on another mission. They didn’t like what happened last year in the National Championship Game and have been waiting for this opportunity. Ohio State has been shellacked by COVID and there have been major questions whether they should even be in this game. But they do have talent. Justin Fields has struggled more this season, but he’s still completed 119-of-164, 73%, for 1,521 yards, 15 TDs against 5 ints. His main target, Chris Olave, is expected back for this game after being out with COVID, and he has caught 36 passes for 528 yards and 5 TDs. Trey Sermon went off in the Buckeyes’ 22-10 victory over Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship Game. rushing for 331 yards and 2 TDs. Master Teague is a good back as well. he rushed for 449 yards and 6 TDs this season. The Clemson defense is healthy though and middle linebacker James Skalski and the Tigers defense will make it tough on the Buckeyes’ offense. Lawrence, a Heisman finalist along with Mac Jones, DeVonta and Kyle Trask, has completed 198-of-286 passes, 69%, for 2,753 yards, 22 TDs against 4 ints. It’ll be interesting to see who the Heisman voters have selected. All 4 made strong case during the season. I’ll take DeVonta. The great Travis Etienne rushed for 882 yards and 13 TDs. He’s lightning in a bottle. Amari Rogers caught 69 passes for 966 yards and 7 TDs. Cornell Powell added 45 for 743 and 5 TDs. So Clemson has some serious weapons as well.

Decision

Ohio State has been hammered by COVID and it’s a fluid situation on who will be available for them tonight. Clemson is on another collision course with the Crimson Tide. Clemson will be without offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, but with that talent and other good coaches, they should be fine.I like Clemson to advance and look good doing it.

Clemson 45, Ohio State 21

New Year’s Six

Chick-fil-A Bowl

No. 9 Georgia (7-2) vs. No.8 Cincinnati (9-0)

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

11 AM CT

ESPN

Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Kris Budden

Eddie Burg, ACC, Jeff Flanagan

UGA by 8 1/2

JT Daniels has been an answered Hail Mary for Kirby Smart and his Dawgs. He came in towards the latter part of the season and completed 54-of-81 passes, 67%, for 839 yards, 9 TDs against only 1 int. Georgia had good defense, though the Crimson Tide gave them problems like they do everybody, but the running game is also solid with Zamir “Zeus” White, who rushed for 740 yards and 10 TDs.He’s a stud. James Cook, another stellar back and their second leading rusher, and stellar Minnesota Vikings and former stellar FSU running back Dalvin Cook’s younger brother, will not be with the team as his father passed away this week. Kenny McIntosh is another good running back as well though, and George Pickens (29-378, 5 TDs) has really picked it up on the perimeter lately. Kearis Jackson (33-467, 3 TDs) is another potent weapon on the outside. Cincinnati plays pretty strong defense, but hasn’t faced this kind of competition. Quarterback Desmond Ritter threw 17 TDs against 6 ints, this season and completed 162-of-244, 66%, for 2,090 yards. He also rushed for 609 yards and 12 TDs. Gerald Doaks is another strong back who rushed for 673 yards and 7 TDs. Cincinnati intercepted 15 passes this season led by cornerback Ahmad Gardner, who picked off 3. Georgia picked off 10 passes led by corner Eric Stokes, who posted 4 and took 2 back to duh house. Bearcats’ defensive end Myaji Sanders posted 10 1/2 tackles for loss and 7 sacks. For Georgia, outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari led the defense with 9 1/2 TFLs and 6 1/2 sacks.

Decision

I like the Dawgs to have a good day. Cincy has a good team, but hasn’t played the level of competition Georgia will present. Give me the Dawgs to have a great day on their homefront and be ready for a big 2021 season.

Georgia 31, Cincinnati 14

Vrbo Citrus Bowl

Auburn (6-4) vs. No. 14 Northwestern (6-2)

Camping World Stadium, Orlando

12 PM CT

ABC

Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Paul Carcaterra

Ole Yeller, ACC, Jerry Magellanes

Northwestern by 4

Auburn has COVID cases, injuries, opt outs, all sorts of problems. Just in a dysfunctional state right now. I talked about Bryan Harsin last Saturday in a column. I would say I’m feeling cautiously optimistic about him. He had a good record at Boise State, but I would say the program wasn’t as prolific under him as it was before him under Chris Peterson. He’s recruiting out West now. There are good players out there. Najee Harris, Bryce Young and before them, Jonah Williams came from California. But he should focus a lot of his attention on Alabama, Georgia and Florida. He needs to get that area going if the Tigers expect to come back to a respectable place in college football and getting back in the upper echelon of the SEC, which puts you in the upper echelon nationally.. I’d put the odds of Harsin succeeding at Auburn at about 52% Yes to 48% No. He’s got a chance, but he HAS to recruit well in that tri-state area and he HAS to get Bo Nix playing football like he is supposed to be playing. Nix was a 5 star, and I’ve seen a 3 star under Gus Malzahn. Harsin needs to get him to 5 star status to get his 2021 team playing stellar football. He needs to recruit linemen on both sides of the ball and, of course, skilled players, every position. Can he succeed? Yes. Will he succeed? Maybe, if he can recruit and develop talent, and the first guy in that development is Nix. I don’t like Auburn’s chances here under Kevin Steele. If Steele has a good bowl game maybe Harsin will keep him. Not clear on that either. Auburn is missing a lot of players. I like Northwestern here. They seem more ready to play.

Northwestern 23, Auburn 17