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