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%