New England Patriots (17-3) vs. Seattle Seahawks (16-3)
Sunday, 5:30 P.M. CT/6:30 P.M. ET, kickoff closer to 5:40/6:40
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA., 75,000
NBC, Streaming on Peacock
Mike, Cris, Melissa, Kaylee, Rules Analyst: Terry McAulay
Lead Laundry: Shawn Smith
Seahawks by 4 1/2, O/U, 45 1/2
Record in NFL Postseason: SU: 6-6, ATS: 5-7, Over/Under, 5-7. Made a pretty good comeback on the straight up after posting a 1-5 mark after Wild Card Weekend. Was 2-4 ATS and 2-4 O/U after the Wild Card Round, so hung fairly tough.
The Seahawks lead the NFL in scoring defense at 17.2 per game, while the Patriots are 4th at 18.8.
But these two quarterbacks, Sam Darnold and Drake Maye, are playmakers, so there will be some points scored. The weather in Santa Clara Sunday afternoon at 3:40 Pacific Time calls for 60+ degrees and 8 MPH winds. It’ll stay relatively steady there throughout the game.
I like Darnold and the terrific Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to make few more plays than Maye and the New England offense. It’s about players in the NFL. Mike McDonald and Mike Vrabel are good coaches for Seattle and New England, respectively, but it’s 85% about players and 15% about coaches in determining how successful an NFL team is. General Managers are big pieces in that, too. More like 5% GM’s and 10% coaches. In college, it’s 80/20, players to coaches, unless you bring an NBA player into the fold like Alabama has done in college basketball. Nice, Oats and Byrne, and the circuit judge who gave Bediako a 10 day stay to play. The circuit court judge’s wife is defending alleged murderer Darius Miles from the tragic shooting of a young woman a couple of years back in Tuscaloosa. They’re big Alabama boosters. There will be another hearing tomorrow to see if Bediako can play the rest of the season. We’ll see which subjective or objective judge is on the bench in Tuscaloosa. Nice work, Alabama. Real great example of competitive integrity. In High School, it’s more like 60% players, 40% coaching. Coaches matter more in high school.
So I’ll take the players of the Seahawks over the players of the Patriots in a solid game. Sam Darnold and the Seahawks hoist the Lombardi Trophy later Sunday Night.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is an absolute warrior (Photo courtesy of The Seattle Times).
The Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots both advanced to Super Bowl LX, representing the NFC and AFC, respectively. Super Bowl 60 will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. on February 8th and will be broadcast by NBC, The Seahawks defeated the LA Rams, 31-27, while the Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos, 10-7.
The Seahawks prevailed over the Rams behind superb play from quarterback Sam Darnold, who completed 25-of-36 passes for 346 yards with 3 TDs against 0 ints. He finished with a quarterback rating of 127.8, which is outstanding. Quarterback ratings are rated from 0-158.3, with below 75, poor; 75-85, below average; 85-95, average to above average; 95-105, very good; and above 105, excellent. Passer rating takes into account completion percentage, yards per attempt, TD rate and int rate. Another popular metric, QBR (Quarterback Rating), is ranked from 0-100, with 70+ very good, 80+ elite and 90+ MVP-like. It rates QBs on passing efficiency, rushing contributions, down, distance, score, opponent strength and clutch plays. There’s a penalty for turnovers. Darnold was at 82.9 against the Rams. The great Matthew Stafford of the Rams was right there with him. Stafford, this year’s more than likely Most Valuable Player in the NFL, completed 22-of-35 for 374, with 3 TDs and 0 ints. His rating was 127.6 and his QBR was 81.5, both outstanding. For the season, Stafford was 412-of-639, 65%, for 4,707 yards, 46 TDs against 8 ints. His rating for the season was 108.2, which is an MVP rating. His QBR was 71, also very good to outstanding.There is an argument that Patriots quarterback Drake Maye should receive the MVP. Maye completed 354-of-492, 72%, with 31 TDs and 8 ints. He rushed for 4 TDs and 169 more yards. Maye’s passer rating was 113.5 and his QBR was 77.1, both excellent numbers. I just like the 37 soon to be 38 year old (Feb. 7th), to be the MVP. He just had more of an impact this season than Maye did, in my opinion. And his numbers were better. I’ll take the Tampa native who played at the University of Georgia from 2006-2008. Darnold completed 323-of-477, 68%, for 4,048 yards, with 25 TDs against 14 ints. His passer rating was 99.1, pretty solid, and his QBR was 55.7, 19th in the league. He had a very good season and Coach Mike McDonald and Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak are elated that he’s a Seahawk, after Darnold spent last season with the Minnesota Vikings before signing a 3 year/$100.5 million contract with the Seahawks after the 2024 season, which included a $55 million guaranteed contract and a $37.5 million signing bonus. I’d say that’s worked out well for both parties so far.
But Maye is still playing after his team’s victory over the Broncos in blizzard-like conditions by the end of the third quarter last Sunday at Mile High. Before I get to that, I want to say that Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the 23 year old, 3rd year wide receiver from Ohio State, looks to be the best wide receiver in the National Football League. He was a dominant player on Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle. JSN caught 10 passes for 153 yards and a six. He was unstoppable and is a key reason the Seahawks are going to Santa Clara for a rematch from Super Bowl 49, in which the Patriots defeated the Seahawks, 28-24, punctuated by a interception by cornerback Malcolm Butler, who played at West Alabama. The Seahawks were on the New England one yard line second and goal and running back Marshawn Lynch was going to carry all 11 Patriots defenders into the end zone if given the opportunity. But Pete Carroll didn’t give him the ball! Instead, Carroll elected to let Russell Wilson throw it. It was one of the most catastrophic coaching decisions in Super Bowl history. He relied on his offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell, who completely blew it with that play call. Lynch was not going to be stoppedd, but Carroll and Bevell cost their franchise a second straight Super Bowl after they won it in 2014. They haven’t ever gotten back until now. Interestingly, I read a book about Bill Belichick titled, Belichick: The Making of the Greatest Football Coach of All Time, written in 2006 by Ian O’Connor, in which O’Connor, of the New York Post and ESPN fame, described Bill as watching Carroll during the final drive, and wasn’t calling timeouts because he knew Carroll would blow it; which he did. Belichick won six Super Bowls with Tom Brady, but was denied election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame yesterday, a surprising move to many. I think it’s poetic justice for Spygate, and his disloyalty to women. He dropped his wife for a younger woman, then dropped her for a 24 year old. Belichick is 49 years older than Jordan Hudson, his now girlriend. He’s struggling at UNC now, too. Let him sweat a little.
The Patriots play outstanding defense under Coach Mike Vrabel. They have a solid offense with Maye under center and the great Josh McDaniels coaching the offense as offensive coordinator. It’s a tougher call on MVP because of Maye’s help in turning this team around the Patriots from 4-13 in 2024, to 14-3 in 2025, finishing in the second spot in the AFC behind Denver, which they defeated last Sunday on the road. Great stuff from the Patriots. I like Stafford though. Maybe I like the older guy, but the stats don’t lie, either. Should be a riveting Super Bowl. Will break it down and predict it next Thursday, 2/5.
Record
This past weekend, AFC/NFC Championship Games: Straight up: 2-0; overall: 6-6; ATS: 2-0, 5-7; O/U: 2-0, 5-7.
The 114th Australian Open/Predictions
Men’s Semifinals: Coverage begins Thursday at 9:30 P.M. CT/10:30 ET on ESPN for the first semi; and at 2:30 A.M. CT/3:30 ET Friday for the second semifinal match on ESPN.
Jannik Sinner over Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Carlos Alcaraz over Alexander Zverev, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
Men’s Final, Sunday, 2:30 A.M. CT/3:30 A.M. ET, ESPN
Sinner vs Alcaraz
These are the two dominant players in tennis right now and for the foreseeable future. The 24 year old Sinner from South Candido, South Tyrol, Italy, and the 22 year old Alcaraz from El Palmar, Murcia, Spain, split the majors in 2025 with Jannik winning the Australian, going back to back, and Wimbledon, and Carlos winning the French Open and the U.S. Open. They have put on epic matches. Jannik has won the 2024 and 2025 Australian, 2025 at Wimbledon, and the 2024 U.S. Open. Carlos has won six majors, the ’24 and ’25 French Opens, 2023 and 2024 at Wimbledon, and the 2022 and 2025 U.S. Opens. His deepest run in the Australian is the quarters, so he’s advanced beyond that this year. This is one phenomenal rivalry in sports. It’ll be a classic.
Sinner over Alcaraz, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.
I’ll take the great Italian to capture his third Australian Open in a row. (Photo courtesy of the BBC).
Women’s Final, Saturday, 2:30 A.M. CT/3:30 ET Saturday
Elina Svitolina vs. Elena Rybakina
I like Elina, the Ukrainian, to defeat Russian Aryna Sabalenka in the semis tomorrow morning at 2:30 CT/3:30 ET, and for Rybakina to defeat American Jessica Pegula after that. Both will be tough matches. Elina will be locked in to defeat Sabalenka. It’s personal for her. In the Final, I look for another classic with the 31 year old from Odessa, Ukraine emerging and capturing her first Grand Slam.
Svitolina over Rybikana, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
The awesome Ukrainian player, Elina Svitolina, captures the Australian. (Photo courtesy of CNN).
‘
Scottie, Farmers Insurance Open Prediction
The great Scheffler aims for more milestones in 2026 (Photo courtesy of Golf Monthly).
The question in 2026 is: can Scottie Scheffler be stopped? Doesn’t look that way after he shot 27 under to capture the American Express last Sunday in La Quinta, CA. and was four shots clear of four, second place finishers. The amazing Scheffler won the PGA Championship and the Open Championship in 2025, at Quail Hollow and Royal Portrush, respectively. After his victory last Sunday, the 29 year old from Dallas, who will be 30 on June 21st, is only the third player to win 20 PGA Tour events before turning 30, joining Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. Now that’s elite. He won’t play this week at the Farmers, but will play next weekend, Super Bowl weekend, at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, a spectacle in golf. Scheffler has four majors to his credit; two Masters titles, in 2022 and 2024, and the 2025 PGA Championship and British Opens. He’s an unstoppable force on Tour. He has all the tools in his bag, and the mental game to go along with it. Very grounded guy. Happily married, deeply pious, has a son, and plays golf to be successful, and what he means by that is winning tournaments and winning majors. He’s also won the Players Championship in 2023 and 2024, and the Arnie in 2022 and 2024, among his 20 victories. As long as his putter is clicking, he’s a juggernaut on the course. There is a lot of competition out there including Rory, who finally won the Masters in 2025, and the great competitor J.J. Spaun, who ground out a 1 under score at the impossible Oakmont Country Club in 2025 to earn the U.S. Open victory, which included a 64 foot birdie putt on 18 to seal it. J.J. was iron. But Scheffler is the Secretariat of golf right now. Brooks Koepka is back on tour. I’m happy about it. He stands to lose 10’s of millions of dollars in future earnings due to his defection to the LIV in 2022. But he’s playing at the Farmer’s. He’s a pretty wealthy guy already, too, so it’s not as major to him as it would be to some other lesser known LIV players. Patrick Reed is coming back and should be eligible later this season and full time in 2027. Looks like Jon Rahm, Bryson and Cam Smith are staying put on the LIV. LIV golfers have until February 2nd to come back to the PGA Tour or the offer is over for this year. These are for LIV players who won a major or the Players since 2022. Reed, who won the Masters in 2018, will play as a non-member and aim to regain full time status in 2027.
The 90th Masters will be played April 9th-12th at Augusta National, the 108th PGA Championship will be played at Aronimink Golf Club in Newton Square, PA., just outside of Philly, May 14th-17th. This’ll be the second time the PGA Championship has ever been played at Aronimink. The first was in 1892? That was before Francis Ouimet played (the 1913 U.S. Open champ at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts). Been a minute. The 126th U.S. Open will be played at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York on Long Island, June 18th-21st. This will be the sixth time the Open will be played at Shinnecock with the other years, 1896, 1986, 1995, 2004 and 2018. The 154th British Open (Excedrin wants me to call it the British Open instead of the Open Championship, so will go with E) will be played at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England July 16th-19th. This will be the 12th British Open at Royal Birkdale. The 52nd Players Championship, with the biggest purse in golf, a $25 million purse, with $4.5 million going to the winner, will be played at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, March 12th-15th.
The 8 Signature events are: 1. the AT&T Pebble Beach February 12th-15th, 2. the Genesis Invitational, Feb. 19th-22nd, 3.the Arnie, March 5th-8th, 4. the RBC Heritage April 16th-19th, 5. the Miami Championship at Doral, April 30th-May 3rd, 6. the Truist Championship (at Quail Hollow), May 7th-10th, 7.the Memorial, June 4th-7th and 8. the Travelers Championship, June 25th-28th. I’ll have more details on the Signature events, location, etc., forthcoming in upcoming weeks. The Signature Events have $20 million purses with $3.6 going to the winner and nice earnings for the top 70 players and ties who make the cut.
Winner at the Travelers Championship
At Torrey Pines North and South Courses in San Diego. North, 7,258 yards, Par 72. South, 7,667 yards, Par 72.
Defending champion: Harris English
Defending Genesis Invitational Champion played at Torrey Pines in 2025 due to wildfires in Pacific Palisades, CA.: Ludvig Aberg.
Weather-Looks good as of now. Could change on the Pacific Coast, but right now calling for mid to high 70’s Thursday through Sunday with winds at 5-10 gusting probably to 15-20 at times. Marine Layer in the morning can cause issues with getting the round started as there is a lot of fog. No big deal for the most part though it can delay play.
The rough will be up to four inches, and the Bentgrass/Poa annua greens will be stimping at 13. The players will play the North and South Courses Thursday and Friday, with each player playing the South one day, and the North the other. After the cut on Friday, the players will play the South exclusively Saturday and Sunday. There are 147 players in the field. The cut is top 70 and ties. For the iconic South Course, No. 16 is a 227 yard, par 3, with two bunkers up front. The prevailing wind will make it more difficult to get it close. No.17 is a 443 yard, par 4, with fairway bunkers on the right that require a high draw to clear. The green is undulating, demanding precision to negotiate the slopes on ir. Front bunkers add to the challenge, and the canyon on the left is another obstacle off the tee. No.18 is a 570 yard, par 5. A major risk/reward hole. With a solid, 3 hundge yard drive, the players will go for it on their second shot and have to clear the pond in front of the green. A lot of hearts have been broken in that pond. The rubber meets the road on Sunday on holes 16 through 18.
TV:
Thursday-Friday, 11 A.M.-2 P.M. CT, 12-3 ET, ESPN. Broadcasting regular events again. At least this one. Golf Channel: 2-6 P.M. CT/3-7 ET; Saturday: 12-2 P.M CT/1-3 P.M. ET Golf Channel. 2-5:30 P.M. CT/3-6:30 ET, CBS. Sunday: 12-2 P.M. CT/ 1-3 ETGC; 2-5 P.M. CT/3-6 ET, CBS.
Odds: Xander Schauffele: 13/1; Aberg: 17/1; Patrick Cantlay: 19/1; Cam Young: 22/1; Hideki: 25/1; Maverick McNealy: 27/1; Si Woo Kim: 27/1; Jason Day: 27/1; Chris Gotterup: 27/1-Sony Open winner; J.J. Spaun: 27/1; Taylor Pendrith: 30/1; Will Zalatoris: 33/1; Samuel Stevens: 35/1; Wyndham Clark: 35/1, Harris English: 40/1; Keegan Bradley: 45/1; Sahith Theegala: 45/1; Adam Scott: 50/1; Justin Rose: 50/1; Max Homa: 55/1; Koepka: 55/1; Davis Thompson, 55/1.
Winner
I’m going to take the 35 year old from L.A. via San Diego State University. He’s won twice on tour, at the 2022 Valero Open in San Antone, and at the 2025 United States Open at the brutal Oakmont, 15 miles northeast of downtown Pittsburgh. If you can win at Oakmont, you can win anywhere. Like Frank Sinatra sang about making it there and making it anywhere. Torrey Pines, Torrey Pines, give me:
J.J. Spaun
Give me John Michael “J.J.” Spaun to capture the Farmers. (Photo courtesy of The South Pasadenan).
Devin McGlockton and our team homes in on the Kentucky Wildcats tonight at Memorial. (Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated).
The Dores come into the game tonight vs Kentucky with a 17-3 record overall and 4-3 in the SEC. We lost three in a row to good opponents, @ Texas, vs. Florida, in a 98-94 heartbreaker, and @ Arkansas. We rebounded last Saturday and handled business at “the Humph” in Starkvegas, defeating the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 88-56. Our terrific sophomore, Tyler Tanner, led the way with 24 points, added 5 rebounds and authored a team high 5 assists. Tyler is playing at an elite level. Duke Miles added 17 points and 4 assists. Our sharpshooting marksman, Tyler Nickel, finished with 13, including 3-of-8 from trifecta. T Nickel is second in the conference in three point percentage making 46% of his attempts, 69-of-149. Jacob Crews of Missouri leads at 47%.
Devin McGlockton finished with 10 points and four rebounds. Jalen Washington gave us super minutes with 8 points and 8 boards. Freshman Chandler Bing added 5 points and 5 boards. Mike James didn’t score, but he pulled down 6 boards. We shot 54% from the field and 32% from deep. We out-rebounded them, 36-34. We also were 10-of-11 from the charity stripe, 91%. We held them to 35% from the field, 19% from triple, and they finished 11-of-17 from the line, 65%. So nice job overall by the team.
The Wildcats are 14-6 overall and 5-2 in the conference, so with us at 4-3, this is a tremendously important game for our guys. No. 30 Texas A&M leads the conference at 6-1. The Aggies are 16-4 overall. No.15 Arkansas, No. 19 Florida and Kentucky are all 5-2 and tied for second place. Arkansas is 15-5 overall, Florida is 14-6 and then Kentucky. We’re at 4-3 tied with Georgia, Missouri and Auburn for 5th place. Unfortunately, it’s a later start tonight on ESPN, but Memorial will be electric. I have some writing duties in the morning, so I’ll have to watch the second half in my office when I get in tomorrow morning. I’ll give you a recap after I watch the second half, if we’re successful. The Wildcats are led in scoring by six foot four inch guard Otega Owen, who averages 16 points. Six-foot-five guard Denzell Aberdeen averages 12 per game. Their seven foot, 250 pound center, Malachi Moreno averages 8.7 ppg and leads them in rebounding at 6.4. Kentucky averages 38.3 boards per game, and we’re at 36.8. Devin is our leader on the glass with 6.7 per game. Jalen Washington adds 5.4. We’ll need to hang with them on the boards, and get after them on the defensive end with T Tanner and Duke creating turnovers for us. Duke and Tyler are numbers one and three, respectively in the SEC in steals. Frankie Collins is number two, but he’s injured and out till mid to late February. That’s my best guesstimate from the intel I’ve gotten. That’s not too far away, though. We need our Tylers, Nickel and Tanner, and Duke to knock down some triples, and for Devin, AK Okereke along with Jalen Washington, Chandler Bing, Tyler Harris, and Mike James making major contributions on both ends of the court. I’ll go ahead and predict it.
Dores 85, Kentucky 82
***Update***: Duke Miles is out tonight, due to injury. Not disclosed exactly what the injury is, but he’s struggled with a leg injury and an illness this season. It’s not long term, but hurts a little tonight. We’ll have to figure it out without him.
Should be a spectacle. Love what Mark is doing. Coach Byington is a stud.
Will have more on our phenomenal men’s team tomorrow, hopefully.
Women’s Basketball
Our No.5 women’s basketball team, which lost a tough one to South Carolina on Sunday on the road, are still 20-1 overall and 6-1 in the SEC. Tennessee leads the conference at 6-0. We’re tied for second place with South Carolina at 6-1. the great Mikayla Blakes leads the conference and is third in the country averaging almost 25 points per game. Coach Shea Ralph is doing a superb job. Just gotta find our rhythm again in our next game. Our Women play No. 17 Ole Miss Friday at 2 P.M. CT/3 ET at Legacy Arena in Birmingham on SEC Network+. The game was moved from Thursday Night in Oxford due to the winter storm that affected so many people this past weekend in the Southeast and throughout the Northeast. Nashville got hit pretty hard. We’re thinking about our friends in Nashville, Atlanta and other cities and towns that were affected by the relentless storm.
Football
Football signed 20 high school players and 17 transfers in this 2026 class. We added several important pieces to our offensive and defensive lines, excellent skill guys, and the prolific 98, 5 star quarterback (Both the On3/Rivals and 247 Sports rankings) Jared Curtis from Nashville Christian. Jared lit it up in high school leading his teams to back to back state championships. His junior season, Jared threw for 2,839 yards, with 40 TDs against only 3 ints. He commandeered Nashville Christian to the state championship in Tennessee’s Division II A level in 2024. He also rushed for 637 yards and 18 TDs. He completed 70% of his throws. This most recent season, 2025, Jared was injured some, but still threw for 1,863 yards, with 31 TDs against 6 ints. He rushed for 536 more yards with 10 rushing TDs. His state championship team in 2024 went 12-1, and this season’s back to back team finished 12-0. In the state championship game, the awesome Curtis threw for 254 yards and 5 TDs, and rushed for 77 more yards and another six in an emphatic 59-7 Nashville Christian victory over University School in Jackson (TN.).
We’re getting a special player in Jared Curtis. We’ve got some weaponry coming back to help him with running back Seddy Alexander and wide receiver Junior Sherrill returning unless something drastic happens in the portal. Clark and the staff have added nice pieces on offense and defense in recruiting, both high school and transfers, and we have some more excellent players returning. So, elated to see what this team can do in 2026. We do have other quarterbacks in Blaze Berlowitz, who looks pretty darn good too, Whit Muschamp, and Walter Taylor, who had been a Commodore a few years back, but transferred and has now transferred back to the West End. So a lot to be excited about with this football team for 2026. Game one is Saturday, September 5th vs Austin Peay in FirstBank.
Baseball
Baseball will be cranking it up soon. Our centerpieces in the lineup are Brodie Johnston, Braden Holcombe and Rustan Rigdon. Catcher Colin Barczi and infielder Mike Mancini are key pieces, who are back as well. We’ve got some nice arms, led by Connor Fennell and Austin Nye. I don’t know a lot about the young guys we have, I’ve read some stuff and they sound talented, but I do like the returners. We were picked 23rd in the D-1 Baseball Preseason Poll, and 17th by Baseball America. We’ll hopefully be a lot better than that. We always have a shot to make it to Omaha under the prolific Tim Corbin. Former player and veteran Cleveland Indians assistant hitting coach Jason Esposito is now our hitting coach, and Corbs and the entire team are ecstatic about that. Jason was a superb third baseman for us. Jason was a .350 hitter, a terrific defender, and played on our first CWS team in 2011. I like what we have in Espo. Our reliable Scott “Brownie” Brown will be back to coach the pitching, and Ty Blankmeyer is our other assistant. I like our players, our staff, and Candice and Chancellor Diermeier have put more resources into the program, which surely helps. Hawkins Field will keep being a superb venue to support our guys, and there will be additions to seating and more aesthetic improvements that are happening right now. It’s an elite stadium already, and will be even moreso after the renovations are complete. Not sure the timeline on that, but will look into it, and get back. We have a superb coach and a superb program. We’ve just gotta keep supporting it. We open with No. 10 TCU on Friday, 2/13/26, at 3 P.M. CT/ 4 P.M. ET in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown. We play unranked but solid and usually ranked Texas Tech on Saturday, 2/14/26, at 11 A.M. CT/12 P.M. ET. And, on Sunday, we play unranked but highly successful and respected Oklahoma State at 10:30 A.M. CT/11:30 A.M. ET. I’m sure MLB Network or some other outlet will televise. I’ll look into that as well, and let you know on that in the upcoming days.
Women’s Tennis
Our No. 19 Women’s Tennis team just defeated No.7 Michigan on the road to punch their ticket to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship. Awesome stuff from Coach Aleke Tsoubanos and our women. Will keep you apprised on the women’s progress in the Indoor Championship. We’ll play Northwestern at home this coming Sunday, Feb. 1st before heading to Illinois for the Indoors.
Will keep you posted on Men’s Basketball, Baseball, Football, Women’s Basketball and tennis, both Men’s and Women’s, and anything else that comes up in the upcoming days. Anchor Down and let’s get the job done tonight at Memorial.
Fernando Mendoza has a lot to smile about. A National Championship and a high chance of becoming the No.1 pick of the Las Vegas Raiders in the NFL Draft on Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 in Pittsburgh. (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia).
Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers were not going to be denied in 2025. The Miami Hurricanes gave it everything they had, but the Hoosiers proved with elite quarterback play, terrific skilled players, and powerful, physical lines on both sides of the ball, along with an elite secondary, it would not be stopped as they won the National Championship on Monday Night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, 27-21. Curt Cignetti fast-tracked the vision for Indiana Football when he came to Bloomington in 2024. He took his 2024 team to the College Football Playoff, then won it all this season. It’s one of the greatest stories in college football history, and that’s not an exaggeration. Indiana finished 16-0, only the second team to do it in college football history. The last was in, 1894? The Yale Bulldogs did it. As the street band in Rocky sang , that’ll “Take it Back,” (Roy Morton, Lead Vocalist at Cash’s in Fort Walton). So, historic in college football. They’ll have a good team in 2026 with TCU transfer Josh Hoover taking over at quarterback. Hoover throws some interceptions, so he’s not as accurate as Mendoza was this season. Mendoza threw for 41 TDs against only 6 ints, completing 72% of his passes. For TCU in 2025, Hoover threw 29 TDs, but tossed 13 interceptions, completing 66% of his passes. He’s good. We’ll see if he can be prolific. Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, Texas Tech, if they can find better quarterback play, Ole Miss, LSU, I see Kiffin having a good team as he signed the nation’s number 1 transfer class, which included the best quarterback in the transfer portal, Sam Leavitt from Arizona State. In 2025 for ‘Zona State, Leavitt threw 10 TDs against 3 ints, as he only played in 7 games due to injury. But in 2024, Leavitt threw for 24 TDs against 6 ints, leading the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff. He’s the real deal in my opinion. So LSU may very well be a factor in 2026. Alabama and Auburn have a lot to get figured out. If Keelon Russell or Austin Mack can deliver at quarterback and the Tide can be more physical on the line of scrimmage and in the running game, they could be a competitor in the SEC, and, possibly, nationally. A lot of work ahead for them though to get to that point. New Auburn coach Alex Golesh brought in Byrum Brown from his old school, South Florida, to be his starting quarterback in 2026. Brown put up excellent numbers in 2025, throwing for 28 TDs against 7 ints, completing 66% of his passes, for 3,158 yards. He also rushed for 1,008 yards and 14 TDs. He’s dynamic, but he’ll have to have some help.
Is the Big Ten now better than the SEC? It sure looks that way. They’ve won the last three national championships and the SEC hasn’t played in any one of those games. Greg Sankey needs to figure out something out to get this conference highly relevant again in football. Maybe it’s coaching, or, more likely, the NIL/transfer portal has totally changed the landscape of college football. It’s a combination of both, but more likely the NIL/Transfer component of it. Teams that have the resources, Indiana has Mark Cuban, among others, supporting it They have an advantage. Oregon has Phil Knight. Ohio State has the resources. Texas Tech has a billionaire on their side. Texas has got all the resources they need.
There needs to be a salary cap and binding contracts for this system to work. Some way to keep this out of control, Wild, Wild West mentality more under control. Auburn is spending. Georgia spends. LSU spends. Ole Miss spends. Alabama may be a little behind in that regard, but is still recruiting well. The Crimson Tide had another top five class in 2026. They’ve just got to develop better and figure out a way to keep players. Some players are just playing for the paychecks, so it’s out of the coaches’ hands. Makes it frustrating for coaches, fans, everybody who loves college football.
The regular season and the Playoff were captivating still, and there should be the same electricity in 2026. But there needs to be some leadership in college football that will try to clean up this mess that is the transfer portal and NIL. More rules, please!
Final 2025 College Football Record
Straight up, Bowls/Playoff:13-8; 2025 season 174-58, 75%.
Against the Spread: Bowls/Playoff: 12-9; 108-124, 47%. Rough sledding on the ATS this season. Is what it is. Regrouping for 2026.
Over/Under: Bowls: 15-6; 123-109, 53%.
NFL Championship Game Predictions
Jarrett Stidham gets the start Sunday for the Broncos vs. the Patriots, replacing the injured Bo Nix. (Photo courtesy of The Boston Globe).
Record for 2025 Postseason
Divisional Round SU: 3-1; overall in Playoffs: 4-6; ATS: 1-3; 3-7; O/U: 1-3, 3-7. Not so stellar so far this season. More chances, however. Not enough, but can have a salvageable record.
Sunday
AFC Championship Game
New England Patriots (16-3, 8-0 Away) @ Denver Broncos (15-3, 9-1 home)
Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, 76,125
2:30 P.M. CT
CBS
Jim, Tony, Tracy, Evan. Gene-rules analyst
Referee: Alex Kemp
Patriots by 4 ½, 42 ½
The Denver defense leads the NFL in sacks with 68, and New England quarterback Drake Maye has fumbled 20 times in 2025, including the postseason, losing 6 of them. But Denver is starting Jarrett Stidham, the former Baylor and Auburn quarterback, who hasn’t thrown a pass since 2023. His career stats in 7 seasons are 117-of-197, 59%, 1,422 yards, 8 TDs against 8 ints. Maye has thrown 35 TDs against 10 ints, so he’s been effective most of the season. The Patriots are stout on defense as well. If Bo Nix hadn’t broken his ankle last Saturday against Buffalo, I would have picked Denver at Mile High. But I can’t get over the fact that Stidham hasn’t thrown a pass in 2 years.I like Sean Payton and the Denver defense to keep it close but for the Patriots to prevail and move on to Super Bowl LX and play for the coveted Lombardi Trophy at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Sunday, February 8th, at 5:30 P.M. CT on NBC.
Kevin, Tom, Erin, Tom R. Mike Pereira & Dean Blandino, rules analysts.
Ref: Clay Martin
Seahawks by 2 ½, 46 ½
Matthew Stafford will find a way to score some points against the Seahawks, despite the fact that the Seahawks are the number one scoring defense in the NFL, giving up 17.2 points per game. But I gotta take the home team here. Give me Seattle in a tight game. Seattle goes to Super Bowl LX from the NFC with a lot of momentum. Mike McDonald is a terrific coach for the Seahawks. But the great Sean McVay and his quarterback, Stafford, will certainly make it a thriller.
Two excellent football minds compete in the National Championship against one another at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami as Curt Cignetti (left) takes on Mario Cristobal. (Photo courtesy of NBC News).
Two powerful football teams square off tonight for the National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. as the seemingly unbeatable No.1 Indiana Hoosiers take on the hard-nosed, athletic No. 10 Miami Hurricanes. Which team will emerge victorious in the game and capture the coveted and legacy making national championship trophy?
Indiana has been an unstoppable force all season and goes for the first ever 16-0 record in college football history. They plowed through the regular season with a few scares at Iowa and Penn State, and a hard fought regular season victory over Oregon and a battle with Ohio State, the latter happening in the Big Ten Championship Game, as the Hoosiers defeated the Buckeyes 13-10. Then in the Playoff, the Hoosiers dominated the Crimson Tide, 38-3, with Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza completing 14-of-16 passes for 192 yards and 3 TDs against 0 ints. In the semifinals, Indiana dominated Oregon, which they had defeated in the regular season, 30-20, at Eugene, by a score of 56-22 in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The game was no contest as Mendoza completed 17 of 20 for 177 with 5 TDs against 0 ints in the shellacking. Mendoza has thrown 8 TDs in the Playoff to only five Incompletions. And no interceptions, of course. Head spinning stuff. Mendoza has an awesome offensive line in front of him and terrific skilled players around him. Running back Roman Hemby has rushed for 1,060 yards and 7 TDs. RB Kaelon Black has added 961 and 10 TDs, RB Khobie Martin has rushed for 505 yards and 6 TDs. And Mendoza has rushed for 284 and 6, sixes. For the season, Mendoza has completed 257 of 352, 73%, for 3,349 yards, 41 TDs to 6 ints. His receiving cast of Omar Cooper Jr. (64-866, 13 TDs), Elijah Sarratt (62-802, 15 TDs), Charlie Becker (30-614-4) and E.J. Williams Jr. (36-438, 6) is superb. The defense is the No.2 scoring defense in the country allowing 11.07 points per game. The Hoosiers also lead the country in turnover margin at +21. In his last five games, Mendoza has thrown 15 TDs against only 1 int. They’re a load.
For Miami, Carson Beck, his skilled players and that terrific defensive front 7 will have to play at an extremely high level in order to win this football game. In his last five games, Beck has thrown for 11 TDs to only 2 ints. Against Texas A&M, in the Hurricanes first round playoff game @College Station, Beck completed 14-of-20 for 103 yards with a TD and an int in a 10-3 Canes’ victory. In the quarters against Ohio State at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Beck completed 19-of-26 for 138, with one TD and 0 ints in a 24-14 Canes’ victory. And against Ole Miss in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Semifinal game, Beck played well, going 23-of-37 for 268 with 2 TDs against 1 int, which included the game winning 3 yard TD run in which he galloped into the end zone to lead the Canes to the 31-27 victory. It was thrilling to watch even though White’s World had predicted Ole Miss to win. In the Canes game winning drive that started with two and half minutes left, Beck completed passes of 17, on a crucial 3rd and 10 at the Ole Miss 35 with 45 seconds left to get the ball to the Ole Miss 18. Then on 2nd and 11 at the Ole Miss 19, Beck completed an 11 yard pass to get the ball to the Ole Miss 8 with 31 seconds left. Two plays later, he ran it in from the 3 with 18 seconds left to put the Canes up 31-27. They held off a final 35 yard pass from Trinidad Chambliss to the end zone to claim the victory. For the season, Beck completed 319-of-435, 73%, for 3,561 yards, with 29 TDs against 11 ints. Running back Mark Fletcher rushed for 1,080 yards and 10 TDs, and Malachi Toney, the freshman phenom wide receiver, caught 99 passes for 1,089 yards and 9 TDs. Wide receiver Keylan Marion caught 56 for 740 with 2 TDs. And WR C.J. Daniels caught 46 for 495 and 7 TDs. The Miami offensive front is stout and the defensive front, led by Akheem Mesidor (10 1/2 sacks, -64 yards) and Rueben Bain Jr. (8 1/2, -49 yards), is highly formidable. Miami has 16 ints on the season on D, and is 12th in the country in turnover margin at +11. Indiana is second in the country in rushing defense and Miami is 6th. Indiana allows just 75 yards rushing and Miami allows 85 yards. Miami is 5th in the country in scoring defense at 14 ppg. One glaring difference is in the penalty numbers. Indiana is 10th in the country, having committed 55 penalties for 403 yards, while Miami is tied for 130th, having committed 105 for 856 yards.
Below are the details of the game and the prediction after I give you a recap of the NFL Divisional Games, which were spectacular, for the most part. Also, a look ahead to the NFC and AFC Championship Games this Sunday.
NFL Divisional Round Games Recaps
The four NFL Divisional games were amazing over the weekend, for the most part, with Denver outlasting the Buffalo Bills, 33-30, in overtime, and Seattle destroying the 49ers, 41-6. Both of those games were played on Saturday. On Sunday, the Patriots blasted the Texans, 28-16, in a game in which the Texans self destructed on offense despite an awesome performance by defensive end Will Anderson Jr. And the Rams defeated the magician, Caleb Williams, and the Bears, 20-17, in overtime at Soldier Field. Three out of the four home teams won in the Divisional Round with the exception being the Bears, even though Williams threw a miraculous 14 yard TD pass to Cole Kmet with 18 seconds left in regulation in which Williams ran backwards 20 yards, then darted away from the pass rush and heaved it into the end zone for a miracle touchdown, which tied the game at 17. The Rams intercepted Willams in overtime on the Bears second possession and the great Matthew Stafford, who should be the MVP of the league this season, led the Rams to the game winning field goal for a 20-17 Rams victory. Denver had a terrific Saturday afternoon at Mile High until they found out after the game that quarterback Bo Nix fractured his ankle and is out for the rest of the postseason. Former Baylor and Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham will get the start on Sunday versus the Patriots. Nix, as most of you know, played at Auburn before finishing his college career at Oregon. Stidham hasn’t thrown a pass in the NFL since 2023. The Patriots are a 5 1/2 point favorite over the Broncos in Denver, and the tenacious Seahawks are a 2 1/2 point favorite over the Rams in Seattle. New England @ Denver is the first game this Sunday, 1/25/26, at 2 P.M. CT on CBS, while the Rams @ Seattle play at 5:30 P.M. on FOX right after that. Should be electric.
Will have those previews/predictions on Thursday. Unfortunately for Buffalo coach Sean McDermott, he was fired this morning by the Bills. He was solid, but could never get his team to the Super Bowl in 9 seasons at the helm with a superstar quarterback in Josh Allen. So many missed opportunities. Allen should take some of the blame, too. McDermott could be a candidate for other NFL openings. Certainly a fine coach, but has made some questionable in game decisions that have cost his teams key victories throughout his tenure. The other question is, can any coach get Josh Allen to lead his team to a Lombardi Trophy? Allen has missed out on a lot of chances in his 8 seasons in the league, all at Buffalo. Not all his fault, but he has to take some of the blame.
Back to College Football
Record in Bowl games/Playoff Games through the semifinals and Overall record for 2025:
The National Championship, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, 75,000
6:30 CT
ESPN
Chris, Kirk, Holly, Molly
Yella: Michael VanderVelde, Big 12
Hoosiers by 7 1/2, 46 1/2
I like both of these teams very much, but the Hoosiers seem to be a team of destiny. What Curt Cignetti has done in two years at Indiana would make for a riveting non-fiction book and a captivating movie, based on a true story, which he said himself after the Rose Bowl victory. He’s confident to the point of arrogance, but he has backed it up so far. I like Mario Cristobal and Miami, and the game is at their home stadium, so that has to help the cause. But these Hoosiers fans travel, and they’ll probably fill up at least half of Hard Rock. I would pick it closer because Miami is high quality, but there isn’t a team that can stop this indomitable force that is Indiana.
Josh Allen, after leading his team to an impressive 27-24 victory at Jacksonville last Sunday, leads his team this Saturday into Mile High to take on the Broncos in the Divisional Round. (Photo courtesy of Bleacher Report).
Riveting lineup this Saturday and Sunday in the National Football League as the Playoffs ratchet up even moreso as the Divisional Round commences. Eight teams will compete in four games playing for the right to advance to the coveted NFC and AFC Championship Games, and take one more step towards the goal of playing in Super Bowl LX and hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. Super Bowl 60 takes place Sunday, February 8th, 2026 at 5:30 P.M. CT on NBC and Peacock.
There are superb quarterbacks and defenses featured in these Divisional Round games, and both of those facets of a team can help that team win a Lombardi Trophy. Here are previews and predictions for this weekend’s contests.
Last weekend, Saturday-Monday: Straight up: 1-5. Four games decided inside the last minute. Spectacular finishes that didn’t go White’s World’s Way. Regroup and recover. ATS: 2-4; Over/Under: 2-4.
Bo Nix passed for 3,931 yards this season on 388-of-612 completions, 63%, with 25 TDs against 11 ints. The Bills’ Josh Allen completed 319-of-460, 69%, for 3668 yards, throwing for 25 TDs against 10 ints. Allen was awesome against the Jaguars last Sunday completing 28-of-35 for 273 with a TD and no ints in a 27-24 Bills victory. Allen also rushed for a couple of scores. I would say the quarterback edge goes to Allen, but the Denver defense is strong, and I like the Sean Payton factor over Bills coach Sean McDermott. Payton’s won a Super Bowl and always makes the clutch/game winning decisions. I’ve seen McDermott blow it in the clutch. Give me Payton and the Denver defense to enable the Broncos to “matriculate.” I expect a very compelling, hard fought game though.
Broncos 20, Bills 17
The prolific Christian McCaffrey will lead his Niners’ attempt to upset the Seahawks at Lumen Field. (Photo courtesy of The New York Times).
San Francisco 49ers (13-5, 8-2 Away) @ Seattle Seahawks (14-3, 6-2)
Lumen Field, Seattle,72,000
7 P.M.
FOX
Kevin, TB12, EA, Tom R.
Laundry, John Hussey
Seahawks by 7, 45 1/2
The 49ers are very good on defense, but the Seahawks, under head coach and defensive guru Mike McDonald, are prolific. They bring back memories of the Legion of Boom defenses Seattle had with safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, and linebacker Bobby Wagner in the 2012-14 seasons for Seattle. This Seahawks D is pretty awesome too. Christian McCaffrey is the X factor for the Niners. If he has another tremendous game, which he is always capable of, the Niners can steal one away in Seattle. But I’ll take McDonald and his defense. Quarterback Sam Darnold is erratic for Seattle, and can’t run at all, and Brock Purdy has been playing well. But Niners all world tight end George Kittle is out with a torn Achilles suffered last Sunday versus the Eagles and that really hurts the Niners’ cause. I’ll take McDonald and the Seattle defense at home, but in another hard fought heavyweight bout.
Seahawks 23, Niners 20
Sunday
The great Will Anderson Jr. aims to wreak havoc on Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. (Photo courtesy of Bleacher Report).
Houston Texans (13-5, 6-3 away) @ New England Patriots (15-3, 7-3)
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA. 65,878
2 P.M. CT
ESPN/ABC
Joe, Troy, Lisa, Laura
A little lighter on the Starch, Eddie: Shawn Smith
Patriots by 3, 40 1/2
This DeMeco Ryans’ defense, led by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter on the bookends, lead the Texans to the upset in Foxborough and on to the AFC Championship Game.
Texans 17, Patriots 14
Caleb Williams looks to generate more magic for the Bears at home in the Divisional Round. (Photo courtesy of Heavy Sports).
Los Angeles Rams (13-5, 6-4) @ Chicago Bears (12-6, 7-2)
Soldier Field, Chitown, 61,500
5:30 P.M.
NBC/Peacock
MIke, Cris, Melissa, Kaylee
Irondale Coin Laundry, Shawn Hochuli
Rams by 4, 48 1/2
Matthew Stafford, and wide receiver Puka Nacua are terrific, and this Rams team is on a mission. Caleb Williams was superb last Saturday Night in bringing his Bears back from a 21-3 halftime deficit leading them to victory over the Packers at Soljuh Field, 31-27. It was an amazing performance by the great Williams. But I am just really bullish on this LA team.
Rams 24, Bears 17
Monday Night, 1/19/26, 6:30, ESPN
National Championship Game
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL.
No. 10 Miami (13-2) vs. No. 1 Indiana (15-0)
Line as of now: Indiana by 8 1/2, 47 1/2
Preview/Prediction
Can the Canes knock off the seemingly unbeatable Hoosiers at the Canes’ home stadium, Hard Rock, though there will be a ton of Hoosiers in Miami cheering on their team as well. Will check in with you on that classic on Monday. Have a great rest of your week/weekend and enjoy the games.
Matthew Stafford leads a loaded Rams team into Bank of America Stadium to face the Carolina Panthers (Photo courtesy of NBC News).
The College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl was electric on Thursday Night with Miami quarterback Carson Beck galloping into the end zone with 20 seconds left to clinch the 31-27 Hurricanes’ victory over Ole Miss in Glendale, AZ. Trinidad Chambliss and Ole Miss made it interesting in the final seconds with a Chambliss pass into the end zone that was just a little long as the Miami defensive back was all over the Ole Miss receiver. It could have been called PI, but in the final seconds the refs usually let it go. Sometimes they call it, but more often that not, they don’t.
The No.10 Canes will square off with the juggernaut No.1 Indians Hoosiers, which blasted No.5 Oregon Friday night in the Chick-fil-A Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, 56-22. Curt Cignetti, Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers look unstoppable, but the Canes will be playing at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, 1/19/26 at 6:30 P.M. CT on ESPN, so that gives them hope. Will have that prediction on that Monday morning, 1/19/26.
Trinidad Chambliss, heartbreakingly, was denied a waiver by the NCAA to play for a sixth season at Ole Miss, which would have been his second in Oxford. Trinidad’s lawyer said it will be up to Trinidad if he want’s to appeal to the state Supreme Court of Mississippi. Tough break. Trinidad may just want to try the NFL with not as strong a quarterback class this season going out for the draft. But it would be awesome if he could win an appeal and return to Oxford, or another school. because Ole Miss is now scrambling to get a quarterback for next season as their backup, Austin Simmons, has transferred as well. Trinidad sure availed himself well against Miami Thursday Night leading the Rebels to the near upset victory. Will keep you posted on what transpires with Trinidad/Ole Miss.
Onto the National Football League with the first round/Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs starting today and running through Monday featuring six electric matchups with everything on the line. Here are details and predictions for these classics. Highly entertaining time in the NFL.
2024 NFL Playoff records: Straight up: 9-4; ATS: 9-4; Over/Under: 5-8, just getting started with the Over/Under then and it was a learning curve..
Today
Los Angeles Rams (12-5, 5-4 Away) @ Carolina Panthers (8-9, 5-3, Home)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte,75,000
3:30 P.M. CT
FOX
Joe Davis, Greg Olsen, Pam Oliver, Kristina Pink
Laundry, Clete Blakeman and Crew
Rams by 10, O/U-44 1/2
I’m going to take Bryce and the Panthers to pull off the upset at Bank of America. They’ve already defeated the Rams at home in November, 31-28, so I’ll take’em again.
Carolina 24, Rams 21
Green Bay Packers (9-7-1, 4-4-1 away) @ Chicago Bears (11-6, 6-3 home)
Soldier Field, Chicago, 62, 500
7 P.M.
Amazon Prime Video
Al, Kirk, Kaylee
Yella Wood, Adrian Hill
Packers by 1 1/2, 44 1/2
I’ll take Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs and the Pack on the road in a lower scoring game as the wind will be blowing at 15 to 20 in Soljuh Field.
I like Trevor Lawrence and the Jags to advance. This should be a little more higher scoring.
Jacksonville 28, Buffalo 24
San Francisco 49ers (12-5, 7-2 Away) @ Philly Eagles (11-6, 5-3 Home)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, 67,594
3:30 P.M. CT
FOX
Kevin, Tom, EA, Tom
Suds and Duds, David Fullington, I mean, Alan Eck
Eagles by 6, 43 1/2
Give me Jalen, Crimson Tide 2020 Heisman Trophy winner and National Champion DeVonta Smith (thank you Vanderbilt sportswriting great Bo Carter for reminding me), Saquon, A.J. and that stellar Eagles defense. Windy in Philly, too. Fifteen to 20 as well.
Eagles 17, 49ers 10
LA Chargers (11-6, 5-3 Away) @ New England Patriots (14-3, 6-3 Home)
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA.
7 P.M. CT
NBC/Peacock
MIke, Cris, Melissa
Aladdin, Ron Torbert, be ready for a lot of y-ello
Patriots by 3 1/2, 46 1/2
I’m going to take another upset here. Give me Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert and the Chargers.
The great Trinidad Chambliss leads the Rebels into the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, AZ. vs the Miami Canes. (Photo courtesy of CBS Sports).
The College Football Playoff Semifinals kickoff Thursday with an electric matchup as the Ole Miss Rebs square off with the Miami Hurricane, and continues Friday as the Indiana Hoosiers take on the Oregon Ducks. Both games are at 6:30 P.M. Central and will be broadcast by E-S-P-N. NIce matchups, though I know Alabama fans are disappointed with the effort against the Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl last Thursday, 1/1/26. Ty Simpson has decided to go out for the 2026 NFL Draft in April, so consensus 4 star transfer Austin Mack, out of the University of Washington, where he came from in 2024, and consensus 5 star Keelon Russell, out of Duncanville, Texas will battle for QB1 at the University. Russell was a 2025, 100, 5 star by 247 Sports and a 99 by On3, of the Rivals/On3 Network. So, nice choices to have battling it out for Alabama. There are also two, 4 stars coming in: dude from Iowa and a cat from Honolulu The Hawaiian was a three star by a couple of services, but 247 has him listed as a 90, four star. They’ll probably battle for backup roles. The spring will be interesting in Tuscaloosa as Kalen DeBoar will try to have to figure out how to get his teams playing much more consistent football in 2026. Like do a 180. The offensive line will have only one returning starter in right tackle Michael Carroll, but that might be a good thing, though left tackle Kadyn Proctor, a 99, 5 star out of high school out in Iowa, and 4 star center Parker Brailsford, a Washington transfer, were both good players. They are both heading to the NFL Draft. The others are out of eligibility and trying out for the draft or transferred. So there will be re-tooling up front.
Alex Golesh is already making his mark at Auburn. He’s brought in some receivers from South Florida, his former employer, and just brought in 4-star transfer quarterback Byron Brown from USF as well. Very nice upgrade for the Tigers at QB, though Ashton Daniels played well at the end of this season for the Tigers. However he transferred to FSU. Still think Auburn got the better end of that deal. Golesh has lost several players in the portal, including prolific wide receiver Cam Coleman, but Golesh has a lot of energy and the financial support is tremendous with approximately $30 million to work with. That can get you a lot of transfers. So it appears Auburn is heading in the right direction. I’ve heard Coach Golesh in interviews and he’s sharp. Auburn looks to have done well with Golesh, at least from the early returns.
Back to the semis, there should be some riveting college football Thursday and Friday, and with the NFL Playoffs coming up this weekend also, this football weekend will be terrific. The NFL Wild Card Round commences Saturday and continues through Monday with 6 games on tap. Can Bryce Young and the Panthers knock off the 10 1/2 point favorite Rams? It’ll be tough, but Carolina has a very good team, and should have won the division outright last Saturday at Tampa if it wasn’t for some pathetically bad calls by the officiating crew. Also, I don’t know if you stayed up for the Ravens-Steelers game Sunday Night, but it was so tough to see Coach John Harbaugh, Derrick “O’Neal” Henry and the Ravens go down after a beyond spectacular catch by tight end Isaiah Likely, in which he leapt four feet in the air and pulled down Lamar’s pass on fourth and seven with the game in its final seconds setting up the kicker for the game winning, what should have been a chip shot 44 yard field goal for NFL kickers. But the rookie kicker, Tyler Loop, a rookie from Zona, was gag city and pushed the kick to the right as time expired allowing the Steelers to win and clinch the division and “matriculate” to the playoffs, while the Ravens were heartbreakingly done for the season. It cost Coach Harbaugh his job, which is a shame. But maybe he needed a break from Lamar. He’ll get a shot somewhere else. The New York Giants are a potential suitor, among others.
Auburn lost a tough one last night in basketball to A&M and the prolific Bucky McMillan with a last second Auburn three, that would have won the game for the Tigers, called no basket upon review. I had called it a night, so didn’t see it, but it sounded extremely close. Coach McMillan said afterwards the officials missed the out of bounds pass before that and didn’t take any time off the clock, so the call was justified. Depends on if you’re an Aggie or a Tiger. Tough for Coach Steven Pearl and the Tigers. They are a good team, but have just run up on some tough luck so far, at Athens last Saturday in overtime, and in the final seconds at the Jungle last night vs A&M.
The No.13 Crimson Tide takes on the No.11 Vanderbilt Commodores in Memorial Coliseum in Nashvegas at 8 P.M. CT on ESPN2. I Will stay up for this one. Should be captivating.
Here are previews and predictions for the College Football Semifinal Games Thursday and Friday.
2025Bowl game record: Straight up: 11-7; ATS: 11-7; Over/Under: 14-4.
Overall record in 2025: SU: 172-57, 75%, ATS: 107-122, 47%; O/U: 122-107, 53%.
Went 1-3 Straight up in the quarters, 2-2 ATS and 4-0 O/U.
Got Miami right straight up, was successful predicting Miami and Ole Miss Against the Spread and had the under for the first three quarter (bounce, Sharpsburg Drive, Bama Golf) games and picked the over for Ole Miss-Georgia. Trinidad took care of the over for me.
One game Thursday and the Other on Friday. All times are Central. All rankings are Playoff Rankings.
Thursday
No.10 Miami (12-2) vs. No.6 Ole Miss (13-1)
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ., 72,000
6:30 P.M.
ESPN
Chris, Kirk, Holly, Laura
Canes by 3 1/2, 52 1/2
Miami quarterback Carson Beck, the Georgia transfer, has completed 74% of his passes this season for 27 TDs against 10 ints. He has been extremely good the past 5 games completing 104 of 134, 78%, with 12 TDs against only one interception. I don’t trust him all the time, but he has been very good lately. He only threw for 138 yards against Ohio State last New Year’s Eve, 12/31/25, but he threw a TD, was 19 of 26, and he threw no interceptions. Freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney has caught 94 passes for 1,008 yards with 8 TDs, but has fumbled three times in the last two games, so he Has to not fumble for the Canes to do well. Running back Mark Fletcher has rushed for 947 yards and 10, sixes. CJ Daniels is a very good receiver also for the Canes with 42 receptions for 469 and 7, sixes. With all of those excellent offensive numbers, the number one factor in the Hurricanes’ success however, and particularly against A&M and Ohio State in the Playoff, is their lockdown defense. Mr. Akheem Mesidor and Mr. Rueben Bain Jr. are tenacious bookends on the defensive front. Mr. Mesidor has 12 TFLs for -67 yards and 7 sacks for -52. Mr Bain Jr. has 7 1/2 TFLs for -39 and 4 1/2 sacks for -31. Keionte Scott is a tremendous cornerback with 10 TFLs, 3 sacks and he had a 72 yard pick six on Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin in the Cotton Bowl last Wednesday, 12/31/25. So Miami has the studs on both sides of the ball.
With that said, give me Pete, Trinidad, running back Kewan Lacy and the Rebels. Chambliss has passed for 3,660 yards, 21 TDs against only three ints. Lacy has rushed for 1,506 yards and 23 TDs. Chambliss has rushed for 600 more and 8 TDs himself. Pete has the defense playing well. I like the Rebels. Give me America’s Team.
Ole Miss 21, Miami 17
Friday
No.1 Indiana (14-0) vs. No.5 Oregon (13-1)
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, 76,000
6:30 P.M.
ESPN
Sean, Gregory, Molly, Katie
Hoosiers by 3 1/2, 47 1/2
I’ll take Coach Cignetti, quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the super talented and physical Hoosiers. They’re just too much for Oregon. The over/under for how weird Mendoza’s interview will be after the game is 9 out of a scale of 1-10. Thank you may I have the over.
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza leads a pretty healthy favorite Hoosiers squad into Pasadena vs the Crimson Tide. (Photo courtesy of The Los Angeles Times).
The College Football Playoff Quarterfinals are right upon us and it couldn’t be more electric. The coaching soap opera, the NIL/transfer portal dysfunction, all of that can be thrown by the wayside and we can concentrate on these riveting playoff matchups now . No.2 Ohio State squares off with No. 10 Miami in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Wednesday at 6:30 P. M. CT on ESPN. Then on Thursday, to kick it off, No. 5 Oregon locks horns with the No.4 Red Raiders of Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl at 11 A.M. CT on ESPN. The No.9 Crimson Tide competes with the No.1 Indiana Hoosiers and Heisman Trophy winner quarterback Fernando Mendoza in what looks like a rainy Rose Bowl at 3 P.M. CT on ESPN after the Orange Bowl. And that night, the No.6 Rebels of Ole Miss with the great Pete Golding and stellar Trinidad Chambliss face the No.3 Georgia Bulldogs and the prolific Kirby Smart at 7 CT in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in N’Awlins on ESPN. There are four other bowl games besides these classics that look riveting as well. Previews and predictions for those as well. Here is the upcoming slate of phenomenal football action as we close in on 2026.
Bowls/Playoff Recordthus far. Overall in the 2025 season.
The story of this 112th edition of the “Grandaddy of them All” is the weather, somewhat unfortunately. It’s predicted to be wet and sloppy in Pasadena. The Crimson Tide is a pretty substantial underdog. It’s about Mendoza, the Indiana running game and its defense according to a lot of “experts.” But the Crimson Tide plays exceptional defense too, and LT Overton is back on one bookend of the defense and a guy I really like, running back Kevin Riley, is back for the Tide also. I like the four and five star talent of the Crimson Tide better here. It’s going to be a slugfest in what is predicted to be a rainy and muddy field. Give me the Crimson Tide to pull off the upset and head to the semis with a full head of steam to face the Texas Tech-Oregon winner. If it doesn’t rain as much, I’m still taking the Tide.
Alabama 14, Indiana 10
Wednesday
Goodyear Cotton Bowl
No.10 Miami (11-2) vs. No.2 Ohio State (12-1)
AT&T Stadium, Jerry country, Arlington, TX. (80,000-100,000-can expand)
6:30 P.M.
ESPN
Dave, Dusty, Taylor, Quint
Buckeyes by 9 1/2, 41 1/2
Some serious defense in this game, but I like the experienced quarterback Carson Beck over the inexperienced Julian “Just” Sayin, and a strong running game that is equal to the Buckeyes as well as a ferocious defense that is every bit as good as Ohio State’s. Give me the Canes.
Miami 20, Ohio State 17
Thursday
Capital One Orange Bowl
No. 5 Oregon (12-1) vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1)
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, 65, 326
11 A.M.
ESPN
Tess, Jess, Katie, Stormy
Ducks by 2 1/2, 51 1/2
Give me stellar linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and superb defensive end David Bailey and the Red Raiders to move on and face the Crimson Tide in the Chick-fil-A Bowl Friday, 1/9/26, at 6:30 P.M. CT on ESPN. Love this Red Raider defense.
Texas Tech 24, Oregon 21
Allstate Sugar Bowl
No.6 Ole Miss (12-1) vs. No.3 Georgia (12-1)
Caesars Superdome, New Or-leans, 73,208
7 P.M.
ESPN
Sean, Gregory, Molly, Laura
Them Dawgs by 6 1/2, 56 1/2
I like a really, really dynamic football game here. What a job Pete Golding has done with the team, and, even more impressively, what a job quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and the Rebels players have done through all of this Kiffin turmoil. They’ve hung tough through it all. I like this to be a phenomenal game, but for Kirby and his Dawgs to just get through a physical, riveting contest. You hate to see anybody lose this game. Both teams are so likeable. Georgia moves on to face Miami in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at 6:30 P.M. CT Thursday, 1/8/26 on ESPN.
Georgia 35, Ole Miss 31
Today’s Bowl Games
Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl
Tennessee (8-4) vs. Illinois (8-4)
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, 69,143
4:30 P.M.
ESPN
Tom, JRodg, Cole
Vols by 2 1/2, 62 1/2
I like the slight upset here. Feel like Illinois is more excited to be in this game than Tennessee is. But expecting a very close contest.
Illinois 31, Tennessee 30
Valero Alamo Bowl
No. 16 USC (9-3) vs. TCU (8-4)
Alamodome, San Antone, 64,000
8 P.M.
ESPN
Bob, Louis, Dana
USC by 5 1/2, 56 1/2
Give me the upset. If you can, this one is worth staying up for. I’m done writing for a few days, so I’m going to try. Should be a lot of offensive fireworks.
TCU 35, USC 34
Wednesday’s Bowl Games
ReliaQuest Bowl
No.23 Iowa (8-4) vs. No.14 Vanderbilt (10-2)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, 65, 618
11 A.M.
ESPN
Roy, Sam, Taylor Davis
Commodores by 5 1/2, 46 1/2
He’s flamboyant and controversial, but I love the guy. He’s ruffled some feathers, but Diego Pavia has done so much on and mostly off the football field for Vanderbilt University. Did he not have a strong argument for the Heisman Trophy? He threw for 3,192 yards, completed 242-of-340, 71%, passed for 27 TDs against 8 ints, and rushed for 826 yards and 9 TDs. Put that in your pipe and smoke it Mendoza (226-of-316, 72%, 2,980 yards, 33/6, 240 rush yards, 6 TDs, SEC vs. Big Ten schedules) and Heisman voters. It could have even been better for the Dores this season, but they’ll take 11-2, and with five star quarterback Jared Curtis from Nashville Christian coming into the fold for the 2026 season, Diego and the Dores finish strong, some of them look to their future on the next level, while the underclassmen highly anticipate a 2026 season on the West End.
Vanderbilt University 28, Iowa 14
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
No.18 Michigan 9-3) vs. No.13 Texas (9-3)
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, 57,000
2 P.M.
ABC
Mark, Roddy, Alyssa
Horns by 7 1/2, 48 1/2
I like Arch and the Horns to take care of business as Arch sets his sights on a proilfic 2026 season.
There are several opt outs for these upcoming bowl games within the most recent landscape of college football that we’re in right now. Nevertheless, it doesn’t totally take the entertainment value out of these games to me. There are some nice matchups on Saturday in bowl season as we “matriculate” through the bows and the phenomenal playoff. The No.9 seeded Crimson Tide pulled off the mild upset in Norman, defeating the No.8 Oklahoma Sooners, 34-24, with Ty Simpson, Lotzeir Brooks and Zabien Brown standing out, among others. The Crimson Tide is getting healthier and healthier and looks to be highly competitive with No.1 Indiana, which they’ll square off with in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Thursday, New Year’s Day, 1/1/26, at 3 P.M. CT on ESPN.
Another quarterfinal playoff matchup features No.2 Ohio State taking on No.10 Miami, which went to College Station and won impressively, 10-3, with a stellar defense and running game. Miami is a force, just like Ohio State. That game will be the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, 12/31/25, at 6:30 P.M. CT on ESPN.
On New Year’s Day at 11 A.M. on ESPN, No.4 Texas Tech will face No. 5 Oregon, a 51-34 winner over No.12 James Madison last Saturday. That will take place in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The Red Raiders defense versus the explosive Ducks’ offense should be riveting viewing.
And the nightcap on New Year’s Night will feature a classic SEC duel with the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels, impressive 41-10 winners over No. 11 Tulane last Saturday in Oxford, taking on the No.3 Georgia Bulldogs in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in N’Awlins at Caesars Superdome at 7 CT on ESPN. Georgia defeated the Rebels earlier this season in Athens, 43-35, but that was with Lame on the Rebels’ sideline. We’ll see if any upsets transpire in these classic encounters. The underdogs, Bama, Miami, Texas Tech and Ole Miss, are all very good football teams as are the teams they are facing.
So, it will be stellar football viewing come December 31st/ Jan 1st. In the meantime, here are the upcoming bowl matchups this Saturday. All the bowls will lead up to the denouement of the Playoff games. There are six matchups Saturday, tomorrow, that White’s World Sports Confidential is breaking down along with predictions for which team will emerge victorious.
Playoff Record, First Bowl game-like record installment/ Overall
Yankee Stadium, the Bronx, was up there 2 weeks ago for my daughter’s wedding. Had a blast. 50,000. Extremely cold two weeks ago. Expecting 6 inches tonight. Should be OK with snow, but cold at game time with temperatures in the low 30’s. Standard in the Northeast this time of year.
11 A.M.
ABC
Dave, Dusty, Taylor
Clemson by 3 1/2, 48 1/2
Penn State won their last three games under interim coach Terry Smith. Matt Campbell, formerly of Iowa State, is taking over right after the Pinstripe. Dabo and the Tigers won their last 4 games including defeating South Carolina @ Columbia, 28-14. A lot of opts out for this one, but Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (235-of-353, 67%, 2,750 yards, 16 TD’s, 6 ints), and running back Adam Randall (779 yards, 9 TDs) are “hopefully!” going to play. That’s what a couple of young guys said on a flight Beth and I were on out of Atlanta a few years back after the pilot must have said “hopefully, we’ll be leaving soon” a dozen times as we were stuck on the tarmac for 45 minutes. For that “hopeful!” reason that Klubnik and Randall will play, I’ll take the Tigers.
Clemson 24, Penn State 20
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
UConn (9-3) vs. Army (6-6)
Fenway Park, Baaston
1:15 P.M.
ESPN
Wes Durham, Steve Addazio, Dana Boyle
Army by 9 1/2, 43 1/2
Though it’s not been an Army-type year under the great Jeff Monken, give me the Cadets to excel Saturday in Fenway over a UConn team that lost its coach, Jim Mora Jr., to Colorado State. The Huskies had a nice season, but Army is more stable at this point. It’ll be 24 in Boston at kickoff, but those are cold weather teams, so no problem.
Army 31, UConn 14
Pop-Tarts Bowl
No.22 Georgia Tech (9-3) vs. No. 12 BYU (11-2)
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, 60, 219
2:30 P.M.
ABC
Mark, Roddy, Quint
BYU by 4 1/2, 55 1/2
BYU was one win away from making the 12 team playoff, but the Red Raiders of Texas Tech defeated them twice this season, at home, and in the Big 12 Championship Game in Arlington, TX. They had a really nice season though and are a strong team, soI like them to prevail over a pretty solid Yellow Jackets team.
BYU 34, Georgia Tech 28
Isleta New Mexico Bowl
No.22 North Texas (11-2) vs. San Diego State (9-3)
University Stadium, Albuquerque, N.M., 39,224
4:45 P.M.
ESPN
Lowell Galindo, Aaron Murray (why did then GA coach Mark Richt not get Murray clock the ball in the 2012 SEC Champ game? Murray wanted to. Could have allowed Georgia to defeat the Crimson Tide), Lauren Sissler
UNT by 5 1/2, 52 1/2
The Aztecs are missing key players on offense, but North Texas lost its coach, Eric Morris, to Oklahoma State, and its starting quarterback is transferring. This Aztecs defense is pretty good, also. I’l take the upset.
San Diego State 23, North Texas 21
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
No. 19 Virginia (10-3) vs. Missouri (8-4)
EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL., 67,164
6:30 P.M.
ABC
Bob, Louis, Kris
Mizzou by 3 1/2, 44 1/2
Could be an electric game, except for the opts outs. Still should be entertaining. Chandler Morris, UVA’s starting quarterback, is playing, while freshman Matt Zollers will get the start for the Tigers, as starter Beau Pribula opted out. Thank you may I have another…upset.
Virginia 21, Missouri 20
Kinder’s Texas Bowl
LSU (7-5) vs. No.21 Houston (9-3)
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX.
8:15 P.M.
ESPN
Tom, Jordan, Cole
Houston by 2 1/2, 41 1/2
LSU has been in a state of disarray, but Lane is swooping in to save the day. But he’s not coaching in this one and the Bengal Tigers might not win if he was coaching in this one. Ole Miss sure looks fine without him with Pete Golding in charge. Cougars quarterback Conner Weigman has completed 204-of-319, 64%, for 2,475 yards, 21 TDs against 9 ints. He is playing, and Michael “Martin” Van Buren will get the start for the Bengal Tigers. Van Buren is 78-of-125, 62%, for 743 yards 5 TDs and 2 ints in 3 starts and some relief. Former starter Garrett Nussmeier is opting out after being injured in the Alabama game on Saturday, November 8th and not playing after that. Nuss decided it’s time to move on. I still like a good game here, nonetheless.
