That was a pretty solid win for the Badgers earlier this morning. Thanks for scheduling a game at 9:30 at night local time, ESPN.
What happens in Vegas should be broadcast very late at night, if at all. But a W is a W.
Oh well, at least it was only one game. The Packers game also got more interesting in the process of writing this post.
It did, now didn't it? You can't spell COVID without Cousins, apparently.
I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYPPEEEE, and it is time to watch me work.
Cincinnati Bearcats (+13.5) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide, in JerryWorld The committee did the proper thing and gave the Bearcats a well-earned slot in the playoff. I personally think they should be ranked as the top seed, as they have been the only team in FBS to not slip up in a game. When I saw them against Notre Dame and in the AAC title game against Houston, they really impressed me. Desmond Ridder is a really good quarterback, and they are well-coached. But they are getting no love from the folks in the desert. We all know how good Alabama is, and Nick Saban won't be overlooking Cincy. No matter what happens, this Cincinnati team has changed the narratives in college football surrounding underdogs in a way that no team since Urban Liar's 2004 Utah team with Alex Smith did. Bearcats 35, Tide 34.
I would love to see Cincinnati pull this off, but I don't think they will. Alabama really should join the NFL and be done with it. Tide 42, Bearcats 24.
Georgia Bulldogs (-7.5) vs. Michigan Wolverines, in Miami Oddly, Georgia and Michigan have only met twice. You'd think that they would have played in a bowl game or something, but they haven't crossed paths that much. Georgia is coming off a bad performance in the SEC title game. Now, I don't think Georgia belongs in the playoff. Quite simply, if you aren't the best team in your conference, then you can't be the best team in the country. Nothing against Georgia, but I have to be consistent. Michigan is a team that is peaking at the right time, as their two best performances have been against Iowa and A School In Columbus in their last two games. And don't forget that Georgia does have a tendency to choke in big games, which is damning for Kirby Smart. Michigan 50, Georgia 10.
This game should be quite interesting, actually. Michigan has really surprised me this year; there was no indication coming into this season that they could get so much better. It's worth remembering where the Wolverines were last season:
That 2020 Michigan team was, well, inept. This year, things changed completely. It's been an amazing transformation. Can they beat Georgia? Yes. Will they? Georgia 28, Michigan 23.
Minnesota Vikings (+7) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers I am pretty sure that this line will change, because Kirk did test positive for the virus this morning. This is bad news for the Vikings, as that means that the Packers are going to probably put a bunch of guys in the box to slow down Dalvin. It wasn't a pretty game on Christmas for the Pack, but a win is always appreciated. Unlike the last meeting, this time the Packers will be a lot more healthy. While I do think the Vikings will keep it close as they are fighting for their collective lives, the Packers should pull away late. Packers 31, Vikings 14.
Dalvin is going to see 8 in the box for sure. All day long. Sean Mannion is not going to beat the Packers on a historically cold day in Lambeau. Packers 24, Vikings 10.
Arizona Cardinals (+6) vs. Dallas How Bout Them Cowboahs? Because the Cowboys are the main competition for the Packers in the race for the 1 seed in the NFC, it makes sense to pick this game. Now, I am a huge Cowboys hater. I really dislike Jerry Jones, hate the media cheerleaders like Skip Bayless who always overhype the Cowboys every single year, and find that the Cowboys fanbase has a lot in common with the Lakers fanbase in terms of the number of bandwagon jumpers. At least the Cowboys don't have Lebron, so they don't get the Lebron bandwagon fans. That being said, the Cowboys looked really good against the Gridlocks last week. Arizona is a team that is just tough to figure. They look great for a bit, and then they look just horrible the next week. Maybe call it an overreaction on my part, but after the Packers beat them in Arizona against all odds, how are the Cardinals real contenders? But they have a chance to redeem themselves. Please shut Skip up for a week. That's all I ask. Cardinals 21, The Accident Waiting To Happen 0.
It appears the Cowboys are on the upswing and the Cardinals are collapsing. But the NFL is all about odd narratives, so. . . Cardinals 24, Cowboys 21.
Enjoy the New Year this weekend, and enjoy your football. Ben out.
Old dude, last week went very well for the Packers. Not only did they become Kings of the North for the 3rd straight year, but the Cardinals and Bucs lost. If they can win their next three in a row, then the road to LA on the NFC side runs through Lambeau.
It does. Merry Christmas, by the way, to our adoring public!
Indeed. Now, back to the games. Nothing is for certain, as the NFL has been as wide open as I have seen in my two plus decades of watching the league.
We are close to the NFL's dream of having 20 teams with 7-7 records.
That's about right. I am feeling the HYYYYYPPPEEEEE!, and it is time to watch me work.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: West Virginia Moutaineers (+4.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat, in Phoenix West Virginia is a team that to be honest, I haven't seen a whole lot this year. After getting off to a slow start, they rallied with a good finish to the season to secure a bowl spot. The Gophers got rewarded for winning the Axe by being put in a worse bowl than the Badgers. The Gophers should win this game, as I don't think West Virginia is as good as they have been in years past. But for the record, I think West Virginia is going to be competitive in the Big XII once the Red River schools leave. Remember, West Virginia had a lot of success in the Big East after the ACC poached Miami, Virginia Tech, and BC from the Big East. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 35, Country Roads Take Me Home 24.
Haven't seen West Virginia, either. If the Vegas guys think the Gophers are 4.5 better, they probably are. And maybe a little more. Gophers 31, Mountaineers 20.
Las Vegas Bowl: Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (-6.5) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils, in Las Vegas Look, we all know that the Axe game was a complete disaster for the Badgers. It's clear that this Badgers team was overrated in the preseason, as much as it pains me to say it. But thankfully, I do think that the Badgers are going to be motivated. Braelon Allen should be healthier, and I feel like Graham Mertz has a point to prove. Arizona State kinda underperformed a bit, as some people thought they could win the Pac 12 South. But Herm Edwards has an important message for the doubters.
It's obligatory, but it needs to be repeated. Should be a fun night in Las Vegas, and hopefully the Badgers stay away from the Strip. Badgers 28, Firm For Herm 10.
Do you remember this?
I guarantee you the Badgers do. Woe betide the Sun Devils. Badgers 34, Sun Devils 13.
Los Angeles Rams (-3) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Rams have quietly begun to sneak back into the race for the 1 seed, as they are tied with the Cardinals in the NFC West and only a game behind the Packers. The Vikings have looked a little loose in the turns since they led the Steelers by a score of 29-0, but they got the win in both of their games, and the Vikings defense deserves some credit for how they defended Justin Fields. If the Vikings lose, then a lot of questions are going reappear regarding jobs amongst the coaching staff and executive ranks. Especially because next week the Vikings have to come to Lambeau, where things are looking better now then they did after the first meeting. Rams 42, Vikings 35.
Dalvin Cook is in the protocol. No Dalvin? No chance. Rams 31, Vikings 20.
Cleveland Brownies (+7) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers The Packers survived a spirited Baltimore comeback, and thankfully Kenny Clark will be back. The Browns are a bit disorganized. They lost a tough one to the Raiders, while they also lost two days of prep due to their outbreak. While getting a lot of their weapons back is going to help the Browns, it's going to be interesting to see how they play. If you remember, Aaron was rusty against the Seachickens, and I expect Baker Mayfield might be a little off as well on Saturday. Everything is in front of the Packers, and I think they will have a nice win, even if it won't be smooth sailing. Packers 28, Browns 17.
Baker Mayfield is a little off even on his best days. I expect the Browns to attempt to ground and pound the Packers. Kenny Clark will put a stop to that. And then the floodgates open. Packers 35, Browns 20.
Old dude, just when you thought games weren't going to get moved, it turns out that games had to get moved.
COVID is the gift that keeps on giving.
Meanwhile, the Packers are trying to keep their grip on the top seed in the NFC, and clinch the North.
How do you keep your grip?
Grab, grab, grab!
Not sure how you keep your grip these days, old dude? Maybe it's Poli-dent? But enough of that. I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYPPPEEEEE! and it is time to watch me work.
Glorious Green Bay Packers (-6.5) vs. Baltimore Ravens This analysis is going to make the assumption that Lamar isn't going to be able to play because of the ankle sprain he suffered last week against the Browns, and even if he does will be in some discomfort. The Packers are going to need to play a lot better to win, as this is probably the toughest game they have left this year. The special teams need to be better, as it's become clear that Maurice Drayton hasn't matched up to the stellar jobs that Nathanael Hackett and Joe Berry have done with their respective units. I also think the slow start can't be repeated, as the Ravens are more than just Lamar. This isn't going to be an easy game, but I think the Packers can get it done and move on to the next goal. Packers 31, Ravens 20.
The Ravens will be a tough out, but they are decimated defensively, especially in the secondary. I think Davante Adams has a big, big day. Packers 35, Ravens 22.
Minnesota Vikings (-5.5) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck You remember when Bears fans had hope earlier in the year? Pepperidge Farm remembers. Despite emptying their entire bag of tricks in the first half, they lost again to the Packers. You really hate to see it. The Vikings rode their luck at the end of the game against the Steelers, and although they deserved to win based on the first half, they can't afford to ride their luck like that too many more times. We all know that the Vikings have struggled at Soldier Field over the years, and get ready for the Monday Night Football announcers to mention Kirk Cousins having only 1 victory on Monday Night Football. This is going to be a close game, but I think the Vikings are going to win. Even though I think I speak for most Packers fans in hoping they both find a way to lose. Vikings 21, Da Bearz Still Suck 9.
I was thinking about picking da Bearz, but they have so many COVID cases that they may need to bring in some reinforcements from Fenwick High School. The Vikings stay in the hunt. Vikings 24, da Bearz 13.
And now, it's time for a Very Special Comment. I've always found Urban Meyer to be a coach that leaves toxic messes around when he leaves a team since he left Utah in 2004. Meyer's Gator squads were loaded with talent, but had a lot of players with character issues. Notably, Aaron Hernandez, Brandon James, Cam Newton, Riley Cooper, Janoris Jenkins, Carlos Dunlap, and Chris Rainey all were arrested at various points. By the way, those players were also major contributors to the 2008 Florida team. Ohio State hired Meyer, and he left a huge mess for Ryan Day to clean up in terms of the Zach Smith incident. I wasn't surprised to see him flame out with the Jaguars and leave another trail of destruction. Meyer makes Bobby Petrino look like a great NFL coach. Bobby Petrino quit on the Falcons and couldn't tell them like a man he was leaving to take the Arkansas job. I will always respect Meyer for what he did with the 2004 Utah team, as that was an unthinkable accomplishment at the start of the BCS era. But since then, the trail of destruction Meyer has left should make any team think twice about hiring him. Shad Khan didn't do his due diligence, which is insane to think about for a hire that is this public. Urban Meyer might win at the college level, but he changed since he left Utah, and since the 2004 season has had 3 teams have to deal with turmoil, horrible scandals, and a toxic mess left as Meyer gets out of town and on to the next team dumb enough to hire him. If the Badgers or Packers hire this guy to coach them, then I'll be upset. I'd rather have P..J. Fleck coach the Badgers or Packers, and that's not something I say lightly.
I gotta tell you, it's a good thing that the locals around here realize that the Vikings rode their luck against the Steelers at the end of the game.
It's a movie they've seen before. All season long, in fact.
Gotta give the Steelers credit for not quitting. I've seen people blaming Chase Claypool for the celebration, which was boneheaded. But the Steelers have themselves to blame for digging themselves a hole that large.
Yep. Also a trend, from what I've been told.
Now it's time to discuss what is going on with the Packers, plus another game that Packers fans will be watching carefully. I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYPPEEE! and it is time to watch me work.
Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+12.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers The bye arrived at the right time, but the injuries still pile up for the Packers. Losing Cobb is a huge blow, as he has been the second option for Aaron on the money downs. I've got a bad feeling about this. Sure, the Bears are a complete dumpster fire this year, and it's clear that Nagy and Pace are on the hot seat. But what we forget was that back in October that the Bears played the Packers close at Soldier Field. The Packers should win this game, but it is going to be a lot more competitive than people realize. Packers 35, Da Bearz Still Suck 31.
Not sure I agree with that. Da Bearz are still hurting as well. They get Justin Fields back, but he still operates behind a horrible offensive line. The Packers will be rested and motivated. And as a reminder:
Packers 31, Bears 17.
Los Angeles Rams (+2.5) vs. Arizona Cardinals The Cardinals are obviously direct competition to the Packers in terms of the race for the top seed, so it makes sense to pick this game. The Rams don't impress me that much, since it seems that they are too busy chasing names instead of building a team. As for the Cardinals, they haven't collapsed since Rasul Douglas called game back in October. A win for the Rams would be really helpful to the Packers. This is probably asking too much, but I don't trust the Packers winning a second time in the desert. Rams 24, Cardinals 10.
Cardinals are hanging in there for sure. But the Rams gotta have this one. Rams 31, Cardinals 27.
And now for something that is not a Very Special Comment. You might have wondered why I was so interested in the Vikings game. Well, I ended up going to the game with Mom, aka Mrs. D. It was my early birthday gift to her, and we had a fantastic time. The game was one of the best NFL games this year, and had a bit of everything. US Bank Stadium was easy to get to from work, and getting inside the stadium was easy. What really surprised me was that there were thousands of Steelers fans, and that was very impressive by them. You hear a lot about how well Steelers fans travel, but until you see it in person it's hard to comprehend just how well they travel. I was also impressed by the Vikings fans. I give Vikings fans a lot of grief, but they and the Steelers fans were into the game, and the noise level was fantastic. This was a lot less of a corporate type crowd, and that made the game even more fun. The stadium is a lot louder than it is on television.
I didn't get the best seats in the stadium, but I was able to see the entire field. What I noticed was that the Vikings were a lot more physical in the trenches and really dictated the action for the first half. The crowd also did stay behind the Vikings at the end of the game, which was glad to see. I only heard a little grumbling about Kirk throwing those picks and Greg Joseph missing those two kicks early in the game. The only negative was that it did take some some time to get out of the parking garage after the game, but that was not the fault of the Vikings and a reality of 60,000 fans trying to leave at the same time.
Old dude, is this week Thanksgiving? So why are the Steelers playing up here against the Vikings on a Thursday instead of a more traditional time slot?
I'll allow the O'Jays to explain:
Dollar bills, y'all.
I know it is money, but this matchup is interesting.
A couple of teams that are in the hunt, but will those dogs hunt?
I will evaluate that, Geritol Fan! I am feeling the HYYYYYYYPPPEEEE!, and it is time to watch me work.
Pittsburgh Steelers (+3) vs. Minnesota Vikings This is going to be a game that I will be watching carefully, since a Vikings loss means that there could be a chance for a celebration to the east on Sunday Night Football. Obviously, the Vikings need this one after laying a huge egg against the LOLions. That was inexcusable by the Vikings, and you know things are bad when Vikings approved KFAN hosts like PA, Meatsauce, and Dan Barreiro are mad about the way the Vikings are going to perform. The Steelers got a win they needed against the Ravens when the Ravens went for the win instead of playing for overtime. It's not clear if the Vikes will have a full arsenal of weapons. I think the key is going to be how well the Vikings defend the deep balls that Big Ben is going to throw on occasion. It's beyond obvious that Big Ben is on a serious decline, and he just doesn't throw as deep as he did in the past. Since both teams are desperate, I have to go with the desperate team at home. And this game will be fun to watch for me. Vikings 27, Steelers 24.
Could be entertaining for sure, as long as you're not interested in style points. No Thielen, no Cook? That's a problem for the locals. Is Mike Tomlin a better coach than Zim? Yeah, I think so. Will the fans be happy or hostile? Steelers 31, Vikings 26.
We will return with our regularly scheduled programming on Friday to talk about what might happen on Sunday Night Football among other things. Ben out.
We need to talk about what happened in the Axe game last week, and I have words. But I need to sharpen some things first. Longtime readers of this feature know what is coming up at the end of the post.
So do longtime contributors. Uh-oh. Are you going to be upsetting Brad again?
Uh, maybe? Even though the Packers are on bye, there still are two games that most of the fanbase are going to care about.
Wait, we have a fanbase? Cool!
I am feeling the HYYYYYYYPPEEEE! and it is time to watch me work.
Michigan Hail To the Victors (-10.5) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes, in Indy The last time the Wolverines beat A School in Columbus, I was in high school and getting ready to go to Camp Randall for the first time. Hard to believe it was 10 years ago. Michigan looked mighty impressive in doing so, and it was a display of power football that Bo would have been mighty proud of. Iowa may have gotten into this game via the backdoor, but they have nothing to lose. They were the most consistent team in the Big Ten West this year when you look at it objectively. All of the pressure is on Jim Harbaugh to follow up on last week. Michigan should win, but Iowa will hang around for 2-3 quarters. Michigan 31, Iowa 17.
Actually, that sounds about right. Iowa will not be embarrassed, but based on what I've observed this year, I don't think there's much chance Michigan will lose. Michigan 29, Iowa 16.
Georgia Bulldogs (-6.5) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide, in Atlanta In the interest of full disclosure, I haven't seen a single Georgia game all year. But they are the best team in the country. Being the undisputed number 1 in the polls for so long is historically great, and something that lots of the greatest teams in the sport haven't accomplished. But what Georgia hasn't been able to do is beat Alabama under Kirby Smart, and the Bulldogs have struggled in Atlanta. So I would expect what is going to be a very pro Bulldog crowd to be very nervous. A Georgia win would make everything fairly clear-cut in terms of the top 4, and I would imagine that there are a lot of Domers and Cowboys rooting for the Bulldogs. Georgia 35, Alabama 10.
I've seen parts of Georgia games, but I know their calling card is defense. Alabama is a high-scoring team, but they lack the defensive muscle they've had in previous seasons. I also think it's time they don't participate in the playoff, so I want to see Georgia finish them off. I believe they will. Georgia 38, Alabama 23.
Houston Cougars (+10.5) vs. Cincinnati Bearcats This game isn't just the biggest game in the history of both Nipper.t Stadium and the Cincinnati Bearcats. This game is going to impact how teams from outside the Power 5 are going to be viewed going forward. I've been a big believer in Cincinnati since I saw the tail end of their game in South Bend. They are a legit football team, and have earned their ticket to the Big 12. But Houston won't be a pushover. I can clearly see that their fanbase is thinking that everyone expects Cincinnati to roll over them, and they want to spoil the party. Dana Holgerson got pushed out unfairly by West Virginia, which is ironic considering that Houston is also getting into the Big 12. I want Cincinnati to win. It would be best for the sport because if a team is good enough, give them a fair shot. If all of these power programs think they are better than Cincinnati, then why don't they play them and prove it on the field? Cincy 56, Houston 24.
If Cincinnati wins, they deserve a shot in the playoffs. Let's see how they compete. Bearcats 31, Cougars 14.
Minnesota Vikings (-7) vs. Detroit LOLions The Vikings couldn't get it done in the Bay Area, and are now looking at a spell without Dalvin Cook lining up in the backfield. The good news for the Vikings is that they have a pretty soft schedule down the stretch, with their only tough game being the rematch against the Packers in Lambeau. The LOLions are a team that will hang in there, and people forget that the Vikings needed a walk off field goal to win in October up here. I'll say what I said in October. If the Vikings aren't careful, they are walking straight into a trapdoor. LOLions Gonna LOLions 24, Vikings 10.
Uh, no. Vikings 28, Lions 16.
Arizona Cardinals (-7.5) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck This is going to be one of those games that I really hate. Because the Packers are fighting with the Cardinals for the top seed in the NFC, I'm going to have to root for the Bears. I'm going to be doing this while wearing a hazmat suit with a strong need to take a shower after the game. It's just wrong, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Arizona is a great team, but I wonder if they are mentally strong enough to avoid another collapse. Thankfully the NFC West is a complete dumpster fire behind them, with at best a deeply flawed Rams team the only real competition for Arizona. Da Bearz need to address the offensive line before Justin Fields gets seriously hurt. A win would go a long way to save the jobs of Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace. As a Packers fan, I feel those two have done a fantastic job with the Bears, and need to be given extensions. Moving to Arlington Heights changes nothing, and even delusional Bears fans know it deep down. Da Bearz Still Suck 28, Cardinals 19.
Obligatory:
Crown their asses! I miss Denny. We're a long time past all that, but da Bearz still are who we thought they were. Cardinals 33, da Bearz 24.
And now, time for a Very Special Comment. I'm not upset that the Badgers didn't play well enough to win. I'm not upset that the Gophers played Jump Around after the game. As trolling goes, I've seen worse this year. In fact, if one thing didn't happen at the end of the game, I wouldn't even have considered doing this. What really bothered me was P.J. celebrating the replay reversal with a minute left like he had won the Big Ten title. Dude, it was a two score game at that point, and you were going to win anyway. It's like he wants the cameras on his face after every single play. The guy draws attention to himself, and acts like he is the savior of Gophers football. He isn't, and I will explain why.
Jerry Kill ripped Fleck a new one a couple of years ago in an interview when asked about what he thought about Fleck's work with the Gophers. Jerry Kill did a lot for the Gophers. He and Tracy Claeys lifted the program out of the dumpster fire that Tim Brewster created. The Gophers under Kill and Claeys won 8-9 games, won bowl games, and took the Gophers to a New Years Day Bowl game. Kill also pushed for construction of Athlete's Village, which Fleck gets to sell to recruits. The Gophers have more money coming in under the Big Ten media rights deal, which means that Fleck has more resources to work with. Kill and Claeys also recruited the "Empire Class" of recruits in 2016, who played a major role as upperclassmen in the 2019 team that was so successful. Fleck came in and said that the Gophers were in "Year Zero", and mentioned a need to change the culture. The Gophers finished that year 9-4, with a record of 5-4 in conference play. They also won the Holiday Bowl against a good Washington State team. That's really disrespectful to Jerry Kill, a man who hired Fleck when he was a young coach and helped Fleck get the Western Michigan job. Kill didn't cover himself in glory by taking shots at Fleck's personal life, but still. The Gophers also had a similar level of success under Glen Mason.
On Wednesday, I took a trip to the Mall of America to hang out. There is a Goldy's Locker Room, which is an official store selling Gophers gear. There was only one shirt that had the Row The Boat Mantra. That's interesting, because the official social media has been pushing the Row The Boat brand hard. On the Gopher YouTube channel, there are videos explaining what Fleck's sayings are, and on the Gopher football Twitter account, there is an image celebrating 7 years of Row The Boat Culture from 2019. That's right, an official Twitter account of a football team celebrating accomplishments that were done at another school. I've never seen a team push the brand of a coach who isn't an elite coach by any stretch and celebrate achievements as much as the Gophers have under Fleck. Have you ever heard Fleck mention any of the past greats of Gopher football or praise the proud tradition the Gophers have? I haven't, and I'm from here.
Finally, coaches other than Kill have made clear their displeasure with P.J.'s constant references to his culture. Kirk and Brian Ferentz have been vocal about how they feel Fleck uses his tactics. That's damning, because the two of them are pretty calm and collected. When Kirk uses all of his timeouts last year, that's a sign that he doesn't like Fleck. It's been rumored that Jeff Brohm of Purdue doesn't like Fleck, and Scott Frost mentioned his dislike of "sloganeering" at the conference media days last summer. Look, you are going to run into a coach or two who doesn't like you. I've named 5 coaches who don't like Fleck, and this is in a conference where the coaches generally don't call each other out in public.
So what's my point? My point is that Fleck has been selling his culture, when the culture at Minnesota in my lifetime wasn't broken, and that you can win at Minnesota in football. And I know that the Row The Boat schtick isn't meant for me. I also don't blame the players at Minnesota or the fans for eating it up. They want success, and I'd do the same if I were in their shoes. But I'm not buying what Fleck is selling. When Fleck leaves, the Gophers will have to build their own brand again. Seriously, most outsiders think of Row The Boat when they hear about Gopher football.
