OK, my buddy and loyal reader JR was wondering at the gym when I was finally going to come up with some real predictions?
Gentle. But still a justified warning.
My advice to him: I will be back next week 0 and the following with actual game predictions.
Today I want to add some wheat to the usual chaff, something substantial, so to speak.
There are appetizers, if you will, to stimulate your gluttony.
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Two new aspects of the game that you may have missed.
Quarterbacks can now receive signals from the sideline through speakers in their helmets. That’s good, Connor Stalions.
Now, like the pros, there is a two-minute warning.
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And further: There are some coaches who, despite the August heat, find the heated seats on in their SUVs. A group I’ve always called the “Dead Man Walking Club,” which admittedly isn’t a particularly tacky description. But if their secretary happens to overhear the AD’s assistant ordering a guillotine, they should be prepared.
Sam Pittman, I’d put one of those rearview mirror things that cyclists wear on your razorback baseball cap. Former Arkansas HC/current Arkansas OC, one Robert Petrino, is about to go. Be afraid, be very, very afraid.
Billy Napier of Florida has a timeline that only the Grim Reaper himself could have designed.
That goofy personality of Cincinnati’s Scott Satterfield, along with his lackluster coaching and results, doesn’t sit well with a city used to enjoying the success of Luke Fickell with its 5-way chili. Plus North Carolina’s Mack Brown, Baylor’s Dave Aranda and a few others.
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For those of you setting up your tables to watch the game, here are some August battles worth watching.
08/24: Florida State against Georgia Tech. Not only because it’s the first game, but also because it’s exciting. The Wreck are a newcomer. And how will the Seminoles react to last year’s raid? After a season break in which I remember their really embarrassing failure to appear in the bowl game.
Same day: SMU/Nevada. First look at the future opponent of the Cardinal Conference.
08/29: North Carolina vs. Minnesota. Mack Brown guard starts against the Goooooophers.
Aug. 29: North Dakota State vs. Colorado. Let’s see if the team of the prickly coach “Full of Himself” has enough chemistry to defeat an FCS power.
08/30: TCU vs. Stanford. Welcome to the A&PCC, you guys from Silicon Valley.
31.08.: Now it’s time to get down to business. The buffet is open.
Cards against Austin Peay, of course.
That means Clemson vs. Georgia will be delayed. Preseason top 2 consensus against the “transfers, we don’t need stinking transfers” dabos.
Miami vs. Florida. If Mario Cristobal loses this game, he replaces Billy Napier on the list above.
FIU vs. IU. What kind of start does the extremely confident Curt Cignetti have against the University of Pitbull?
Notre Dame versus Texas A&M. If Mike Elko wins his first game with a clear victory, he’ll be covered for the rest of his life. Financially. They’ll cancel his current contract and give him a new one for 15 years, $25 million a year. Guaranteed.
8/32: (See what I did there.) Southern Cal vs. LSU. Lincoln Riley, it’s time to surrender or go back to the Heartland.
8/33: BC vs. Florida State. Because there’s one Miesfeld’s left that just needs to be warmed up in the microwave. Plus, there are no college games for four days. And you have to decide whether to subscribe to Peacock to watch the second NFL game between the Packers and the Eagles.
— CD Kaplan
