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Fearless Rick & Coin Flip NFL Conference Championship Picks
Divisional Results: Rick: 2-2; Flip: 0-4
Sunday, January 25
New England Patriots (-4, 42.5) at Denver Broncos 3:00 pm (CBS) - The first thing to understand about this game - besides that it’s the #1 seed (Denver) vs. the #2 seed (New England) - is that Bo Nix, the Denver quarterback who took almost every snap this season and into the playoffs, is out with a broken ankle, an injury that occurred on the second-last play of the Bronco’s 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills.
His replacement, Jarrett Stidham, ironically chosen as the #133 pick by New England in the 2019 draft, hasn’t thrown a pass in a competitive game since the end of the 2023 season. He led Denver to a 16-9 win over the Chargers on 12/31 and a 27-14 loss at Las Vegas in the final week of the regular season, on January 7, 2024.
Overall, in those two games, he wasn’t all that bad. He completed a combined 40 of 66 passes for 496 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. Prior to that, he played for the Raiders in 2022, the Chargers in 2000, and played for New England in 2019, though he only threw four passes, completed two and had one picked.
It’s reasonable to assume that he’s taken some of the rust off in practice with the #1 squad this week and, if given time, may be able to make some throws. Expect head coach Sean Payton to draw up some easier plays with quick, short throws, like slants, outs, screens. Of course, New England DBs will likely be aware of this and possibly be looking to jump some routes. As far as Stidham is concerned, he’s going to be more of a manager than a playmaker, though with six years riding the bench, he’s had plenty of time to develop. He is likely to be OK.
The Broncos will rely on running backs RJ Harvey and Jaleel McLaughlin to carry the weight. Look for Denver to try to get the ball into the hands of dangerous Marvin Mims Jr. as he could be a game-changer.
Courtland Sutton will be essential on possession downs. If Stidham can get him the ball, Sutton is Denver’s most sure-handed receiver. That’s not to say it’s going to be easy for Denver to move the ball. New England’s defense is good, not great, and they’re best defending the pass, so look for plenty of grinding ground game from the Broncos.
When the Patriots have the ball, they will lean on second year QB Drake Maye, as they have all season long. Maye has proven to be a versatile weapon with an accurate arm and enough savvy and speed to take off on the run if need be. Denver’s defense is very solid, so expect Maye to have to pick up a few - and possibly more than he normally does - first downs with his feet.
On the whole, New England has enough weapons that they can control the tempo and the clock. Stephon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte are excellent receivers and the backfield of Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson has been effective running the football all season. New England’s offense is one of the more balanced in the league. They ran the ball 494 times and threw it 502. Doesn’t get much more balanced than that, and that’s going to be the main challenge for Denver’s defense, figuring out whether it’s a run or pass in non-obvious situations because the Patriots can do either.
Between Denver’s quarterback situation and their defense, this should be a low-scoring game unless the Patriots find early success on offense or via turnovers. The Broncos will have to play nearly perfect football and not allow New England long drives or good field position. The keys for both sides will be clock control, field position, and the ground game. If either side is capable of establishing the run and mix in passes, that would likely be a winning formula.
Given Denver’s QB situation, it would be easy to side with the Patriots, but between Stidham’s overall experience, coach Payton’s planning, the Denver defense, and the four points the Broncos are getting at home, this looks like a positive situation for the home team in their mile-high air, which is another advantage.
Coin Flip: New England
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Broncos 26 Patriots 24
For all the hype Matthew Stafford has gotten throughout the season, he wasn’t very effective agains the Bears in LA’s 20-17 overtime victory, going 20 of 42 (47.6%) for 258 years, with no touchdowns and no picks. The prior week, in better conditions in the 34-31 win at Carolina, Stafford was 24-for-42 (57.1%) for 304 yards, three scores and one pick.
Stafford’s performance will be a huge factor in this game because the Rams depend on his arm and his leadership. Against the Seahawks, don’t expect Los Angeles to have much success running the ball, so getting it into the hands of Puca Nacua, Davante Adams and tight end Colby Parkinson will be essential. Running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum are not likely to get off many big runs. Seattle allowed an average of just 91.9 yards rushing and were the overall stingiest defense, giving up a league-low 17.1 points per game. Thinking the Rams are going to run the ball effectively is unrealistic, despite being the #1 offense in the league.
From Seattle’s perspective, limiting possessions and keeping the Rams’ offense off the field will be a priority and they have a defense capable of doing just that, though one wouldn’t have guessed it, a 38-37 overtime win by the Seahawks at Seattle on December 18. The first meeting between these NFC West rivals went LA’s way, 21-19, so, it can safely be assumed this is going to be a close call, either way.
Seattle stepped up its game agains the 49ers last week, roughing them up to the tune of 41-6 and putting a few key players on the sidelines with hard hitting throughout. To say that the Seattle defense is peaking would be an understatement. Of the four teams remaining in the championship hunt, Seattle’s defensive unit appears to be the most dominant. The Rams are the one nemesis that can hurt them, however. The Seahawks are riding an eight-game winning streak, and, after winning at Tennessee, 30-24, no team has scored more than 16 points, except the Rams.
Outside of that December 18 game, the Seahawks have allowed just 34 points in six games, including last week’s stomping of San Francisco. If it’s true that defense wins championships, then Seattle wins this game and the Super Bowl hands down.
On offense, Sam Darnold has continued to prove the Vikings made a big mistake letting him go after last season. He went 14-3 as a starter in 2024 with Minnesota, but it was the Rams who crushed him in the wild card, 27-9. Darnold was 25-for-40 for 245 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but he was sacked nine times. On that performance alone, the Vikings decided he wasn’t in their future plans.
Sunday against the Rams, Darnold will have the opportunity to purge any and all demons. He’s 29-7 as a starter the last two years, including playoffs. In that first meeting with the Rams this season, the 21-19 loss, Darnold threw four interceptions. One would figure that if he plays a clean game and doesn’t turn the ball over, Seattle can win this by a bunch. The only downside for Seattle is that they will be without running back Zach Charbonet, who suffered a torn ACL last week agains the 49ers and is out for the season.
The Seahawks have done everything right this year, including getting the #1 seed and home field. If Seattle’s offense can keep possessions and score some points, the defense will likely shut the Rams down often enough for the win.
Coin Flip: Los Angeles Rams
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Seahawks 30 Rams 20
Fearless Rick & Coin Flip NFL Divisional Playoffs Picks
Wild Card Results: Rick: 4-2; Flip: 4-2
Saturday, January 17`
Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (-1, 46) 4:30 pm (CBS) - From an experience standpoint, the Bills have an enormous advantage. They’ve reached the playoffs in each of the last six seasons and have often gone quite deep. Additionally, working to their advantage is the fact that their three major nemeses - the Bengals, Ravens, and Chiefs - are not in the mix. None of them reached the playoffs this season. Given that, the Bills must be thinking that this is their year, the time is now, all the chips have fallen their way. They may actually be right.
Last week’s gutsy win over a very capable and highly motivated Jacksonville team gives the Bills plenty of momentum and confidence. Their run game was working and Superman (aka Josh Allen) has a solid game, as expected.
Standing in their way is the #1 seed, at home, well rested, with one of the best - if not the best - defenses in the league. The Broncos came into their own this season and topped some of the best teams in the league. They also took care of business in week 18, handily disposing of the Chargers, 19-3, to secure the top seed and the bye.
Denver comes in well-rested, while the Bills are seriously banged up after the bruising win at Jacksonville. One could make a case that the Broncos are in much better shape physically, but he Bills still retain the edge in experience, which should even things out. One other thing about Jacksonville. The Broncos lost to them at home, in Week 16, halting Denver’s winning streak at 11, 34-20. Just on that difference, the Bills have confidence. The difference will be on offense. Buffalo will find ways to score and Bo Nix, Denver’s QB, has been shaky at times.
Coin Flip: Buffalo
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Bills 24 Broncos 21
Beset by injuries all season, the 49ers proved that they have depth and confidence, and that it doesn’t hurt to have one of the best all-purpose players in the league on your side: Christian McCaffrey.
What Seattle has going for them is not just home field, or the “told you so” attitude of QB Sam Darnold, but also a fresh-in-the-mind 13-3 win over the 49ers in Week 18 which wrapped up the #1 seed and the week off. San Francisco will need to make adjustments on offense, though it may not make a difference. Seattle’s defense has been nothing short of spectacular at times this season.
Seattle’s 14-3 record includes a Week 1 loss to San Fran (17-13), a 38-35 loss to Tampa Bay before the Buccaneers imploded, and a 21-19 loss on the road to the Rams. They were nine points away from a perfect season. They are a highly motivated bunch with a solid mix of veterans and youngsters, mostly on offense, on a mission. They’re likely to win this contest, the question is by how much. It could be a lot.
Coin Flip: San Francisco
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Seahawks 27 49ers 13
Houston Texans at New England Patriots (-3, 41) 3:00 pm (ESPN) - The Patriots shocked everybody this season, winning the AFC East and getting the #2 overall seed with a 14-3 record. In the wild card round, the defense stepped up big time, stuffing the Chargers for a stout, 16-3 victory. Having home field helped, playing the Chargers, a team which seems to always fade late season and in the playoffs, didn’t hurt.
Houston also had the good fortune of playing a team that had lost six straight playoff games going into Wild Card Weekend, and they dusted the Steelers off in the fourth quarter, turning a close game into a 30-6 rout. Notably, Pittsburgh never found the end zone, what might have been Aaron Rodgers’ last pass as an NFL quarterback ended with a pick-six and Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin called it quits a day later.
The Texans played a pretty sloppy game, especially QB C.J. Stroud, who was chasing the ball around his own backfield on numerous occasions. Whatever issue was prevailing there, the Texans will surely clean it up before they take the field in Foxboro.
This game may be the closest of the weekend, though, in the end, Houston’s recent playoff experience, and the fact that they’re riding a 10-game winning streak will prevail over the youthful exuberance of the Patriots. New England and QB Drake Maye have a bright future, but Houston’s defense and experience should carry the day.
Coin Flip: Houston
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Texans 23 Patriots 20
While the Rams had to contest with Seattle and San Francisco, the Bears found a way to finish on top of Detroit, Green Bay, and Minnesota, all of which were supposed to finish better than Chicago. The Bears did split with the Vikings and Packers and lost twice to the Lions, though their Week 18, 19-16, loss was of little consequence, having already secured the division.
The Bears come into this contest with loads of enthusiasm and one of the brightest new stars of the league in QB Caleb Williams, whose ability to use his arm, legs and uncanny field vision to pull out some of the more dramatic wins of the season.
One can say that the Bears played a light schedule and the one game they played against the NFC West, they lost, though it was at San Francisco and the final was 42-38, but they are home for this one, the Rams struggled in their 34-31 win at Carolina, and they have considerable upside. For all the offense the Rams bring to this encounter, the Bears have enough going for them to win this in the fourth quarter in what figures to be a very chilly environment.
Coin Flip: Los Angeles Rams
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Bears 31 Rams 27
Fearless Rick & Coin Flip NFL Wild Card Picks
Week 18 Results: Rick: 11-5; Flip: 6-10
Saturday, January 10
Los Angeles Rams (-10.5, 46.5) at Carolina Panthers 4:30 pm - Considering that the Panthers completely backed into the playoffs with an 8-9 record, losing at Tampa Bay, 16-14 in the final week of the regular season and were bailed out via tiebreaker (Tampa, Atlanta, and Carolina all finished 8-9) when the Falcons defeated New Orleans on Sunday, 19-17, they really don’t seem fit for the post-season.
The 12-5 Rams finished as the top wild card, seeded #5, setting up a rematch of the Panther’s 31-28 home win over LA in Week 13. In that game, Bryce Young threw three TD passes and Matthew Stafford got picked off three times in what was arguably his worst game of the season.
With all that in mind, Carolina’s defense is the key. If they have Stafford’s number, they may keep this one close enough to have a shot at the end. Home field, plus already posting a W should help their confidence, but, in the end, the Rams appear the better team.
Coin Flip: Carolina
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Rams 27 Panthers 23
The Packers seriously underperformed late in the season, due to various injuries, but also with an offense that was often too predictable and a defense that was prone to missed tackles and mistakes. Green Bay lost their last four games of the season which suggests they’re not at the top of their game.
Coin Flip: Chicago
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Da Bears 31 Da Packers 19
Buffalo Bills (-1, 52) at Jacksonville Jaguars 1:00 pm - The Bills certainly had a solid season, finishing 12-5, though that was still two games back of surprising New England, winners of the AFC East at 14-3. The offense, with the combination of Josh Allen’s passing and running, and James Cook’s rushing, is among the league’s best, but the defense, though improved, keeps Buffalo’s for in games, being unable to make stops in key situations too often.
Jacksonville has seen the emergence - finally - of Trevor Lawrence, who has stepped up his game tremendously this season. What really separates the Jaguars from the Bills is their defense, one of the best in the league, and their overall tough attitude. The Jags are riding an eight-game winning streak and they should prevail at home, where they were 7-2. This one could be a wild shootout or a one-sided affair if Jacksonville contains Allen and Cook.
Coin Flip: Jacksonville
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Jaguars 34 Bills 24
The worst loss of this season for the Eagles was a 34-17 loss at the Giants. Other than that and a 24-15 loss to the Bears, they were all one-score defeats. Overall, the Eagles didn’t bury their opponents, but the defense can really step up when needed and they are likely to keep San Francisco out of the end zone for most of the game.
If the Eagles just play their usual ho-hum-another-win kind of game, they’ll win. If they play to their potential, it’s blowout city.
Coin Flip: Philadelphia
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Eagles 31 49ers 13
New England has to be the surprise team of the year, and like the NFC’s Bears, they came into their own with the emergence of second year QB Drake Maye and a coaching change, to the hard-hitting, no-excuses style of Mike Vrable, who made the defense respectable and who does have playoff smarts from his years as head coach of the Titans. Tread carefully here, however, as that 3.5-point line may prove costly in what figures to be a tight one.
Coin Flip: New England
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Patriots 26 Chargers 21
Houston Texans (-3, 38.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers 8:15 pm - Is this Aaron Rodgers’ last hurrah? The Steelers won the AFC North due primarily to every other team in the division falling apart. Cincinnati lost Joe Burrow for most of the year and the Ravens simply never got it together and actually ended up firing head coach John Harbaugh, after 18 seasons.
The Steelers have the worst record of any division winner except for the NFC South. They face a Texans team that has won nine in a row and were just one of two teams, league wide, to hold opponents under 300 points for the season. Seattle allowed 292; Houston, 295. Surprising that the line here isn’t -6 or -7.
Coin Flip: Houston
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Texans 34 Steelers 10
Fearless Rick & Coin Flip Week 18 NFL Picks
Week 17 Results: Rick: 10-6; Flip: 9-7
Saturday, January 3
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3, 43.5) 4:30 pm - It’s win and you’re in for the Panthers. If Carolina defeats Tampa Bay, they would win the NFC South with a 9-8 record. If Tampa Bay wins, both teams would be 8-9, but, the Panthers could still take the division if Atlanta defeats New Orleans Sunday.
Atlanta is 7-9, beat the Saints in Week 12, 24-10, and they would be 8-9, along with the Panthers and Bucs. A three-way tie in a division is settled by head-to-head records and the Panthers would win, with a 3-1 mark. Tampa Bay would be 2-2, and Atlanta, 1-3.
Hopefully, it won’t come to that and Carolina will take care of business. The Bucs have lost seven of their last eight, including losses to the Saints, Falcons, and Panthers, and last week’s 20-17 loss at Miami. Count on the game ending with the Panthers picking off a Baker Mayfield pass. He’s famous for it.
Coin Flip: Tampa Bay
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Panthers 23 Buccaneers 17
For Seattle, a win would leave them at 13-4, alone at the top, and San Francisco a wild card. Both teams have won six straight. The points here may or may not matter, but the 49ers getting anywhere from one to two points appears a logical choice.
Coin Flip: San Francisco
Fearless Rick’s Pick: 49ers 26 Seahawks 24
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons (-3.5, 43) 1:00 pm - Since Atlanta could play a part of the NFC South division race by winning this game, and thus, making Saturday’s Carolina-Tampa Bay showdown immaterial (and, the result of that game may make this game inconsequential), count on the Saints to win one for the league.
Coin Flip: New Orleans
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Saints 23 Falcons 20
Cowboys can’t wait for the season to end. They already have vacation and golf plans lined up.
Coin Flip: New York Giants
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Giants 34 Cowboys 27
The Browns will keep this one close enough to cover or win outright.
Coin Flip: Cincinnati
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Browns 26 Bengals 24
Lay the points and pray J.J.McCarthy doesn’t throw three or four picks.
Coin Flip: Minnesota
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Vikings 24 Packers 6
Houston has won eight in a row and they are unlikely to lose at home no matter the implications.
Coin Flip: Houston
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Texans 31 Colts 14
Tennessee might like to think they can keep this one close, but the last time they played the Jaguars, they lost, 25-3, at home. Might be worse this time.
Coin Flip: Tennessee
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Jaguars 34 Titans 7
This game is only about playoff positioning, and the Bills could end up as the top wild card or the bottom one. Probably going to win this one for fun.
Coin Flip: New York Jets
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Bills 28 Jets 10
The Lions can make up for earlier failures by playing hard and getting at least a little satisfaction with a win.
Coin Flip: Detroit
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Lions 27 Bears 21
Coin Flip: Los Angeles Chargers
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Broncos 31 Chargers 21
One never knows where the money goes in the NFL.
Coin Flip: Arizona
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Rams 30 Cardinals 13
Coin Flip: Las Vegas
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Chiefs 20 Raiders 10
Coin Flip: Miami
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Patriots 38 Dolphins 17
Would be nice to see the Commanders make a game of it. Philly may comply.
Coin Flip: Commanders
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Eagles 23 Commanders 21
Coin Flip: Steelers
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Steelers 23 Ravens 20
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Fearless Rick & Coin Flip CFP National Championship Pick
Last Week’s Results: Rick: 2-0; Flip: 1-1
Monday, January 19
CFP National Championship
Indiana’s story has as much to do with one of the more recent innovations in collage athletics, the transfer portal, as it does with the finer aspects of success in any endeavor, hard work, commitment, relentless dedication to excellence and a keen sense of confidence that expresses itself not as cockiness, but as quiet humility and a calm understanding of the circumstances surrounding the achievement of a goal.
Head coach Curt Cignetti has molded his team into a cohesive unit that strives on achievement over satisfaction. Indiana’s story is rooted in his ability to deliver a message that is as ageless as it is common, that belief in one’s ability to succeed is central to the end goal and neither requires nor accepts any excuses.
The mere facts of the matter alone, the best defense, the most poised quarterback in Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, the best game plans, and the machinelike precision and execution have delivered Indiana to the place at which the team can capture the ultimate prize of the national championship. They have not come this far to fail at the last. They come to triumph.
Everything that has gone before in this season points to the Hoosiers winning this game and winning it in a big way, leaving no doubt as to which team is the best in the country. Their final foe, the Miami Hurricanes, have a story of their own as well, and while it is compelling, it does not rise to nearly the amplitude of Indiana’s. Miami’s success this season was one of good fortune in receiving quarterback Carson Beck through the portal system and to the program-building of head coach Mario Cristobal, who, possibly, in any year other than this one, would be headed to the promised land.
Without a doubt, Miami may be the most worthy opponent yet to meet the Hoosiers on the gridiron, and they are a great team in their own right, but they are not a championship team of the caliber of Indiana.
Life is full of promise, hope, triumph, and disappointment. It’s somewhat of a shame that one of these teams has to go from this game a loser, for they are both winners, just having arrived at this destination. However, comparing the paths taken and the games played, it appears that Miami is likely to come up somewhat short of victory. Those hoping for a nail-biting, exciting, close call finish will be disappointed because Indiana has proven, over and over again this season, that they are not going to be denied.
The game will likely turn on mistakes, miscues, and possibly a couple of Miami turnovers, cold execution by Indiana’s offense, and a superlative effort by their defense.
Coin Flip: Miami
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Hoosiers 34 Hurricanes 14
Fearless Rick & Coin Flip CFP Semifinal Picks
Last Week’s Results: Rick: 11-5; Flip: 7-9
Thursday, January 8
CFP Semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl
As unlikely as it seems, the Rebels turned the tables on Georgia in last week’s quarterfinal with a 39-34 win, avenging the October 18, 43-35, loss at Georgia in which the Bulldogs scored 17 fourth quarter points while holding the Rebels scoreless over the final fifteen minutes.
At 13-1, the Rebels are not to be discounted. Though they may be a bit looses defensively, the offense, led by QB Trinidad Chambliss and RB Ken Lacy, can cause nightmares for defensive back and coordinators. Chambliss, were it not for Indiana’s Mendoza, might have won the Heisman Trophy. He threw for more than 300 yards in nine games this season, is slipplier than an eel, and has made throws this season that other humans can only imagine. Lacy’s had six 100-yard rushing performances, the highlight a 224-yard effort against Florida in November.
If Miami doesn’t keep to its tasks diligently for the full 60 minutes, they may find themselves on the short end of the final score because the Rebels can make big plays in short periods of time.
The Hurricanes are the most controversial team remaining, due to the tournament committee’s consistent ranking of them behind Notre Dame, whom the “Canes beat, 27-24 in the opening week of the season, until, at the very last moment, ranking them ahead of the Irish. That caused such an uproar that Notre Dame opted out of any bowl game, finishing their season with the loss to Miami and a one-point loss to Texas A&M their only blemishes.
Miami lost two ACC games, to Louisville, 24-21, and to SMU, 26-20 in overtime, which kept them out of the conference championship. They did their best to make an impression by hammering Pitt in the final week of the regular season, 38-7. Once they got into the CFP, they proved they belonged with a 10-3 win over Texas A&M in the first round before topping Ohio State, handily, 24-14, in the quarterfinals.
Carson Beck’s experience at quarterback and his two main receivers, Malachi Toney and Keelan Marion, will be difficult to defend. Miami may score early and often if they’re clicking.
Not to be forgotten is Miami’s vicious front defense, which consistently stuffs the run and often turns quarterbacks into pretzle shapes. There also won’t be many openings in the secondary.
Coin Flip: Miami
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Hurricanes 34 Rebels 21
CFP Semifinal at the Peach Bowl
Oregon’s only loss this season was to these same Hoosiers, a 30-20 defeat in Oregon back on October 11. They’ve done little wrong before or after that game and are riding an eight game winning streak, the latest being a 23-0 whitewash of Texas Tech in a CFP quarterfinal game on January 1 at the Orange Bowl in Miami. At 13-1, they are as good an opponent the Hoosiers will meet this season. Beating them twice will take some doing.
Both teams possess championship qualities, ranging from exceptional quarterbacking to outstanding, hard-nosed, nearly impenetrable defenses. Oregon’s Dante Moore passed for more than 200 yards in 10 of 14 games this season. He is accurate, seldom makes poor decisions and can use his legs to get first downs, which he’s done often this season.
The Ducks did have a couple of close encounters this season, including a double-overtime, 30-24 victory at Penn State and a narrow, 18-16 win at Iowa on November 8. Since then, in five wins, their average margin of victory is 19.2 points. The win over Texas Tech last week was their best defensive effort of the season, showing that they are ready to handle any challenge.
Making comparisons to the 14-0 Hoosiers is difficult at best, given they are statistically superior to the remaining teams in the playoffs and all others that came before them. Quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza has been consistently excellent and displayed an ability to rise to the occasion as he did in tight games against Iowa, Penn State and in the Big Ten Championship game over Ohio State.
Defensively, there may not be a better unit than the Hoosiers for the past 20 years. Only two teams scored more than 15 points - Oregon (20) and Penn State (24). The Indiana defense has held nine opponents to 10 or fewer points, including each of the last four. Their absolute 38-3 dominance of Alabama in the quarterfinal game at the Rose Bowl last week was stunning. They are as ready as the Ducks and this game - in deference to the Miami-Ole Miss game on Thursday - may be the actual national championship because the winner here will be a heavy favorite on Monday, January 19 in Miami.
Oregon is a worthy team, but Indiana has beaten them once already this season and seem to be just a little bit better. Be prepared for a low-scoring affair with emphasis on field position, special teams, and place-kicking advantage.
Coin Flip: Oregon
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Hoosiers 24 Ducks 17
Wednesday, December 31
CFP Quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl Classic
Since their loss to SMU, the Hurricanes demolished their final four opponents, including polishing off Pitt, 38-7, to close out the regular season. Carson Beck is playing like a pro. The defense has been suffocating.
Ohio State went unbeaten through what has to be considered a light schedule until they dropped the ball in the Big Ten championship, 13-10, to Indiana. In what figures to be a tight, defensive struggle, give Mimia QB Beck the nod over freshman Julian Sayin.
Coin Flip: Miami
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Hurricanes 21 Buckeyes 14
CFP Quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl
Besides their 30-20 loss to Indiana, Oregon had two close calls, a 30-24 double OT win at Penn State, and an 18-16 win at home over Iowa. Other than that, they’ve pretty much hammered the opposition, but one has to question how they gave up 34 points to James Madison last week.
Outside of their lone loss, 26-20, at Arizona State, the Red Raiders have simply destroyed everybody. They’ve won every other game by 22 points or more, usually much more. In 12 wins, no team has scored more than 20 points. They are a legitimate contender for the national championship.
Coin Flip: Texas Tech
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Red Raiders 34 Ducks 20
If Indiana gets going early, the defense may make Alabama’s offense miserable. Blowout potential.
Coin Flip: Alabama
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Hoosiers 31 Crimson Tide 17
The Bulldogs made amends for their lone loss to Alabama, 24-21, by turning back the Crimson Tide in the SEC championship, 28-7. Georgia’s defense will turn up the heat and turn away the Rebels. Ole Miss has too many miscues on defense and they’re without Lane Kiffin, replaced by defensive coordinator, Pete Golding. Tough spot. Won’t be easy, but the Bulldogs come out as top dogs.
Coin Flip: Ole Miss
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Bulldogs 34 Rebels 24
Armed Forces Bowl
Well, of those five losses, two were in overtime, one was by one point, another by three points, and the fifth loss was to James Madison, which made it to the CFP. The last three wins were by 17, 23, and 27 points. Bobcats eat Owls, no?
Coin Flip: Rice
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Bobcats 38 Owls 14
Cincinnati, after getting to 7-1 and being ranked for a week, simply fell apart, losing their last four straight.. Expect Navy to run their option sets all day long.
Coin Flip: Navy
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Midshipmen 40 Bearcats 21
The Wildcats have the #1 basketball team in the country, but finished 5th in the Big 12 (6-3), ended up ranked #17 having won their last five straight, finishing 9-3. They’re a top flight team with plenty of upside looking for a 10th win, which means a lot to the players and coaches and is great for recruiting and portal moves.
Coin Flip: Arizona
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Wildcats 35 Mustangs 24
This actually may be a one-sided affair. The Dekes managed to go 8-4 and 4-4 in the ACC, whereas the Bulldogs were 1-7 in the SEC and just 5-7 overall. Yet, the SEC team is favored. Doubt they’ll win.
Coin Flip: Wake Forest
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Demon Deacons 30 Bulldogs 20
Fearless Rick & Coin Flip Bowl Week 2 & CFP Picks
Last Week’s Results: Rick: 10-3-2; Flip: 5-8-2
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