More Football

Oklahoma beat Texas in an exciting game. Sooner QB Kyler Murray's TQBR was second only to Fromm, but there were several times during the game he did not play like a Heisman trophy winner. The Longhorns played tough, and will be a deserving Sugar Bowl opponent for UGA.

For much of the Big Ten championship game Northwestern hung tough, and Ohio State only pulled away at the end. The Buckeyes were left out of the playoff, but Urban Meyer secured his first Rose Bowl invitation, but he's stepping down as head coach after the game.

 

In the rainy ACC Championship Game, Clemson scored on the first play from scrimmage. I told Ceil the game was over. Dabo was able to empty the bench again. Pitt didn't completely roll over. The Tigers will have an even harder time in Arlington against the Fighting Irish.

 

Total QB rating for this past weekend's games. Thirty QB's played enough plays to qualify for the rankings. Another 13 QB's also saw action, and are listed with a rank of 00 (if greater than 30, I gave the overall rank).

 

Tua played the worst game of his career. Perhaps the UGA defense had something to do with it. Trevor Lawrence didn't have his best game. I was impressed with Ehlinger.

 

0. 100.0 Chase Bryce, Clemson backup

0. 99.0 Jalen Hurts, Alabama backup

1. 95.7 Jake Fromm, Georgia

2. 95.6 Kyler Murray, Oklahoma

4. 94.1 Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State

6. 83.2 Sam Ehlinger, Texas

9. 75.4 Darriel Mack, UCF backup

 

16. 61.9 Jake Bentley, South Carolina

18. 49.8 Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

25. 33.5 Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

29. 18.5 Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

40. 00.7 Justin Fields, Georgia backup

With Tua's poor performance, Kyler Murray increased his lead in the season-long rankings. The top four:

 

1. 96.0 Kyler Murray, Oklahoma

2. 94.2 Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

3. 88.0 Jake Fromm, Georgia

4. 86.9 Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State

 

After Oklahoma completes its bowl season Murray will be finished with football. He will report to spring training in Arizona as a member of the Oakland Athletics.

 

Tuesday morning on 680 Steak listed out  all these things to talk about. They even put up a poll, and everyone was voting to talk about Atlanta United and National Cookie Day. No one voted to talk about the Falcons. So guess what they went on and on about? The Falcons. Then Steak said there wouldn't be a parade if Atlanta United won the championship. Said it would cost too much. Finn and Sandra disagreed.

 

GT wins seven games and accepts an invitation to a bowl game in Detroit. They beat Virginia Tech, Miami, and UVA and had a better record than Wake Forest.

 

Quick Lane Bowl Pros & Cons

 

Pro: indoors.

Pro: it's a bowl GT has never played in.

Pro: no worse than Shreveport, Charlotte, or Birmingham

Con: far away from home.  

Con: worse than Dallas, NYC, Orlando, and Annapolis

Con: GT travels worse than most ACC schools (fewer fans)

 

13-0 Clemson – Cotton Bowl Dec 29

9-3 Syracuse – Camping World Bowl Orlando Dec 28

9-3 NC State – Gator Bowl Dec 31

7-6 Pittsburgh – Sun Bowl El Paso Dec 31

7-5 Georgia Tech – Quick Lane Bowl Dec 26

7-5 Boston College – First Responder Bowl, Dallas Dec 26

7-5 Virginia – Belk Bowl Charlotte Dec 29

7-5 Duke – Independence Bowl Dec 27

7-5 Miami - Pinstripe Bowl NYC Dec 27

6-6 Virginia Tech – Military Bowl Annapolis Dec 31

6-6 Wake Forest – Birmingham Bowl Dec 22

The Falcons played with the roof open, and thousands of fans had the sun in their eyes. Announcer Jim Nantz couldn't see due to glare. With the sun streaming in and no wind, the temperature was almost unbearable (I am told). The Falcons will have to re-think playing 1 pm games with the roof open, even in December.