Georgia Bulldogs defeat TCU for the 2022 National Championship

A little late getting to this but Georgia defeated 65-7 Monday.  After seeing the points TCU put up on Michigan I was worried.  They had lots of speed.  Their defense wasn't great but still scored on turnovers.  Georgia just couldn't shoot themselves in the foot like the Wolverines did.  Against Ohio State the Bulldogs showed they could score as they did most of the year.  Against TCU their defense needed tocontain the TCU QB and wow they did.  That was huge because as good as he is, his game is predicated on being able to run as well.  You always want an entertaining game but as a fan not having to fret for a full game like they did against OSU isn't the worst thing either.  Great game on both sides of the ball.  Dominant win.  What else is there to say.  While last year's championship was great this one feels just as good.  Like yeah...they really are that good.  Now back to Fanatics for more swag!

Georgia Bulldogs defeat Alabama for the National Championship

 What a feeling.  Georgia winning the championship was so much fun to watch.  It was a good game and seeing your team win is a special feeling.  Especially after 40 years of waiting.  And beating 'Bama to do it?  Priceless.  The game itself was not what I expected but what I had hoped for as the Bulldogs defense shined.  In the first half I was so frustrated seeing the Crimson Tide live in the Bulldog offensive backfield.  The good news is the Georgia defense was frustrating Alabama at the same time with some timely stops on promising drives.  The second half it looked like the Bulldogs came out reinvigorated and wow that fourth quarter.  So much fun.  It was closer than the final score of 33-18 suggests but Georgia was on a mission.  The Alabama running game never got going and Bryce Young didn't have the time he needed in the pocket.  The Bulldog running game really took off.  For the game they rushed 30 times for 140 times thanks to Zamir White and James Cook.  Stetson Bennett struggled in the first half but came up huge in the second half with both his touchdowns coming in the face of pressure.  The 40 yard pass that put them up for good was great.  

I know the game was up in the air until the last minute but it really felt like Georgia was going to win after that long touchdown.  Alabama just didn't have an answer for the Bulldog defense.  I came down with a stomach bug the next day so I'm just now getting around to putting my feelings here.  It was a tough playoff with my two teams, Michigan and Georgia, playing each other in the semis.  What are the odds?  I did think Georgia was the better team which played out.  And now they have their championship.  After seeing them lose to Alabama, and their backup quarterback in the 2017 Championship, this felt so sweet.  Not to mention they avenge their loss in the SEC Championship game just last month. I'm so happy and in overload with both Georgia and the Braves bringing home championships within three months of each other.  I'm loving it!!!  Now to the important stuff...  www.fanatics.com

Georgia Bulldogs 2019 Season Preview

Georgia is good, really good and last year's 11-3 finish was really disappointing.  An in season loss to LSU and a close loss to Alabama in the conference championship were heartbreaking.  By the time the loss to Texas in the Sugar Bowl came along it was tough to care anymore.  Two years from a National Championship game appearance Georgia is ranked #3 in many polls headed into the season.  With Jake Fromm (30 TD/6 Int) returning there's no reason to believe Georgia can't compete again this year at the highest level.

The rest of the offense is good to really good to great.  There's no reason they can't contend come season's end.  Notre Dame and Florida loom as big games during the season.  The Bulldogs will need to put their stamp on the season by beating those teams.  Though a loss may still get them in the SEC Championship that's not where you want to be.  You want to be that elite team.  Be undefeated when you meet who we assume will be Alabama.  Get to the playoffs and take care of business.  Easier said than done but now is the time.  Fromm is at the top of his game, the Bulldogs offensive line is excellent and the offense as a whole should be able to pound teams into submission.  It is great seeing Georgia's rise to prominence but it is so hard seeing them come up short. 

Michigan Wolverines 2019 Football Preview

The 2019 Michigan Wolverines football season brings with it hope and optimism.  Of course every season does.  Last year a week one loss to Notre Dame cast a shadow over the season and for what seems like forever Blue again lost to Ohio State.  That was followed up by a humiliating loss to Florida in the Peach Bowl.  The defense was good against lesser opponents but not against really good teams.  The offense was good but against the really good teams it also struggled.  

Shea Patterson is a good quarterback but hasn't taken his talent to the next level.  This year a new offensive coordinator brings with him an up tempo scheme.  This could really go well or really go bad.  The offense may score a ton of points but if it doesn't work out well the defense could see a lot of time on the field which would be bad.

I like Jim Harbaught and hope this year goes well but the natives will get restless if this is a down year or Michigan can't beat Ohio State.  The schedule isn't easy but they are good enough to get to the Ohio State game undefeated.  Hopefully that is how it plays out and the Wolverines get that much needed victory.  Ohio State is going through their own change with a new coach which comes with it the unknown.  We'll see how it plays out but maybe the new offense will provide the team with the spark it needs to go to the next level.  Game 1 is tomorrow so there is still hope...

2017 Michigan Wolverines Football

Michigan had a good year last year going 10-3 but all three losses were by three points or less including a close game with rival Ohio State.  After losing to the Buckeyes they lost to the Florida State Seminoles to end the season on a down note. 

I'd like to say expectations are higher this year but the team returns only five starters to include one on defense.  Needless to say there are a ton of unknowns right now to include who the starting quarterback will be.  Coach Jim Harbaugh is keeping that competition close to the vest so we may not know who is starting until the first game against Florida. 

I wish I knew what to expect out of this team and could write at length to what will happen during the season.  What I do know is Jim Harbaugh has this team relevant again which is enough for me to be happy.  A championship is definitely the goal but being in the discussion every year is half the battle.  Now we just need to beat Ohio State.  That would take a lot of sting out of whatever disappointments that might come, and some of those from the past.  I'm hoping for double digit wins and a satisfying end to the season.  I'm sure there'll be plenty of entertainment in between. 

 

2016 Georgia Bulldogs Preview

Tailback Nick Chubb

After a 10-3 season and a win over Penn State in the Taxslayer bowl, coach Mark Richt was let go even though he won 74% of his games as the Georgia Bulldogs coach (15 seasons).  He was very good but it wasn't good enough.  He missed being ranked in the top 25 three out of the last six seasons though he did take them to a bowl game each year he coached the team.  That is the pressure on an Georgia Bulldogs coach.  Enter Kirby Smart who is tasked with getting the passing offense back on track and getting them past very good.  Smart hasn't named a starting QB yet so it is hard to guess where that aspect of the offense goes.  The running game will have star back Nick Chubb returning after being injured last season and will also have Sony Michel who led the team in rushing last year with over 1,100 yards.  I think if they can get the quarterback going, combined with their good running attack, the offense will be in good shape.

New head coach Kirby Smart

The defense returns only four starters but they are all from the defensive backfield.  That is a good thing in college ball where there are pass happy teams left and right.  Georgia's passing offense was #1 in the country last year.  Still they'll see plenty of rushing offenses in the SEC and that could be an issue.  Supposedly the front seven has plenty of talent that could show itself this year.  That seems like a tall order but if they do play well watch out. 

With a decent quarterback there is no reason the Bulldogs can't win 11 games.  That is still to be seen and with new coaches combined with a new signal caller it is hard to tell what you are going to get.  Their September 3 opener at home versus North Carolina should be a decent test or at least show us where they are at to begin the season.  I think their rush game could be excellent with Chubb and Michel so I've got hopes for another 10, maybe even 11 win season   

Michigan Wolverines 2016 Preview

All-American Jabrill Peppers

The Michigan Wolverines are coming off a very good 10-3 season which saw them win the Citrus Bowl 41-7 over Florida.  With quarterback Jake Rudock gone that seems to leave Wilton Speight and John O'Koren, who have been battling for the job during camp, as the favorites.  Jim Harbaugh says he knows who his starter is but not when he'll tell everyone.  Even with that up in the air the offense returns eight starters which should help whoever wins the job. The running game could use a pep finishing 84th in the country.  Again with all the starters back I'm hoping for the offense to improve but that is never a given when you have an unknown at quarterback.  Jake Butt returns at tight end and he will give the QB winner a steady option along with the rest of the talented receiving corps. 

All-American Tight End Jake Butt

The defense isn't quite as lucky but does have five returning starters to include all-around stud Jabrill Peppers.  Michigan also hired top defensive coordinator Don Brown away from Boston College.  He'll have his work cut out for him but I don't think it is stretch to say the defense could be almost as good as last year's.  I'm not sure this team can win more than the ten they got last year but they should be able to match it.  If it wasn't for the questions at quarterback and the turnover on defense it'd be a different story.  They've helped themselves by scheduling the first five games, and eight of 12 overall, at home.  With some luck they can pick up 11 wins and maybe, just maybe beat Ohio State.  That may be wishful thinking but beating the Buckeyes is what all Michigan fans wish for. 

2015 Michigan Wolverines Football Preview

If nothing else this year should be fun for Michigan Wolverines' football.  It may not be fun for the football team or new coach Jim Harbaugh but it should be for everyone else.  While expectations are not too high this year, Michigan fans and the media will always expect more and everyone is excited for this year as Jim Harbaugh helms the team for the first time at his alma mater.  First the hiring of Harbaugh is a win.  He was immensely successful at Stanford and with the San Francisco 49ers.  While this may not equate to many wins in the immediate future it should help the Wolverines compete as well as bode well for the future.  I'm excited just for the excitement factor he brings.  Hopefully it will translate into a few wins. 

Quarterback will be Harbaugh's biggest task as Shane Morris battles Jake Rudock, a trasfer from Iowa, and a highly touted true freshmen.  Whoever wins the quarterback battle, they aren't expected to put up huge numbers which could hurt the team's progress this year.  The running game should be ok while the line does have issues.  So while the 112th ranked offense should be better this year it is hard to say how much better.  Each position will have to get better as there is not once group that can carry the others. 

The defense was very good last year.  Twenty-four of twenty-nine defensive players return this year which can only be a good thing.  The defense also adds freshman safety Jabrill Peppers who should be able to make an impact this year.  They will run both 4-3 and 3-4 sets this year.  I like teams that can do that successfully.  Hopefully this team can build on last year's success with the new schemes.  With the offense still an enigma the defense will have to be good keep the team in games. 

Overall I think this team should be happy with eight wins if they can get there.  Harbaugh won't be happy with that but he never is.  Hopefully his intensity and excitement rubs off on the players.  If so they could definitely get to a .500 record.  Their schedule is not that tough so there is hope.  I won't be too disappointed if they don't get to eight wins.  This about the future and hoping Harbaugh can return the Wolverines to national prominence. 

2014 Michigan Wolverines Football Preview

Michigan comes off a disappointing 2013 season where they went 7-6.  To improve on that they'll need the offensive line and running game to be better (102nd in the nation).  The running backs who'll take the lead in the backfield this year rushed for under 400 yards combined last year.  Hopefully someone can win the top spot and shine.  Devin Gardner is capable at quarterback and can also use better protection from the line.  He led the team in rushing but I'd like to see him with more time in the pocket.  I think Michigan has a decent receiving corps so if Gardner has time to throw he has options. 

The defense started out strong last year but faded down the stretch.  The team lost six of their last eight games and it could be said the defense was the reason in at least three of those losses.  Michigan has a good linebacking corps and returns a total of eight starters from last year on defense.  They also have one of their biggest recruits in years joining the defensive backfield in Jabrill Peppers.  Hopefully he can have an affect right off the bat. 

I think Michigan can be a nine win team but those areas I mentioned needing improvement must get better.  The Big 10 isn't what it used to be but it is still the toughest part of the Wolverine's schedule sans Notre Dame in week 2.  This still isn't up to Michigan standards but I think that nine wins and a bowl win would be a good year.  I really like head coach Brady Hoke and think Michigan can be a top 10 team but they just don't have the talent right now.  I hope the athletic department is patient enough with Hoke to let him and this team get there.  For now I expect this to be a season with many close games.  Hopefully some of them go Michigan's way.