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ABG College Football
Our Coverage of a Storied Southern Tradition

Recap - CFB Playoff Semifinals

12/29/2018

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There’s no need to second guess the committee or talk about what might have been. There’s no need to question whether or not Notre Dame or Oklahoma are good football teams. It is clear they are. But this year we have a tier of good football teams and a tier of championship caliber teams. And the latter is small. What is important at this point is that the two teams who earned the right to play in the finals are there.

For all the talk of playoff expansion, it’s worth mentioning that this year it could have contracted. Once Bama beat Georgia, it was an event for the Tigers and the Tide. The BCS would have worked this year.

We’ve got an an interesting match up ahead. Keep an eye on ABG CFB for a special title game Curator & Coach.
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Curator & Coach - Week 5

12/29/2018

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Curator Sam Burnham

Game of the Week
​Southern Cal @ Washington


With the four team format for the CFB Playoff there’s a guarantee that at least one Power 5 conference champion will be left out in the cold. Add the trend of two SEC playoff teams and that makes two champs left out.

The Pac 12 has to step up if they want a say in New Orleans. Stepping up starts with this game. Each team already has a loss and neither can afford another. But this is inevitable for one of them. Two teams in a must-win situation, a 3:30 kickoff, and a relatively slow week for big games make this a good pick.

​Upset Alert
Mississippi State @ Auburn


This game promises to be a slobber knocker. This is where I’ll drag out an old Pat Dye quote to use out of context. “...man enough to beat Auburn.” The Tigers have beaten Oregon and Texas A&M already this season. That might qualify for the nation’s toughest schedule so far. What I like about them is that they’re scrappy. They don’t quit. They’re tough.

Clanga comes to Jordan-Hare looking for respect. And beating Auburn in the plains will give them exactly that. They have a chance here because I think they can scrap with Auburn. I expect a physical game, one the Tigers will have to fight their way out of. Don’t overlook the Bulldogs.
Coach Drew Burnham

​Game of the Week

VIRGINIA @ NOTRE DAME
​

Bronco Mendenhall has the Cavs off to a hot 4-0 start. There is plenty to be admired about the beginning to their campaign, however, this is their first major test. The Irish are fresh off a heartbreaker against UGA last weekend and if any hope of a playoff birth remains, they cannot afford any slips the remainder of the season. It’ll be the desire of Virginia to prove themselves worthy against a top-tier opponent vs the historic pride of the Irish doing their best to keep hold of their playoff dreams. This should make for an exciting afternoon in South Bend.

Upset Alert
OKLAHOMA STATE VS KANSAS STATE
This one barely counts as an upset as the Wildcats have just snuck into the top 25 this week. K-State has looked good in the first 3 weeks, but against far lesser competition except for a solid win at Mississippi State last week. I firmly believe that so far this season Oklahoma State is potentially the most under-rated team in the country. They are extremely explosive offensively and managed to give Texas all they wanted on the road last week. Gundy isn’t one to take moral victories, but the Pokes have looked good. I’m curious to see how the Cowboy front handles the power running attack of K-State as it is not something they get much of in the Big 12. If Oklahoma State can get off the field and not allow long, sustained drives, I believe they will handle this game with little issue.
Curator’s Picks (20-20)
​Oklahoma over Texas Tech
Wisconsin over Northwestern
Notre Dame over Virginia
Washington over Southern Cal
Clemson over North Carolina
Auburn over Mississippi State
Ohio St. over Nebraska
Kentucky over South Carolina
FSU over N.C. State
Utah over Washington St.
Coach’s Picks (22-18)
​Oklahoma over Texas Tech
Wisconsin over Northwestern
Notre Dame over Virginia
Washington over Southern Cal
Clemson over North Carolina
Auburn over Mississippi State
Ohio St. over Nebraska
Kentucky @ South Carolina
NC State over FSU
Washington St. over Utah
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Curator & Coach - Playoff & New Year’s Day

12/27/2018

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curator & Coach returns for one more skate of games. Here’s our thoughts on the CFB Playoff and New Year’s Day (oh...and Florida-Michigan)
Curator Sam Burnham
Cotton Bowl - Clemson vs Notre Dame

The Irish built a schedule that would have been close to insurmountable any of the last 20 seasons. How they managed to schedule that many perennial powers who just happened to e suffering down years, I’ll never know. What they did with what they had to work with was win. They enter the playoff without a loss. They beat everyone placed before them and that is all anyone could ask of them. And now, with everyone talking about QB controversies and transfers, there remains one truth. Ian Book is the quarterback. And he’s not bad. So let his back up transfer and let the field general lead his team. What we will see in Dallas is if the Irish made it this far because of an unlikely schedule or if they are a true playoff contender. While I can't argue that they've earned their place in the playoff, I'm not convinced they are ready for the task at hand. The last time they were in a similar situation, they were ill prepared for an Alabama juggernaut that steamrolled over them   

Across the field, Clemson will be without three suspended players. But I believe that the Tigers are on a tier with Alabama. I would have loved to see them playing Georgia this post season. Trevor Lawrence, the freshman sensation who ran the previous starter clear out of town, is going to be a tougher QB with better weapons than any other Notre Dame has seen this year. I figure if you run this match up 10 times, Clemson will win at least 8 of them.

​This season really doesn’t need the three team playoff. A Clemson vs Bama game is our destiny. The Irish are a good football team but this time, they’re just outgunned.


Orange Bowl - Alabama vs Oklahoma
When I get past the apparent controversy surrounding bowl officials allegedly stuffing the trophy with California oranges, the story of this game remains unchanged. Once the cleats hit the grass there will be a few indisputable truths:

​1) Both teams have incredible offenses, Oklahoma's led by Heisman winner Kyler Murray and Alabama's led by Murray's top contender, Tua Tagovaiola

2) Alabama has an effective defense with size, speed, and tenacity.

3) Oklahoma has no defense at all.

​That will be the measure of victory. Oklahoma will put points on the scoreboard. But Bama’s defense will limit them. There will be nothing the Sooners can do to keep the Tide out of the end zone. The Tide rolls and big.


Coach Drew Burnham
Cotton Bowl - Clemson vs Notre Dame

Notre Dame is a team who seems to play to the level of their opponents. They have been less than impressive against some less than impressive competition, yet have also shined when the lights were the brightest. They beat 3 teams this year who played in a Power 5 conference championsip game (Pitt, Northwestern and Stanford). 2 of those wins were by at least 2 scores. A night game in Blacksburg, a less than inviting environment, culminated in a 3 touchdown victory for the Irish. A matchup against a tough Syracuse team saw the Irish surrender only 3 points to an offense who came into the game averaging over 40. (They scored 23 in a game at Clemson.) This point could continue, but I feel that it is thoroughly made: the Irish answer the bell. Many people have voiced their opinion that they don’t belong in this game, but I simply don’t think that’s true. They’ve won their fair share of big games and will be ready for this matchup.
Clemson has held serve this season doing exactly what everyone expected them to do. They’ve become the 2ndhousehold name in college football. Their defense has been stifling, especially against the run. They’ve only allowed 8 rushing touchdowns all season and their opponents average less than 2.5 yards per carry. They are ultra-athletic in the back end of their defense and making their opponents one dimensional has played right into Clemson’s hand. A dominating key to that run stopping has been All American DT Dexter Lawrence who will not be dressed for the Tigers due to a positive test for a banned substance. He is the catalyst in the middle and is a major problem for offenses.

With Lawrence out, can Notre Dame sustain just enough of a run game to be able to set up the big play? I really believe that one piece will be a major deciding factor in this game. This one may be closer than you think.

​
Orange Bowl - Alabama vs Oklahoma
This capsule should be short and sweet. This game is all about 1 thing and it has NOTHING to do with anyone from the State of Hawaii. Oklahoma is known to score a lot of points. Alabama is known to field one of the most stingy defenses in the country every single year. Can Oklahoma and the Heisman Trophy winner score enough points to outlast the Tide? It is an extraordinarily similar circumstance to the Rose Bowl game last year. Oklahoma jumped out to a huge lead on Georgia before running out of gas and ultimately losing in overtime. Expect more of the same fireworks. I just wonder if they can have enough bullets in their gun to fire enough shots to take down the Tide. If this one turns into a true shootout, Alabama might just be in trouble.
Curator's Picks (77-64)

Clemson over Notre Dame
Alabama over Oklahoma
Florida over Michigan
Miss State over Iowa
LSU over UCF
Kentucky over Penn State
Ohio State over Washington
UGA over Texas
Coach's Picks (77-64)

Notre Dame over
Clemson

Alabama over Oklahoma
Michigan over Florida
Miss State over Iowa
UCF over LSU
Penn State over Kentucky
Washington over Ohio State
UGA over Texas
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The Heisman is Just Hype

12/9/2018

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Sam Burnham, Curator
When I started covering college football on this site I immediately decided to not cover the hype of the race for the Heisman Trophy. I’ve grown to hate the entire fiasco. I don’t remember the last time I saw the award ceremony and I couldn’t tell you who won previous to last year.

But there’s a lot of uproar this year. Alabama fans are livid the award did not go to Tide QB Tua Tagovailoa. We can look at the stats and opponents and argue between Tagovailoa and winner Kyler Murray. But the spotlight on these two takes me back 31 years to another presentation of a trophy that allegedly goes to the most outstanding overall player in college football.

In 1987, Notre Dame wide receiver Tim Brown won the award based on an impressive season - catching 39 passes for 846 yards, 34 rushes for 144 yards,
23 kick returns for 456 yards, 34 punt returns for 401 yds and 7 total TDs. He played on a talented team that finished the regular season 8-3 and played in the Cotton Bowl.

But that year there was another player who deserved the Heisman Trophy more than Brown. At the much smaller Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts you would have found the rightful winner. Don’t believe me? Take a look at Gordie Lockbaum’s stats: 77 receptions for 1152 yds, 85 rushes for 403 yds, 2041 all purpose yds, 22 total TDs. AND he was a 1st Team All-American defensive back. That’s right, he played on offense, defense, and returned kicks. But he didn’t go to a high profile school or play on a Top 25 team. So he finished 3rd in the Heisman voting.

Thats the problem with the Heisman. It’s not about finding the most outstanding overall player, as it is intended to. It simply goes to the flashiest player on a major program. Yes, there was that one year that Houston’s Andre Ware won. But that was an anomaly and isn’t likely to ever happen again. A player on a non-contender doesn’t stand a chance.

Dont believe me?

Lets look at something.

Kyler Murray - QB Oklahoma
241/340 4053 yards 40 TD
123 rushes 892 yards 11 TD

Tua Tagovailoa - QB Alabama
199/294 3353 yards 37 TD
48 rushes 190 yds 5 TD

David Blough - QB Purdue
283/425 3521 yards 25 TD

​
Rondale Moore - WR Purdue
103 catches 1164 yards 12 TD
18 rushes 203 yards 1 TD

I’ve tossed Purdue’s David Blough and Rondale Moore into this conversation, not to say that either was robbed of The Heisman, as Lockbaum was, but to prove the point of fairness and feasibility. Blough and Moore put up numbers that would have them in the conversation...if they were at Michigan or Ohio State. Blough outpassed Tagovailoa and put up comparable total yards. Moore’s yardage dwarfs the numbers that won Tim Brown the trophy (admittedly in a different time.) Their names never even entered the conversation. They got their numbers on an average Big Ten team. Murray’s stats were gotten on the best offense in the worst defensive conference in the country. Tagovailoa’s stats were gotten on the best team in the country, period. Murray and Tagovailoa played equal or lesser teams every week. Blough and Moore were punching up almost every week.

All that being said, if the award is about the player and not the team, you cannot have a legitimate conversation about that trophy that doesn’t even mention Blough or Moore. Again, not saying either should have won, but for them to not get a passing glance proves the trophy is illegitimate for its stated purpose. Either redefine the thing or get back to the roots.

And until one of those happens, we return to not covering the Heisman Trophy.
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Curator & Coach - Army-Navy

12/8/2018

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Curator Sam Burnham
​One of my favorite things about college football is tradition. You’d be hard pressed to find a game with a more storied tradition than the one being played today.

For well over a century, these two institutions have produced the officers who have led our military in the defense of our freedoms world-wide. Both the Union and Confederate armies were led by West Point grads. John Pershing and Dwight Eisenhower were both West Point grads. President Jimmy Carter, Senator John McCain, and astronauts Wally Schirra, James Irwin, and Jim Lovell were Navy grads. Chester Nimitz and William “Bull” Halsey are just two Navy grads who led us to victory over Imperial Japan.

The alumni list of these two institutions reads like a chronicle of American History. They’ve won our wars, served in office, walked on the moon, led businesses, engineered modern wonders, they’ve led in ever area of life. And while the game today is the biggest of the year, perhaps the biggest of their playing careers, it is possible this day will not register on the list of accomplishments these men will achieve.

But today’s game is special for another reason. The men who play today will be representing their branches, inspiring the pride of men and women standing on every continent and floating on every sea, who pledge their lives to the defense of American liberty and independence. Officers and enlisted will both cheer for them heir respective branches. Active duty, reserves, and veterans will look to these young men today to fight for bragging rights against the other branch - a foe in competition on this day, a teammate on every other.

While Navy has had a difficult season, while Army has found much more success, and while Army comes in as a heavy favorite, Navy is looking avenge last year's streak breaking loss. This is their chance to salvage everything, the whole year. All is a success if they can put together 4 strong quarters in Philadelphia against Army. Look foir old school traditional ground control football with a touch of the modern via the triple option. There will be a lot of hard nosed "low pad wins" type football today. I'm feeling good about Navy's chances. I'm going with the Middies.

And so we prepare for Army-Navy. The Black Knights vs the Midshipmen. For me, that means my first year as a Navy Dad. There’s a little more at stake this year. It’s a little more personal. And for that reason I proudly shout GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!

​But best of luck and a humble “thank you” to both.
Coach Drew Burnham
​This game is so much bigger than football for those that play in it, coach in it or watch it. I will get to all of that, but the coach in me wants to know the numbers.
The records seem to show that Army should win this one in a runaway, but don’t count on that. Navy has played a tumultuous schedule this year, especially if you look at the offenses they have faced, having taken on Memphis, Notre Dame, Cincinnati and UCF (say what you will, those boys can score!). The defense has been the downfall for Navy this year, surrendering 34 Points/game. Offensive production has not been lacking, and in reality is very evenly matched with the highly successful Army team. Defense has been the issue. Playing the quality offenses listed week after week has taken its toll.

Army has been extremely efficient this season and while you may say that their schedule has been easier to handle than Navy, let us not forget that they DID play Oklahoma to a 7 point game. They are averaging right at 30 points/game and the defense has been stingy (mostly due to limiting the other teams number of drives due to extreme ball control) allowing only 18 points a contest.

HOWEVER, none of that matters. Not even a little bit. This is Army/Navy and all bets are off. I have been very fortunate in my career to come in contact at some point with both sides of this beast. During an internship, I was part of an off-site training camp practice at the Naval Academy. Even in the summer it was obvious that though they would play 12 teams that season, there was only 1 on the schedule. Signs, t-shirts, shoes, goal post pads and anything else you could put writing on all read one consistent message: Beat Army!

Just this last week on the recruiting trail I ran into a student athlete who I had previously recruited who ended up committing to West Point. We spoke while I was in the school and I told him how proud I was of him and how much I looked forward to his future. On my way out the door, I looked across a gym at him and yelled his name. He looked at me and I yelled “GO ARMY!” to which he very naturally and enthusiastically replied “BEAT NAVY!!”.
This game has a set of lungs full of breath and a soul of its own. It means so much to so many people who should mean so much to all of us. These young men did not make their college football decision based on facilities, or gear, or wins and losses, or stars on their rivals page or any of the other meaningless things recruits make decisions based off of. They decided that protecting you and me was what they wanted to do, and if they play ball on the way that’s just icing on the cake. This is my absolute favorite game of the year and I so look forward to the kick off of this one.
I do think Army wins in a major slugfest, but this game is bigger than the win for everyone involved. Go Army! Go Navy!
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Curator's Pick - Navy
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Coach's Pick - Army
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ABG Poll - 12/4/18

12/4/2018

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At the end of Championship week we find this Top 10, the final one until Bowl Season is complete. The combined ballots chose the same four teams as the committee, with the next three teams each just one vote from the other.

And now for Bowl Season.
The Poll

​Rank   Team            Points     Last Week

1.    Alabama                50 (5)           1
2.    Clemson                45                2
3.    Notre Dame           39                3
4.    Oklahoma              33                5
5.    Georgia                  26                4
6.    Ohio State              25                7
7.    UCF                        24                6        
8.    Washington            14                10
​9.    LSU                          9                NR
10.  Michigan                  7                 8
       
Also receiving votes:  Kentucky 2, Washington State 1
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Championship Week Recap

12/1/2018

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This Recap is a bit different than the previous ones. Thhis week there were only two games that mattered in the scheme of determining the playoff teams. Really there was only one. Clemson took care of business as expected and that’s really the only takeaway from the ACC Championship.

The SEC Championship is the one that really mattered. Alabama’s remarkable come from behind win, enabled by the galactically stupid fake punt attempt that gave Alabama the ball at midfield, sealed the Tide’s place in the playoff. Georgia proved they could stay on the field with Bama but can their presence in the playoff be justified?

Looking at the résumés of Oklahoma, who struggled with Texas again, and Ohio State, the options are Georgia and two teams who aren’t prepared.

It could be justified to just let Clemson and Alabama play, or even have the Tide play the winner of a Clemson/Notre Dame bowl game. After today, it’s likely anticlimactic.

This is why expanding the playoff is a terrible idea. In some years there just aren’t the teams to fill a bracket. The trophy was cheapened last year when the national champion not only failed to win their conference, yet didn’t even win their division. If the goal is to crown the best team that season, excellence is a priority. If it’s just about ticket sales and flashy ceremonies, by all means, expand it.

As of now, only three teams have qualified for a four team playoff. The fourth spot will be awarded to a Georgia team who can compete but didn’t win their conference or to a conference champion who can’t compete on that level.

The committe has a difficult task ahead of them.
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