Blog Review Post #1: RIP Brandon Jackson

Sad news from the college football world came yesterday when the Army Black Knights announced their sophomore cornerback, Brandon Jackson, was killed in a single car accident, just after Saturday's win against the Rice Owls. Police were called to the sight of the crash just after 1:50am in Cronton, New York, 19 miles south from West Point, home of the Army Black Knights. He was driving by himself when he hit a guardrail and was killed. “Words cannot describe the grief that our team is feeling over the loss of our brother and friend Brandon,” said head coach, Jeff Monken, of Jackson. Jackson will most likely be honored this Saturday before Army's game against UTEP.

1. I wrote this post to show that there is more to college football than just player stats and game scores.  I wrote to show how there can also be tragedy throughout the world of college football.  I also wrote this to just spread the news on not only just a player's death but a young man's tragic death in the real world.
2. I had remember having trouble finding the right information about the death.  It was hard to find articles that had good details about what happened and Jackson's background.  Other than that I had no trouble writing this article.
3. I wanted readers to just be aware that tragic things can happen to college football players besides injuries in games.  I guess I wanted the readers to feel some sort of sadness about Jackson's death.  I feel like this article was more of just an informational article about Jackson's death rather than a tribute to Jackson so there really isn't much emotion to it.

Clemson Wins the National Championship

I like sleeping. I like it so much that at halftime I went to bed and missed one of the best games in College Football National Championship history.  Clemson topped defending National Champion Alabama in a rematch of the 2016 National Championship game.  Alabama struck twice in the first half to open the game as their running back Bo Scarborough ran for 2 mid distance touchdowns as Alabama took a 14-0.  Clemson scored midway through the second quarter to get on the board and Alabama went into halftime with a 14-7 lead.  Then I went to bed.  And then it got really good. Alabama dominated the third quarter as they went into the fourth quarter up 24-14, looking to repeat as National Champions.  Then the Clemson offense went off.  A four yard Watson touchdown pass made it 24-21.  Then a 1 yard Gallman run made it 28-24 and more than midway through the fourth quarter Clemson had their first lead of the game.  A 30 yard run by Alabama freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts put Alabama back up 31-28, then something magical happened.  A Clemson drive led by Deshaun Watson ended with 1 second left on the clock as he threw a touchdown to wide receiver Hunter Renfrow and that was it.  Clemson won 35-31.  It was amazing.  Both Clemson and Alabama finish their seasons at 14-1 as Clemson claims the #1 spot in all of college football.  A great way to end the season.  And this blog.  As the semester comes to an end, this blog will too as I no longer have use for it and there is nothing left to write about.  Perfect timing, huh?  Well anyway this is going to be my last post.  I feel like it's a good post to end on.  Congrats to Clemson for winning an amazing National Championship game!  I want to end this on a high note so below is the play that won Clemson the National Championship.  Enjoy and peace!

 

 

Bowl Results

Well the college football bowl season has come to a close :( There were lots of good games and some surprising upsets, but overall it was a good season.  Next year should bring even better bowls!  Here are the results for the bowl games:

FCS Celebration Bowl: North Carolina Central vs Grambling State
Pick: Grambling State
Result: Grambling State 10-9

New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico vs UTSA
Pick: New Mexico
Result: New Mexico 23-20

Las Vegas Bowl: Houston vs San Diego State
Pick: Houston
Result: San Diego State 34-10

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State vs Toledo
Pick: Toledo
Result: Appalachian State 31-28

AutoNation Cure Bowl: UCF vs Arkansas State
Pick: Arkansas State
Result: Arkansas State 31-13

New Orleans Bowl: Southern Mississippi vs Louisiana Lafayette
Pick: Louisiana Lafayette
Result: Southern Mississippi 28-21

Miami Beach Bowl: Central Michigan vs Tulsa
Pick: Tulsa
Result: Tulsa 55-10

Boca Raton Bowl: Memphis vs Western Kentucky
Pick: Memphis
Result: Western Kentucky 51-31

Poinsettia Bowl: BYU vs Wyoming
Pick: Wyoming
Result: BYU 24-21

Idaho Potato Bowl: Idaho vs Colorado State
Pick: Colorado State
Result: Idaho 61-50

Popeyes Bahamas Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs Old Dominion
Pick: Old Dominion
Result: Old Dominion 24-20

Armed Forces Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs #25 Navy
Pick: Louisiana Tech
Result: Louisiana Tech 48-45

Dollar General Bowl: Ohio vs Troy
Pick: Troy
Result: Troy 28-23

Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii vs Middle Tennessee State
Pick: Hawaii
Result: Hawaii 52-35

St. Petersburg Bowl: Miami (OH) vs Mississippi State
Pick: Mississippi State
Result: Mississippi State 17-16

Quick Lane Bowl: Maryland vs Boston College
Pick: Maryland
Result: Boston College 36-30

Independence Bowl: North Carolina State vs Vanderbilt
Pick: North Carolina State
Result: North Carolina State 41-17

Heart of Dallas Bowl: Army vs North Texas
Pick: Army
Result: Army 38-31 OT

Military Bowl: #24 Temple vs Wake Forest
Pick: #24 Temple
Result: Wake Forest 34-26

Holiday Bowl: Minnesota vs Washington State
Pick: Washington State
Result: Minnesota 17-12

Cactus Bowl: Boise State vs Baylor
Pick: Boise State
Result: Baylor 31-12

Pinstripe Bowl: #23 Pittsburgh vs Northwestern
Pick: #23 Pittsburgh
Result: Northwestern 31-24

Russell Athletic Bowl: Miami (FL) vs #16 West Virginia
Pick: #16 West Virginia
Result: Miami (FL) 31-14

Foster Farms Bowl: Indiana vs #19 Utah
Pick: #19 Utah
Result: #19 Utah 26-24

Texas Bowl: Texas A&M vs Kansas State
Pick: Texas A&M
Result: Kansas State 33-28

Birmingham Bowl: South Florida vs South Carolina
Pick: South Florida
Result: South Florida 46-39 OT

Belk Bowl: Arkansas vs #22 Virginia Tech
Pick: Arkansas
Result: #22 Virginia Tech 35-24

Alamo Bowl: #12 Oklahoma State vs #10 Colorado
Pick: #12 Oklahoma State
Result: #12 Oklahoma State 38-8

Liberty Bowl: Georgia vs TCU
Pick: TCU
Result: Georgia 31-23

Sun Bowl: #18 Stanford vs North Carolina
Pick: #18 Stanford
Result: #18 Stanford 25-23

Music City Bowl: Nebraska vs #21 Tennessee
Pick: Nebraska
Result: #21 Tennessee 38-24

Arizona Bowl: Southern Alabama vs Air Force
Pick: Air Force
Result: Air Force 45-21

Orange Bowl: #6 Michigan vs #11 Florida State
Pick: #6 Michigan
Result: #11 Florida State 33-32

Citrus Bowl: #20 LSU vs #13 Louisville
Pick: #20 LSU
Result: #20 LSU 29-19

TaxSlayer Bowl: Georgia Tech vs Kentucky
Pick: Kentucky
Result: Georgia Tech 33-18

Outback Bowl: #17 Florida vs Iowa
Pick: #17 Florida
Result: #17 Florida 30-3

Cotton Bowl: #15 Western Michigan vs #8 Wisconsin
Pick: #8 Wisconsin
Result: #8 Wisconsin 24-16

Rose Bowl: #9 USC vs #5 Penn State
Pick: #5 Penn State
Resut: #9 USC 52-49

Sugar Bowl: #14 Auburn vs #7 Oklahoma
Pick: #7 Oklahoma
Result: #7 Oklahoma 35-19

Playoff Game #1/Peach Bowl: #1 Alabama vs #4 Washington
Pick: #1 Alabama
Result: #1 Alabama 24-7

Playoff Game #2/Fiesta Bowl: #2 Clemson vs #3 Ohio State
Pick: #3 Ohio State
Result: #2 Clemson 31-0

So I mean I didn't do too bad... Like 21 out of the 41 (not counting the National Championship) is pretty good for me.  It's over 50% so I'll take it.  But it all comes down to January 9th as #1 Alabama takes on #2 Clemson for the second straight year (kind of like John Cena vs The Rock part 2, but hopefully way better).  I think I'm going to wrap this blog up with a National Championship write up and then the end of the season awards such as Team of the Year, Player of the Year, etc. Until then!

National Championship: #1 Alabama vs #2 Clemson

Well my prediction was wrong.  What else is new?  #1 Alabama silenced the #4 Washington offense, winning 24-7 and advancing to the National Championship for the second straight year.  #2 Clemson shut out #3 Ohio State 31-0, also advancing to the National Championship for the second straight year.  So basically we have a repeat of last year's National Championship Game, Alabama vs Clemson.  The last time these two teams faced off was last year's National Championship, where Alabama squeaked out the win 45-40 to win their third National Championship in five years.  Clemson is looking for redemption in this game as they look to win their first National Championship ever in their program's history.  I expect Alabama to win but this game will be close again.  The departure of Alabama's Offensive Coordinator Lane Kiffin leaves a huge question mark on the performance of Alabama's offense, especially the performance of freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts.  But Alabama's defense has stepped up as of late and if they can stop the Washington offense then they could easily stop the Clemson offense.  As much as I hate to say it... ROLL TIDE!

Lamar Jackson Wins Heisman Trophy

Well it finally happened! After dominating the beginning of the season with 6 touchdown performances, quarterback Lamar Jackson of the Louisville Cardinals has won the Heisman Trophy. Jackson received 2144 points in the vote, with 525 1st place points. The 19 year old sophomore is the youngest player to win the Heisman Trophy and the first player from Louisville to win the Heisman Trophy. Jackson finished the regular season with 4928 total yards and 51 total touchdowns. The Cardinals finished at #15 in the College Football Playoff Poll and they play in the Citrus Bowl against #20 LSU on December 31st at 11am.

College Bowl Schedule and Picks

It's finally here! One of my favorite times of the year! The college football bowl season is now upon us! The committee has made their bowl selections and the schedule has been made. Today I am going to make my bowl picks and maybe give an explanation and we're going to see how I do.

FCS Celebration Bowl: North Carolina Central vs Grambling State
Pick: Grambling State

New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico vs UTSA
Pick: New Mexico

Las Vegas Bowl: Houston vs San Diego State
Pick: Houston

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State vs Toledo
Pick: Toledo

AutoNation Cure Bowl: UCF vs Arkansas State
Pick: Arkansas State

New Orleans Bowl: Southern Mississippi vs Louisiana Lafayette
Pick: Louisiana Lafayette

Miami Beach Bowl: Central Michigan vs Tulsa
Pick: Tulsa

Boca Raton Bowl: Memphis vs Western Kentucky
Pick: Memphis

Poinsettia Bowl: BYU vs Wyoming
Pick: Wyoming

Idaho Potato Bowl: Idaho vs Colorado State
Pick: Colorado State

Popeyes Bahamas Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs Old Dominion
Pick: Old Dominion

Armed Forces Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs #25 Navy
Pick: Louisiana Tech

Dollar General Bowl: Ohio vs Troy
Pick: Troy

Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii vs Middle Tennessee State
Pick: Hawaii

St. Petersburg Bowl: Miami (OH) vs Mississippi State
Pick: Mississippi State

Quick Lane Bowl: Maryland vs Boston College
Pick: Maryland

Independence Bowl: North Carolina State vs Vanderbilt
Pick: North Carolina State

Heart of Dallas Bowl: Army vs North Texas
Pick: Army

Military Bowl: #24 Temple vs Wake Forest
Pick: #24 Temple

Holiday Bowl: Minnesota vs Washington State
Pick: Washington State

Cactus Bowl: Boise State vs Baylor
Pick: Boise State

Pinstripe Bowl: #23 Pittsburgh vs Northwestern
Pick: #23 Pittsburgh

Russell Athletic Bowl: Miami (FL) vs #16 West Virginia
Pick: #16 West Virginia

Foster Farms Bowl: Indiana vs #19 Utah
Pick: #19 Utah

Texas Bowl: Texas A&M vs Kansas State
Pick: Texas A&M

Birmingham Bowl: South Florida vs South Carolina
Pick: South Florida

Belk Bowl: Arkansas vs #22 Virginia Tech
Pick: Arkansas

Alamo Bowl: #12 Oklahoma State vs #10 Colorado
Pick: #12 Oklahoma State

Liberty Bowl: Georgia vs TCU
Pick: TCU

Sun Bowl: #18 Stanford vs North Carolina
Pick: #18 Stanford

Music City Bowl: Nebraska vs #21 Tennessee
Pick: Nebraska

Arizona Bowl: Southern Alabama vs Air Force
Pick: Air Force

Orange Bowl: #6 Michigan vs #11 Florida State
Pick: #6 Michigan

Citrus Bowl: #20 LSU vs #13 Louisville
Pick: #20 LSU

TaxSlayer Bowl: Georgia Tech vs Kentucky
Pick: Kentucky

Outback Bowl: #17 Florida vs Iowa
Pick: #17 Florida

Cotton Bowl: #15 Western Michigan vs #8 Wisconsin
Pick: #8 Wisconsin

Rose Bowl: #9 USC vs #5 Penn State
Pick: #5 Penn State

Sugar Bowl: #14 Auburn vs #7 Oklahoma
Pick: #7 Oklahoma

Playoff Game #1/Peach Bowl: #1 Alabama vs #4 Washington
Pick: #1 Alabama

Playoff Game #2/Fiesta Bowl: #2 Clemson vs #3 Ohio State
Pick: #3 Ohio State

National Championship Prediction: #1 Alabama vs #3 Ohio State
Pick: #1 Alabama

Let's see how I do!

Conference Championship Schedule

Well I'm still a liar.  I had no time to write that Ohio State-Michigan article before the game.  It was a great game though.  I didn't see is because I was at Penn State but boy did I hear about it!  Because Ohio State won and Penn State won, PENN STATE IS GOING TO THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP!  Now we're going to look at the Conference Championship games now that the regular season of college football has wrapped up.

MAC: #17 Western Michigan vs Ohio

PAC-12: #8 Colorado vs #4 Washington

AAC: Temple vs #19 Navy

C-USA: Louisiana Tech vs Western Kentucky

BIG 12 (not a championship game but decides the Big 12 Champion):
#10 Oklahoma State vs #9 Oklahoma

SEC: #1 Alabama vs #15 Florida
MWC: San Diego State vs Wyoming

ACC: #3 Clemson vs #23 Virginia Tech

BIG TEN: #6 Wisconsin vs #7 Penn State