MLB Offseason Predictions: AL East

 The baseball off-season is upon us! It is a time to be optimistic, hopefully, and obsessively scroll through twitter trying to find updates and breaking news. With the expansion of the baseball playoffs here to stay, and the new rules approaching in 2023, teams all across the country should be excited to improve their clubs and push closer and closer to the promised land. However, the Astros have created quite a mountain for teams to climb.

College Football Review: November 6th, 2022

 Game of the Week: No. 10 LSU (31) vs. No. 6 Alabama (30) OT  

Another cosmic shift has taken place in College Football, and once against Alabama was on the wrong side of it, and even more surprisingly, to me at least, it came at the hands of the 2022 LSU Tigers. Brian Kelly had been the butt of so many jokes at the beginning of the season, and after their week one loss against Florida State (a result of a missed extra point I remind you) it seemed like LSU had made a terrible mistake bringing in Brian Kelly, or perhaps Kelly made a huge mistake leaving Notre Dame for LSU. Now all of that is in the past. 

LSU outplayed Alabama in almost every facet of the game and despite the game going into overtime (hats off to Bryce Young on another outstanding performance) LSU seemed to play more like a national title hopeful than their Alabama counterparts. Jayden Daniels was magnificent, completing 22/32 passes, rushing for 95 yards, and 3 total touchdowns on the day. LSU’s defense seemed to be able to pressure Bryce Young the entire game as well as blanket their receivers and despite his best efforts, Bryce Young never truly looked comfortable in what was probably the most inhospitable environment he has ever played in. Everything LSU wanted to do, they were able to do, whereas Alabama was once again exposed, like they have not been for quite some time in the Nick Saban era.

College Football Review: November 1st, 2022

 Game of the Week: No. 15 Ole Miss (31) @ Texas A&M (28) 

There were not a lot of great games this week, especially in terms of playoff implications, but Ole Miss and Texas A&M leapt off the page in Week 9. Ole Miss is having a wonderful season yet again under Lane Kiffin and any college football fan can tell that Ole Miss is becoming something they have not been in decades, which is a stable program. They have a clear identity, they seem to play to their strengths every week, and the more they continue to mount their successes, the better prospects they should be able to recruit. 

Now take everything I just said there, and invert those facts for Texas A&M.

College Football Review: October 17th 2022

 Game of the Week: Tennessee (52) vs. Alabama (49)

We may have just witnessed not only the greatest game of the 2022 season, but the greatest regular season win in the last 10 years, by any program. Tennessee has not been relevant in over 20 seasons, and with the win may have vaulted their program into the upper echelon of SEC teams. This was the game we all wanted to see, and this may be the program to finally mix up or challenge the stalwarts of the sport…

Or it could simply just be one game, and Tennessee could lose in a couple of weeks to Georgia, Alabama could win out, and we see exactly what we have all expected to see.

But in the moment, this game, between Tennessee/Alabama was exactly what we love about college football. The pageantry, the back and forth, the star power, and the pure joy and celebration of 90,000+ inside a football stadium. Whether Tennessee goes onto the playoff or loses 2 or 3 games the rest of the way, for those 3+ hours we watched, it was something incredible to see.  

College Football Review: October 11th, 2022

 I know…it has been a while again.

But that is the life I guess of a father/husband/educator/coach, and sometimes your priorities can just overwhelm you. Now in no way am I trying to say that College Football is not my priority (I mean just ask my wife how I have prioritized the sport in our marriage) but unfortunately my blogging had to once again take a backseat. But now that I got some free time on my hands again, I thought I’d sit down and jot down a few ideas and realizations I have over the last month. 

Going forward, I hope to get back to a regular writing schedule, but let’s just see how my four year old can disrupt those plans…

Let’s talk some college football.

College Football Review 2022: Week 3

 Game of the Week: Appalachian State (32) vs. Troy (28) 

Be honest, did you watch this game? Of course not. 

Did I watch this game? Again…of course not.

I wish I had though. I convinced myself to stay up to the very end of the Miami/Texas A&M game because I really believed something climatic was going to happen. But Texas A&M reminded everyone how good their defense is, and Miami reminded everyone that they are still Miami and we need to tone down our expectations. 

But when you looked around the country there were no really thrilling games, unless you want to note the potential disasters that almost took place in Florida and Arkansas. But both SEC schools ended up winning, so who cares? 

College Football Review: Week 2

 Game of the Week: No. 21 Baylor (26) vs. No. 9 Baylor (20) 

In the game that most people on the West Coast were awake to see, two top 25 teams battled it out into overtime as BYU got a huge win over Baylor. It wasn’t the prettiest game to see, but it was certainly the most entertaining even when you factor in the missed field goals which just delayed BYU’s signature win. While the loss for Baylor is disappointing, this could prove to be a respectable loss as BYU has now catapulted up the rankings and have another ranked matchup this up and coming week against Oregon. If BYU continues to win, and Baylor gets back to their winning ways, all should be fine for the Bears, but that will continue to enhance BYU’s resume as well. 

College Football Review 2022: Week 1

 Game of the Week: Florida (29) vs. No. 7 Utah (26) 

Utah came into Gainesville with the hopes of padding their resume with a signature win, in a hostile environment, and to put Utah and the PAC-12 back in the national conversation.

Quarterback Anthony Richardson had different plans. 

In what proved to be the game of the night, Florida instantly became the sentimental favorite in possibly all of college football with their nostalgic play. Why nostalgic? Look at the box score and sophomore sensation Anthony Richardson with his 94.8 QB rating and over 100 rushing yards and three scores. Not saying he is the second coming of Tim Tebow, but the energy inside Ben Hill Griffin (and their 91,000+ fans) said otherwise. Florida may not be in the title contention this year, but there is potential in a top heavy SEC East. The Gators are becoming a must watch team. 

College Football Predictions Part 2: Heisman Winner, Coach of the Year, Hirings & Firings

 Heisman Winner: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State 

C.J. Stroud, with all apologies to Bryce Young, is the most talented, well-rounded quarterback in this year’s class. But talent is not all that is needed to win the Heisman. Stroud, with the weapons surrounding him in Columbus this year should have some of the best numbers in the country. But statistics is not enough to win the heisman. Stroud should be the first overall pick in next year’s NFL draft. But being the slam dunk first round pick has never correlated to winning the Heisman. 

Teachers in Sports: Episode 1

 Looking for a new perspective on the same old sport stories?

Interested in historical sport stories that are virtually unknown to even super fans?

Try out Teachers in Sports Podcast for our thoughts on Baseball dynasties, PGA vs LIV, and who's already on the hot seat before start of the College Football Season!

2022 College Football Predictions Part 1: 10 Games To Watch This Season

Have you read any College Football preseason articles or magazines lately?

No, who reads magazines anymore! 

Ok fine, but have you looked at any preseason College Football predictions for the up and coming season? 

Why do I need to read something that is going to tell me that Alabama is going to play either Ohio State, Georgia or Clemson in the championship?

At the end of every June, I would hurry over to Barnes and Noble and pick up my College Football publications and get a head start on next year’s best teams and players. While that may seem like a very old-timey sentence to read, it really became part of my summer tradition. Whether it was Athlon, Street & Smith, or my personal favorite Phil Steel’s College Football Preview, I always felt instantly smarter by going to the store and shelling out $10-20 bucks and absorbing as much information as possible for the up and coming season.