2017-12-05 06:55

A nice football weekend and at the end we had some surprises (at least for me).

Surprise 1: Georgia won with 21 points the SEC.
Surprise 2: TCU got stomped by Oklahoma.
Surprise 3: Miami was not able to score at all until a late FG.
Surprise 4: Jimbo Fisher bullied his way out of Florida State and got his major contract wish at Texas A&M.
Surprise 5: Alabama got easily the final spot in the playoffs by sitting out this gameday and not winning a conference or division.

Regarding Jimbo Fisher I have to say that this is a part if College Football I don't get and I never will get.
First of all, that guy was under contract getting millions, still within a few hours he can leave the school and start new at a different one.
If I want to leave my company that way I need to do some drastic criminal stuff and for sure I would not get a new job within hours.
I can understand Fisher wants for money, that's a common habit of many people. Both usually you need to negotiate with your boss and if he says no, you need to stay or quit.
But if you quit, this takes time, in college football only hours.
Fine, you do not want a guy at the helm running your program into the ground while playing grumpy, but on the other hand those guys are supposed to be professional.
Anyway, I can at least relate to a fast quitting and letting him quit.
What I really cannot relate to is that Texas A&M does hire such a guy.
What do they expect to get?
Fisher will ask for more, whenever a different coach gets an extension bigger than his.
And if there is again a better offer he will likely bold for that again.
Loyalty is not to be expected.
But obviously Texas A&M want to have a Championship Coach and hopes for a National Championship.

Regarding Alabama I have to say that this is another case which will likely lead to a bigger playoff picture in the future.
They did give 2 SEC teams a spot and left a PAC12 team and a BIG10 team out, and Notre Dame with their special deal.
And I think the conferences want to have a chance, so this 4 team playoff system is not in their interests.
But of cause changes do happen slowly in the FBS, so we need to wait another 5-7 season until there will be talks again for a change or for no change.

Let's have a look at the BLOCK OF GRANITE TOP GAMES FOR WEEK 14

Fri. Dec 1
PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PRESENTED BY DR PEPPER
#12 Stanford vs #10 USC
A close game and at the end did USC triumph over Stanford and won the conference, first time since 2008.
That's a long time for a program like USC and for sure no one did see this coming by Clay Helton.
When he was hired as new USC coach, under a pity contract, everybody thought he is just that guy to keep the program running until another big coach is hired.
But now Helton has win the conference and did prove he can coach.
Both teams here will play in a good bowl, USC in a great one.
Stanford 28 - USC 31 -> Jacks TOP 3 GAMES Score: 29-14

Sat. Dec 2
BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#11 TCU vs #3 Oklahoma
I said Oklahoma will destroy TCU and at the end I was surprise they really did.
There was more or less no resistance from TCU.
Oklahoma will play Georgia in the playoffs.
TCU will go into a good bowl.
TCU 17 - Oklahoma 41 -> Jacks TOP 3 GAMES Score: 30-14

Sat. Dec 2
SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#6 Georgia vs #2 Auburn
Auburn started good and did score first, but after that it was all Georgia.
A classic rematch-is-tough-for-the-winning-team situation did Georgia win the SEC, first since 2005.
Georgia will meet Oklahoma in the playoffs.
Auburn will play in a great bowl.
Georgia 28 - Auburn 7 -> Jacks TOP 3 GAMES Score: 30-15

Sat. Dec 2
DR PEPPER ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#7 Miami vs #1 Clemson
Wow, I have to say Clemson did look really good.
Miami was only able to score 3 points in the 4th quarter and Clemson did score all game long.
For Clemson there is now Alabama in the playoffs, which won't be easy.
Miami will play a good bowl game, but has to wait for next season to eventually get an ACC crown.
Miami 3 - Clemson 38 -> Jacks TOP 3 GAMES Score: 31-15

Sat. Dec 2
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#8 Ohio State vs #4 Wisconsin
I have to say I'm disappointed by the Badgers.
Sure they played a tough opponent, but there was bad tackling and miss communication and so on.
It's a wonder they did not get beaten 40-0.
Ohio State was left out of the playoffs, which is from the political point of view a bad decision, but from the strength point of view, this is likely a good choice.
Ohio State and Wisconsin will play good bowl games next.
Ohio State 27 - Wisconsin 21 -> Jacks TOP 3 GAMES Score: 31-16

Other interesting games:

Sat. Dec 2
MARATHON MAC FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY VIZIO
Akron vs Toledo
All Toledo in a 45-28 win.
Both teams will play a mid level to low level bowl next.
Jacks interesting games Score: 30-15

Sat. Dec 2
Troy @ Arkansas State
A close game, but Troy won 32-25. They won a share of the conference title by that.
Both teams will play a mid level to low level bowl next.
Jacks interesting games Score: 31-15

Sat. Dec 2
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PRESENTED BY KAY JEWELERS
#20 Memphis vs #14 UCF
A great game and at the end became the dream reality and UCF won the game in OT 62-55 to close the season 12-0 as Champions.
They lost instantly their HC, who went to Nebraska. But maybe he can coach the bowl game on 1st of January against Auburn, a big time bowl.
Jacks interesting games Score: 32-15

Sat. Dec 2
DYNACRAFT CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
North Texas @ Florida Atlantic
FAU dominated and won 41-17. For Lane Kiffin this was a perfect example of his HC abilities, but so far no college is calling to hire him.
Both teams will play a mid level to low level bowl next.
Jacks interesting games Score: 33-15

Sat. Dec 2
MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PRESENTED BY HAMPTON BY HILTON
#25 Fresno State @ Boise State
And the magical blue field did deliver a Boise State win 17-14.
Surprisingly low scoring, but Boise did get their revenge when it counted.
Both teams will play a good to mid level bowl next.
Jacks interesting games Score: 34-15

Tags: Block of Granite