2021 NCAA College football thread.

Fr Tod Umptious

Brilliant Music City Bowl ongoing are the moment, Perdue v Tennessee.

31-30 to Tennessee with 5 or so minutes left in the 4th

45 all now 1:36 to go.

It's a video game as the commentators are saying, huge 70 yard passing plays for TD, 70 yard runs, it's great entertainment.

ch20

The Music City Bowl was great to watch. Both big offensive teams with injuries and opt outs. Some dodgy calls by the officials. Tennessee can feel hard done by. I thought Purdue played better overall

eagle eye

It was thoroughly entertaining. I'm wondering if O'Connell could be an NFL QB.

It's some story, he was a walk on a few years ago, 8th on the depth chart at Purdue. He got up to no.3 on the depth chart through good work at practice and some moving onto other colleges. Then injury struck and he got his chance. Last night he put himself in the company of the likes of Peyton Manning and Patrick Mahomes with 534 yards and 5 passing TDs. He has a big arm and good footwork in the pocket.

If he were to make it as an NFL starter it'd make a great movie I think.

theoneeyedman

Cincinatti were keeping in touch with Alabama, but a TD for Bama before HT opens what may be a decisive 17-3 lead approaching the break.

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118395383#Comment_118395383

He has another year of eligibility and committed to Perdue a few weeks back, so we will have to wait another year.

I know this because I googled him last night while watching the game to see what his draft prospects might be.

eagle eye

Cincy doing okay against Bama but I have a feeling the Crimson Tide are going to up it in the second half.

el Fenomeno

A lot closer than I thought. I was expecting a result that would be the death knell for any non-Power Five teams in the playoffs for as long as it stays at 4 teams.

theoneeyedman

21 points at present, Cincinnati offence have done little throughout. Bama haven't impressed greatly, but have looked comfortable throughout.

eagle eye

I think Georgia will be too much for Michigan in this one. They are fully healthy for the first time this season on offense, they have Pickens back whose been out all season.

Michigan's offense all season long has been about the run game and the Bulldogs are the best in the country at stopping the run, even Alabama couldn't run the ball against them.

theoneeyedman

Real dominance from Georgia, had the game won at halftime.

All SEC final, some won't be happy with that, but hard to argue Alabama and Georgia aren't the 2 best teams in the country on form. Big question, can Georgia get the Saban monkey off their back in a big game.

theoneeyedman

Spent a good bit of the morning catching up on highlights of the New Year Bowl games. Some good games, especially the Rose Bowl which looked like a real Dinger (I won't spoil it here)

Jimmy Two Times

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118398606#Comment_118398606

Think it was just Saban playing SEC Football, running it down Cincy's throat all day and playing strong defence. Was always going to be enough against that calibre of opposition.

Georgia will be a totally different proposition and I can see a reversal of the SEC Champ game result.Hope not but can't see Bama beating them again.

eagle eye

Georgia's secondary is weak, Bama have the QB and receivers to beat them. Georgia don't get to the QB enough either. Just look at the SEC championship game, it was Metchie and Williams averaging 16.2 and 26.3 yards respectively through 13 combined catches that beat the Bulldogs defensive backs.

The Bulldogs will stop the run all day and short passes, it's the long ball they are weak against.

On the other side it's pretty similar with the Tide. If you can't throw it down the field they'll stack the box and leave one high safety. If you look at the SEC Championship game you'll see that Georgia only figured that out late in the game. They have that information now but they need Bennett on top form.

I think it'll be a high scoring game with lots of deep passing so long as it remains close. You just aren't going to go anywhere against either of these defenses if you try to keep the ball on the ground. .

eagle eye

Huge start for Georgia, strip sack fumble TD but hold on they say his hand was going forward so chalked off. 2nd and 10 and Bama get a first down and it just feels like Bama will make it happen after that bit of luck.

eagle eye

Georgia finally managed to stop them and it's a field goal 3-0 Bama.

eagle eye

Jamison Williams with a big catch but his knee bent sideways while running after the catch and he could be gone for the rest of the game.

It could be a serious injury, I hope it's not.

Xavi6

Great second half by Georgia, nice to see them get the monkey off the back.

eagle eye

Yeah, it was a great defensive battle for three quarters but Georgia really upped it on offense in the final quarter. Can't help but think that the injury to Jamison Williams really hurt Bama.

theoneeyedman

Fair play to Georgia, they dug it out in a tight game. A typical SEC matchup really, strong defences and strong running. The Dawgs just wore Bama down, beat them at their own game really, and a strong last quarter got them over the line.

For the Tide, the loss of Williams was big, coming as it did on top of the loss of Metchie in the earlier game. Stetson just about held it together well enough in the end, and a great feather in Smart's cap to finally get one over on Saban and Bama.