New Year's Day Bowl Game Thread

Submitted by San Diego Mick on January 1st, 2021 at 2:20 PM

Hello all and Happy New Year's!

I noticed no game day thread so I figured I'd start one.

I hope you all "appreciate" me!

Right now Northwestern is leading Auburn 14-0 in the 2nd QT in the Citrus Bowl. 

Cincinnati 21 Georgia 10 early 3rd QT  in the  Peach Bowl. 

Later of course we have the CFP:

ND vs. Bama

OSU vs. Clemson 

 

Lakeyale13

January 1st, 2021 at 2:24 PM ^

Cincinnati looks amazing. I hate Fickel, but have to say he is an incredible coach.  He has his team prepared, and more importantly, believing they can win. 

Double-D

January 1st, 2021 at 2:26 PM ^

Cincinnati is more evidence we need an eight team playoff.  It’s enjoyable watching them play with passion and having fun.

Not a fan of these camera and broadcast options. 

clarkiefromcanada

January 1st, 2021 at 2:51 PM ^

Agreed.

Posters here (and elsewhere) and some commentators go on about how the 1/8 or 2/7 games would be "blowouts" but there is no real evidence of that until you play the games. The NCAA basketball and other division football tournaments frequently have upsets. This drives ratings and revenue. I would think that current version Oklahoma or Cincinnati would be interesting to watch in such games, for example. I'd watch.

mi93

January 1st, 2021 at 2:44 PM ^

FIckel and Freeman are further winning me over.  Though this isn't Kirby's best bulldog squad, it's still ess-ee-see loaded.

UMProud

January 1st, 2021 at 2:47 PM ^

Watching all these teams execute Xs and Os and compete really annoys me cause even average coaching staffs put out product that is light years beyond what Harbaugh does.  Seriously we look dysfunctional vs nearly any team you look at.  So Harbaugh stays another year what changes?  Will he suddenly wake up from his coma and start motivating players, run a tempo offense, recruit needed positions every year, start developing qbs like every other school in the universe does, etc?  Sorry I'm so negative!  Watching Cinci and Georgia right now and both teams would blow our doors off I hate to say so frustrating.

switch26

January 1st, 2021 at 2:52 PM ^

So all I see is michigan fans bitching about Harbaugh not developing talent, holy fuck georgia is horrific at developing talent based on all their top 5 recruiting classes

gm1234

January 1st, 2021 at 2:55 PM ^

Could it just be that Cincinnati just came extremely prepared and juiced up to show they  can hang with the big programs and should’ve gotten into the playoff? 
 

I would agree though that UGA hasn’t looked as good as I expected...

bronxblue

January 1st, 2021 at 3:30 PM ^

I think Georgia has underwhelmed given their talent but apparently they're also down 6-7 key contributors in this game due to injury/opt-out, so this isn't perhaps the best example of their talent level.

I think Cincy is a good team, but I swear every year or two some amped-up G5 program with a lot of experience beats the 3rd-best team from a power conference and we all overreact a bit.  Like, if this was a normal year and a couple of the playoff teams had losses I'd see the argument for them being in the top 4, but when the top 4 teams have 2 total losses amongst them, and those two losses are two each other, it's difficult to see them swapped out.

Ham

January 1st, 2021 at 3:04 PM ^

My opinion of Fickell has taken a hit. So many dumb mistakes. Offsides. False starts. Late hits. Fumbling the snap. Not recovering fumbles when they were the only players there. And the offense is putrid.

UMProud

January 1st, 2021 at 3:12 PM ^

All the Georgia guys look like they have at least 20-30 pounds+ on their Cinci counterparts the size disparity is amazing and yet Cinci is up by 5 in the 4th.  Unlike our experience, effective coaching can punch above it's weight and overcome talent AND size disparities or at least be very competitive.

mi93

January 1st, 2021 at 3:25 PM ^

Wow.  James Hudson was ejected?  Glad we didn't keep that problem.  (/s)

Missed that part of the game.  Fickel puckering a little now.

San Diego Mick

January 1st, 2021 at 3:29 PM ^

I gotta say, no matter how this game ends, Cincy has already won in my eyes.

The amount of talent difference recruited by these teams is so vast.

What would the score be if the coaching staffs were switched?

LabattBlue

January 1st, 2021 at 3:30 PM ^

Northwestern's offense tempo makes Gattis look like the rookie play caller he is.

Speed in space needs to be cancelled, Wildcats snapping within 8 seconds.

Ham

January 1st, 2021 at 3:31 PM ^

And now Cincinnati is snapping the ball with 10 seconds left on the play clock when they should be wasting time. About 23 or so seconds have been kept on the clock by the last two plays alone.