THEY'LL BE BACK
Hard truths: CFP National Championship produces exciting game, harsh reality
Jan 11, 2022, 12:36 pm
Don't worry about Alabama. They'll be just fine.Photo via: Wiki Commons.
I watched Georgia wear down and wallop Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship – that’s the full legal name of the title game – and thought, this is starting to feel like watching a Seinfeld rerun for the thousandth time. An SEC team winning the title game isn’t exactly a Festivus miracle.
The game should have a new name: “The SEC Invitational.” Or, “Who Gets to Play Alabama This Year?”
There’s no question that the Southeastern Conference dominates college football. And that’s exactly what is making the college game a predictable and, with each passing year (Bama quarterback Bryce Young threw 57 passes against the Bulldogs) a one-conference race to the top.
The current College Football Playoff system began in 2014, so there’ve been eight championship games. The SEC has sent a representative team every year except once, the first CFP title showdown when Ohio State faced Oregon. Since then, the championship game has been like an AM oldies station, all SEC all the time. Plus four appearances by Clemson and cameos by Ohio State (two) and Oregon (one). LSU from the SEC won the championship in 2019.
What Power 5 conferences? The Pac-12 hasn’t produced a serious contender for the title since Oregon was favored by 7 points, and got drubbed by Ohio State, 42-20. A Big 12 team has never appeared in a CFP championship game. And the Big 12’s chances aren’t improving with Texas and Oklahoma one foot out the door. The Big Ten really is the Big One – Ohio State. Same for the ACC where Clemson stands alone.
Eight championship games, with 16 opportunities to play, and the SEC owns nine of the slots, with Alabama practically the home team. Don’t worry about last night’s defeat, Alabama will be back. And back and back.
Alabama has played in the title game six times in eight years. You can’t say it’s unfair because there are 125 Division 1 college football programs and they all start the season at Square One. But really, Alabama starts its season first down on the opponent’s 5-yard line.
Alabama doesn’t have just one first-round draft pick of 5-star high school recruits. Bama, like all D1 schools, can offer 85 full ride scholarships. That means Alabama has 85 first-round selections. How many blue chip recruits are going to say no to Nick Saban, the most celebrated coach in college football history, when he makes the Alabama pitch to a teenager?
“You want to play in the NFL? Alabama has more players in the NFL than any other college and it’s not even close. Every one of our games is on national TV. We have a beautiful stadium, the finest facilities in college sports and we play in a warm climate. Six of our players will be drafted in the first-round this year. We’ve had four Heisman Trophy winners in the past 12 years, including the last two. We sent 14 players to the NFL last year. And our sophomore quarterback this year made nearly $1 million in endorsements before he ever took a snap for us. So what do you say, kid? I happen to have a pen with me.”
It’s just a coincidence, but Bama has 53 players currently on an NFL roster, and an NFL game day roster has 53 players. What if all the Crimson Tide guys were on the same team? Would that team make the playoffs? Make a run for the Super Bowl? It’s an intriguing hypothetical.
At quarterback, starters Jalen Hurts (Eagles) and Mac Jones (Patriots) led their teams into the playoffs this year. A third, Tua Tagovailoa (Miami), just missed the post-season.
At running back, Bama has produced playoff-bound bruisers Derrick Henry and Najee Harris.
Alabama has speed to burn at wide receiver: Amari Cooper, Julio Jones, Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith.
Last year a total of 64 Crimson Tide alums got into an NFL regular-season game. Actually Bama has 82 players in the NFL if you include offseason rosters. That includes: 11 linebackers, 10 receivers, 10 defensive linemen, 10 defensive backs, four quarterbacks, and even a long snapper and kicker.
I’d put the Vegas line at ex-Alabama (-8) over the Houston Texans.
By the way, the 2024 College Football Playoff Championship game will be played at NRG Stadium in Houston. Who do you think will be Alabama’s opponent?
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With the Astros now officially ten games under .500 for the season, manager Joe Espada is taking a lot of heat from the fanbase for the team's struggles.
While we don't agree with the sentiment, we even hear fans clamoring for the return of Dusty Baker and Martin Maldonado, thinking the Astros wouldn't be in this mess if they were still here.
Which is ridiculous. First of all, Maldonado has been awful for the White Sox, hitting .048 (even worse than Jose Abreu's .065). And for those of you that think his work with the pitching staff justifies his pathetic offense. Let me say this: Where was Maldy's game calling genius for Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Framber Valdez last year? All of them regressed significantly.
And as far as Baker is concerned, we have no idea how much a difference he would make, we can only speculate. Baker would also be dealing with a pitching staff ravaged with injuries. And let's not forget, Baker was the guy that refused to move Jose Abreu down in the batting order, even though he would finish the regular season with the ninth-worst OPS in baseball.
The reality of the situation is managers can only do so much in baseball. Which leads us to something else that needs to be considered. Is Espada being handcuffed by the front office? Espada and GM Dana Brown both said recently that Jon Singleton was going to get more at-bats while they give Abreu time off to try to figure things out. Yet, there Abreu was in the lineup again in the opening game of the Cubs series.
It makes us wonder how much power does Espada truly have? The Astros have some other options at first base. Yainer Diaz may only have eight games played at the position, but how much worse could he be than Abreu defensively? Abreu already has four errors, and Diaz is obviously a way better hitter. Victor Caratini isn't considered a plus offensive player, but his .276 batting average makes him look like Babe Ruth compared to Abreu. Let him catch more often and play Diaz at first. Starting Diaz at first more often could also lengthen his career long-term.
Maybe that's too wild of a move. Okay, fine. How about playing Mauricio Dubon at first base? I understand he doesn't have much experience at that position, but what's the downside of trying him there? If he can play shortstop, he can play first base. He's driving in runs at a higher rate (11 RBIs) than everyone on the team outside of Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez. And he's producing like that as part-time player right now.
The other criticism we see of Espada is his use of Jon Singleton to pinch hit late in games. Let's be real, though, who else does Espada have on the roster to go to? Batting Abreu late in games in which you're trailing should be considered malpractice. Espada can only use who he has to work with. This all really stems from the Astros poor farm system.
They don't have anyone else to turn to. The draft picks the club lost from the sign-stealing scandal are really hurting them right now. First and second rounders from 2020 and 2021 should be helping you in 2024 at the big league level.
Maybe they go to Astros prospect Joey Loperfido soon, but after a hot start he has only two hits in his last six games.
Finally, we have to talk about what seems like a committee making baseball decisions. Lost in a committee is accountability. Who gets the blame for making poor decisions?
As time continues to pass it looks like moving on from former GM James Click was a massive mistake. He's the guy that didn't sign Abreu, but did trade Myles Straw (recently DFA'd) for Yainer Diaz and Phil Maton. He also built an elite bullpen without breaking the bank, and helped the club win a World Series in 2022.
The reality of the situation is Dusty Baker and James Click are not walking back through that door. And all good runs come to an end at some point. Is this what we're witnessing?
Don't miss the video above as we hit on all the points discussed and much more!
Catch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) with Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan. We drop two episodes every week on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel. You can also listen on Apple Podcast, Spotifyor wherever you get your podcasts.