Hill Hot Takes: College Football Follow Up

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Hill Douglas, Managing Editor

About a month ago, I predicted this year’s college football Heisman Award winner, and how the College Football Playoff would turn out. Here are the results of my predictions, and an update on the College Football Playoffs.

 

Heisman Watch:

As I predicted, Baker Mayfield prevailed as the 2017 Heisman Award winner. The unstoppable Oklahoma Sooners’ quarterback had a season nothing short of legendary, leading the best offense in the country to a Big 12 title and a two seed in the CFP, as I predicted. There was no way the committee could have even imagined awarding someone else with the Heisman, as Mayfield lead the country in completion percentage (71.4%), yards per attempt (11.8), and overall rating (203.3). He was second in the country in total yards (4097) and touchdowns (37), and lastly, his QB rating (92.5) this season was the 4th highest since they started recording the statistic in 2004. Now that he has established himself as one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time, we will just have to wait and watch until he starts tearing up the NFL too.

For some unfathomable reason, Lamar Jackson finished third in the Heisman race, but I cannot fathom why. Jackson, who I do not even consider a top three quarterback in the ACC, needs to enjoy the spotlight while it lasts. When it’s all said and done, Baker Mayfield will be the GOAT, and Wake standout John Wolford will be remembered far longer than Jackson. Enjoy the spotlight while it lasts, Lamar Jackson.

 

Playoff Predictions:

Now that the committee has made its selections, here are the playoff teams:

  1. Clemson Tigers
  2. Oklahoma Sooners
  3. Georgia Bulldogs
  4. Alabama Crimson Tide

 

While I only predicted the correct seedings for the top two spots, I’d like to point out that I did acknowledge the situation in which Georgia and Alabama could sneak in the last two spots. Ultimately though, the last two spots will be irrelevant this year, as I still stand by my prediction that Clemson and Oklahoma will meet in the national championship.

#1 Clemson will win over the injury infested defense of #4 Alabama in the playoffs for the second year in a row, and Alabama fans will irrationally be calling for Nick Saban, the greatest football coach of all time, to be fired.

Baker Mayfield and the #2 Oklahoma Sooners’ high powered offense will prove to be too much for #4 Georgia, and the SEC will be winless in this year’s playoff. Georgia’s run-powered offense won’t be able to score at the same clip as Baker Mayfield’s air assault.

In the championship game, the Dabo Dynasty will be too much for star quarterback Baker Mayfield to overcome. #1 Clemson will beat #2 Oklahoma to repeat as natty champs, and bring the title back to Tiger Town.

Side Note – Watch for John Wolford to make noise in the Belk Bowl against Texas A&M on December 29, as his performance will lead Wake Forest past the Aggies. At the end of the season, the ACC will have strengthened their growing reputation as one of football’s most dominant conferences. On the other hand, after experiencing one of the worst seasons in recent SEC history, the best conference in football will bounce back and continue their previously dominant ways.