It’s that time of year when schools have to make decisions on their coaches who have underperformed.
There are many, starting with Florida State’s Mike Norvell. It’s unthinkable that the Seminoles were ranked No. 10 in the first rankings and are now 1-7 in the ACC and 1-8 overall and playing with no energy or inspiration. Expect a huge exodus of players to enter the transfer portal. How about our favorite, Lincoln Riley of USC, who is 2-5 (4-5) in the Trojans’ first year in the Big Ten and had top recruiting classes in his first two years. It’s been a disaster. Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham’s Utes were expected to contend for the Big 12 championship and are just 1-4 (4-4). A major disappointment. There’s also Hugh Freeze of Auburn who is 3-6 overall and just 1-5 in the SEC and turned the Tigers’ year into an embarrassment.
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What do all these coaches have in common? They’re owed a boatload of money, hundreds of millions of dollars, and unless there’s some billionaire booster – like Texas A&M had last year when it fired Jimbo Fisher knowing it would have to pay him almost $80 million for not coaching – they’re all coming back next year. Florida’s Billy Napier, who is also just 2-3 (4-4), received assurance he will be back next season and while the Gators have shown improvement this year, don’t think the $25 million he is still owed on his contract was not a consideration. The Gators play at Texas this week in a game that I think will be competitive. In fact, there is still a lot of football to play and with the expected upsets we see each week, things could get more interesting in the rankings, which translates to chaos.
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One coach has distinguished himself in a different way and is paid very handsomely as well (almost $8 million per year). His name is Mike Gundy of Oklahoma State. Gundy is one of those guys who tells it like it is. He played at OSU and is now in his 19th year as head coach at the university. After finishing 4-7 in his first year, Gundy led the Pokes to a bowl game every year. But this year, with aspirations of a Big 12 championship, the team has struggled and is 0-6 (3-6). He’s facing some heat and some criticism and here’s how he responded on his weekly conference. “Unfortunately, in life, most people are weak and as soon as things start to not go as good as that they thought, they fall apart and panic. And then they want to point the finger”. Then he went further. “In most cases, the people that are negative and voicing their opinions are the same ones that can’t pay their own bills. They’re not taking care of themselves, their own family, or their own job. But they have an obligation to speak out and complain about others because it makes them feel better.” Are you kidding me? Is he a coach or a psychiatrist? WOW. Gundy already has apologized but the damage is done. He’s a legend who must go because his comments were offensive, said in a vacuum and very disturbing. For a guy who built that program and does more with less, Gundy has only himself to blame if that is the result.
What coach is the biggest bargain? That’ an easy choice — Colorado, which is paying Coach Prime about $30 million over five years and he has catapulted the Buffaloes to national prominence with daily exposure and publicity that has translated to millions of dollars in revenue. On the field, the Buffs are 4-1 (6-2) and ranked No. 20 with a chance to win the Big 12 championship. Remarkable.
Top 25 No. 11 Alabama (3-2, 6-2) at No. 15 LSU (3-1, 6-2) +3. Both teams have two losses. These are the most important games because the perception is lose a game and you’re eliminated. Both teams come off a bye week so they should be well prepared for this clash. Both teams have their star quarterbacks, Garrett Nussmeier of LSU and Jalen Milroe of Alabama. But both players have performed unimpressively at times. So what’s the verdict here? The team that wins the turnover battle wins the game. It’s under the lights in in Death Valley and I think the crowd will play a major role. Alabama will be unofficially eliminated for CFP consideration if it loses. The other overriding factor in this game is that LSU will reportedly have a live tiger attending the game for the first time since 2015 to intimidate the visitors. Yikes! I hope that tiger is in a cage and not on a rope. LSU coach Brian Kelly has had success against the Tide even when the GOAT was there and expect it to continue. Geaux Tigers!
No. 3 Georgia (5-1, 7-1) -2.5 at No. 16 Mississippi (3-2 7-2). The biggest game of the year for coach Lane Kiffin and the Rebels. They don’t have any signature wins and a loss here ends and chance for CFP consideration. Georgia has a great resumé but quarterback Carson Beck has a propensity to throw interceptions in big games this year. In spite of that, Georgia has lost only once to Alabama and if it can correct its mistakes and run the ball, expect a blowout. The Rebel defense needs to force turnovers and keep the Bulldogs offense off the field. If that happens, look out because Ole Miss does have an explosive offense and Kiffin is a tremendous offensive mind. Quarterback Jaxson Dart can be special but needs to play perfect against an athletic, fast and quick Georgia defense loaded with NFL talent. The points are a gift. Expect Beck to play well in what could be a rout. Dawgs roll!
1-0 last week ATS, Season: 16-9 ATS

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