D-Money's 2015 College Football Predictions!!

 

 

 

 

It’s that time of the year again. Yep, College Football will be back on Labor Day Weekend with games on September 3^rd to the 7^th and because of that it’s time to give you my predictions for the 2015 season. Unlike reading from a College Football Preview Magazine on who will be good or not I’m giving you a College Football Preview for free on my blog like I have been for the last 5 years.

 

However, I’m going to be honest with you all. This year I’m not going to go all out unfortunately. I’ve become busy this year with a something I’ve grown to love and take seriously. It’s something I value being competitive with but still have fun with these people I’ve grown very closely and worked together as a team with…. My Cross Country & Track Kids I coach (LOL) and of course my own job, too. (LOL). But with coaching I kind of gotten busy getting them ready for the season and trying to read up on how to get them better but enjoy cross country and track of course.

 

Yet, I am going to breakdown my favorite team in the WHOLE WORLD. Give you records of what teams will finish in each conference then I’ll list who will be going to the New Year’s Six Bowls games. This year the Orange Bowl and the Cotton Bowl will be the 2 Bowl games that will host the College Football Playoff but the other 4 Bowl Games (Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, and the Peach Bowl) will have some great matchups. Without further ado here we go with the predictions starting with a breakdown of my favorite team

 

 

1.)    THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES  (8-0) B10   13-0 Overall

The defending National Champions. After losing to Virginia Tech the 2^nd game last year Ohio State went on a major run to the College Football Playoff and they did it with 2 backup Quarterbacks since Braxton Miller was out with a shoulder surgery. QB JT Barrett led Ohio State until he was out with a broken ankle during the Michigan game but Cardale Jones came in and didn’t miss a beat leading the Buckeyes to the B10 Championship win against Wisconsin and through the College Football Playoff against Alabama & Oregon. It looks like the QB job will come down between Barrett and Jones again since Braxton Miller will move to H-Back/Receiver.

 

The Running Game will be led by Junior RB Ezekiel Elliot. Who had the best 3 game stretch (B10 Championship, Sugar Bowl, and National Championship) where he ran for 220 yards, 230 yards, and 246 yards to finish with 1,878 yards. He’s a preseason Heisman Candidate. Juniors Bri’ote Dunn, Dontre Wilson, Warren Ball and Sophomore Curtis Samuel will see time also.

 

For Wide Receiver the challenge will be to replace Long Threat Devin Smith and team leader Evan Spencer who both graduated. Junior Michael Thomas returns as the lead returning receiver from last year. Freshman Paris Campbell, Johnnie Dixon and Seniors Braxton Miller (who switched from QB) and Corey Smith will be looked upon as well. Torrence Gibson who is a Freshman QB might get a look at receiver.

 

Sophomore Jalin Marshall is back at Receiver as well and he will be also a punt returner like he was last year. Though he, Dontre Wilson, Corey Smith ,and Joey Bosa will have to sit out of the Virginia Tech game due to violating team rules.

 

The Offensive Line returns almost everyone. Led by All American Candidate Senior OT Taylor Decker. Junior OG Pat Elfien, Sophomore OT Jamarco Jones, and Senior Center Jacoby Boren are also the returning starters.

 

The Defensive Line will be led by All American Junior DE Joey Bosa, after he serves his one game suspension & Senior All B10 DT Adolphus Washington. Sophomore Tracy Sprinkle and Seniors Tommy Schutt & Joey Hale will see time as well.

 

For Linebacker I think Ohio State will have no doubt the best group in the country. Led by returning lead tackler & Senior OLB Joshua Perry along with Sophomore Darron Lee who played awesome last year as a freshman. Sophomore Raekwon McMillian saw a lot of time last year and I think he’ll have a great year as well. Also, Freshman Justin Hilliard, Sophomore Dante Booker and Senior Cameron Williams will also see time.

 

The Defensive Backfield will be led by Juniors Safeties Tyvis Powell & Vonn Bell. Sophomore CB Eli Apple is a star on the rise. Junior CB Cameron Burrows & Freshman Marshon Lattimore round up the backfield.

 

I think along with the Linebackers and the Backfield the Buckeyes will have the best Back 7 in college football. The D Line will miss Michael Bennett but with Bosa, Washington, and a few others they’ll get better to help the D.

 

The Special Teams return both Punter and Kickers. Junior P Cameron Johnston and Sophomore Kicker Sean Nuernberger.

 

The Buckeyes Schedule shouldn’t be too daunting after the Labor Day Rematch at Virginia Tech as they face Hawaii, Northern Illinois, and Western Michigan at home in non-conference. They then open B10 play. The only game before the November 21^st home matchup against Michigan State that they should watch out for is home against Penn State since PSU has improved but it’s a night game at home. Though only 4 big games to watch (at Virginia Tech, Penn State, Michigan State, at Michigan of course) I see no reason why they should win the East Division, win the B10 Championship and play in the College Football Playoff.

 

                 Now here my list of how I think each team will finish in College Football predictions starting with the BIG 10 and all the way down with the worst conference in the Sun Belt.

 

# CONFERENCE CHAMPION

 

Big 10

East Division   Conf  Overall

#Ohio State     8-0       13-0

Michigan St     7-1       11-1

Penn State       5-3       9-3

Michigan         4-4       7-5

Indiana             2-6       6-6

Maryland         2-6       5-7

Rutgers            0-8       3-9

 

West Division   Conf  Overall

Wisconsin          7-1     10-3

Minnesota         5-3     8-4

Nebraska           5-3     8-4

Northwestern    4-4     7-5

Iowa                  4-4     7-5

Purdue               2-6     4-8

Illinois               1-7     4-8

 

Southeastern Conference

East Division   Conf   Overall

Georgia           7-1      11-2

Tennessee        6-2       9-3

Missouri          4-4      8-4

Florida             4-4       7-5

South Carolina 3-5       6-6

Kentucky          1-7       4-8

Vanderbilt         0-8       3-9

 

West Division   Conf   Overall

#Alabama          7-1       12-1

LSU                  6-2       10-2

Auburn              5-3        9-3

Ole Miss            4-4        8-4

Arkansas           4-4        8-4

Texas A&M      3-5        7-5

Mississippi St   2-6         6-6

 

PAC 12

North Division   Conf  Overall

Oregon                9-0     11-2

Stanford             6-3       8-4

California           4-5      6-6

Washington        4-5      6-6

Washington St   1-8      3-9

Oregon State      1-8      3-9

 

South Division   Conf  Overall

#USC                  8-1     11-2

Arizona State      7-2       9-3

UCLA                 6-3     9-3

Utah                    4-5     7-5

Arizona               4-5     7-5

Colorado             0-9     3-10

 

Big 12            Conf   Overall

#TCU              9-0       12-0

Baylor             8-1       11-1

Oklahoma        6-3         9-3

Oklahoma St   5-4         8-4

Texas               5-4         7-5

West Virginia 4-5          7-5

Texas Tech      4-5         6-6

Kansas State   3-6         6-6

Iowa State       1-8         3-9

Kansas             0-9         1-11

 

Atlantic Coast Conference

Atlantic Division    Conf   Overall

#Florida State           7-1      12-1

Clemson                   6-2       9-3

NC State                  5-3       9-3

Louisville                 4-4       7-5

Boston College        3-5       6-6

Syracuse                   1-7       3-9

Wake Forest             1-7       3-9

 

Coastal Division          Conf   Overall

North Carolina            6-2       9-4

Georgia Tech               6-2       8-4

Virginia Tech              5-3       8-4

Miami (Fla)                 5-3       8-4

Pittsburgh                    4-4       7-5

Duke                           3-5       6-6

Virginia                       0-8       2-10

 

American Athletic Conference

East Division               Conf  Overall

#Cincinnati                  6-2       10-3

Temple                        6-2       8-4

Central Florida            5-3       7-5

East Carolina               4-4       5-7

Connecticut                 1-7       3-9

South Florida              0-8       1-11

West Division             Conf    Overall

Houston                      7-1       10-3

Memphis                     6-2       9-3

Navy                           5-3       8-4

Tulsa                            4-4       7-5

Tulane                         2-6       4-8

SMU                           2-6       4-8

 

Mid-American Conference

East Division               Conf    Overall

Bowling Green            7-1       8-5

Akron                          6-2      8-4

Ohio                            5-3      8-4

UMASS                       4-4      5-7

Buffalo                        2-6      5-7

Miami (OH)                2-6       5-7

Kent State                   1-7      2-10

 

West Division             Conf    Overall

#Toledo                       7-1       10-3

Northern Illinois          6-2        8-4

Western Michigan       6-2        7-5

Ball State                    3-5         5-7

Central Michigan         3-5        4-8

Eastern Michigan        0-8         0-12

 

Mountain West Conference

Mountain Division      Conf    Overall

#Boise State                8-0       12-1

Utah State                   7-1       8-4

Colorado State             5-3       7-5

Air Force                     5-3       7-5

Wyoming                    3-5       5-7

New Mexico               1-7       4-8

 

West Division             Conf    Overall

San Diego State          6-2       8-5

Nevada                        5-3       6-6

Fresno State                4-4       5-7

San Jose State             3-5       4-8

Hawaii                         2-6       3-9

UNLV                         0-8       1-11

 

Conference USA      

East Division               Conf    Overall

#Western Kentucky    7-1        9-4

Marshall                      6-2       9-3

Mid Tennessee St        6-2       7-5

Old Dominion             5-3       7-5

Florida Atlantic           4-4       4-8

Florida International   2-6       3-9

Charlotte                     0-8       1-11

 

West Division             Conf    Overall

Rice                             6-2       8-5

Louisiana Tech            6-2       8-4

Southern Miss             3-5       4-8

UTEP                          2-6       4-8

North Texas                2-6       3-9      

UT-San Antonio         2-6       2-10

 

Independents             Overall

Notre Dame                12-0

BYU                           8-4

Army                           4-8

 

Sun Belt                      Conf    Overall

Georgia Southern        7-1       9-3

Arkansas State             7-1       8-4

UL Lafayette              6-2       8-4

Appalachian State       5-3       8-4

Texas State                  5-3       7-5

South Alabama           4-4       5-7

Troy                             4-4       5-7

Louisiana Monroe       3-5       4-9

New Mexico State      2-6       2-10

Georgia State              1-7       3-9

Idaho                           0-8       1-11

 

Now here are the Bowl Predictions for the New Years’ Six (Orange, Cotton, Rose, Sugar, Fiesta and Peach Bowl). Not doing the other bowl games too much time.

 

Rose Bowl: Michigan State (11-1) vs. USC (11-2)

Sugar Bowl: Baylor (11-1) vs. Georgia (11-2)

Fiesta Bowl: Boise State (12-1) vs. Oregon (11-2)

Peach Bowl: Florida State (12-1) vs. LSU (10-2)

 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

Cotton Bowl: Ohio State (13-0) vs. Notre Dame (12-0)

Orange Bowl: TCU (12-0) vs. Alabama (12-1)

National Championship Game: Ohio State vs TCU

NATIONAL CHAMPS: THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

YES, that is right. With what they got this year I expect Ohio State to be the team that once again becomes the only undisputed National Champions for a 2^nd year in a row and doing it undefeated. Urban would definitely be closely behind Woody Hayes in Legend Status to me as a Buckeye Fan.

 

Well, I promise when things wind down in the winter I’ll blog my Year End College Football Awards plus I’ll look at the final records of teams and compare them with my predictions and list that were the biggest surprises and disappointments of this coming year. Until then I’m so happy College Football is Back!!! Enjoy this season everyone & GO BUCKEYES!!!!!!!!!

 

Top 15 Saved by the Bell Episodes!!!!

 

 

No doubt this is one of my all-time greatest shows. Yep this is in my Top 5 Sitcom Shows along with Seinfeld (of course but Seinfeld is still my all-time favorite), Arrested Development, The Office, and Cheers. Strange Top 5 with Saved by the Bell in it. Honestly if I listed a blog that showed my list of the Greatest Saturday Morning Cartoon/Live Action Kids Show, Saved by the Bell would still be # 2 behind of The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show. But, I’m not going to do that list since it would take up too much time.

            Many would argue that Live Action but educational shows like Saved by the Bell may have been one of the many factors along with children’s physical activities, video games, Cable TV, and among others that caused the Downfall of Saturday Morning Cartoons in the early 90’s. Which is ok by me as I got into sports and other things as I started to grow up at the time. Actually, the best time that I ended up watching Saved by the Bell was when it was shown in Syndication on TBS. Yet, thanks to Netflix and the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon skit back in the winter I started watching some episodes again.

 

            Many of us know the premise of Saved by the Bell. It’s about a group of High School Friends with adventures growing up throughout their time at (Fictional) Bayside High School out in California.

 

1.)    Zack Morris, the Main Character of the Show.  The Charming playboy who can talk his way out of anything, he was the guy we all wanted to be like. He even had the first cell phone.

 

2.)    AC Slater, the Sports Jock of the group, mostly called Zack by the nickname, Preppy.

3.)    Kelly Kapowski, Cheerleader “All-American” Girl who has an on again-off again relationship with Zack and later became his wife after The College Years show.

4.)    Jessie Spano, class president & women rights/environmentalist who had a relationship with Slater.

5.)    Lisa Turtle, Fashion Queen & girl that loves to gossip & comes from a family of Surgeons.

And last but not least

6.)    SCREECH, the nerd of the group. Book Smart, collector of incests, Clumsey & goofy but lacked common sense and always had a crush on Lisa but she was annoyed by him.

 

They always under the watchful eye of their Principal Mr. Belding. “Heh,heh,heh,heh,heh, What is going on here???!!!”

 

  The Show had a lot of humor kids & teenagers enjoyed but the show also addressed issues kids shows didn’t talk about at the time such as Drug Use, Drunk Driving, Death, Divorce and Remarriage of Parents, Social Status, and some environmental issues as well.

            Also, as some of you fans know the Show originally was not even called “Saved by the Bell”. It was called “Good Morning, Miss Bliss” and it focused on the Teachers lives instead of the students. It did have Zack, Screech, Lisa, Mr. Belding and 2 other kids. Miss Bliss was also on the Disney Channel but it only lasted 13 episodes and it had them in Junior High set in Indianapolis before they retooled it and gave the show to NBC for Saturday Mornings & cast the actors who would play Jessie, Kelly, Slater and set it in California and called it “Saved by the Bell” Though the Miss Bliss episodes were part of Syndication even though they didn’t relate the “Saved by the Bell” Timeline.

            Today I going to list what I believe are the Top 15 Episodes of All Time. Why 15, because 10 isn’t enough and episodes #11, 12, & 13, 14 and 15 deserve some love. Plus just for fun to include more episodes.

15.) " The Fight"
           Zack and Slater in the beginning completed for Kelly's attention their freshman year but it was all male competition and nothing serious and Kelly dated Zack and Slater dated Jessie but during the first episode set during their senior year it becomes serious when both Zack and Slater vie for the attention of a new girl they both ask out at the same time and they come to fist.



Though in the end the girl didn't want nothing to do with them after the fight and Zack & Slater still fought till the end of episode when they called a truce thanks to Mr. Belding who taught them that their Friendship is more important than a girl.

 

            14.) "Breaking up is hard to undo"
                       Slater & Jessie have a fight on how to spend their first date going steady while Zack

             gets jealous that Kelly is visiting an old boyfriend. Things get worse when Mr. Belding gives

             the guys bad advice after he has a fight with his wife. It's up to them to get Mr. Belding and his wife back together so they can make up with Jessie and Kelly in this famous scene at the end of the  episode with the help of Lisa & Screech.

 

 

 

13.) “The Prom”

            At the beginning of the 2^nd Season Zack finally won over Kelly as she chooses him to go to the Prom over Slater. But, she later finds out her dad got laid off at his job and chooses not to in order to help her family out. Zack finds out and gives her a special Prom Picnic outside of the School. Slater ends up going with Jesse to start their relationship. Screech tries to ask out Lisa, but Lisa sarcastically says she will “WHEN WORMS HAVE EARS” and Screech taped plastic ears on worms LOL!!!!!!!

 

 

 

12.) "Miss Bayside"

         Zack bets Slater he can turn anyone into Miss Bayside. Sound familiar. The Movie She's All That stole a plot line from Saved by the Bell. Slater chooses Screech. Since there is no rule a guy can't enter the pageant the hilariousness begins & Screech somehow wins. 

 

 

 

11.)  “Snow White & the Seven Dorks”

            The school play has the gang team up with the nerds of Bayside to perform “Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs” but in the play they do a rap version. CLASSIC. Things get complicated when Jessie and Zack have to kiss at the end and Slater and Kelly get jealous and angry but it turns out ok in the end.

 

 

10.) “Student Teacher Week”

            In this episode the schools switches roles. A few of them become teachers and Zack end up taking Mr.Belding’s Principal spot. But, when Slater and his football buddies ditch class that Kelly is taking over Zack has to put friendship aside and do what is best as a Principal even if it upsets the Students. Things work out in the end when the Football players take the test before the Big Game and pass and they beat Valley.

 

9.) “Cream for a Day”

            It’s Homecoming and Kelly is one of the nominees for Homecoming Queen but she gets worried when she discovers she has a zit. Thanks to an experiment from Screech, Zack sells Zit Cream to the students of Bayside with a side effect that briefly turns everyone’s face purple or maroon.

 

8. Graduation

            The gang gets ready for Graduation but Zack is one credit short of graduating so he has to take a dance class and perform in the ballet in order to get that credit. The gang also joins him in the ballet, humor to follow. Also, Jessie finds out from Lisa that Screech was named Valedictorian and not her but that Screech gave it up to her and that he put others before him. This was a great way to end the show. Yet, it continued of course with Saved by the Bell: The College Years which last one season & had Zack and Kelly getting married of course.

 

 

7. “The Mamas and the Papas”

            For a class home economics assignment the group is put into pairs pretending that they are married to prepare for what marriage would be like as adults. Zack with Kelly, Slater with Jessie, and Lisa with SCREECH LOL. Though Lisa pretends to be allergic to Screech in order to break her off with him and both of them have to become children to the couples during the assignment. Lisa to Slater/Jessie and Screech to Zack/Kelly. Very funny episode.

 

 

6. “Save the Max”

            Zack convinces Mr. Belding to bring back Bayside’s Radio Station KKTY even though the station was pulled off the air back in the late 60’s due to Mr. Belding’s antics. Apparently he was the Zack Morris of that day. Anyway the gang puts the radio station back on the air with Zack as the main DJ and the others hosting variety of shows. But, Slater is not good at being Sports Announcer even though he is the Jock of the School. His friends don’t tell him but when he finds out on his own from the whole school he quits but comes back at the end of the episode to help his friends put on a telethon to help the Max in Financial Trouble.

 

 

5. “Jessie’s Song”

            Jessie is stressed out about midterms and being in an ALL-Girl Group with Kelly & Lisa called HOT SUNDAE (I Can’t believe I remember that) Here’s the video of their music video.

 

Anyway, she turns to Caffeine Pills in order to study. Slater warns her about them but she ignores him. When Zack finds out it leads to one of the most famous scenes of Saved by the Bell.

 

As it turned out Jessie couldn’t sing with the group that night. Makes me wanna stop drinking energy drinks. This was pretty much the first aired episode of the series that dealt with drug use.

 

4. “Running Zack”

 

            Zack was an athlete during the shows run mostly in Cross Country, Basketball & Track but he was overshadowed by Slater’s Athletic Success but his character was a good runner. In this episode he fails his report on family heritage but is given another chance or else he is off the track team. He is given a tutor by the name of Chief Henry, who is Native American, and Zack begins to learn about his Native American Heritage. He gets a good grade on the report but afterwards he finds out Chief Henry died and Zack doesn’t feel like running in the City Championships until he gets a dream visit from Chief Henry.

 

This was a good episode because it dealt with a sudden death of a loved one or mentor and it had a track theme to it.

 

3.)  “The Fabulous Belding Boys”

 

            The gang crams for a history midterm given to by an obnoxious teacher who will ban them from their class trip if they don’t pass. The teacher doesn’t show up on exam day and Mr. Belding’s brother Rod becomes their substitute and helps them pass it. He becomes popular with the kids and convinces them to change the school trip from Yosemite to White Water Rafting. However, on the evening the class is going to leave Zack overhears Mr.Belding and Rod argue because Rod made plans to have a fling with a stewardess instead of taking the kids white water rafting. Mr. Belding takes over the trip and Zack apologizes to Mr. Belding saying that Rod may have be cool but they got the Better Belding instead.

 

This teaches that you can’t be friends with kids you teach and you have to draw the line between having them like you but what is best for them as they grow up. Good lesson to learn from this episode.

 

2.)  “Rockumentary”

            This was a fun episode of how Zack’s band “The Zack Attack” rose to fame, broke up because the band’s beautiful public relations lady convinces Zack he’s the star, & he becomes Justin Bieber and Vanilla Ice's Love Child (take a look)

but in the end the gangs gets back together for a reunion concert. The late Casey Kasem, narrated the story in this episode. I liked the episode it kind of had a VH1 Behind The Music Feel to it even though that show would not be made until several years later in the late 90’s.Those writers of SBTB definitely influenced VH1 with this episode to make that show. FYI this episode was a dream by Zack. 

 

Well, here’s my favorite episode of Saved by the Bell

 

DRUMROLL…………………………………………….

 

1.)    “No Hope with Dope”

Yep, this is one of the best Saved by the Bell episodes ever. It has an anti-drug message in this episode. This and probably all of those Anti-Drug Commercials of the 80’s and 90’s heavy influenced me in how I take care of myself when it came to those type of things. I never smoked or chewed tobacco or did anything deadly like hard drugs in my entire life. I’m very happy for episodes like these it’s a shame that those silly kids’shows on the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon nowadays don’t address these issues.

 

Anyway, in this episode a Hollywood Teen Idol Movie Star comes to Bayside to do an Anti-Drug commercial with the students & the gang is chosen to be in it. Yet, the gang learns someone has been smoking pot on campus but it turned out to be a cigarette. Still bad for you.

However, at a party hosted by movie star the gang realizes that the movie star himself uses pot making him a hypocrite and the next day the gang refuse to take part in the commercial.

It seems all is not lost the commercial goes on as Mr. Belding calls upon his old friend NBC President(at the time) Brandon Tartikoff comes in and helps the kids with the commercial.

 

 

It’s also noted Tartikoff was a huge supporter for Saved by the Bell.

 

Well there you have it, My Top 12 episodes for Saved by the Bell. If you have any other episodes you would like to mention let me know.

 

The show did launch spinoffs, Saved by the Bell: The College Years  & Saved by the Bell: The New Class. The New Class went through many casting changes and some of the plots were recycled from the original. I mentioned that Saved by the Bell was one of the factors that killed off the Saturday Morning Cartoons and launched other Teen Shows like California Dreams, Hang Time & USA High. California Dreams was the only good one by the way.

 

 Like I mentioned it’s a shame there are no more kids shows like Saved by the Bell anymore. Though the acting at times was cheesy, and earlier storylines focused on humor it did give a glimpse of what High School life is like or at least what I thought it would be even though it took place in California. I think that’s why it’s so popular with 30 year olds today is because it was a part of 90’s nostalgia. Watch a few episodes on Netflix. That’s my Two Cents.