College Football Week 16 Expert Picks + Week 15 NFL Picks

What was I saying in last week’s column about being grateful for having my team’s rivalry game played?

In actuality, it will be the worst loss of my life. Not the most painful…but a 70-7 ASU win over my Arizona Wildcats will never be topped in terms of pure carnage.

It was 14-0 before a minute had elapsed. If ASU hadn’t called off the dogs in the 2nd half against a Wildcat squad that essentially quit on its coaches, they might’ve been able to score 100.

For the rest of my life, I’ll always have to hear the “Remember when we dropped 70…” line from my ASU buddies. Nauseating.

Though I thought Kevin Sumlin’s tenure at Arizona should’ve ended regardless of that game’s outcome, the fact that it took nearly 24 hours afterwards to announce his dismissal was also downright embarrassing. His tenure at Arizona will be regarded, in my opinion, as worse than John Mackovic’s from 2001-2003…and that says something.

If there’s a silver lining for Arizona fans, Sumlin’s disastrous tenure is in the past and a new coach, likely either San Jose State’s Brent Brennan or Navy’s Ken Niumatalolo will be in charge of rebuilding the roster from scratch. It’s going to be an ugly next few seasons in all likelihood but the chance of prosperity going forward is at least possible with credible new leadership.

Please don’t f&$# up this hire, (Arizona AD) Dave Heeke.

On to the CFB picks where Adam’s regular season straight up lead is down to 1 over me…while JB continues to dominate ATS despite his disappointing SU performance.

Week 16 CFB BOLD Predictions:

EC: Stanford has been homeless for the better part of the last month yet continues to find ways to win games. With David Shaw’s team choosing not to go bowling this season, I believe they’ll play inspired ball at the Rose Bowl on Saturday against a UCLA team that flat out choked last weekend against their cross-town rivals. David Shaw has only lost one time at the Rose Bowl during his tenure…to Michigan State in the big game. He’s undefeated against UCLA on the road. Give me the Cardinal to win outright at a 7 point underdog…and let’s call this one of my favorite bets of the year!

AL: 2020 has been nothing short of crazy, especially in the world of college football. While it’s been a tough year, we have to be thankful we at least got some of the games in. With no big upsets this week, the CFP moves forward with four of college football’s premier programs. Similar to 2014, the 4th ranked Buckeyes get paired up in the semifinal with Alabama and beat them in a close game. Clemson with Lawrence back rolls Notre Dame which sets the stages for a rematch of last year’s CFP thriller semifinal matchup. It’s payback time DABO!

JB: The craziest of seasons produces one of the less eventful final Saturdays. Alabama wins easily. Northwestern keeps it respectfully close for a half before the Buckeyes pull away leaving all eyes on Charlotte for a rematch of the game of the year. Clemson prevails in Round 2 with Trevor Lawrence back at QB, but only by a touchdown, sending both the Irish and Tigers to the playoffs for a possible rubber match in the National Championship game. 

SM: After a hard fought game where Brent Brennan’s San Jose State Spartans come up just short of a remarkable undefeated season, Brennan is announced as the next head football coach of the Arizona Wildcats on Sunday afternoon.  Brennan is tasked with not just rebuilding the roster but the culture of the football program and getting back the trust of the community. He is able to do so when Joe Salave’a is hired as DC and my favorite football Wildcat of all time B.J. Denker is announced as QBs coach. Season ticket sales increase by 7,000 compared to 2019.

(NFL picks, Best Bets, & my Pick 5 selections on the next page)