The Little Ball of Hate gives his takes, wrapping up a good New Year’s weekend of sports: KU wins, the Ravens roll and we have the National championship matchup, Michigan vs. Texas
No. 2 Kansas beats Wichita State 86-67 to wrap up the non-conference season
A solid win against a good team. Dickinson struggles and McCullars steps up.
First half thoughts
Slow start, as Hunter Dickinson starts slow. It seems like when he starts the game with a lot of missed outside shots, he struggles. I think that Self told him to get down on the blocks after missing a three-pointer and an 18-footer. Once he started posting up agains Wichita State, the Kansas offense started to flow a lot better.
Harris hits 3 three-pointers starting off is also always a good sign. He is hitting 50 percent from three-point land. Unfortunately I agree with Seth Greenberg — usually I can’t stand him. He said Harris needs to look to score more and less to pass. Otherwise the defense will always defend his passes.
Elmarko Jackson has his best game as a Jayhawk, scoring 12 points in 27 minutes.
Does KJ Adams living in the gym? Holy crap, he is ripped, and can jump out of the gym. Two amazing plays in the first half that show his athleticism. The Shockers had a lob play set up, Adams read it and blocked the pass out of nowhere. Later on in the half, he gets a rebound, dribbles down the court, the lane opens up and he launches with two feet and slams it home. I felt bad for the rim — looks like he hurt it.
Second half thoughts
Nicholas Timberlake is disappointing me again. Missed three wide open three pointers. I want him to be successful, but damn dude! He is shooting 30% from the three-point line, which surprised me — he is just missing way too many open looks.
Kevin McCullar doing it again, finishes with 20 points, 7 rebounds. 2 assists! I think he is playing like an All-American.
Likely makes a one-handed catch and runs for a touchdown.
Ravens vs. Dolphins, a preview of the AFC championship? Maybe not
The Ravens are now the favorites to win the Super Bowl, and the AFC championship will have to go through Baltimore. If Jackson stays healthy, no one can stop this offense. And the Dolphins offense looked horrible.
The Ravens defense made Tua and the vaunted Dolphins offense look average.
Middle of the field is wide open for the Dolphins early. The Ravens needed more pressure on Tua Tagovailoa. When Tua is under pressure he is not very accurate. Queen must have heard me, as he gets a great one-handed interception in the middle of the field.
If after this game you don’t think Lamar Jackson is the league MVP, you must have been living underneath a rock this season. His numbers against top tier teams are ridiculous.
Zeke Flowers is playing out of his mind this year. As a rookie, he is playing as good as a veteran. Three catches for 106 yards and a TD.
Everything is working for the Ravens, even special teams, a long kickoff return to start the second half, 80 yard return for Justice Hill. Side note, shameless plug, Hill is a Gramophone client.
Alabama could not stop Michigan's running attack.
CFP Semifinal game No. 1: Michigan vs. Alabama
Yes, I know, Florida State got smoked by Georgia, but I still do not think Alabama should be in the playoff. Therefore, as much as I dislike Michigan and specifically Jim Harbaugh, I was cheering for the Wolverines to beat the crap out of Saban and the Crimson Tide.
My parlay bet: McCarthy over 191.5 passing yards, Corum TD and Michigan moneyline.
Michigan with nerves to start? McCarthy almost blows it on the first play of the game with an interception that was reversed. Then a muffed punt? Damn, did Harbaugh (0-fer in championship games so far) threaten them before the game, to put the wrath of God in them or what.
The Wolverines and Harbaugh specifically have blown it in past playoff games. They finally get their shit together with a nice drive, 7-7. Alabama can’t stop Corum so far.
Milroe for Alabama is not impressing me at all. And is he a wuss not going for the first down and sliding? He can’t throw either.
At halftime, my parlay sits here:
Second half, Michigan’s defense shows up
It’s painfully clear that this ABC/ESPN broadcast is focusing on Alabama. Could it be because ESPN’s new SEC TV contract starts next year?
This is becoming a very low-scoring game. Michigan’s field position has been terrible to start the second half.
At the end of the day, Alabama’s offense was not exciting, unimaginative, which costed them at the end of the day. The Crimson Tide’s offense was just Milroe’s legs and their running back Jase McClellan.
And thanks to the last Michigan drive and OT victory, I get my parlay win.
Alright, Alright, Alright. Who is McConaughey going to cheer for next week?
CFP Semifinal Game No. 2: Texas vs. Washington
My stepson believes Michael Penix Jr. should have won the Heisman Trophy. And after the 77-yard pass on the first drive, I might have to agree.
The Over on this game was 63.5. I would have taken the Over. Texas’ defense is garbage, so in order to stay in the game, the Longhorns need to score a lot of points.
My parlay this game:
Clearly more Texas fans are at the Sugar Bowl, and they aren’t happy with the officials calls with two holding calls early. But maybe they should be pissed off with their players because they were definitely holds.
Why would you not kneel down? It got your running back hurt, and because of that the clock stopped at :47 seconds.. It saved about 30 seconds on the clock. And then the interference on the punt, giving Texas another 15 yards.
If Washington had lost the game, it would be the Washington coach’s fault. Is Texas going to get another :01 second for one more play. Yep, fortunately they couldn’t convert for a last-second TD.
The Huskies hanging on got me my parlay.
Tidbits
Watching the bowl games, it still blows my mind that the Pac-12 will not exist after this season. A once proud Pac-10 conference falls apart all because they put their eggs in a YouTube TV contract. Whoopsie Daisy.
I am cheering for Washington next week vs. Jim Harbaugh and the cheating Wolverines.
For the record, I won all of my bets except the KU game. Ravens parlay with Jackson passing yards, Gus Edwards TD and Ravens moneyline. And the two parlays in the college games. Plus all three line bets.
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