WE’RE BACK! FOR OUR EIGHTH SEASON

Last January we contemplated the thought of turning WWW over to another party but after hearing from several long time subscribers we decided we couldn’t walk away. And we definitely didn’t want to leave after having a sub-season with our picks (we went 59% which was far below our norms). So, we’re back and hungry to Make Mo’ Money™ in 2019. Hopefully you are too.

OPENING WEEKEND THOUGHTS

Since this is really the first full football weekend of 2019, we’ve brought back some of our home boys with their thoughts on what lies ahead for their respective teams. And, based on your input, we hope to include more insight each week from our reps around the country. We're always looking for more peeps that are passionate about college football so drop us line and we'll go from there. The pay is great and the perks even greater.

WHO'S THIRSTY? NEW WWW SPONSOR

Please join me in welcoming RED'S BEER GARDEN as the official beer garden of Woolard's Weekend Winners. RBG, which will be opening later this year near Grant Park, is owned and operated by Red and Ed, two long time pals that decided to share their love of great beer. It's going to be a great place to hang out and talk college football and more. RBG is located at 1328 Boulevard, Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.redsbeergarden.com

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER

For the first time since 2006, every SEC football team has returned its head coach. Quite remarkable considering that the SEC is the most scrutinized conference in America, and where each coach takes his turn on the proverbial hot seat. Between 2012 and 2017, the SEC averaged two new coaches every season. Prior to the start of the 2018 season, five teams hired new leaders and Ole Miss removed the "interim" tag from its coach. So...who will be the first to get fired this season? Our money is on Gus Malzahn. The expectations for the Plainsmen are high. So anything less than a stellar season, ole Gus gets drop-kicked to the curb. Watching, of course, are top high school athletes being recruited by these same schools. Buyer beware.

Program in Lincoln is a Real Laugher

He's gone. Get over it.

So a few weeks ago on a popular social media platform a certain Husker fan threw shade on the Tennessee football program. Believe he said the UT program was a complete embarrassment. Yeah, we noticed, pal. Didn’t delete it fast enough, did you? While Tennessee has certainly had its issues – and we’ve been its harshest critics at times -  we thought this was pretty rich given Nebraska’s own embarrassing history of late. What school fires their head coach after going 66-27 and has a long string of 9 win seasons?  And Bo followed the disasters of Frank Solich and Bill Callahan. Then NU replaces him with buffoon Riley that loses 12 of his last 18 games including some real bad ass blowouts. For the future, don’t get us wrong. We all want the proud Nebraska program to return to its glory days. But first you need to accept the fact that Tom Osborne is no longer around. Can Frost bring Big Red back from the dead? Time will tell and 2019 looks promising. Meanwhile we suggest you take a good look at your own program before dumping on others. Capiche?

TAILGATE TALES

Friends don't serve this to friends

If you’re thinking about loading up this weekend’s tailgate fare with the new Popeye’s fried chicken sandwich, fuhgettaboutit. Number one, they’ve run out of chicken (how can a chicken joint run out of damn chicken? It’s probably a whole lotta marketing schtick). Number two, this sandwich is bad news with a zillion calories, fat grams, artery-clogging grease, and thick-thigh-inducing and belly fat carbs. So, be a good tailgater and offer your buds some healthier options. Like brats, quiche, grilled veggies, and some crisp chardonnay. It’s time to up your game so get to it. We'll be watching.

On that note, please send us pics of your tailgating experiences. That's half the fun of going to games. In Wisconsin, it's like 90%.

THOUGHTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY...our team reps chime in

Whatta Ya Have

INTO THE GREAT UNKNOWN...Whatta Ya Have

Paul Johnson had manned the helm of the Georgia Tech program for 11 years, imprinting his demeanor and style of play into the Tech's football DNA. With his retirement last year, we're now faced with new staff, new schemes, and new philosophies. 

Geoff Collins will certainly be granted a honeymoon year thanks to the complete overhaul he faces in this program. While he's brought excitement and enthusiasm back to the Flats - mostly in part due to his energy around recruiting - there's still a ton that remains to be seen from how the team will perform.

Given all of the transition in the program, it's no wonder that Tech is predicted to be a bottom-dweller in the ACC. For this team to eek out 4-5 wins (including three against South Florida, Citadel and Temple) would be a success. We'll know alot more after Thursday, when we get to see just how much fight they have against defending National Champions Clemson - against whom GT is a 37-pt underdog. [note: Jackets were clobbered last night]

This won't be the year, Tech. Expect Collins to evaluate the talent he has on campus, establish his gridiron identity, and work to position the program for a brutal schedule in 2020 and potential bowl aspirations in 2021. 

RED STICK ROUND UP...Bayou Bengal

Bayou Bengal

A few seasons ago, LSU's head coach Ed Orgeron used his angelic voice to state: "We comin'. And we ain't backin' down," which feels like an appropriate mantra for the Tigers this season. The Bayou Bengals have as much talent across the board this season as they've had at any point since they stomped the UGA Bulldogs in the SEC Championship back in 2011, being stocked with upper classmen who've been there before, and stud freshmen trying to make their mark early. The offense will be led once again by Joey Burrow, who will take his love of Green Apple blow pops and willingness to run through proverbial brick walls to the field for his second season in the Red Stick. The team's question marks primarily revolve around the trenches: will the offensive line survive preseason injuries to keep their QB upright? Will the defensive line take a turn for the better, after losing their top pass-rusher (K'Lavon Chaisson) in the first quarter of the season last year and underachieving the rest of the way? Injuries to the Tide may make this a "Playoffs or Bust" season for LSU, but if all goes well, we'll hear Coach O use a voice that sounds like gravel being gargled by an alligator to yell "GEAUX TIGAHS" all the way to an SEC championship. 

TIDE ROLLING AGAIN...Kenny Clyde

This will be another challenging season for the Crimson Tide.

Kenny Clyde

It will be a year of proven excellence...

• Best wide receiver corps in America

• Top 5 QB

• Experienced defensive backfield

.... and minimizing rookie mistakes with redshirt and true freshmen at key O and D line positions, linebacker, running back, and kicker.

Can Najee Harris continue the streak of 1,000 yard rushers that preceded him?  Can Brian Robinson step up to be the #2 back?  Can true freshman Trey Sanders live up to his recruiting hype?

The linebacker corps has been decimated by practice injuries.  The latest, Dylan Moses, is particularly crippling, as Dylan was the play-caller for the D.

With last year's QB "controversy" now gone to Oklahoma, the next questions are can Tua stay healthy?  And who's next-Mac Jones is listed as the #2 QB, but the next gen will see playing time with the 5 game redshirt rule.  Will it be Tua's little brother Taulia?  Or Bear Bryant's great-grandson Paul Tyson.  Each are highly touted with very successful high school careers.

The defensive line has to replace Quinnen Williams and Isaiah Buggs in the middle.  All eyes are on Senior LaBryan Ray to step up this year, and for Antonio Alfano to contribute immediately as the #7 overall prospect in the 2019 class.

Last but certainly not least, how do you replace 3 year starter at center Ross Pierschbacher and #1 pick LT Jonah Williams?  Other than Alex Leatherwood (moving from guard to LT), Deonte Brown at LG, and Matt Womac at RG, the O-line will feature new names and some wide-eyed freshmen. Look for Emil Ekiyor to mature quickly.

For Nick to once again finish in the Final Four, he and his coaches will have done a superb role coaching up the youngsters.

Lair of the Bear

The Gutty Little Bruins battle the Cincinnati Bearcats in venerable Nippert Stadium....Lair of the Bear

The 2018 season couldn't have gone much worse for UCLA, which went 3-9. (You can see my gameface last season in the photo.)  New coach Chip Kelly, known for his offensive powerhouse teams at Oregon couldn't get things clicking in L.A., as the offense averaged only 24.6 points while the defense surrendered 36.6.

But the gutty little Bruins return 19 out of a possible 22 starters. 

On offense, that includes running back Joshua Kelley, who rushed for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns, and quarterback, two-way threat and Chip Kelly key recruit last year, Dorian Thompson-Robinson who started six games as a true freshman.

The offensive line gave up 32 sacks last season. The positive, everyone comes back and that allows line coach Justin Fyre to coach up the same unit. So, if star recruit Sean Rhyan is everything he’s supposed to be at left tackle (he chose UCLA over Alabama and Notre Dame) and the rest of the line grows around him, it should be difficult for the Bearcats to make the Bruins one-dimensional.

On defense, six of the top seven tacklers return. The defensive line has to be better in defensive coordinator Jerry Azzinaro’s 3-4 scheme. One positive are two 300-pounders to rotate at nose tackle in Martin Andurs and Antonio Mafi. Those space-eaters are going to have to keep their linebackers clean because Cincinnati is coming to run the football — a lot. And one linebacker in particular, is hungry for Bearcat - inside linebacker Josh Woods has returned from injury, where he was sorely missed throughout 2018.

The Cincinnati Bearcats return seven starters on each side of the ball and welcome the Bruins to Nippert Stadium, where they've won 17 straight home openers by an average of 33 points. The Bearcats rushed for 3,113 yards and 38 touchdowns last season. Junior Michael Warren II, Cincy’s top rusher last season with over 1,329 yards and 19 touchdowns, returns. So do a pair of sophomores, who were the second- and third-highest rushers for the Bearcats in ‘18, one of which had 500 yards on the ground, the other, 495. That’s a formidable attack.

I’m afraid the Bearcats running attack will be too much for the gutty little Bruins. [note: Bearcats mauled the Bruins 24-14 last night]

THE GREAT EIGHT™

Your envelope of cash was this big.

DUKE v #2 ALABAMA…Duke is a good, solid team that will probably end up with at least 6 wins and a bowl bid. But it’s about to feel a whole lotta pain and torment from a program that’s been smoldering the last 7 months after getting embarrassed by Clemson 44-16 in the NC game in Santa Clara. The last time Bama played Duke was in 2010 with a 62-13 Tide win. Expect more of the same Saturday afternoon in Atlanta. Tide rolls.

NORTHWESTERN v #25 STANFORD…this game features two teams looking to be a part of the Rose Bowl chase and it should be a good one. The Cardinal needs major improvement in their secondary which allowed 264 yards per game last season as they face Clemson transfer Hunter Johnson at NU quarterback. The key to this game is if the Wildcat defense can get pressure on Stanford and shakeup their passing game. But it won’t be enough. Stanford skins the Wildcats.

BOISE STATE v FLORIDA STATE…this game was going to be played in Jacksonville but the threat of Hurricane Dorian has forced relocation to Tallahassee where a big storm is brewing at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Broncos are a dangerous team with a strong staff, great depth, and a fearless attitude. The Seminole defense will be fine (16 of top 20 tacklers return) but the offense needs to get on track super fast in what should be a tough, close game.  FSU busts the Broncos.

See. That's a bird.

NORTH CAROLINA v SOUTH CAROLINA…Mack is back at UNC and is hoping to jump start a Tar Heel program that’s lost its way. They really need to start strong because bad news lies ahead with games against Miami and Clemson. And things aren’t easier for the Gamecocks who embark on one of college football’s nastiest schedules. So this appears to be a must win for Muschamp. This should be a good game to watch…for a half. Cocks cook the Heels.

#9 NOTRE DAME v LOUISVILLE…set for Monday, this is only the second time these two teams face each other despite being separated by only 250 miles of corn stalks in Indiana. Bobby Petrino is gone and the Cardinals are hoping for better times with new coach Scott Satterfield. But it’s not gonna happen fast. Notre Dame has too many weapons and an explosive offense to go with an aggressive defense. Break out the Lucky Charms and the Irish Spring soap. Fun times in the Irish locker room after the Irish clip the Cards.

What? Me worry?

#11 OREGON v #16 AUBURN…both teams head to Texas in a rematch of the 2010 BCS Championship. But things are far different now. Both teams have been good but this is a chance to get back to the top tier. And the Pac-12 really needs a win since there’s the lingering perception that Pac-12 teams can’t win big non-conference games. And, as usual, the pressure will be on Gus Malzahn to win. Key to this game is the aggressive play of Auburn’s defense which arguably has one of the best defensive fronts in the country. Aubbie wins in a close one.

You like my haircut?

#3 GEORGIA v VANDERBILT…the Commodores have tripped up the Dawgs before, as recently as 2016 and 2013. But this is a different UGA team that brings in one of the best offensive lines in the nation that will punch holes in the Vandy defense to open up running lanes for the Georgia running backs. Oh…and Georgia has a pretty good quarterback, too. Dawgs bite the Dores in the Music City.

HOUSTON v #4 OKLAHOMA…this is a Sunday night game in Norman. Good thing there’s no trump rallies planned that evening as Sooner fans are more than anxious to start the season. Bama transfer Jalen Hurts will lead the Sooner offense and a deep stable of rbs against a dangerous Cougar team. But Oklahoma needs to step up its defense, especially the secondary which allowed 454 yards per game and seemed feeble in trying to slow down anyone’s air attack…and that’s not lost on Houston head coach Dana Holgorsen. This promises to be the most entertaining game of the opening weekend, so get ready. In a close, high scoring game, Sooners over the Cougars.

MAKE MO'MONEY WITH MARK™