The Champs Sports Bowl Email Exchange

The email started as a joke about Florida State being filled with Jenn Stergers and Notre Dame being filled with Adam Lamberts.  We had a good laugh and then Scott and I gave our score predictions for the Champs Sports Bowl.

Sef Sam Holy – FSU 30 Notre Dame 10

Scott Yasko – Notre Dame 38 FSU 24

And then the fun started…………..

Sef Sam Holy

If you think ND is scoring 38 points of Florida State, I’m not sure you’ve watched much college football this year.  Did Joe Montana get in a time machine and figure out a way to play in this game as a 25 year old?  C’Mon Man!

Scott Yasko

Relativity is a hell of a measuring stick in college football and you would be surprised as to how often it is right. I saw how Florida State played a mediocre Wake Forest team and I watched ND outplay (if not for 2 interceptions, they demolish) that same garbage. I think 38 points is not only doable, I wouldn't be surprised if they racked up 40+.

FSU = Biggest dissapointment in the nation this year.

I hear the makings of a wager….

Sef Sam Holy

Yeah, that game against Wake was 82 days ago, a lot different defense since then.  They haven’t given up more than 19 points in the 7 games since (3 of those games were 7 points or less).  I’m not saying they will shut ND out, but 38 point is pretty crazy to assume.  Especially to the Notre Dame offense led by…….well, who cares who plays QB, I’m sure it’s someone good. 

FSU has a better defense than Stanford and ND could only muster 7 points and a garbage time TD against them.  Good luck today.

No wager, I’m about as confident in FSU as you are in ND (we both don’t really want to put money on this).

And if FSU is the biggest disappointment in the nation, then ND would be a very close second.  ND had a BCS game handed to them and they couldn’t beat South Florida or an overrated Michigan team. 

I’ll bet on next year if you would like?  More wins?  Higher BCS rank at the end of the year?  You name it bud. 

Scott Yasko

I hate making excuses, but I am going to anyway. Notre Dame had 26 turnovers this year, a -13 ratio, and know how many were in the red zone? I don't either but I know that it was more than half. You mentioned the Stanford game, 2 to's in the red zone, one late in the third quarter when they were driving to tie the game. AND Notre Dame wasn't a top 5 team to start the season as FSU was. AND Notre Dame (and I don't know if this is a good or a bad thing) had the opportunity to win every game they played this year. FSU…. not so much.

And the 7 games since Wake Forest?? Let's see who we can take seriously ON OFFENSE out of Duke, Maryland, NC State, BC, Miami, Virgina, Florida…..

Duke: 93rd in scoring

Maryland: 89th

NC State: 56th

BC: 112th

Miami: 72nd

Virginia: 88th

Florida: 71st

Tough schedule. (And see, I can get statistics to say what I want too)

And Kelly isnt going anywhere. They have the guys in place that are going to be one year better next year. ND has a top ten finish…. if not better.

Sef Sam Holy

“AND Notre Dame (and I don't know if this is a good or a bad thing) had the opportunity to win every game they played this year. FSU…. not so much.”

I paused there because FSU was leading in the 4^th quarter in 3 of their losses (and down 3 against Oklahoma, the number one ranked team in the country at the time).  It just sucked that their second best option at QB was a 5’11 165lb freshman.  Shame on Jimbo Fisher for that but all of their losses

And I’m not saying the teams they have played were amazing, but your point was that Notre Dame was going to score 38 points tonight, maybe 40, when ND has only scored more than 38 points 3 times this year and that was against Air Force, Navy, and Maryland. 

The team that closely resembles FSU that ND has played is MSU and ND won, so there you go.

FSU doesn’t really have a good win this year, they’ve been disappointing, there is no disputing that.  But in games Fisher/Stoops have lot of time to prepare for a team (Oklahoma this year, WV in 09 bowl game, and SC last year bowl game), the defense has looked really impressive and this bunch of players is the most talented they have had in the last 6-7 years. 

Honestly, because ND turns the ball over so much, I would expect the FSU defense to turn one of those into 7 points.  FSU has great special teams and I think that leads to some advantage.  If EJ Manuel and the FSU offense doesn’t turn the ball over more than 2 times, I think they win 24-13 or something like that.  If FSU doesn’t score on defense or special teams, and Manuel throws 2 picks and Freeman fumbles….ND wins 27-17. 

FSU and ND have had very similar seasons and for only one of them, it will end on a high note. 

$20 on FSU finishing ahead of Notre Dame next year? 

Scott Yasko

In every single game Notre Dame played this year, and I can 100% ASSURE YOU THAT THIS IS NOT MY BIAS, they looked like the more talented team. But they also looked young, inexperienced, and doe eyed. But if you look at what ND's offense does, spread style offense that looks to pass first but keeps you honest with quick draws and between the tackle dives, that style most simulates….. pause for effect…. a Clemson team that went up and down the field on the seminoles.

And yes I hear you that that was in the beginning of the year and their defense didn’t allow blah blah 7 games blah blah. THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE is that FSU has not played as good a offense as notre dame's in any of those final 7, none. And putting points aside, Brian Kelly is one of the best offensive minds in college football. Account for the amount of time HE has had to prepare. 38 to 40 is not far fetched.

38-24.

Michael Floyd has 3 touchdowns.

EJ Manuel throws 2 picks.

Jimbo Fischer crying on the sideline and coach stoops curlled up in a ball slapping himself in the head repeatedly wondering where the hell bobby bowden is.

Sef Sam Holy

100% ASSURE YOU THAT IS NOT MY BIAS, but the Clemson was the trap game after the Oklahoma game and the Tigers were coming off a HUGE win against Auburn, a game in which Clemson usually loses. 

We will see how the offensive genius that put up 15 against Pitt, 17 against USC, 16 against Boston College (YES, Boston College, at home), and 14 against Stanford does against a defense with 5 future NFL draft picks. 

34-13

EJ Manuel throws for 2 TD’s and runs for one more. 

Greg Reid takes a punt to the house and gets himself a pick. 

The FSU defense sacks whoever ND plays at QB 6 times. 

Brian Kelly is caught on camera saying the F word 4 times and gets fired after next year’s 6-6 season.

Scott Yasko

Yeah, I did say that off the cuff. And im in for a $20.

And…….Scene!