Tag: bold predictions

Colin Cowherd predicts Dennis Allen will be the first coach to be fired in 2024

Colin Cowherd predicts Dennis Allen will be the first coach to be fired in 2024, says Panthers are ‘undoubtedly better’ than Saints after 2-15 season:

Longtime NFL media personality Colin Cowherd shared his five bold predictions for the 2024 season, and he started out a little negatively — predicting the New Orleans Saints won’t wait long to fire head coach Dennis Allen.

“I think Dennis Allen, Saints, is the first coach to be let go,” Cowherd said. “They’ve missed the playoffs back-to-back years. The NFC South, Atlanta and Carolina are undoubtedly better teams. No question. The Falcons and the Panthers are much better teams. Four of the first six games for Denis Allen are against playoff teams from last year. I just don’t see the juice offensively. I think Dennis is the first coach to be let go.”

Saying the Panthers are “undoubtedly better” than the Saints is kind of wild. They won seven fewer games than the Saints did last year while cycling through a couple of head coaches before rebooting yet again this spring. You could argue that Dave Canales is a better coach than Allen because he’s an unknown quantity rather than known for getting poor results, but that case wouldn’t hold much water. Canales could be just as badly out of his depth as Allen has been.

Maybe Cowherd misspoke and meant the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who won the division last year, are up there with Atlanta. The Falcons finally addressed their terrible defense by trading for Matt Judon and signing Justin Simmons but they’re betting big on Kirk Cousins overhauling the league’s most disappointing offense in recent years. It’s fine to be down on the Saints given their lack of success, but the teams in this division are stacked much more closely than you might think. Look at their records over the last three years:

  1. Buccaneers: 30-21
  2. Saints: 25-26
  3. Falcons: 21-30
  4. Panthers: 14-37

We’ll see how it goes. The Saints have never fired a coach in-season since Tom Benson bought the team in 1985, and it hasn’t happened at all since Dick Nolan was let go in 1980. It would be awfully bold of Mickey Loomis, the longest-tenured general manager in the game, to decide it’s time to pull the plug on Allen even after something ugly like a 2-4 start. But if Allen’s defense folds and his handpicked quarterback and play caller don’t mesh quickly, Allen could be on the outs sooner or later.

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Bold prediction for Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu

Everyone believes Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu will have a big year.

How good can Frankie Luvu be for the Washington Commanders in 2024? Luvu has a lot of fans from across the NFL, with many calling him one of the offseason’s best free-agent signings, regardless of the team.

Earlier this offseason, Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar — a noted film guru — ranked Luvu as the NFL’s second linebacker heading into 2024, behind only 49ers star Fred Warner.

Here is some of what Farrar said about Luvu:

The former Panthers star signed a three-year, $31 million deal with the Commanders that includes $14,625 in guarantees, and he’s earned that after a year in which he had seven sacks, 20 total pressures, 84 solo tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 47 stops, and two forced fumbles. In coverage, Luvu allowed 38 catches on 51 targets for 371 yards, 240 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, no interceptions, five pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 107.6. Luvu did all of this on a defense that didn’t present a ton of star power around him. Now that he’s with Dan Quinn in the nation’s capital, we could see a higher level from Luvu.

As much as anybody on this list, Luvu brings a fully-realized skill set in which he’s at or near the top at so many things. He attacks from the line of scrimmage like a legitimate edge defender, and he’s a real pain when covering opposing receivers all over the field.

How can Washington fans not be excited about Luvu?

Farrar isn’t the only one who sees big things for the versatile 27-year-old star.

Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated recently made 100 bold predictions for the 2024 NFL season. He sees Luvu making the Pro Bowl.

The Commanders’ linebacker was awesome for equally terrible Jets and Panthers teams in recent years, posting massive tackle numbers and serving as an apt pass rusher situationally. Now with Dan Quinn and working alongside a block-gobbling Bobby Wagner, Luvu can excel and get the notoriety he deserves.

Luvu has played on some terrible teams, and while Washington was terrible in 2023, playing for Dan Quinn changes everything. Quinn is known for getting the most out of his players. Quinn identifies where each player best fits and turns them loose. Luvu’s versatility could have him on the verge of stardom for the Commanders.

Five bold predictions for Sugar Bowl between Texas and Washington

We make surprising predictions for the game.

The College Football Playoff is just around the corner. The No. 3 Texas Longhorns (12-1) take on the No. 2 Washington Huskies (13-0) in the late game of the four-team playoff.

There are plenty of narratives surrounding the game. Among them is that Texas might not have the secondary to hang with Washington. That may be true, but isn’t our feeling on the game.

Many point to the Longhorns’ No. 93 pass defense in college football. The team surrenders 240.8 yards per game through the air. The Washington Huskies’ pass defense is worse. The Huskies rank an abysmal No. 120 out of 130 FBS defenses allowing 263.2 passing yards per game.

The Washington offense, however, will be the toughest test Texas has faced this season. The Huskies tower over college football with the No. 1 passing offense in the country at 343.8 yards per contest. Texas ranks No. 18 in pass offense with 286.8 yards per game.

The game could come down to which squad can slow the opponent’s passing game or get more from their own. Let’s predict that and more in our five bold predictions for the game.

5 bold predictions for Alabama’s Rose Bowl matchup against Michigan

What are your bold predictions for Alabama’s Rose Bowl matchup against Michigan?

In about three weeks, Nick Saban will lead the Alabama Crimson Tide into Pasadena for their College Football Playoff semifinal against Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl.

The contest between the two heavyweight programs is sure to draw one of the largest audiences in college football history. With a spot in the national championship on the line, the stakes are high.

It is hard to imagine this game not delivering an instant classic, but we have seen some semifinal matchups not go as planned, with one team dominating the other.

As we continue to anticipate the marque matchup, let’s take a look at five bold predictions for Alabama’s Rose Bowl matchup against Michigan.

NFL Network analyst predicts Alvin Kamara will catch 20 passes vs. Lions

Maurice Jones-Drew’s Week 13 bold prediction is Alvin Kamara will be the third NFL player to ever catch 20 passes in a game.

Former NFL running back and current NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew predicted New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara will catch 20 passes on Sunday against the Detroit Lions. This was a part of the network’s Week 13 bold predictions and that is definitely a bold call.

Only two players in league history have ever reached 20 catches in a game (Terrell Owens set the single-game record with 20 against the Bears in 2000; Brandon Marshall broke that record with 21 in a loss to the Colts in 2009). This likely won’t happen if only because Kamara will still be tasked with also running the ball.

Kamara’s career-high in catches and combined touches are 15 and 31. He’d have to eclipse that to make Jones-Drew’s bold prediction come true. Whether it comes true aside, his prediction speaks to the workload Kamara might have to see on Sunday. He caught 13 and 12 passes in games earlier this season, and injuries at wide receiver might force Derek Carr to funnel even more targets Kamara’s way.

Jamaal Williams hasn’t seen much work since returning from injured reserve and the Saints are down some receivers. 20 catches might be extreme, but the offense very well could run through Alvin Kamara versus the Lions.

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Five bold predictions for Texas against the Houston Cougars

The Texas offense could take off this week against Houston.

It’s Houston week for the Texas Longhorns following a deflating loss to the Oklahoma Sooners. Continue reading “Five bold predictions for Texas against the Houston Cougars”

Texas Football: Five bold predictions for the Alabama game

Will Ewers connect on the deep ball against Alabama?

The matchup between No. 11 Texas and No. 3 Alabama is viewed as one of the top college football games of the year. Continue reading “Texas Football: Five bold predictions for the Alabama game”

5 bold predictions for the epic showdown of Alabama vs. Texas

Alabama vs. Texas is a must-watch game with major College Football Playoff implications. See 5 bold predictions for the matchup.

Alabama versus Texas is one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2023 season. The Longhorns are looking to avenge themselves after losing last season’s matchup against Alabama by a final score of 20-19.

In order to knock off Alabama, Texas will have to win in the trenches and eliminate Jalen Milroe’s dual-threat capabilities. This means Texas will have to prevent Milroe from using his legs as much as possible.

While that will be the emphasis, it will be interesting to see if Texas’ secondary can prevent Alabama’s wide receivers from making one, too many plays on Saturday night. The same can be said for Alabama’s secondary working to neutralize Texas’ explosive receiving core.

Roll Tide Wire makes five bold predictions for Alabama vs. Texas.

6 bold predictions for Vikings 2023 season

Going into the 2023 season, these bold predictions are bound to come true (we hope) via @TheRealForno

The 2023 NFL season kicks off this weekend and the Minnesota Vikings open against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, September 10th at noon central.

When we take a look at the Vikings in 2023, there are multiple angles to look at. They certainly aren’t going to go undefeated in one-score games like they did going 11-0 in the 2022 regular season. That is the biggest talking point among analysts, but they also don’t talk about that same regression going positive.

As we look ahead, here are the six biggest bold predictions for the Vikings 2023 season.