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The NCAA announced on Thursday that the Texas A&M coaching staff violated recruiting rules.
The Longhorns and Aggies may not be rivals on the field anymore, but they certainly battle with each other on the recruiting trail. Continue reading “Hand caught in the cookie jar, Texas A&M football faces NCAA penalties”
How high is Brian Kelly on The Sporting News best college football coaches list? Very high. Find out right here!
As we’ve plowed through the sports-less spring and into the summer we’ve discussed a ton of various things and debated several lists here at Fighting Irish Wire.
Plenty of outlets have offered their rankings of the best current head coaches FBS college football, most of which have Brian Kelly in the top ten.
Bill Bender of The Sporting News released his head coaches ranking this week and to the surprise of nobody that has been paying attention, Brian Kelly is listed in the top ten, this time checking in sixth.
Here’s what Bender says of Kelly, who he moves up one spot compared to last year’s rankings:
There was a point when Kelly looked on the way out of South Bend, but he’s refurbished the program with success. The Irish are 33-6 the past three seasons and have a Playoff appearance. Kelly has Notre Dame in the postseason conversation in November on a yearly basis, and the chase for that elusive national championship continues. – Bill Bender of The Sporting News
The only five coaches to rank ahead of Kelly in this list are easy to name: Nick Saban, Dabo Swinney, Ed Orgeron, Lincoln Riley and Kirby Smart.
Of those, Saban, Swinney and Orgeron have national title’s to their names while Riley and Smart have each made the College Football Playoff, like Kelly in 2018.
Immediately after Kelly come Ryan Day of Ohio State who I’d guess is ranked in the top five a year from now, Dan Mullen of Florida who has raised the expectations in Gainsville to sky-high this fall, James Franklin who nearly led Penn State to the CFP in 2016 and Jimbo Fisher who won it all with Florida State in 2013 but hasn’t reached the same heights since taking the Texas A&M job two years ago.
I don’t have a real problem with any of the list. It’s nice to see someone not throw endless bouquets at Jim Harbaugh’s feet as he checks in 11.
Mack Brown’s rise from 24 to 14 is also interesting as I had that being a brutal hire for North Carolina in my mind, but it has looked nothing short of great just over a year in.
We ranked all the SEC head coaches, from Georgia football’s Kirby Smart, to Arkansas’ Sam Pittman, to Florida’s Dan Mullen.
The SEC is loaded with head coaching talent as we head into the 2020 college football season.
You have your usuals – Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, Gus Malzahn, Ed Orgeron, etc.
But then you have your familiar, or in some cases not-so-familiar, yet new faces: Lane Kiffin, Mike Leach, Sam Pittman, Eli Drinkwitz.
Ranking the SEC head coaches heading into the 2020 season is as hard as it’s ever been, and that’s because of all these new hirings. But it’s also because Jeremy Pruitt waited until October to start winning games in Tennessee last year. It’s because Ed Orgeron took a loaded roster and won a national title. Because Gus Malzahn and Auburn always have the talent but can’t seem to win the big ones. Or because, despite a 4-8 season, Will Muschamp was able to knock off Kirby Smart and Georgia.
Related: 2020 Georgia schedule with game-by-game score predictions
14. Sam Pittman, Arkansas
I would have loved to get Pittman into a higher spot on this list, but what is there to go off of? His last head coaching job came in 1992 and 1993 when he led Hutchinson Community College to an 11–9–1 record over two seasons.
I am 100% rooting for Pittman to succeed in his first season as head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. It won’t be easy, and this is a team that will likely finish with at least five losses for the first few years, but that’s not necessarily a terrible thing as long as they play hard.
Arkansas may not field the most talented teams in the SEC, but if there’s one thing I’m certain of it’s that the former UGA O-Line coach will make sure his guys fight harder than anybody.
13. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri
Drinkwitz gets the No. 13 spot because of what he was able to do at App State last year. In his first season as a head coach, he led the Mountaineers to a 12-1 record and a Sun Belt championship.
But that’s not the SEC. It’s going to be a rocky road ahead for Drinkwitz, as Mizzou will definitely not be one of the more talented teams in the league for a few years.
12. Derek Mason, Vanderbilt
I often find myself rooting for Vanderbilt and Mason.
He took over at Vandy when James Franklin left for Penn State, and though it’s been tough at times, you get the feeling that Commodore fans actually look forward to their seasons.
11. Will Muschamp, South Carolina
If Muschamp had not beaten Georgia last year, he maybe would not even be on this list at all.
But he won and that probably saved his job. He coaches up a good defense, but South Carolina will need to crank up its recruiting efforts if it wants to start contending in the SEC East. Another season with no bowl game may put an end to Muschamp’s head coaching career with the Gamecocks.
10. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
Kiffin is a good football coach, there’s no denying that. No. 10 is pretty low for an offensive genius like him. But this conference is simply loaded.
Kiffin did a great job at Florida Atlantic, but I still need to see him win consistently at a Power 5 school.
The Athletic ranked the best coaches in college football, but did they rank Georgia football’s Kirby Smart too low?
This week, Stewart Mandel and Bruce Feldman of The Athletic ranked college football’s top coaches.
Kirby Smart checked in relatively high on both lists, but is he high enough?
Here are the two lists.
1. Nick Saban (Alabama) and Dabo Swinney (Clemson)
3. Ed Orgeron, LSU
4. Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma
5. Kirby Smart, Georgia
6. Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
7. James Franklin, Penn State
8. Dan Mullen, Florida
9. Paul Chryst, Wisconsin
10. Bill Clark, UAB
1. Nick Saban, Alabama
2. Dabo Swinney, Clemson
3. James Franklin, Penn State
4. Ed Orgeron, LSU
5. Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma
6. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M
7. Kirby Smart, Georgia
8. Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
9. Kyle Whittingham, Utah
10. Scott Satterfield, Louisville
Let’s discuss:
Previewing Friday’s Texas Bowl Texas A&M and Oklahoma State NCAA football matchup, with NCAA football betting odds, picks and best bets.
With bowl season well underway, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl gets its turn in the spotlight on Friday, Dec. 27. The Texas A&M Aggies (7-5) face the Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-4) from NRG Stadium in Houston. Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m. ET.
We analyze the Oklahoma State-Texas A&M odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.
1. Bowl success is common for both head coaches. Mike Gundy has led Oklahoma State to three straight bowl victories and seven in their last nine. The Aggies’ Jimbo Fisher is 6-2 in bowl games.
2. Oklahoma State RB Chuba Hubbard leads the nation with 1,936 rushing yards and is tied for third with 21 rushing touchdowns.
3. Both teams average 30 or more points a game and both allow more than 22 per game.
Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 3:25 p.m. ET.
Texas A&M 37, Oklahoma State 34
Texas A&M beat all of its inferior opponents, with all five losses coming against teams ranked no worse than No. 8 at the time. Hence the Aggies sit as the heavy favorites at -264. That makes the Cowboys at +205 an intriguing option. While I believe the Aggies will win outright, I expect a close game — close enough that taking a shot at more than doubling your money with Oklahoma State may be worth a small bet.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Oklahoma State returns a profit of $20.50.
Texas A&M is favored at -6.5 (-125) and is 7-5 ATS this season. But Oklahoma State has been even better, going 9-3 ATS. With two offenses that can score points and defenses that will give up points, this should be back-and-forth. I think that makes the Aggies winning by at least a touchdown too tall an order. Take the COWBOYS +6.5 (+105).
The total is set at 53.5 points — a touchdown lower than the average total in Oklahoma State games, but a point higher than the average Texas A&M total. While neither team consistently hit the over in their games this season (Texas A&M games went over the total only four times and Oklahoma State’s games did five times), this is bound to be a high-scoring game. Last year’s Texas Bowl was a 45-38 thriller. Hit the OVER 53.5 (-115) in this matchup.
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Who is the highest paid coach in college football?
College athletics is a multibillion dollar industry with huge amounts of money falling into the pockets of just about everyone involved — except the players actually participating.
Coaches’ salaries continue to climb, the base amounts are approaching eight figures and the bonus opportunities now written into contracts seem endless. Through the 2019 conference championship weekend, head coaches at FBS public schools have earned nearly $9.5 million in bonuses so far, according to USA TODAY Sports.
For example, LSU coach Ed Orgeron has already earned $1.05 million in bonuses on top of his $4 million annual salary. By beating Georgia in the SEC championship game, he earned $425,000 in bonuses: $200,000 for the Tigers winning the conference championship and another $225,000 for the team making it to the College Football Playoff.
And there’s even more money on the table if he continues winning. He’ll receive $150,000 for winning a playoff semifinal game — LSU plays Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl — and could get $500,000 with a national championship.
Also, because so many coaches are employed by public universities, the highest paid public employee in 39 states is either a college football or basketball coach, according to ESPN.
But how much is that exactly? Here’s a breakdown of the top-10 highest paid college football coaches in 2019, according to USA TODAY Sports‘ salary database.
Note: School pay includes base salary, as well as other school-related sources of income, and all buyout data is as of December 1, 2019.
School pay: $9,255,000
Maximum bonus: $1,125,000
School buyout: $50,000,000
School pay: $8,707,000
Maximum bonus: $1,100,000
School buyout: $34,100,000
School pay: $7,504,000
Maximum bonus: $1,325,000
School buyout: $11,687,500
School pay: $7,500,000
Maximum bonus: $1,500,000
School buyout: $60,625,000
School pay: $6,703,600
Maximum bonus: $1,150,000
School buyout: $24,239,584
School pay: $6,800,000
Maximum bonus: $1,400,000
School buyout: $27,050,000
School pay: $6,750,000
Maximum bonus: $725,000
School buyout: $20,416,667
School pay: $6,600,000
Maximum bonus: $1,290,000
School buyout: $27,650,000
School pay: $6,384,462
Maximum bonus: $950,000
School buyout: $21,013,333
School pay: $6,070,000
Maximum bonus: $925,000
School buyout: $12,000,000
For more information about college football coaches’ salaries and contracts for the 130 FBS schools, visit USA TODAY Sports’ 2019 NCAAF Coaches Salaries database.
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Take a look at Georgia footballs injury status prior to UGA’s final game of their regular season before LSU at Georgia Tech.
Georgia defeated the Texas A&M Aggies this Saturday in a cold and rainy matchup by a final score of 19-13. A win is a win, but man wouldn’t it be nice to close some teams out strong?
The Dawgs didn’t look bad in the first half, nearly covering the 13-point spread they were given prior to the game. It was the 2nd half that made Bulldog fans scratch their heads.
The Aggies outscored Georgia 10-6 in the 2nd half. That is a pretty bad look for a No. 4 team, but give credit to a hard-fought, Jimbo Fisher coached team.
Now the Dawgs have just one more opponent left before facing LSU in the SEC Championship game, and that is Georgia Tech.
With LSU looming, the Dawgs will look to be as healthy as possible for that game.
Here is a look at the injured Bulldogs heading into week 14 at Tech.
Probable: DB Eric Stokes
Stokes left the Texas A&M game just before halftime after he got a little dinged up on a hit. Kirby Smart did not seem concerned about the matter. Expect Stokes to be ready to go.
Probable: DB Tyson Campbell
Campbell has been playing through a toe injury for the past couple of weeks but is cleared to play against Tech.
Probable: OL Cade Mays
Mays has been nursing an ankle injury since the Missouri game. He dressed against A&M but was very limited, as is expected next week in order to save him for LSU.
Questionable: WR Trey Blount
Blount is listed as questionable with an undisclosed injury.
Questionable: WR Lawrence Cager
Cager has been battling a left shoulder injury nearly the entire season. Even missing a number of games, Cager is still the Dawgs leader in receptions and receiving yards. Expect Cager to get minimal time if any to rest him up for the SEC Championship game vs LSU.
OUT: WR Tommy Bush
Bush has been recovering from a sports hernia and will likely be out for the year.
OUT: DT Tramel Walthour
Walthour is battling a lower-body injury and has no timetable for his return.
OUT: OL Owen Condon
Condon has been battling a lower-body injury all year and Saturday was seen in a sling. Should likely be out for season.
OUT: OL Justin Shaffer
Shaffer was in a neck brace for the A&M game and has no timetable for his return.
OUT: QB D’Wan Mathis
Freshman quarterback D’wan Mathis is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to remove a cyst from his brain this offseason. There is no current timetable for Mathis’ return.
The UGA Wire staff has put together its weekly Georgia football game, stat and score predictions prior to Saturday’s matchup against TAMU.
[jwplayer awrcuYrl-er0jUifI]
The Georgia Bulldogs secured their trip to the 2019 SEC Championship game last week with a seven point victory at Auburn. The #4 Bulldogs have just one more SEC matchup this Saturday in Athens against Texas A&M.
The un-ranked Aggies are not to be taken lightly. They’ve had one of the hardest schedules in college football and will be playing four top 5 teams, including three #1 teams (Alabama, Clemson, LSU).
Jimbo Fisher’s squad has lost to Alabama, Auburn and Clemson, but have steamrolled just about everybody else. Those are three very quality losses that make it harder to predict what the outcome of the Georgia game will be.
The two teams kickoff at 3:30 p.m. EST this Saturday on Dooley Field and should be the Dawgs last test before meeting LSU in Atlanta.
The UGA Wire staff has put together a list of score, stat and game predictions ahead of Saturdays matchup.
Here are the picks:
#4 Georgia (-13.5) vs Texas A&M
Game pick: If you think Georgia will win and cover, Georgia. If you think Georgia will win, but not cover, Georgia*. If you think Texas A&M will win, Texas A&M. (Georgia -13.5)
Jackson Fryburger: UGAWire.com- Georgia
Joe Vitale: UGAWire.com- Georgia
James Morgan: UGAWire.com- Georgia
Jackson Stone: UGAWire.com- Georgia
Henry Sillen: UGAWire.com- Georgia
Garrett Shearman: UGAWire.com- Georgia*
Over/under (45.5)
If you think the total will go over, over. If you think the total will go under, under.
Jackson Fryburger: UGAWire.com- Under
Joe Vitale: UGAWire.com- Under
James Morgan: UGAWire.com- Over
Jackson Stone: UGAWire.com- Under
Henry Sillen: UGAWire.com- Over
Garrett Shearman: UGAWire.com- Under
Score prediction:
Jackson Fryburger: UGAWire.com- Georgia 31, Texas A&M 14
Joe Vitale: UGAWire.com- Georgia 30, Texas A&M 13
James Morgan: UGAWire.com- Georgia 29, Texas A&M 17
Jackson Stone: UGAWire.com- Georgia 34 , Texas A&M 10
Henry Sillen: UGAWire.com- Georgia 34, Texas A&M 17
Garrett Shearman: UGAWire.com- Georgia 27, Texas A&M 16
Odds via BetMGM. Access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 5 p.m.
Want to get in on the action? Place your bet now at BetMGM.
See how Georgia football and Texas AM football matchup in our weekly head-to-head statistical breakdown ahead of Saturdays game.
The Texas A&M Aggies travel East this Saturday as the Georgia Bulldogs will host them in Sanford Stadium for what will be the Dawgs final SEC matchup of the regular season.
Georgia secured a ticket to its third straight SEC Championship Game this past Saturday with a 21-14 victory at Auburn.
The unranked Aggies (7-3, 4-2) are not a team to overlook. Jimbo Fisher and company have lost games to previously ranked #1 Clemson, #1 Alabama and #8 Auburn. A&M has one of the toughest schedules in all of college football, still having #4 Georgia as well as #1 LSU the week after.
That will be a total of three #1 teams and four top five teams on the season.
That being said, let’s take a look at how these two teams matchup statistically this season.
On paper, the first matchup between the Bulldogs ands Aggies since TAMU joined the SEC in 2012 looks to be a Georgia win. But, hey, we said the same thing before South Carolina.
Here’s a look at how the two SEC programs match up statistically.
