What a time to be alive, as Drake would say. It's a new year, which means more incredible sports events. With the start of 2016, football fans anticipate the first few sporting events of the year.
College football bowl games.
The conclusion of 2015 and start of 2016 is bowl season. The colleges that had successful seasons are recognized by the selection to bowl games. The Gators played in the Citrus Bowl against Michigan, though it was a bit ugly to watch. With an offseason of rebuilding with early recruits, the Gators will come back next year as a force on both sides of the ball. To say the least, McElwain is pretty excited to go into the offseason knowing the talent he has and the influx of new recruits.
At this point, bowl games are pretty much over, all but one, on Jan. 11, is the final game of the college football season: the championship. Four teams played in the playoffs, with two left standing: the Clemson Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide. They’re the top teams in the nation with the #1 and #2 rankings respectively. As an SEC fan, I have to root for Alabama. This will be the second year of the College Football Playoff system, so I hope that the SEC can quickly place itself as part of history.
The Super Bowl.
The much more hyped equivalent of the college football championship is the Super Bowl, which is Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7, and the chance for the best two teams, one from each the NFC and the AFC, to square off. For this year, I’m predicting the Carolina Panthers to represent the NFC and the New England Patriots to represent the AFC.
The Panthers went unbeaten for much of the season, until they lost in week 16 to the Atlanta Falcons. I see them in the Super Bowl simply because they are the best team in the NFC. Watching Cam Newton is electrifying, and I don’t think he’s done showing his greatness. Their only challenge could be the Cardinals, who have played well for much of this season as well.
The Patriots are the best team in the AFC. Though they’ve had many players go down to injury, and Tom Brady had to make the most of what he had, they did just that. The Patriots were able to win despite many obstacles, though I will say I am happy that the Dolphins were able to beat them this time around in Week 17. The Patriots only challenge for the playoffs would be the Denver Broncos, unless Andy Dalton is able to return in time for the playoffs for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Both the College Football Championship and the Super Bowl are circled on my calendars as must-sees. Football fans have to take it all in, before it comes to a close for the football season. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t get enough football.
