TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | OCT 2018 39
Welcome Tybeeans, Tourons and Tybidiots (residual check on the way
Ricky Goodman) to my little sports column that can only be seen and read
exclusively in the Tybee Beachcomber. I welcome suggestions for topics
that you’d like to see covered in future issues, but keep your criticism and
thoughts to yourselves! Complain and we’ll put you in charge! Anyway,
welcome and let’s get to it...
Football is back! It was a long, hot, but great summer and now it’s time
for cooler weather and hotter action on the gridiron. In the colleges, most
expect Alabama & Clemson to be there at the end as 2 of the 4 that make
the playoff, and why not? A lot of folks think Georgia will return as well,
but one would think getting 2 SEC teams in for the second year in a row
might cause a revolt across the nation, but I say so what! If Bama and UGA
go undefeated and play in the SEC Championship, how do you keep the
loser out? Could Bama or UGA have one loss prior to meeting in Atlanta
the first weekend in December? Unlikely for Bama, with hosting LSU &
Auburn but having to travel to Ole Miss. UGA has Auburn at home and
Florida in Jacksonville of course, and even though it was a blowout last
year, those have been few and far between the last 25 years! Obviously
if there are 2 other undefeated teams that are worthy, there will be quite
the debate for the committee once again. With so many moving parts we
just need to see how things shake out.
Early prediction for the playoff: Bama, Clemson, Georgia and Oklahoma
(sound familiar? A lot of chalk I know - don’t be shocked if Notre Dame
makes a run as well).
Now on to the NFL: As a Jaguar fan (yep, gave up on the Falcons in
1995 - I decided Jacksonville and Atlanta both were going to stink, and
it was 2 hours closer to Jacksonville, where I had season tickets for the
first dozen years or so) last year was an exciting one as they made it all
the way to the AFC Championship where they lost to the refs (oh, and the
Patriots too). They blew a 10 point lead with about 10 minutes to go to, of
course, Tom Brady and the Death Star. It was easy to root for Philly in the
Super Bowl! The AFC South will be a lot tougher this year with Andrew
Luck back at QB for Indy and Deshaun Watson back with Houston. I still
think the Jags win the division and make another playoff run, mostly
because of their staunch defense and running game.
The NFC South is equally as tough with loaded New Orleans, Carolina
and Atlanta. They might get 3 teams in the playoffs again like last year.
And look out for Tampa who beat the New Orleans on the road in Week 1.
Those NFC division battles are tough battles more often than not. Football
is back and just in time!
Here’s hoping the Atlanta Braves will keep playing good September
baseball and win the NL East for the first time in quite a while. It has been
a fun season and it sure is fun to watch them again! Early prediction for
the World Series is the Cubs vs. Red Sox/Astros with the AL representative
winning it all. Going out on a limb huh?
And finally the Ryder Cup is upon us and here’s hoping the Americans
can wrest the Cup from the Europeans on their soil for the first time in
more than 10 years. We just need to lay off the fine dining and great wine
for the 3 days and get it done!
Happy Sporting to all and see ya next month!
SPORTS TEASER
By George Hassell