Three of the last four CFP Championship playoffs have featured the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers. Such has been their dominance of college football in recent times, most football pundits anticipate Alabama and Clemson being leading contenders to make it four playoff appearances in the last five seasons. Some people believe it’s simply a formality that all other college sides will fall be the wayside at some point doing the season, with several other bigtime programs failing to live up to expectations.
According to the latest CFP Championship ratings at Oddschecker, the sportsbooks rate Clemson’s chances of overcoming Alabama and doubling down after their annihilation of the Crimson Tide in January’s final. However, there’s always a chance that the form book will be ripped up and new teams will battle their way to the playoffs. We take a look at some of the leading contenders for the 2020 CFP Championship within the chasing pack behind the Crimson Tide and the Tigers. Continue reading
Balladeer’s Bowl always pits the NAIA football champs against the NCAA D3 football champs. The results are in, and – after two years in a row in which the D3 champs won – the NAIA champs got the victory. The MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS defeated the UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS in Balladeer’s Bowl IX. 
The MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS are the NAIA Champions for 2018. 
Readers of Balladeer’s Blog get to vote on the winner over the next week, so NAIA and D3 boosters can begin their annual deluge of emails to me arguing for their choice. 
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS are threatening to become the fiercest rivals of the dynastic UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS since UW-Whitewater. Last night the two teams squared off yet again for the D3 crown. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS welcomed the NOTRE DAME COLLEGE FALCONS yesterday. The Blazers grabbed a 9-0 lead in the opening Quarter only to see the Falcons eke out a 10-9 edge by Halftime. Valdosta State exploded for a 30-17 advantage to end the 3rd Quarter, then held on from there for a 30-24 triumph. The Blazers showed once again why the Gulf Coast Conference is called “the SEC of D2 Football.” 
SECOND SEMIFINAL – In this game the BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS traveled to take on the KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES. Not only did this clash end in an Upset but it was an odd tale of two halves. By the break the Coyotes had come back from being down 13-0 in the opening Quarter to trailing the Ravens by a much tighter score of 20-14. 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Last night the Defending National Champions – the EAST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE LIONS – took on the 2016 Champions – the GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS – for the 2018 title. Defense was the name of the game, with the Lions on top just 3-0 in the 1st Quarter and 10-0 at Halftime. 
Balladeer's Blog 