BEIJING — The gamers of the U.S. women’s hockey workforce could nevertheless be out there taking pictures, and Ann-Renée Desbiens would however be stonewalling them.
That is if the American attempts even made it previous the Canadian goaltender’s teammates, who ended up intent on blocking just about anything and all the things the U.S. could muster on Tuesday.
For 60 minutes at Wukesong Sports activities Centre, the Canadians ended up articles to permit the Americans dictate play. They controlled the scoreboard.
In the finish, that is all that matters.
Canada (4-) defeated the U.S. 4-2, irrespective of staying outshot 53-27, to wrap up Group A play for both equally groups. The Canadians will be the prime seed in the Olympic tournament’s quarterfinals that get started Friday. Knockout round matchups aren’t however finalized.
Desbiens stopped 51 of the Americans’ 53 photographs, while her teammates blocked dozens far more.
“Shots never earn games,” Team United states coach Joel Johnson claimed. “Goals do.
“We’ve obtained to obtain a way to produce unique, increased-high quality scoring chances if we anticipate to acquire a activity like this.”
The concept for this outcome was set up through the slide, when the U.S. dropped 4 of 6 exhibition game titles to Canada. It was never outshot in any of people contests, possibly.
“It’s just figures,” U.S. forward Hilary Knight mentioned. “You bought to place far more on net and put your self in a far better posture to have Quality-A scoring opportunities and it’s possible crack that perimeter a minimal little bit improved.”
Knight and her teammates didn’t account for the next fifty percent of that equation she laid out. Questioned if she was satisfied with the caliber of scoring alternatives, Knight (four shots on target) replied:
“No, mainly because we didn’t gain. Severely, I imagine you operate into very hot goalies. Each goalie is excellent listed here. You have to seriously uncover a way to find the back of the internet. … I see how superior we are at shooting. I simply cannot wait for it to sort of drop in when we get into a recreation atmosphere.”
Getting diverse angles and using the flanks, alternatively than directing the offense from the leading of the offensive zone, will be a needed adjustment if these two groups face each and every other on Feb. 17 in the gold-medal recreation – an predicted inevitability that has proved legitimate at the previous three Winter season Olympics.
Neither team scored in the third interval Tuesday, as Canada packed it in and the U.S. could not crack by.
“When we shoot from the best, they’ve acquired a few, 4 goaltenders in there,” Johnson reported. “Only one particular of them is donning pads, but they’re all accomplishing the same detail.”
The one with the pads, however, is 1 of the most effective in the planet.
“Kind of to be expected,” Canadian forward Natalie Spooner (a single guide) explained of Desbiens’ general performance. “She is, I consider, the greatest goalie in the entire world.”
Canada forward Sarah Nurse has had a entrance-row seat to Desbiens’ prowess for eight years, dating back again to their faculty days at the College of Wisconsin.
“I imagine that was a single of the very best games I have at any time witnessed her perform,” Nurse (1 help) said. “She was just quiet, collected and poised. Really produced it glance quick.”
Desbiens is not infallible, even though. She was crushed 2 times in the 2nd time period, as Dani Cameranesi and Alex Carpenter scored four minutes aside to give the U.S. a brief 2-1 guide. The gain was short-lived, however.
Canada scored two aims in 26 seconds not extensive soon after, thanks to a pair of defensive breakdowns – just one a turnover in close proximity to the blue line that led to Brianne Jenner’s second intention of the sport, the other an lack of ability to apparent the zone.
“We just can’t enable that take place,” forward Abbey Murphy said about the sequence, which sucked absent any momentum the U.S. had created.
“We experienced a very little little bit of a defensive breakdown,” stated U.S. goalie Maddie Rooney, who manufactured 23 saves on 27 shots. “They capitalized on it.”
Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin set an exclamation issue on the scoring and the Canadian comeback by using an errant pass by Jincy Dunne on the U.S. energy enjoy for a breakaway that resulted in a penalty shot. Poulin buried the endeavor on Rooney’s stick side.
At the 2018 Game titles in Pyeongchang, Canada defeated the U.S. 2-1 in team enjoy in advance of the People gained in a extraordinary shootout to declare their 1st gold due to the fact 1998. And before this yr, at the 2021 earth championships, Canada blasted the U.S. 5-1 in the preliminary spherical.
That tournament’s last went into extra time, with Poulin scoring the sport-winning goal – which is very little new for her. She also experienced the recreation-winning objectives in the 2010 and 2014 gold-medal contests.
In the aftermath of a further Poulin backbreaker, Johnson acquiesced that his skaters looked “a small off” in some sequences.
“Almost each individual time (a oversight) occurred, it finished up in the again of our net,” he stated. “There’s no excuses. There’s only discovering solutions.”
If the U.S. needs to repeat as gold medal winners, the solutions better be in hand by the time following Thursday rolls all-around.
BEIJING — The Russian women’s hockey group and the referees took the ice for a 12:10 p.m. neighborhood time start on Monday. The other workforce, Canada, remained in its dressing room just after at first skating warmups.
The minutes ticked by. Nevertheless no Canada. The Russian staff finally returned to its quarters, also.
Following nearly an hour wait, the Canadians took their closing pre-activity warmups, Russia returned as properly, and the puck dropped at 1:15 p.m. And all players skated the initial two durations with KN95 masks on their faces, right up until Russian players removed theirs for the third period of the game Canada won 6-1.
The rationale for the hold off? Hrs later, and after dozens of inquiries requested in the mixed zone, it is really however unclear. The basic clarification offered by the Global Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) of “health and fitness and basic safety” is apparent, specified the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic that is the backdrop of these Video games, and that 6 Russian players analyzed constructive upon arriving in Beijing.
But Canada also expert its individual coronavirus troubles Monday.
Listed here is what we know about the problem, what we continue to will not, and how it could affect the remainder of the tournament – which receives spicier Tuesday as Canada takes on its rival for gold, the United States.
Missing exam outcomes
Canadian ahead Natalie Spooner reported the hold off was because of to COVID-19 test results from the morning not nonetheless currently being offered.
Whether that usually means it was Russia’s or Canada’s tests – or each – stays unsure. Neither Spooner nor forward Rebecca Johnston would say.
“I assume we weren’t confident what was going on,” Johnston mentioned. “That’s why we delayed the game. Just mainly because we hadn’t gotten any outcomes back again and we just desired to be safe and sound.”
Anyone within the “closed-loop system” is tested daily. Russian forward Alexandra Vafina confirmed that some players are getting examined twice a working day – when in the early morning and after in the night – because they are shut contacts.
Spooner claimed the Canadian crew saved it gentle all through the wait. They told jokes, played tunes and danced.
“I assume they dealt with it good … the group just enjoys being around each individual other,” Canada mentor Troy Ryan explained. “These items, it’s h2o off a duck’s back again for some of them. They’re just wonderful with handling the adversity. I do not feel it impacted them that considerably, negatively.”
The selection to hold off, Ryan claimed, was communicated to him by Canadian general manager Gina Kingsbury, who was included in all those conversations. Kingsbury declined to discuss with reporters after the activity.
IIHF statement
“With a look at to assure full knowledge of the groups about the health and fitness and protection steps in position, the commence of preliminary spherical match concerning Canada and ROC was delayed by an hour,” the IIHF stated in a assertion following the sport. “Out of warning and problem for the health and fitness and safety of the gamers, the IIHF agreed with the taking part groups to engage in the sport with masks on.”
Determining to perform with masks
So then who resolved to make the simply call on participating in with masks? That was a different issue that went officially unanswered following the game, even though an Associated Push report during the video game indicated that the IOC explained to the IIHF that gamers were essential to don masks owing to “safety and stability good reasons.”
But both groups played the 1st 40 minutes carrying masks below their helmets. To get started the 3rd, Russian gamers ditched their masks. By then, the take a look at success came again, former Canadian gold-medal winning coach Daniele Sauvageau wrote in French on Twitter.
But Canada held their masks on.
“We figured, we have presently carried out it for two periods, why not just go away it for just one much more time period?” Spooner claimed.
Mentioned Ryan: “I assume it’s just two programs earning two conclusions. It took place really swift as perfectly. We experienced a speedy dialogue as we were going out for the 3rd time period. In some cases men and women assume it’s a bigger dialogue. It was as easy as, we wore it for 40 (minutes), let us use it for the extra 20. If overall health and protection is a worry, it doesn’t just switch. We’ll keep the health and fitness and security fears first and foremost for the third (interval) as properly.”
Participating in with a mask is rarely international to the Canadians. They wore masks through coaching sessions last thirty day period as the group recovered from its individual COVID-19 outbreak in December and returned from getaway split in January. This was the initial time carrying KN95s, although, as they commonly wore the normal, gentle-blue surgical masks.
“That was a little little bit of a alter,” Spooner claimed. “This was really much better simply because it doesn’t suck into your mouth (although chatting or breathing).
“This is just aspect of our tale now at the COVID Olympics and that we wore masks on the ice. It’ll be a good story to explain to our young children in 10, 20 years.”
Was a forfeit ever on the desk?
Both of those groups ended up adamant afterward that each sides wished the recreation to happen.
“The masks have been the solution to make guaranteed that we stayed secured,” Johnston said.
Although just one Associated Press reporter wrote on Twitter that the Russian crew was upset, emotion that Canada improved COVID procedures on the fly, mentor Yevgeni Bobariko explained there was lots of regard for the staff and federation.
“We know that they ended up identified to enjoy this match any way,” he said. “We were decided to perform this sport any way, also. Not even a shadow of mistrust.”
Russia’s place of view
Requested by Usa Today Athletics if the Russian team was routinely sharing its COVID take a look at benefits with opponents, Bobariko replied by means of an interpreter: “That’s not a problem I have (a) proper to remedy. So we’re not sharing it. Regardless of whether we (would) engage in or not, which is a problem for the IOC.”
A New York Occasions reporter then asked what the coach was explained to about why the video game was delayed.
“I really don’t have the info why they didn’t want to do that,” Bobariko claimed. “I believe you have to have to ask some other thoughts to other web sites, possibly the IIHF or the IOC.”
And what about the masks? “We had been just advised that they wanted both teams to put on the mask.”
United states Now Athletics has reached out to the IOC for remark.
Canadian player pops inconclusive consequence
Emily Clark skated with her group all through the past-minute warmups and was detailed on the recreation roster before becoming pulled prior to the commence.
Ryan explained it was a precaution mainly because her check result from the morning arrived back inconclusive. But, in accordance to Ryan, that wasn’t the cause for this mess.
“The Clark scenario wholly transpired just after our choice to hold off the match and the choice to dress in masks,” the mentor stated.
Then what was the motive for the masks? “You’ll have to check with the individuals that made that conclusion,” Ryan explained.
Hockey Canada assertion
Hockey Canada produced a statement on behalf of Hockey Canada from Gina Kingsbury, director of women’s nationwide groups:
“With confined information at the time, our team arrived to an settlement with ROC to hold off the commence of today’s activity. That delay was prolonged to just one hour adhering to the first 12:10 p.m. get started time. It was even more agreed upon that, out of an abundance of warning, all gamers would wear masks for the sport.
“Prior to the 3rd interval, both of those teams received the necessary damaging COVID-19 check outcomes. The groups were presented the selection to take away their masks for the final period, but Canada’s gamers selected to complete the sport with masks on.”
“Head coach Troy Ryan eliminated one particular athlete from the subject of participate in for the duration of the pre-recreation warmup and she did not return. Emily Clark created an inconclusive examination end result prior to the match, and with the overall health and protection of both teams’ gamers, coaches and team as the prime priority, she still left the arena to isolate and await an supplemental COVID examination.”
“We all kind of put down our best tricks linked together in a slope run, which isn’t easy to do at all. I just think it’s insanely huge for the progression of women’s snowboarding, because we’re just learning day by day what we’re capable of. And we’re capable of a lot,” Marino, 24, said.
Team USA women’s hockey will also be back in action against Switzerland after winning their first two matchups against the Russia Olympic Committee and Finland.
There was good news on the COVID front, as well, as bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor was cleared to leave isolation after two negative tests.
Kelly Panek, Jesse Compher and Hilary Knight have two goals apiece entering the third period, as the U.S. women’s hockey team leads Switzerland 7-0. Compher and Pannek each netted their second scores after the team put together a five-goal first period.
The team had scored five goals in its previous two games.
Alex Cavallini, making her Olympic debut, has stopped all eight shots the Swiss have taken on net. The U.S. already has 46 shots on goal.
BEIJING — It was a difficult and disappointing World Cup season for the American men in luge, but Chris Mazdzer salvaged something from it with a solid eighth-place finish Sunday at the Yanqing Sliding Center.
Though it didn’t match the surprising silver medal Mazdzer won in 2018, it was his best performance of the year and qualified him for the team relay event later this week. That was especially satisfying for Mazdzer, who failed to qualify for the doubles event with his partner Jayson Terdiman after crashing out of their qualifying race in January.
“After the season, no one was counting on me to even be close to this,” Mazdzer said. “I knew I could be in this range and I’m just happy to have performed well over four runs even though I had way less training runs than everybody else it was totally fine. I made it happen.”
Johannes Ludwig, the 35-year old German who won his first career World Cup overall championship in January, backed it up in Beijing with a near-flawless gold medal performance over his four runs to edge out Austria’s Wolfgang Kindl by 0.16 seconds. Those two separated themselves from the field going into the final run, leaving the bronze to Italy’s Dominik Fischnaller.
In ninth place at the halfway mark, Mazdzer came into Sunday needing a lot of help to be in contention for the podium. He didn’t get nearly enough. Though Mazdzer recorded his best time of 57.779 seconds, he only moved up one spot after the third run and remained more than 1.3 seconds out of medal position, leaving him too much ground to make up. He matched that time exactly on his fourth run and said afterward it was almost certainly his last Olympics.
“I just wanted to put down a great performance and I really felt like I did and that was pretty sweet,” he said. “It’s great to just go for it and finish off with good runs and it’s super emotional, absolutely, but I couldn’t be happier.”
Tucker West was second-best among the American contingent in 13th, followed by Johnny Gustafson, who secured last spot in the 20-sled cutoff for the final run and moved up to 19th. Mazdzer’s silver in PyeongChang remains the only U.S. medal in the history of men’s singles luge.
Can the U.S. fast-forward the next 40 minutes to get to its game Tuesday against Canada?
The Americans lead 5-0 after the first period. Hilary Knight has two of the goals, and Jesse Compher, Kelly Panek and Amanda Kessel joined the scoring party. Knight’s second goal came nine seconds after Compher made it 2-0.
Switzerland goaltender Saskia Maurer surrendered all five and actually plays for U.S. head coach Joel Johnson at the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota). Andrea Braendli replaced her to start the second frame.
This isn’t the first time the U.S. has put five goals on the Swiss in the first period of an Olympic contest — they also did it during the 2014 Sochi Games. The team’s Olympic record for goals in one period, set against Russia in 2010, is seven.
ZHANGJIAKOU – The daughter of two professional skiers, American Jaelin Kauf won the silver medal in women’s moguls at the Beijing Olympics on Sunday.
The fifth skier in the super final at Genting Snow Park, Kauf scored 80.28 to earn her first Olympic medal.
Jakara Anthony of Australia scored 83.09 to win the gold, becoming the first Australian woman to win an Olympic medal in moguls. Anastasiia Smirnova of Russia took the bronze.
American Olivia Giaccio finished sixth.
Kauf’s silver is the second medal won by an American at these Games after Team USA was shut out on Day 1.
Ranked No. 1 in the world heading into Pyeongchang, Kauf of Salt Lake City, Utah, finished seventh at the 2018 Olympics. This season she is ranked 17th overall in the world in moguls.
In its third game of this Olympic tournament, the U.S. women’s hockey team is starting its third goaltender.
This time, it’s Alex Cavallini’s turn between the pipes. Maddie Rooney and Nicole Hensley started the first two games, respectively — wins over Finland and the Russia Olympic Committee. Neither were tested much, as the U.S. allowed 12 shots on goal in both contests. Rooney surrendered two goals against Finland, while Hensley posted a shutout.
Cavallini, 30, was a member of the 2018 gold-medal squad but did not appear in PyeongChang. In the past two world championships (2019 and 2021), she posted a 7-1-0-1 record (four shutouts).
“Like a lot of players that get to play at the next level, in the early part of it, there are some challenges,” her college coach at Wisconsin, Mark Johnson, told USA TODAY Sports. “You sort of dig down deep and figure out if you want to do this and what it’s going to take to get there. She stuck with things (and) obviously a very good goaltender.”
It’s clear that U.S. coach Joel Johnson saw an opportunity to give all three playing time against lesser opponents to open the tournament. But it begs the question: who will start against Canada on Tuesday?
That will provide a clearer picture of the goaltending situation for the rest of Beijing.
ZHANGJIAKOU, China – With a score of 69.92, American Kai Owens qualified for the final Sunday night in women’s moguls.
Owens joins U.S. teammates Hannah Soar, Olivia Giaccio and Jaelin Kauf as the 20 finalists who will vie for medals.
Owens, 17, did not compete in the opening qualifying round on Tuesday night because her eye was swollen shut from a crash during a practice run on the same day. Owens, who also had a concussion earlier in the season, was held out by coaches, but healed in time for the last-chance qualifying run on Sunday.
Owens went for a big run with a cork 720 on the top air on the icy course.
Owens will compete in the third slot out of 20 skiers in the field; Soar is 14th, Giacco is 17th and Kauf is 18th.
ZHANGJIAKOU, China – By their nature, slopestyle courses require creativity. No two are the same, with the rail and jump sections varying with each contest.
But the Beijing Olympics course has delivered features requiring imaginativeness not seen since, well, the last Olympics. As the men’s snowboarders prepare for the final on Monday, it’s those unique features that could play a role in who stands atop the podium.
“That’s what’s cool about slopestyle,” said Sebastien Toutant. “There’s a lot of options, and you can use your creativity to pick different lines that people are not using.”
Toutant was among three Canadians and three Americans who combined to make up half of the 12-man field that advanced from qualifying at Genting Snow Park on Sunday.
Olympic newcomer Sean Fitzsimons qualified in third, while defending gold medalist Red Gerard qualified fifth. U.S. teammate Chris Corning finished 11th in qualifying. China’s Su Yiming took first after a big run that saw him be the only qualifier to land a 1620 in the competition.
“The course is really hard. It’s definitely one of the hardest courses we’ve done and then with the wing jumps they got, we haven’t done that for four years,” Corning said. “So they throw us into the fire again.”
Canada’s Mark McMorris, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist, is coming off gold in slopestyle at the X Games in January, and he has 21 X Games medals.
He’ll be favored to contend for gold in the final, where he thinks riders will need a 1440 and two 1620s. If not that, some other combination of high-rotation tricks executed well is the key.
But the Olympic course and all its unique features might still have its say.
Before the marquee women’s hockey matchup between the United States and Canada on Tuesday, the Americans will face Switzerland (8:10 a.m.) in their third game of Group A play on Sunday.
The Swiss squad started its tournament on a rough note against the Canadians, who blew them out 12-1 on Thursday. The Swiss followed that with a 5-2 loss against the Russia Olympic Committee the next night.
The U.S. – 2-0 thus far – has scored five goals in each of its first two games, while allowing a combined 24 shots on goal (12 in each game). The Americans’ opening victory against Finland highlighted the team’s speed and finesse. But the ROC’s physical style and “pack it in” defensive mentality forced the U.S. to grind out a 5-0 win, as the Americans posted three goals early in the third period to pull away.
Defender Savannah Harmon leads the team in points with five (four assists, one goal) and forward Alex Carpenter has three goals to lead Team USA.
Two months ago, Nils van der Poel set the world record in the men’s 5,000-meter speed skating event at the 2021 world championships in Salt Lake City, Utah.
On Sunday, the heavy-favorite Swede skated his way to Olympic gold – and an Olympic record of 6:08.84.
Dutchman Patrick Roest, starting in the outside position of the fifth heat, initially set a new Games mark with a time of 6:09.31. But van der Poel skated a 28.97-second final lap to end the competition on top. Roest could only look on as he took silver, while Norway’s Hallgeir Engebraaten won bronze (6:10.27).
Three-time defending Olympic champion Sven Kramer (Netherlands) saw his reign end. The 35-year-old — who previously held the Olympic record — finished ninth (6:17.04).
Americans Emery Lehman (6:21.80) and Ethan Cepuran (6:25.97) finished in 16th and 17th, respectively, out of 20.
There’s a new medals leader as of Sunday evening, as the Russian Olympic Committee added gold and silver medals in the men’s 15km + 15km skiathlon.
Alexander Bolshunov, took home gold with a time of 1:16:09. Four years after falling short of winning a medal in the event in Pyeongchang, Denis Spitsov redeemed himself by finishing in second at 1:17:20, embraced by Bolshunov as he crossed the finish line. Iivo Niskanen of Finland took bronze with a time of 1:18:10.
Team USA’s Scott Patterson finished in 11th with a time of 1:20:10 and Gus Schumacher finished 39th in 1:25:14.
With the two medals, the ROC now has the most medals of this year’s Games so far, with a total of four (one gold, two silvers and one bronze). Norway still has the most gold medals with two.
BEIJING — The weather wasted no time wreaking havoc with the Alpine skiing schedule at the Beijing Olympics.
The men’s downhill was postponed Sunday because of high winds, which add an unacceptable level of risk to a race in which skiers are already navigating jumps, turns and uneven terrain at speeds of up to 90 mph. A make-up date was not immediately given.
“We want the race to be fair. We want the best ski racer to be able to win on race day. I’m glad the organizing committee recognizes that,” said Ryan Cochran-Siegle, who would have been the 10th skier, and second American, on the course.
With the Olympics already running on a tight schedule, weather issues can be particularly ruinous in Alpine skiing. There are other races each of the next five days, beginning with the women’s giant slalom Monday, and officials will have to decide whether to double up or wait for a break in the schedule later in the Games.
But that carries its own risk because there’s no guarantee there won’t be delays in other events. The postponement of the downhill race followed the cancellation Saturday of the third and final training run, also because of high winds in the middle section of the course.
There is an added complication in Beijing in that both the speed and technical events are being held at the same venue. So if winds make it impossible to race on one course, it’s a good bet conditions will be similar on the other.
In Pyeongchang, the speed and technical events took place at different resorts about 30 minutes apart.
“We want to race, but it is what it is,” Cochran-Siegle said. “You can’t control the wind.”
After Karen Chen fell in the women’s short program, Vincent Zhou had a shaky showing of his own in the men’s free skate, an event he was favored to win. Zhou bailed on a planned quad flip attempt and finished third behind Japan and Russia with a score of 171.44.
Together, the slip-ups by Chen and Zhou leave the U.S. in second place in the standings with 42 points, sandwiched between the Russian Olympic Committee (45) and Japan (39). They entered Sunday in first.
The other two teams remaining in the competition are Canada and China, though it appears neither would be able to climb back into podium position, even with wins in all of the remaining events.
The team competition will conclude Monday with the free dance, pairs’ free skate and women’s free skate.
— Tom Schad
Marino wins USA’s first medal in Beijing
ZHANGJIAKOU, China — America is on the board with its first medal of the Beijing Olympics.
BEIJING — The U.S. slipped to second place in the team figure skating event after the women’s short program when Kamila Valieva of the Russian Olympic Committee dazzled and American Karen Chen took a hard fall.
Chen, 22, skated a clean first part of her short program but slammed into the ice on a planned triple loop jump toward the end. She ended up fifth with a score of 65.20, easing ROC’s path to the top of the standings.
The Russians entered the week as the heavy favorites to win team gold, and they are in position to do so at the midway point of the competition. ROC is first with 36 team points, followed by the U.S. (34), Japan (29), Canada (24) and China (22).
The competition will now shift to the long programs, starting with the men’s free skate later Sunday. Vincent Zhou is slated to skate for the U.S.
NBC’s broadcast of the opening ceremony from Beijing drew an all-time low Friday, averaging just 16 million viewers from the U.S. audience, according to the network. The number includes viewership on its entire menu of networks and streaming services, per the early projections.
That’s a massive 43{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} ratings drop from the 2018 opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea, which drew 28.3 million viewers.
There are several reasons that could explain the weak numbers to start these Olympics.
Excitement around these Games has been muted in the U.S. due to the controversy surrounding host country China. The U.S. is one of several governments to stage a diplomatic boycott over human rights issues, including what they have called a genocide occurring against the Uyghur people and other ethnic minorities in the Xianjing region.
Another potential factor working against NBC is viewer fatigue. Because the Tokyo Games scheduled for 2020 were delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the second Olympics within six months.
It’s also likely that time zone issues have played a role. This is the third straight Olympics in Asia, which means live coverage mostly occurs either early in the morning or overnight for American audiences. The smaller audience for the Beijing opening ceremony was foreshadowed by what occurred in Tokyo, when NBC’s preliminary figures showed an audience of 17 million.
These are still large television audiences for Friday night primetime viewing windows in the U.S. but disappointing compared to previous Games. NBC paid $7.75 billion in 2014 to extend its exclusive broadcast rights of the Olympics until 2032.
Veteran Karen Chen was selected to skate the women’s short program over first-time Olympians Mariah Bell and Alysa Liu. Chen, 22, placed 11th at the 2018 Olympics and fourth at the 2017 and 2021 world championships.
On the men’s side, Vincent Zhou was tapped to skate the long program and attempt to build on the performance of Nathan Chen, who set a personal best with his short program Friday morning. Zhou’s long program is set to music from the movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”
BEIJING — Karen Chen doesn’t need to be spectacular when she skates in the figure skating team competition Sunday morning, she just needs to be steady. But spectacular wouldn’t be bad.
With the United States holding a surprising lead after the first day of the figure skating team competition, Chen will be the first American on the ice Day 2, competing in the women’s short program. Her goal is to stay as close as she possibly can to Russia’s Kamila Valieva in the team short program. Valieva will be expected to win this portion of the competition. How good are the Russians? Their three women are expected to sweep the medals in the individual competition later in the Olympics.
With the United States ahead of Russia, 28-26, if Chen were to finish in the top three, she would ensure that Team USA would still be at least tied with Russia. (First place is worth 10 points, second place 9, and so on.) A second-place finish and the USA would still be ahead going into the men’s long program, the other event Sunday.
The competition ends Monday with the pairs and women’s long programs and the free dance.
ZHANGJIAKOU, China — Shaun White has been relishing the small parts — the last opening ceremony, the last time checking out the halfpipe and, soon, his last Olympic runs.
“For me, this has all had this amazing glow to every single decision, every single competition because this will be my last Olympics,” White said Saturday. “I’m just so excited about everything. Opening ceremony was incredible. The venue looks incredible. Just enjoying every single moment.”
White said the decision became evident while training in Austria in the lead-up to these Games. He had called off training because of a lingering ankle injury, had pain in his knee despite surgery to repair it and had tweaked his back working out.
BEIJING — Not enough food. Inedible meals. No training equipment. Some Olympic athletes unlucky enough to test positive for the coronavirus at the Beijing Olympics feel their quarantine conditions are making a bad situation much worse.
“My stomach hurts, I’m very pale and I have huge black circles around my eyes. I want all this to end. I cry every day. I’m very tired,” Russian biathlon competitor Valeria Vasnetsova posted on Instagram from one of Beijing’s so-called quarantine hotels.
Her problem wasn’t with any symptoms of the virus. It was the food.
BEIJING — Snowboarder Jamie Anderson is in fifth place after the snowboard slopestyle qualification, leading the way for the U.S. women. The two-time reigning and defending gold medalist scored a 74.35 on her first run, good for a second-place ranking. Her next run was clean until the final moments when she fell.
“I definitely was hoping to get that second run, but I’ll take what I can get,” Anderson told NBC. “I’m excited for tomorrow.”
Fellow American Julia Marino redeemed herself on her second run with a score of 71.78 and sixth place. Rounding out the Americans competing in the final is Hailey Langland in ninth after a clean second run that scored a 68.71. The top 12 advance.
Team USA’s Courtney Rummel finished 18th with a best score of 48.30 and will miss the final.
The final is scheduled to begin Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
BEIJING — The U.S. mixed doubles curling team picked up another key win Saturday, defeating host China 7-5, roughly 24 hours after squeaking out a win over Sweden.
With those two victories, the team of Vicky Persinger and Chris Plys moved to 3-2 at the midway point of round-robin play. They are now sitting in a tie for fourth place out of 10 teams, with four matches to go.
The top four teams advance to the semifinal round.
Persinger and Plys’ next match against Canada at 7:05 a.m. ET will be particularly pivotal, with the neighboring countries now tied for that fourth and final spot. The U.S. will then face the Czech Republic and Switzerland on Sunday, and Great Britain on Monday.
Alabama Basketball is dwelling Saturday evening to choose on an old nemesis, the Kentucky Wildcats. The Crimson Tide is coming off a disappointing reduction to the Auburn Tigers in Auburn.
Kentucky is 18-4 and 7-2 in SEC enjoy. In accordance to the standard polls, Kentucky is the No. 5 or No. 7 staff in the nation. Repeated harm difficulties have contributed to the four-decline document. When TyTy Washington went out with an damage, in the initial fifty percent versus Auburn, the Cats experienced a nine-point guide. Experienced Washington been able to engage in that whole recreation, Kentucky would have probably received.
Most of the SEC basketball buzz is about Auburn, but with a balanced roster, Kentucky is almost certainly the league’s greatest team. The Crimson Tide have to rebound from allowing Auburn to hit the century mark in a blowout earn.
Alabama sits at 14-8 and 4-5 in SEC enjoy. The latest NCAA NET rankings have the Tide at No. 23. The Kentucky Wildcats are ranked No. 7 in the NCAA Net rankings.
Washington could be the most gifted Kentucky participant, but the Cats are led by Oscar Tshiebwe. The Congolese junior is 6’9″ and 260 pounds. He sales opportunities Kentucky in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks. He offers a significant obstacle for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama can be envisioned to place up an intensive battle in Tuscaloosa. The Tide swept the Cats very last period, so Kentucky will also be primed.
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Auburn: Unfold, Over/Underneath
In accordance to WynnBET, the Alabama Crimson Tide is a 1.5-point underdog. The More than/Beneath is at 158.5 details.
Alabama vs. Auburn Prediction
Ken Pomeroy prices the groups a lot more remarkably than their Internet position. KenPom has the Crimson Tide at No. 18 and Kentucky at No. 4.
Alabama is a tricky staff to conquer in Tuscaloosa and can be expected to participate in a strong game. If the Tide can stay away from really serious foul problems and not enable Tshiebwe dominate, it can gain. It will also choose a warm night outside the arc. In a limited video game, the Cats are very likely to prevail.
Video game Prediction: Kentucky 81 – Alabama Crimson Tide 78
The 7:00 PM CST sport can be seen on ESPN. The game’s announcer will be Tom Hart with analyst, Jimmy Dykes.
Chris Stewart, Bryan Passink and Roger Hoover will manage the radio broadcast on the Crimson Tide Athletics Community and will be accessible on Sirius/XM, channels NA/347.
Alabama vs. Kentucky Stay Stream
The broadcast of the video game will be streamed on the ESPN App.
Comprehensive Alabama Crimson Tide Video game Notes are offered below.
Test out this additional Game Preview.
The following three online games for the Crimson Tide are Ole Pass up in Oxford, adopted by Arkansas and Mississippi Point out in Tuscaloosa.
BEIJING — Events have been underway for three days, but the 2022 Winter Olympics officially begin Friday night with the opening ceremony.
This is the first time a venue has hosted a second Games opening ceremony. National Stadium, also known as the “Bird’s Nest,” was also the epicenter of the 2008 Summer Olympics, and Beijing is the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Games.
As is tradition, home country dignitaries and Games organizers will give speeches prior to The Delegations Parade. The first nation to enter the stadium will be Greece, followed by all other delegations in the IOC Protocol order, alphabetically by the language of the host country. Italy (as the next Winter Olympic Games host nation) and the host country China will enter last. The U.S. delegation is No. 56, after Bulgaria.
The U.S. flagbearers are Elana Meyers Taylor (bobsled) and John Schuster (curling). Brittany Bowe (speedskating) will step in for Meyers Taylor, who is still in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.
Follow along for updates from inside the stadium as the ceremonies proceed.
BEIJING — Torchbearer Dinigeer Yilamujiang is a teenager and an ethnic Uyghur from Xinjiang, where China is accused of forcibly assimilating up to one million people.
The allegations, which China denies, include rape, forced abortions and imprisonment.
Seven torchbearers carried six Olympic torches in the final leg of the relay. The final leg featured two carriers – a male and a female – to signify gender equality.
All torchbearers are past winter sports champions born in different decades, starting with the 1950s.
Earlier, a children’s choir from Hebei Province sang the Olympic anthem – in Greek, the native Olympic language, following three months of practice. The Olympic oath was also recited.
Some sat on the ground in front of the screen, while others stood on their toes with phones in their hands, attempting to capture the moment. There were loud cheers when the Chinese Olympic team was shown entering the stadium as part of the parade of nations, then a mad rush outdoors in anticipation of the fireworks display that occurred several minutes later.
Like Olympic athletes and coaches, Beijing 2022 staffers and local volunteers have been required to leave their families for the duration of the Games and remain in the closed-loop system, as part of an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Pita Taufatofua, a Tongan athlete and opening ceremony staple known for bearing the nation’s flag shirtless, is not in at the Olympics (Winter or Summer) for the first time since 2014.
The Olympian in both cross-country skiing and taekwondo will remain in Tonga as the pacific island recovers from a massive volcanic explosion last month.
But fans have not been left without a shirtless spectacle in this year’s Games.
Nathan Crumpton, American Samoa’s sole athlete who is competing in skeleton, carried the American Samoan flag glistening in oil with no shirt despite 23 degree weather in Beijing.
Crumpton, born in Kenya and current resident of Utah, formerly competed with Team USA. He also competed for American Samoa in track and field at the Tokyo Games last summer. His family background allowed him to switch his athletic allegiance to American Samoa in 2019.
For the second consecutive Olympics, Russia is technically barred as punishment for running a state-sponsored doping program. Instead, athletes participate as part of the “Russia Olympic Committee,” or ROC. Their flag is not supposed to be used, and their anthem is not played after gold medal victories.
Yet their uniform during the opening ceremony featured a Russian flag on the left shoulder. The IOC approved the fits last November, per Russian News Agency TASS.
Wearing her opening ceremony uniform while remaining isolation, Meyers Taylor posted a video via the Team USA Twitter account wishing Bowe and Schuster good luck and also extended her well wishes to the rest of the delegation.
“I can’t imagine a greater honor in my career than being elected to this position,” she said.
Meyers Taylor added: “If I had one piece of advice to the athletes marching in the ceremony today tonight and competing in these Olympics I would say ‘Just go out there and enjoy it. You’ve earned this moment. You have a right to be here.’”
BEIJING – COVID-19 issues have delayed U.S. speedskater Casey Dawson’s travel to China, and there’s a chance they might now cause him to miss an event.
Dawson tested positive for COVID-19 three weeks ago and had been testing negative. But he wrote in an Instagram post that he recently received news that “they now require four negative tests to even consider sending me over.
“My expectation is that he’ll get here,” Matt Kooreman, long track program director for US Speedskating, said Friday.
Kooreman said they’re targeting an arrival date of Monday for Dawson. His first individual event is the 5,000 meters on Sunday. He would be replaced by Emery Lehman, a two-time Olympian. Dawson also qualified for the 1,500 on Tuesday and could be replaced by Ethan Cepuran.
BEIJING – For the parade of athletes, organizers desired to use the story of a snowflake as a theme. Countries enter the procession being led by a placard with the country’s name on it, and the placard is in the image of a snowflake – they’re also inspired by the “Chinese knot,” an ancient craft of hand knitting with one thread.
Athletes enter the stadium through a large “Gate of China” and walk under the Olympic rings that are meant to represent ice.
BEIJING – It is by no means a “full house,” but given the capacity restrictions expected due to the pandemic, several thousand attendees are here nonetheless.
They appear to be an enthusiastic bunch, even after organizers instructed fans to refrain from verbally cheering and instead clap. They gave an adoring welcome to Chinese Communist Party Chairman Xi Jinping, the president of People’s Republic of China, who took his perch alongside IOC president Thomas Bach before the ceremony officially began.
The only fans allowed at these Games are Chinese residents. At the Tokyo Olympics last summer, no fans were allowed at events held in the city due to COVID restrictions.
Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian, the New Jersey native who notably teamed with Lolo Jones in one of the American bobsleds at the 2014 Games in Sochi, wasn’t sure she was up for the commitment of making another Olympic push this year. After deciding to leave the American program to build her own team for Jamaica, where her father was born, just making the Olympics in 2018 was considered a Herculean task. She had pretty much moved on after that to start her own business.
But Fenlator-Victorian, who carried the flag for Jamaica at the opening ceremony, decided to give it one more shot when the monobob event was accepted into the Olympic program. Thanks largely to her efforts, Jamaica is back in the bobsled competition and qualified a four-man sled on the men’s side for the first time since 1998.
BEIJING — The venue for the opening ceremony is Beijing’s National Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest.
It has a striking, lattice shell design on its exterior made of curving steel beams.
China’s most famous artist, Ai Weiwei, helped design the stadium to symbolize freedom, openness and optimism. Ai became a staunch critic of China’s Communist Party, and in a cruel twist of fate, has been living in exile in Europe for years, most recently in Portugal.
“Since 2008, the government of China has further strengthened its control, and the human rights situation has further deteriorated,” Ai said in a recent interview.
BEIJING – There was one positive for Elana Meyers Taylor on a night when she should have been carrying the U.S. flag.
Or, rather, a negative.
The bobsledder told USA TODAY Sports on Friday that she had again tested negative for COVID-19. Meyers Taylor needs to produce consecutive negative tests in a 24-hour span in order to be released from isolation and compete.
The three-time Olympian said Thursday that she had returned one negative test, but her second test was positive requiring her to start the process over. Monobob, the first women’s bobsled event, begins Feb. 13.
Meyers Taylor was chosen by her fellow U.S. teammates to be the flag bearer at the opening ceremony along with curler John Shuster. Speedskater Brittany Bowe, who was second in the voting, will walk in place of Meyers Taylor.
Meyers Taylor is a gold-medal favorite in both bobsled events, ranked No. 1 in the world in both monobob and two-man. But she tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 29, two days after she and her family arrived in Beijing. Her husband Nic Taylor, an alternate on the U.S. men’s team, and their toddler son Nico also tested positive.
BEIJING – About 30 world leaders are at the opening ceremony. Not present: President Joe Biden or familiar faces from Canada, France and other European nations.
Many heads of state opted for a boycott over the Chinese government’s human rights record, most troubling of all in Xinjiang province in the northwest, where there is credible evidence that up to a million ethnic Uyghurs have been forcibly assimilated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is China leader Xi Jinping’s de facto guest of honor. Ahead of the ceremony, the two leaders held talks in China’s capital and projected a united front over Russia’s threatening buildup of troops near Ukraine.
“I believe our ‘New Year’s Meeting’ today will inject more vitality into Sino-Russian relations,” Xi said according to state-run China Central Television.
Noted Russia expert Dmitri Trenin said on Twitter that Putin and Xi were effectively joining together to put pressure on the U.S. in Europe and globally.
BEIJING – The U.S. Virgin Islands only has one athlete competing in Beijing, but skeleton racer Katie Tannenbaum said she will miss Friday’s opening ceremony due to a positive COVID-19 test and is currently isolating.
“I was asked to be the Virgin Islands’ flag bearer for the opening ceremonies, and it pains me not to be able to accept this honor,” she wrote in a post on Instagram. “But the most important thing to me is that the Virgin Islands flag will still be flown during the parade of nations. As our sole athlete at these Games, I am honored for the part I have played to help make that happen.”
Tannenbaum, 36, is originally from California but moved to the Virgin Islands before she began competing in skeleton in 2010. She first became interested in the sport watching it at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. Tannenbaum is far from a medal favorite — her best-ever World Cup finish is 20th — but making the Olympics for the first time was a major accomplishment after she just missed out on qualifying in 2018.
She said her coach, Alex Auer, and USVI chef de mission Ansen Siglar will carry the flag in her place.
She hopes to be out of isolation in time for the skeleton competition, which begins Feb. 11.
“This is not at all how I envisioned my Olympic experience, but I am still endlessly grateful to be here,” she wrote. “Now I just need to get healthy and test negative before the skeleton races!”
BEIJING – After landing around midnight local time, the U.S. men’s team took the ice for its first practice without three of its players.
Jake Sanderson, Steven Kampfer and Andy Miele are all in isolation due to COVID-19 protocols. Sanderson remains in Los Angeles, where the team departed from, while Miele and Kampfer are in Beijing, according to the Associated Press.
The Hockey News reported that USA Hockey is optimistic all three will be cleared by the team’s first game Feb. 10 against China.
“It feels like it’s more streetwear and fashionable, and that way it sort of integrates that sporty feel, so it’s definitely something that I would wear afterwards,” American hockey star Hilary Knight said.
The coat is accompanied by a mid-layer jacket, pants, gloves and boots all including recycled polyester fiber from post-consumer plastic bottles. All products are manufactured in the U.S.
Asked in his pre-Games news conference on Thursday for his message to the Uyghur population of China, victims of genocide by the Chinese government, IOC president Thomas Bach mustered not one word of support, or even of interest, in the subject. “And with regard to… the Uyghur population, the the position of the IOC must be, given the political neutrality, that we’re not commenting on political issues.”
The 2021 season is in the books and the Georgia Bulldogs (14-1) were crowned national champions on Monday, Jan. 10 in Indianapolis, Indiana, by defeating Alabama, 33-18.
Could this be the start of a dynasty for the Bulldogs? Will Georgia go on an Alabama-type run and own college football for years to come?
The Dawgs have a very navigable 2022 schedule, which opens with Oregon in Atlanta on September 3. The Ducks will be coached by former Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning. Out of the SEC West, Georgia draws Mississippi State in additional to its annual rivalry game with Auburn. And as it always does, UGA will close out its regular season with a game against in-state rival Georgia Tech.
Here’s a look at the 2022 UGA football schedule with our game-by-game predictions.
Sept. 3: Oregon (Atlanta, Ga.)
Sep 4, 2021; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown (13) celebrates scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks won the game 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Georgia will face its former defensive coordinator Dan Lanning to open the season in Atlanta. Lanning will have some tricks up his sleeve for this one, but Georgia’s too physical. Dawgs pull away in the second half.
Prediction: Georgia wins 24-13
Record: 1-0
Sept. 10: Samford (Athens, Ga.)
Sep 16, 2017; Athens, GA, USA; Samford Bulldogs quarterback Devlin Hodges (8) runs away from Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Davin Bellamy (17) during the first quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Easy win for UGA in its first home game since winning the national championship.
Prediction: Georgia wins 55-3
Record: 2-0
Sept. 17: at South Carolina (Columbia, SC)
Sep 18, 2021; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt (95) tackles South Carolina Gamecocks running back MarShawn Lloyd (1) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
You know people will be calling this a trap game. South Carolina may actually have itself a decent team next year and Columbia is always a difficult place to play. But come on…how many “trap games” did Georgia have last year? Dawgs win it easily.
Prediction: Georgia wins 41-20
Record: 3-0
Sept. 24: Kent State (Athens, Ga.)
Dec 21, 2021; Boise, Idaho, USA; Kent State Golden Flashes running back Marquez Cooper (1) runs for a gain during the second half against the Wyoming Cowboys at the 2021 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Albertsons Stadium. Wyoming defeats Kent State 52 to 38. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
Easy one here. Maybe we see some action from backup quarterback Brock Vandagriff?
Prediction: Georgia wins 58-0
Record: 4-0
Oct. 1: at Missouri (Columbia, Mo.)
Nov 6, 2021; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Quay Walker (7) tackles Missouri Tigers running back Dawson Downing (28) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Georgia extends its winning streak over Mizzou to nine with an easy win.
Prediction: Georgia wins 38-7
Record: 5-0
Oct. 8: Auburn (Athens, Ga.)
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) scores against Auburn Tigers defensive back Nehemiah Pritchett (18) at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser
This will be Georgia’s first big home game of the year. Auburn will have just played LSU, but nobody is expecting Auburn to be any good this year. Dawgs end up cruising and win their sixth straight against the Tigers.
Prediction: Georgia wins 31-10
Record: 6-0
Oct. 15: Vanderbilt (Athens, Ga.)
Sep 25, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers (19) scores during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Poor Vandy. Dawgs roll.
Prediction: Georgia wins 48-0
Record: 7-0
Oct. 29: Florida (Jacksonville, Fl.)
Oct 30, 2021; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Kearis Jackson (10) is congratulated as he scores touchdown against the Florida Gators during the first half at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back James Cook (4) runs the ball past Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
This should be a fun one to be in Athens for. Tennessee fans will talk all week about how Georgia has not seen an offense like the Vols’. But it won’t matter.
Prediction: Georgia wins 34-17
Record: 9-0
Nov. 12: at Mississippi State (Starkville, Miss.)
Nov 21, 2020; Athens, Georgia, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs running back Dillon Johnson (23) runs against Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Monty Rice (32) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Georgia has no trouble with Mississippi State on the road in this one.
Prediction: Georgia wins 38-13
Record: 10-0
Nov. 19: at Kentucky (Lexington, Ky.)
ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 16: Brock Bowers #19 of the Georgia Bulldogs brings in the catch for a touchdown in the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Sanford Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Hmmm now this one could be interesting. Kentucky will enter the season likely ranked somewhere in the top-20, but by November there’s simply no telling what the Wildcats will have done. They’ll have played Florida, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee. They’ll be the better team in all of those games, but I think we all expect them to have lost two games by this point. The crowd will be electric, but Georgia once again is too dominant for Kentucky. Close until halfway through the third.
Prediction: Georgia 35, Kentucky 14
Record: 11-0
Nov. 26: Georgia Tech (Athens, Ga.)
Nov 27, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Kenny McIntosh (6) runs past Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive back Miles Brooks (20) to score a touchdown during the second half at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Is this even a question?
Prediction: Georgia wins 45-7
Record: 12-0
Dec. 3: SEC Championship Game (Atlanta, Ga.): Alabama
Dec 4, 2021; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers (19) catches a pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second half during the SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
And here we go again. Could we have a replay of the 2021 season? This time Georgia and Alabama will both roll into the SEC championship undefeated and will both make the playoff regardless of what happens. Unfortunately, I don’t see Georgia beating Bama like it did in the natty. Bryce Young and Will Anderson will be one year older, and I don’t know who is stepping up at wide receiver for the Tide, but we know it will be somebody(s). Alabama wins, but they meet again.
Prediction: Alabama wins 31-20
Record: 12-1
CFP Semifinal: Georgia vs Clemson
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 04: Travon Walker #44 of the Georgia Bulldogs sacks D.J. Uiagalelei #5 of the Clemson Tigers during the second half of the Duke’s Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Yep, I have Clemson returning to the College Football Playoff next year. The Tigers will have some close calls throughout the season, but they’re not losing to anybody on that schedule.
Prediction: Dawgs win 20-17
Record: 13-1
CFP National Championship Game: Georgia vs. Alabama
Jan. 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jalen Carter blocks a field goal attempt by Alabama Crimson Tide place kicker Will Reichard (16) in the third quarter during the 2022 CFP college football national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
And the entire nation lets out a big, collective sigh. Georgia vs. Alabama….again. I have the Tide beating UGA in the SEC championship, and I could see it happening again in the national title game.
