$ Buying Victories $

     Today we're predicting which teams are likely to win championships in college football. But first, we applaud the success of free market capitalism.

     In the last 10-15 years head-coaches' salaries among teams in the "bowl subdivision" have exploded: from Nick Saban, $11.7 million per year, to Jim Harbaugh, $7 million. That's the top 12. Sadly, for Jim, his brother tops him at $9 million with the NFL Baltimore Colts.  

     The average for 131 coaches is a mere $1.75 million, far short of the NFL average, $6.6 million. But, if the head and his staff and recruits and fans and boosters and TV ratings go right, your team is in the top percent of incomes. There are 37 games (74 teams) on TV every Saturday, pulling in the sauce.

     A coach has a difficult job, marshalling all the components together like a fine-tuned vacuum cleaner. But, there's no guarantee. Three multi-millionaire coaches were fired in 2021, and three more this season already. Not that they were bad coaches.  

     Governors in 41 states have bowl-division teams. But they are elected public "servants." They have to find their riches elsewhere. 

     Root root root for your team. Their recruiters, boosters and TV revenue will make you happy most days.

Our Predictions for Conference Success

     The Ducks, Gophers, Tide, Volunteers, Deacons, Buckeyes and Aggies have no shot. Strongest teams will be the Wolverines, Tigers, Wildcats, Lions, Bears, Cougars and Panthers. We don't count out the Bulldogs and Huskies. 

        Jimmy