Robert Griffin III knows most people are picking either the Indiana Hoosiers or the Ohio State Buckeyes to win the College Football National Championship. However, the former Heisman Trophy winner is going with a less-likely favorite to win it all.
According to Griffin III, the former college football star quarterback believes it’ll be the Texas Tech Red Raiders – who will enter the College Football Playoff bracket as the No. 4 seed – that will be the team that walks away with the trophy in Miami in January.
Texas Tech has the fourth-best odds of any team to win the College Football National Championship and they capped off a dominant season in the Big 12 by defeating a highly-ranked BYU team for the second time.
“I think the favorite, probably based off of betting odds and the general consensus is Indiana,” said Griffin III in a one-on-one interview. “I think people believe that Indiana is the favorite to win the College Football Playoff. Now if you ask me, who do I think is going to win? I think it’s going to be Texas Tech. Their pass rush, with David Bailey And Romello Height on the outside and Lee Hunter in the middle of that defense, Jacob Rodriguez and Ben Roberts at linebacker, and their under-appreciated secondary. I think they make it hell for a lot of teams that they end up playing and on offense, I think they have the firepower to win anywhere they need to running the football or throwing it.”
The Red Raiders have had one heck of a season as arguably the most balanced team in college football. They ranked third in scoring (42.5 points per game) and third in points allowed per game (10.9). Texas Tech was the only team in FBS football to rank in the top three in both categories.
Griffin III also says the Big 12 is a bit overlooked due to the recent dominance of the Big Ten and SEC.
“They have a chip on their shoulder as well, because the Big 12 is kind of overlooked right now, and I just think they’re a fascinating matchup for whoever has to play them,” said Griffin. “Because whoever has to play Texas Tech has to deal with that pass rush. As long as those pass rushers and that defense stays healthy, I think they give everybody fits.”
He says that there will be a bit of a “hangover” following the Big Ten Championship Game between Ohio State and Indiana. The Hoosiers narrowly defeated the Buckeyes, 13-10, in a hard-fought game for their first conference championship since 1967.
“I think there’s a little bit of an emotional hangover and high between Ohio State and Indiana, because the way the Big Ten Championship game went that we’ll see in three weeks and four weeks, just how much energy they still have to go throughout the rest of the season,” said Griffin III of Ohio State and Indiana. “Because it is a very long College Football Playoff process, and I think it takes a toll on the teams.”
Robert Griffin III On Why Army-Navy Is A Significant Game In College Football
Before the College Football Playoff begins on Dec. 19, the college football regular season will cap off with the annual Army-Navy game, the 126th time the two teams will face off.
While casual football fans may not understand the significance of the greatest rivalry in college football, Griffin III – both of his parents served in the military – details why fans should tune in for the annual game.
“I’m a military brat, mom and dad serve 31 years combined in the Army, so I am 100% a Go Army and beat Navy guy,” said Griffin III. “The reason this game is so important is because on every other day of the year, the Army and Navy, they work jointly. They’re one team, and their mission is to protect us, to protect our country, to protect our freedoms, and to ensure that that we can live and wake up feeling the sense of security that we do every single day.
“We walk the streets, when we go to work, when we drive on the highways, and truly be America,” Griffin continued to say. “When you get to this game and you get to that field, it’s the first time that they’re adversaries, and there’s so much pride, because for an entire calendar year, they have bragging rights.”
Griffin says no matter what your background is, people from all “walks of life” have one common goal of protecting the country when it comes to serving in the military and that’s what makes this game so important.
“People are able to come in from all walks of life, and have one common goal of protecting the country and sacrificing for everybody’s freedoms,” said Griffin III. “That’s why this game means so much. It’s really just an embodiment of what America is. I’m thankful that USAA and everyone else is giving this game the attention that it deserves, because our military members certainly appreciate it.”
Robert Griffin III Partners With USAA For “Recycled Cars” Initiative For Veterans
Leading into the annual Army-Navy game, Griffin III –- who has partnered with USAA multiple times over the years – gifted two vehicles to local military as part of their “Recycled Rides” initiative in Baltimore this week.
The former Heisman Trophy winner gave on vehicle to an Army vet and another to an active-duty Navy officer.
“We’re able to gift two vehicles, one vehicle to a Navy family member, or should I say service member, and then also another vehicle to a service member who served in the Army National Guard,” said Griffin III. “I say that we gifted those cars to them, but I’ve never said that they were free cars because those military members were able to really dedicate themselves, sacrifice for the country and pay their dues the right way. They just didn’t have to pay any money for these vehicles. It’s our way of being able to tell them that we appreciate them, that they’re not forgotten, and the sacrifices that they’ve made for our freedoms don’t go unnoticed.”
