Now that National Signing Day has come and gone, college football will be quiet for a few weeks until spring practices start up again.

Fortunately, college basketball is hitting its stretch run. Meanwhile, baseball and softball seasons are gearing up to start. Even though it’s cold and rainy/snowy across much of the Midwest and South, warmer weather is coming!

College baseball has a solid opportunity ahead of it. With an MLB lockout looming, college baseball could step in and scratch that itch for many fans. It should be an exciting year, particularly in the SEC!

Now, let’s dive into your questions for this week’s SDS Mailbag:

Mark:

Now that we’ve hit February, what are your updated projections for the Final Four?

I’m all-in on Auburn. The Tigers are the No. 1 team in the country right now, and they’ve definitely earned it. They’re the deepest team in the nation and are underrated defensively. I’ll take them as one of the Final Four squads.

Next, I’ll take Wisconsin. In March, you need to have a guy who can get a shot off when nothing else is working. That’s Johnny Davis. He’s not afraid of any moment and is in the running for Big Ten Player of the Year. That’s a guy I want on my squad come tourney time.

Third, give me Gonzaga. The No. 2 team in the country continues to chug along. Yes, the Bulldogs lost to Alabama earlier this year, but there’s undeniable talent on this squad. Chet Holmgren is in the mix to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Drew Timme is an elite post player. Andrew Nembhard is one of the best point guards in the country. They’ll hit their stride come March Madness.

Finally, as things stand right now, I’ll take Kentucky. The Wildcats are going to be battle tested by March. They’ve played at Kansas (and won big), won at Texas A&M and suffered road losses at LSU and at Auburn when players were banged up. If they’re healthy in the SEC Tournament and beyond, they’re a squad no one wants to face.

I can’t wait for all these teams to end up on the same side of the bracket now that I’ve typed this!

Robert:

USC and Texas have been 2 of the most-disappointing big-name programs in the country in recent years. Both have recruiting and transfer portal momentum and plenty of buzz entering 2022, though. Who is closer to being “back”?

Oh no, this dreaded question. Both programs failed to qualify for bowl games in 2021. Steve Sarkisian is already on the hot seat in Texas, it seems. But, Lincoln Riley is no longer at Oklahoma, so the Big 12 is wide-open in 2022. Defending-champion Baylor should be the preseason favorite to win the conference.

Riley is off at USC, where he’s brought in a few impact transfers, including elite QB Caleb Williams. So, to me, this question comes down to schedule.

Texas faces Alabama in nonconference play. USC faces Notre Dame as its marquee nonconference game. At first glance, I have the Trojans going 9-3 in 2022. For the Longhorns, I project their record to be 8-4.

So, there you have it. Give me USC to go 9-3 in Pac-12 play and win the Pac-12 South. Riley could make a major splash if he manages to give the Trojans a chance to win 10 (or even 11) games in 2022.

Joe:

Jim Harbaugh and the Minnesota Vikings didn’t reach a deal, so he’s returning to Michigan. What job would you rather have?

Me personally? Neither. But, Harbaugh is a Michigan man, so let’s say I have the choice between the Green Bay Packers (my favorite NFL team) and Mizzou (my alma mater).

On one hand, NFL coaches don’t have to recruit, so their jobs are much easier in the offseason. However, there’s a lot more turnover in the coaching ranks for many NFL squads. Sometimes, you only get 2 years to make an impact (or less than 1 year if you’re Urban Meyer and start off so poorly).

Harbaugh was a star player at Michigan, so he has a lot of sway there. He should be able to coach there as long as he wants after leading the Wolverines to the Playoff this past season.

I think I’d rather coach at my alma mater than in the NFL, if I had the choice. I think Harbaugh’s doing the right thing, even though recruiting is difficult and time-consuming.

Rachel:

Which halftime contest would you rather attempt – an extra point at a college football game or a half-court shot at a college basketball game?

I’d go with the extra point. I know I can make them fairly consistently in ideal conditions with only a couple of friends watching. The pressure would be doing it in front of a stadium full of fans.

Even in an empty gym, I’m probably only making 1 of 20 half-court shot attempts. Put me in front of a full arena and that number probably drops to 1-in-50.

So, yeah, give me a few minutes to stretch and a decent shoe and I’ll line up for the college extra point. There’s no way I’m making an NFL extra point, though, so that’s the caveat to this question.

If I could partake in any halftime competition, though, give me the Dr. Pepper toss. I think I could do that pretty well and wouldn’t resort to the hated chest pass, I promise!

Have a question for next week’s Mailbag? Tweet at us using #SDSMailbag or email me at ASpencer@SaturdayDownSouth.com.