Put some respect on Indiana’s name in the college football playoffs.

– J.C., rocks on

Kiz: The Hoosiers are the Cinderella football story that CU Buffs faithful only wish they could tell. Deion Sanders and Curt Cignetti were hired less than a year apart to revitalize two of the most inept programs in major college football. In three seasons, Prime has taken the Buffs from 1-11 to 3-9. In two seasons, Cignetti has taken the Hoosiers from 3-9 to the top-ranked team in the country. The 64-year-old Cignetti is the coach Sanders, now 58-years-old, wants when he grows up. The main difference between them? Cignetti has been a football coach for over 40 years. Maybe it requires more than Prime brand recognition, viral soundbites and a sweet set of Louis Vuitton luggage to become an overnight sensation. Seeing as he has no bowl prep obligations this week, Sanders should hop on a private jet to Bloomington, Ind., and take notes at Indiana practice.

It’s criminal that Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love isn’t playing in the CFP next weekend. It’s a crime against football humanity.

– Vic, prominent Domer alum

Kiz: As somebody who has had a hopeless crush on college football since the age of 5, I am a proud Heisman Trophy voter. The man on the top line of my Heisman ballot was Love. Although I have immense respect for how quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza and Diego Pavia elevated the football programs at Indiana and Vanderbilt to unprecedented heights, the three best college football players I saw this season were Love, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith.

Sorry, Kiz. But you’re wrong. The key to the Broncos beating Green Bay is not more explosive offensive plays. If the Denver D lets this game become a touchdown fest, the Broncos will lose. Green Bay’s three losses this season all came in defensive battles. Sack quarterback Jordan Love, make running back Josh Jacobs fumble and the Broncos clinch a playoff berth.

– Fisher, angling for attention

Kiz: With too many gambling analysts across America to count, Todd Fuhrman is one wise guy who regularly grabs my attention. So here’s an interesting betting factoid from Fuhrman that made me go: Hmm. During the last five NFL seasons, only seven teams have carried a spiffy record of at least nine games over .500 into a late-season tilt and been listed as underdogs. What’s the significance of this trivia? Well, the Patriots and Broncos currently sit atop the league standings with 11-2 marks. But both are being disrespected as home dogs this week, when Buffalo and Green Bay come knocking as visitors. That ain’t right! Unless you consider what happened to those aforementioned seven teams at least nine games above .500 that were disrespected as underdogs. They went 0-7 against the spread. Gambler, beware.

And today’s parting shot sums up the plight of our humble little fly-over city in brutally concise fashion. 

The Broncos will beat Green Bay and the national media will only talk about what’s wrong with the Packers.

— Scott, a wolf on Wall Street