Jan. 1 used to be college football’s most anticipated day, and there are some good bowl games on today’s schedule, but it isn’t like the old days.

But this is a year of change in college football.

With that, and other things in the world of perspiring arts going on, here are a few New Year’s predictions and resolutions.

PREDICTION The college football playoffs, which begin at the end of the 2014 season, will have some hint of controversy. A four-team playoff is better than nothing, but it is half as good as an eight-team playoff, which will be the next step once ESPN decides that is what is best for college football.

PREDICTION This year’s Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team will be in post season play, perhaps even the NCAA Tournament. At Alabama-Birmingham and Missouri, Mike Anderson’s teams showed great progress in his third season. This is his third season as head coach at Arkansas and his team is much improved.

Part of that is because the team is more unselfish. It was too easy for his first two teams to stand around on offense, because when one or two of the players had the ball, the other guys knew they probably weren’t getting it back.

Wednesday’s conference opener at Texas A&M could be critical. A road victory will give the Hogs some confidence for their next two games against Florida and Kentucky, two teams that definitely will be high seeds for March Madness.

PREDICTION The Razorbacks football team will be improved. It might not show up in victories, and once again they have a difficult schedule, but they will be better. Few coaches who have zero experience in the SEC can fully understand its speed and power until they have experienced it.

Bret Bielema learned a lot this season.

PREDICTION Dallas Cowboys fans will continue to grumble about Jason Garrett, Tony Romo and owner Jerry Jones, although the griping about Jones is as general manager. Jones will continue to have one of the world’s most financially successful sports franchises. The Cowboys will make the playoffs. They just need to improve the defense and that happens with better players.

PREDICTION Players are going to stop getting their bodies tattooed, at least where they are visible. Seldom do you see athletes endorsing national products with their tats prominently displayed. The first generation of guys who covered themselves with tats are learning how painful it is to have them changed or removed. Or maybe I’m just dreaming.

PREDICTION Mainstream reporters covering SEC teams are going to find their jobs even more challenging when the SEC Network takes over in August.

PREDICTION College football attendance will continue to drop as the players are kept away from the media - fans love to know everything about the young men they are paying to watch - and every game is televised.

PREDICTION Some schools will consider lowering ticket prices, but they won’t, and attendance will continue to decline.

RESOLUTION To spend more time at Oaklawn this season. Arkansas has one of the best racetracks in America, and that is proven by the yearly improvement in stock and trainers.

PREDICTION The winner of the Arkansas Derby will win at least one leg of the Triple Crown.

PREDICTION The best thing about the NBA will continue to be Inside the NBA with Charles Barkley, Kenny Anderson and Ernie Johnson. Why those three don’t also have a nationally syndicated radio show is beyond me.

PREDICTION Now that the NCAA has control of postseason college football with the four-team playoff, it has lifted the ceiling on how many bowl games there can be, so expect more bowls that mean nothing other than ESPN has live broadcasting.

RESOLUTION I hope everyone has a happy New Year.

Sports, Pages 19 on 01/01/2014