quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

Hard and fast rules don't work with a limited field, nor do won-lost records. Unfortunately for Art, it takes a thoughtful selection process with frank analysis. I know out here, there were a couple of years where the conference (PAC 10) was weak but USC was clearly one of the best few teams in the country. The same thing could be happening in the Big 10 this year if Ohio State turns out to be a really good team who had one bad game against a decent team. At the same time, it's ludicrous that TCU is ahead of a team with the same record that it lost to and ahead of a team with the same record (Alabama) that has played a much tougher schedule. I couldn't give a shit if they score a lot of points---they would be undefeated if they weren't one of the few teams that has given up over 60. In fact, that might be a rule I could get with: Give up over 60----60---points and you cannot advance. But the fact is that like almost everything in college football, a lot of this will be a financial calculation: viewers like offense, some teams bring a lot more spending fans with them, let's have celebrity fans on the panel (Condaleeza Rice?), etc.

But for God's sake, don't let a kid trade his Auto Zone Bowl watch for a tattoo.

Exactly. Agreed on all. Especially the 60 point argument. No way TCU should be above Baylor and Alabama IMO.

And agreed on Florida State. THIS team can't be judged on last year's performance. This team has not won any games impressively really all year.

In the end, there's so much left to decide. If Alabama wins out, they're not only in the top 4 but likely #1. Likewise, if Miss. St. wins out with the exception of a loss to Alabama, they're still likely in the final 4 with their schedule. They will have 1 loss at that point against the toughest schedule in the country (road against Bama/LSU/Ole Miss yet they will not play in their conference title game if that happens. How could the committee leave them out? There'd be no good argument of a 1-loss TCU/OSU/Oregon/ASU team over a 1-loss MSU team.

Could really see anyone in the top 8 still losing a game, or even 2.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Andy Lowe

BTW - if Miss St has a close loss to Bama, I could easily see 2 SEC teams in the Final Four, problem is both teams still have brutal games left, including a potential SEC Championship game.

I'm now wondering with final 4, if conferences will just ditch the championship game, seems kind of stupid and completely irrelevant in today's landscape.

What's worth more money to the conference a championship game, or 2 (or more) final four games????????

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

Could see that argument, Andy. And I agree Ohio State is a solid team with a lot of talent, plus the 2nd best coach in the country in Urban Meyer IMO. Give him a month to prepare for anyone and it's tough to bet against him.

But the same thing applies to me in overall body of work. I have a tough time putting a 1-loss OSU team, with their schedule, against many 2-loss teams in the country.

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

Hard and fast rules don't work with a limited field, nor do won-lost records. Unfortunately for Art, it takes a thoughtful selection process with frank analysis. I know out here, there were a couple of years where the conference (PAC 10) was weak but USC was clearly one of the best few teams in the country. The same thing could be happening in the Big 10 this year if Ohio State turns out to be a really good team who had one bad game against a decent team. At the same time, it's ludicrous that TCU is ahead of a team with the same record that it lost to and ahead of a team with the same record (Alabama) that has played a much tougher schedule. I couldn't give a shit if they score a lot of points---they would be undefeated if they weren't one of the few teams that has given up over 60. In fact, that might be a rule I could get with: Give up over 60----60---points and you cannot advance. But the fact is that like almost everything in college football, a lot of this will be a financial calculation: viewers like offense, some teams bring a lot more spending fans with them, let's have celebrity fans on the panel (Condaleeza Rice?), etc.

But for God's sake, don't let a kid trade his Auto Zone Bowl watch for a tattoo.

Exactly. Agreed on all. Especially the 60 point argument. No way TCU should be above Baylor and Alabama IMO.

And agreed on Florida State. THIS team can't be judged on last year's performance. This team has not won any games impressively really all year.

In the end, there's so much left to decide. If Alabama wins out, they're not only in the top 4 but likely #1. Likewise, if Miss. St. wins out with the exception of a loss to Alabama, they're still likely in the final 4 with their schedule. They will have 1 loss at that point against the toughest schedule in the country (road against Bama/LSU/Ole Miss yet they will not play in their conference title game if that happens. How could the committee leave them out? There'd be no good argument of a 1-loss TCU/OSU/Oregon/ASU team over a 1-loss MSU team.

Could really see anyone in the top 8 still losing a game, or even 2.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Art

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

Hard and fast rules don't work with a limited field, nor do won-lost records. Unfortunately for Art, it takes a thoughtful selection process with frank analysis. I know out here, there were a couple of years where the conference (PAC 10) was weak but USC was clearly one of the best few teams in the country. The same thing could be happening in the Big 10 this year if Ohio State turns out to be a really good team who had one bad game against a decent team. At the same time, it's ludicrous that TCU is ahead of a team with the same record that it lost to and ahead of a team with the same record (Alabama) that has played a much tougher schedule. I couldn't give a shit if they score a lot of points---they would be undefeated if they weren't one of the few teams that has given up over 60. In fact, that might be a rule I could get with: Give up over 60----60---points and you cannot advance. But the fact is that like almost everything in college football, a lot of this will be a financial calculation: viewers like offense, some teams bring a lot more spending fans with them, let's have celebrity fans on the panel (Condaleeza Rice?), etc.

But for God's sake, don't let a kid trade his Auto Zone Bowl watch for a tattoo.

Exactly. Agreed on all. Especially the 60 point argument. No way TCU should be above Baylor and Alabama IMO.

And agreed on Florida State. THIS team can't be judged on last year's performance. This team has not won any games impressively really all year.

In the end, there's so much left to decide. If Alabama wins out, they're not only in the top 4 but likely #1. Likewise, if Miss. St. wins out with the exception of a loss to Alabama, they're still likely in the final 4 with their schedule. They will have 1 loss at that point against the toughest schedule in the country (road against Bama/LSU/Ole Miss yet they will not play in their conference title game if that happens. How could the committee leave them out? There'd be no good argument of a 1-loss TCU/OSU/Oregon/ASU team over a 1-loss MSU team.

Could really see anyone in the top 8 still losing a game, or even 2.

I have a problem when "impressive" is part of the criteria as well.
It's like two parents bragging about their children.
A win is a win is a win ... except in college football.

You can't say that the NFC South champ shouldn't be in the playoffs.

Teams shouldn't be selected. They should win their way in.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Art

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

Hard and fast rules don't work with a limited field, nor do won-lost records. Unfortunately for Art, it takes a thoughtful selection process with frank analysis. I know out here, there were a couple of years where the conference (PAC 10) was weak but USC was clearly one of the best few teams in the country. The same thing could be happening in the Big 10 this year if Ohio State turns out to be a really good team who had one bad game against a decent team. At the same time, it's ludicrous that TCU is ahead of a team with the same record that it lost to and ahead of a team with the same record (Alabama) that has played a much tougher schedule. I couldn't give a shit if they score a lot of points---they would be undefeated if they weren't one of the few teams that has given up over 60. In fact, that might be a rule I could get with: Give up over 60----60---points and you cannot advance. But the fact is that like almost everything in college football, a lot of this will be a financial calculation: viewers like offense, some teams bring a lot more spending fans with them, let's have celebrity fans on the panel (Condaleeza Rice?), etc.

But for God's sake, don't let a kid trade his Auto Zone Bowl watch for a tattoo.

Exactly. Agreed on all. Especially the 60 point argument. No way TCU should be above Baylor and Alabama IMO.

And agreed on Florida State. THIS team can't be judged on last year's performance. This team has not won any games impressively really all year.

In the end, there's so much left to decide. If Alabama wins out, they're not only in the top 4 but likely #1. Likewise, if Miss. St. wins out with the exception of a loss to Alabama, they're still likely in the final 4 with their schedule. They will have 1 loss at that point against the toughest schedule in the country (road against Bama/LSU/Ole Miss yet they will not play in their conference title game if that happens. How could the committee leave them out? There'd be no good argument of a 1-loss TCU/OSU/Oregon/ASU team over a 1-loss MSU team.

Could really see anyone in the top 8 still losing a game, or even 2.

I have a problem when "impressive" is part of the criteria as well.
It's like two parents bragging about their children.
A win is a win is a win ... except in college football.

You can't say that the NFC South champ shouldn't be in the playoffs.

Teams shouldn't be selected. They should win their way in.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Andy Lowe

The loss to Va Tech was a bad loss, but a couple things

1. It was JT Barrett's 2nd collegiate game, and Miller got hurt late summer, which means Barrett had very little time to prepare.

2. Bud Foster (Va Tech) D coord had a brilliant scheme, which basically involved a lot of blitzing, and leaving Va Tech's talented corners on an island. And it worked to perfection.

Actually our almost lost to Penn St, was in some ways worse than the loss to Va Tech.

That being said, anyone who follows recruiting knows this OSU team is as talented as any team in the country, there are a ton of future Pros on this squad, and on a neutral field, I'm pretty confident we could play with anyone.

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

Hard and fast rules don't work with a limited field, nor do won-lost records. Unfortunately for Art, it takes a thoughtful selection process with frank analysis. I know out here, there were a couple of years where the conference (PAC 10) was weak but USC was clearly one of the best few teams in the country. The same thing could be happening in the Big 10 this year if Ohio State turns out to be a really good team who had one bad game against a decent team. At the same time, it's ludicrous that TCU is ahead of a team with the same record that it lost to and ahead of a team with the same record (Alabama) that has played a much tougher schedule. I couldn't give a shit if they score a lot of points---they would be undefeated if they weren't one of the few teams that has given up over 60. In fact, that might be a rule I could get with: Give up over 60----60---points and you cannot advance. But the fact is that like almost everything in college football, a lot of this will be a financial calculation: viewers like offense, some teams bring a lot more spending fans with them, let's have celebrity fans on the panel (Condaleeza Rice?), etc.

But for God's sake, don't let a kid trade his Auto Zone Bowl watch for a tattoo.

Exactly. Agreed on all. Especially the 60 point argument. No way TCU should be above Baylor and Alabama IMO.

And agreed on Florida State. THIS team can't be judged on last year's performance. This team has not won any games impressively really all year.

In the end, there's so much left to decide. If Alabama wins out, they're not only in the top 4 but likely #1. Likewise, if Miss. St. wins out with the exception of a loss to Alabama, they're still likely in the final 4 with their schedule. They will have 1 loss at that point against the toughest schedule in the country (road against Bama/LSU/Ole Miss yet they will not play in their conference title game if that happens. How could the committee leave them out? There'd be no good argument of a 1-loss TCU/OSU/Oregon/ASU team over a 1-loss MSU team.

Could really see anyone in the top 8 still losing a game, or even 2.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

Question is what happens when Bama schools MsSt ?

Who goes to the SECCG ? I assume Bama will due to head to head.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Andy Lowe

BTW - if Miss St has a close loss to Bama, I could easily see 2 SEC teams in the Final Four, problem is both teams still have brutal games left, including a potential SEC Championship game.

I'm now wondering with final 4, if conferences will just ditch the championship game, seems kind of stupid and completely irrelevant in today's landscape.

What's worth more money to the conference a championship game, or 2 (or more) final four games????????

quote:

The SEC has some explaining to do.

If it's such a good conference, why the disjointed play this month? Where is the great team? Where is Goliath?

Auburn was just taken down at home by a Texas A&M team that previously lost a game 59-0. Alabama had a fitful night on offense in an overtime victory over LSU. Georgia lost by 18 to Florida two weeks ago. SEC East-leading Missouri was shut out at home and has a loss to Indiana, which is winless in the Big Ten.

quote:

ORIGINAL: JT2

I don't get why people get so worked up about best conference discussions.

We have finally made some progress in formulating an on-field answer to who the best team is, we will never be able to do that with conferences. Why would we?

SEC football is a different breed. It really is. Sometimes the teams underachieve, but it is never for a lack of talent.

I've been to Iron Bowls in three different decades. Still the best non-Bowl, Bowl game in the nation. Hell, for that matter, the Egg Bowl, often meaningless in terms of determining a National Champion, is one of the most insane, passionate, exciting, great football games of the year.

If you haven't been, you go to Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Starkville, Baton Rouge, Oxford or Athens, and I bet you will have a completely different opinion and understanding of SEC football.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ian Joseph

In other SEC news, Ole Miss decided to let their nuts hang a lil bit by opening next season against FSU in the Citrus Bowl. Would have been nice if they did it this year. No Jameis next year.