Sunday, December 20, 2020

College Football playoffs!

Alabama (1) vs Notre Dame (4)

Clemson (2) vs Ohio State (3)

This makes perfect sense. The top three were no-brainers. Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State are going to be favored against any other team they play (other than each other). Notre Dame could not (after their performance yesterday) claim the number three spot, and the committee was also not going to want to schedule a third Clemson Notre Dame matchup. Had there been a solid alternative, then Notre Dame might have played themselves out of a spot. But in spite of that loss, they were probably the fourth best team and they still had a win against Clemson (who was number two at the time).

As for Texas A&M, their case was that their only loss was to Alabama. But it was a big loss and there is little reason to believe that Texas A&M could beat Alabama or win the national championship. The same argument might be made about Notre Dame (that they are top four, but cannot beat Clemson) - but the fact that they split with Clemson makes their argument a little better. A&M simply didn't have that big win against a top two team. If you wanted to take another SEC team with a chance to win it all, then perhaps Florida was that team (considering their performance yesterday). But they ended the season with three losses,with one of them being to Texas A&M. Not going to happen.

Cincinnati and Coastal Carolina are the two top ten undefeated teams on the outside looking in. Always has to be frustrating when you haven't lost and don't get a chance to make the playoffs. But that is probably more of a question of whether or not you might "expand" to eight teams, than to include them. Does anyone "really" believe that Coastal Carolina would be able to play four quarters with Alabama, Clemson, or Ohio State? Probably not.

I think the committee got it right this year and I am not sure that it was all that close of a call.

14 comments:

Caliphate4vr said...

Who’d ever thunk 2 ACC teams. But your assessment is correct, it just galls me THE OSU is in after only playing 6 games

C.H. Truth said...

Well I don't believe you would have a "real" college football playoff if you didn't include the four best teams. Had you left the third ranked undefeated Big Ten champions out of the mix... wouldn't that put an asterix next to whoever wins?

Nobody is going to suggest at the end of championship game that the winner might not have beaten Texas A&M or Cincinnati. But most everyone could see the Buckeyes beating any one of the other three on any given day.

Caliphate4vr said...

But most everyone could see the Buckeyes beating any one of the other three on any given day.

Not those below the Mason Dixon 😉

C.H. Truth said...

Not those below the Mason Dixon

Well with all due Respect, Ohio State is one of four teams to have won a college football playoff and if not for some really strange (bad?) calls in the Clemson game last year, would have likely won another.

My guess is that Ohio State will probably be about a touchdown underdog against Clemson (largely because nobody knows if Ohio State will even be at full strength).

But after watching Alabama last night where Florida technically had possession with a chance to win (albeit with like 16 seconds from inside their own 10), they look beatable.

Still they will be two touchdown favorites against Notre Dame (at least).

Regardless of the idea that people from the SEC or ACC don't believe that the rest of the country deserves to be in the playoffs (ever) - nobody really wants to watch the SEC or the ACC or any other Conference play each other in the playoffs.

The playoffs is to see who is the best team (regardless of conferences).

Anonymous said...

Kansas State Had a bad year, so much so the AD. dropped any attempt to get a bowl appearance.

Anonymous said...

KU football coach Mark Mangino , was fired because he poked a player in the Chest.

To hell with winning and Bowl Appearances.
KU still sucks.

C.H. Truth said...

Minnesota (after a great 2019 season) ended with an overtime loss to Wisconsin and decided not to accept a bowl invitation (in spite of being eligible). Penn State was another Big Ten team that chose not to accept a bowl bid.

Quite sad really...

Caliphate4vr said...

Well with all due Respect, Ohio State is one of four teams to have won a college football playoff

Against Oregon

Hell Clemson and the real USC have gotten 2 of their head coaches fired.

The playoffs is to see who is the best team (regardless of conferences).

I agree and an undefeated Big 10 champ has to be included

I just like to bust on Ohio State, previous employer was based in Columbus and I think they’ve annexed Hilton Head

Caliphate4vr said...

Are MN and Penn State declining bowl bids because of Covid?

anonymous said...

Very sad the only assholes posting on this thread are the right leaning imbeciles who support trump.....very telling!!!!!! BWAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Caliphate4vr said...

The DAWGS get Cincinnati in The Peach Bowl

C.H. Truth said...

Are MN and Penn State declining bowl bids because of Covid?

Yes... based on Covid concerns neither will accept a bowl bid. I heard Nebraska now said the same thing.

Caliphate4vr said...

There’s a Duke’s Mayo Bowl???

LOL

Anonymous said...



ND gets destroyed by Alabama just like they did in 2012. the thumping they received from Clemson was just a preview of coming attractions.

Brian Kelly can always be counted on to fail when it matters most.