If Marshall were to run through that schedule unbeaten, there's a great chance they could make it to an access bowl. And if that were to happen, it would make a mockery of all the lip service given to SOS.

Fact is, regardless of SOS, the one thing that matters is how many losses do you have. That's what the poll voters use in their ranking, and it's what the selection committee (which is nothing more than a smaller poll) will use. Don't let them tell you otherwise.

So, the chances are very good that the best G5 team will never make it to an access bowl, precisely because they will have played tougher competition, both within their league and OOC.

(06-17-2014 08:56 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  If the committee had a clue that would exclude Marshall just on the fact they are playing one of the worst schedules in the history of major college football.

I thought "strength of schedule" was supposed to be a big factor under the new system?

Quote:A one loss Marshall team as no shot at the access bowl but I am concerned that an undefeated Marshall trumps a two or three loss team from the American or Mountain West.

There's a huge difference between "two" and "three". If Marshall is 13-0, the AAC champion is 9-3, and the MWC champion is 10-3, then yeah I could see Marshall slipping through the cracks under those circumstances. It would be close, but I could see it happening.

But if you change {9-3 and 10-3} to {10-2 and 11-2} then no I don't think Marshall is even a part of the discussion at that point.

(06-17-2014 01:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Ohio has more talent than Marshall these days and has been to 5 straight bowls plus beating Marshall 2 straight.

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

Ohio might have better on the field coaching than Marshall, but it certainly does not have more talent.

IMO, the biggest Phil Steele shocker was picking us (TCU) at #14. I don't even think the mother of our starting QB would pick us that high. I do think we'll bounce back this year, but not that much.

All the press is nice, of course. It's great to be the subject of this kind of conversation. But I seriously question whether we get to 13-0. Would I like to see it. Of course. But the real target is our first Conference Championship. We need to take care of what we can take care of.

1999 was a special year, and I'd love a repeat of that unbeaten season. However, it's VERY difficult for any team to go 13-0. I can see any one of 6 teams that could beat us if we get sloppy, complacent, or just play a normal road game for us. One game at a time is all that matters, and -- after that -- I'll let the deciders decide on who goes where. It's not something I'm personally going to worry about. At this point, I hope Doc has us focused solely on Miami, and nothing else.

(06-17-2014 06:20 AM)Hokie4Skins Wrote:  Marshall. He has them slated to play Auburn in the Orange Bowl.

I'd love for North Texas to get the spot, but Marshall has the best chance out of all the teams in C-USA. Our media deal will be ending soon. Having a high ranking team (or hopefully a few), and claiming the spot in the access bowl would help raise the profile of C-USA and should give us leverage when negotiating the new media deal.

(06-17-2014 02:18 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  There's a huge difference between "two" and "three". If Marshall is 13-0, the AAC champion is 9-3, and the MWC champion is 10-3, then yeah I could see Marshall slipping through the cracks under those circumstances. It would be close, but I could see it happening.

But if you change {9-3 and 10-3} to {10-2 and 11-2} then no I don't think Marshall is even a part of the discussion at that point.

I'll play. Let's take the University of Houston schedule, for example, and see how they might look with two losses against Marshall at 13-0.

UTSA
Grambling
@BYU
Tennessee Tech
UCF
@Memphis
Temple
@South Florida
Tulane
Tulsa
@SMU
@Cincinnati

I'll assume @BYU is one of the losses, so the Coogs are a clear conference champion at 7-1. Let's say the other loss is @Cincinnati.

The UH wins will have come against two FCS programs, and six programs we have already seen at #83 or worse in Paul Myerberg's pre-season USA Today poll (Tulane, SMU, Memphis, USF, Temple, and Tulsa). The second-best win will be C-USA's UTSA?

Sorry, I just don't see it. A 10-2 UH is not getting the Access Bowl with that schedule over a 13-0 Marshall.

(06-17-2014 06:31 PM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(06-17-2014 02:18 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  There's a huge difference between "two" and "three". If Marshall is 13-0, the AAC champion is 9-3, and the MWC champion is 10-3, then yeah I could see Marshall slipping through the cracks under those circumstances. It would be close, but I could see it happening.

But if you change {9-3 and 10-3} to {10-2 and 11-2} then no I don't think Marshall is even a part of the discussion at that point.

I'll play. Let's take the University of Houston schedule, for example, and see how they might look with two losses against Marshall at 13-0.

UTSA
Grambling
@BYU
Tennessee Tech
UCF
@Memphis
Temple
@South Florida
Tulane
Tulsa
@SMU
@Cincinnati

I'll assume @BYU is one of the losses, so the Coogs are a clear conference champion at 7-1. Let's say the other loss is @Cincinnati.

The UH wins will have come against two FCS programs, and six programs we have already seen at #83 or worse in Paul Myerberg's pre-season USA Today poll (Tulane, SMU, Memphis, USF, Temple, and Tulsa). The second-best win will be C-USA's UTSA?

Sorry, I just don't see it. A 10-2 UH is not getting the Access Bowl with that schedule over a 13-0 Marshall.

Houston is on the extreme end of the scenario. What if you did that with SMU or ECU? Each losing to Cincinnati, of course.

(06-17-2014 06:31 PM)ESE84 Wrote:  I'll play. Let's take the University of Houston schedule, for example, and see how they might look with two losses against Marshall at 13-0.

UTSA
Grambling
@BYU
Tennessee Tech
UCF
@Memphis
Temple
@South Florida
Tulane
Tulsa
@SMU
@Cincinnati

Except we play UNLV instead of Tennessee Tech.

Seems that since the committee is selecting from all the G5 conferences for one spot, they are viewing the situation from a team standpoint and not a conference standpoint. All the G5 schools are in the same mix.

No one will know how the strength of schedule looks until late October at the earliest, but there isn't a reason to assume that Marshall's would be lower than anyone else's. If they are undefeated and one loss and someone else is as well then undoubtedly the committee will compare, but there is a very good chance the sos will be similar based on the other G5 programs out there.

The committee will evaluate how the schools look to the eye test as well.

Lots of mad in this thread. Proceed.

(06-17-2014 06:31 PM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(06-17-2014 02:18 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  There's a huge difference between "two" and "three". If Marshall is 13-0, the AAC champion is 9-3, and the MWC champion is 10-3, then yeah I could see Marshall slipping through the cracks under those circumstances. It would be close, but I could see it happening.

But if you change {9-3 and 10-3} to {10-2 and 11-2} then no I don't think Marshall is even a part of the discussion at that point.

I'll play. Let's take the University of Houston schedule, for example, and see how they might look with two losses against Marshall at 13-0.

UTSA
Grambling
@BYU
Tennessee Tech
UCF
@Memphis
Temple
@South Florida
Tulane
Tulsa
@SMU
@Cincinnati

I'll assume @BYU is one of the losses, so the Coogs are a clear conference champion at 7-1. Let's say the other loss is @Cincinnati.

The UH wins will have come against two FCS programs, and six programs we have already seen at #83 or worse in Paul Myerberg's pre-season USA Today poll (Tulane, SMU, Memphis, USF, Temple, and Tulsa). The second-best win will be C-USA's UTSA?

Sorry, I just don't see it. A 10-2 UH is not getting the Access Bowl with that schedule over a 13-0 Marshall.

Houston has the worst schedule in the entire AAC---and it still has at least 3 schools on it that would be better than any team Marshall plays. Would anyone be assuming Marshall would be going 13-0 if they had BYU, UCF, and Cinci on their schedule? I certainly don't expect Houston to be undefeated after they play that schedule. If any other AAC team is undefeated, it will have handled a much better schedule than this crappy schedule our AD put together. By the way, Tenn Tech is no longer on the Houston schedule. It has been replaced by UNLV.

(06-17-2014 02:45 PM)mufanatehc Wrote:  

(06-17-2014 01:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Ohio has more talent than Marshall these days and has been to 5 straight bowls plus beating Marshall 2 straight.

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

Ohio might have better on the field coaching than Marshall, but it certainly does not have more talent.

You'd be wise to ignore an Ohio fan that doesn't even know Marshall has lost 3 straight, not 2.

Ohio will be the weakest its been in 6 years and Marshall will be the strongest its been since probably their MAC days, I don't see the Bobcats making it 4 straight.

Marshall has a good chance on paper to go undefeated but I don't care who you are and what your schedule looks like, its hard to win 13 games in a row. Real hard. And sometimes playing bad teams makes it worse because you might lose your edge and we all know how upsets happen.

Add to that Marshall's tendency to crap the bed on the road, mixed with their fans' unmatched ability to set unrealistic expectations, and you've got all the making of another delightfully entertaining Marshall Meltdown.

get your popcorn ready.

(06-17-2014 08:57 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(06-17-2014 06:31 PM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(06-17-2014 02:18 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  There's a huge difference between "two" and "three". If Marshall is 13-0, the AAC champion is 9-3, and the MWC champion is 10-3, then yeah I could see Marshall slipping through the cracks under those circumstances. It would be close, but I could see it happening.

But if you change {9-3 and 10-3} to {10-2 and 11-2} then no I don't think Marshall is even a part of the discussion at that point.

I'll play. Let's take the University of Houston schedule, for example, and see how they might look with two losses against Marshall at 13-0.

UTSA
Grambling
@BYU
Tennessee Tech
UCF
@Memphis
Temple
@South Florida
Tulane
Tulsa
@SMU
@Cincinnati

I'll assume @BYU is one of the losses, so the Coogs are a clear conference champion at 7-1. Let's say the other loss is @Cincinnati.

The UH wins will have come against two FCS programs, and six programs we have already seen at #83 or worse in Paul Myerberg's pre-season USA Today poll (Tulane, SMU, Memphis, USF, Temple, and Tulsa). The second-best win will be C-USA's UTSA?

Sorry, I just don't see it. A 10-2 UH is not getting the Access Bowl with that schedule over a 13-0 Marshall.

Houston has the worst schedule in the entire AAC---and it still has at least 3 schools on it that would be better than any team Marshall plays. Would anyone be assuming Marshall would be going 13-0 if they had BYU, UCF, and Cinci on their schedule? I certainly don't expect Houston to be undefeated after they play that schedule. If any other AAC team is undefeated, it will have handled a much better schedule than this crappy schedule our AD put together. By the way, Tenn Tech is no longer on the Houston schedule. It has been replaced by UNLV.

If Houston were to win all those games and be undefeated, then committee members will probably take a look. If Houston loses more than one game they aren't going to be ranked high enough to get consideration for an access bowl invite. No matter what schools you play, going 13-0 or 12-1 is a significant accomplish and will be noticed by the committee for certain.

(06-17-2014 01:48 PM)mufanatehc Wrote:  

(06-17-2014 01:21 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  Marshall better win every game by 30+ points with that schedule, that looks like something Ohio State would play. Even G5 teams with light schedules usually schedule at least one P5 pay game. But I'm going to laugh my a$$ off if Miami manages to win (and end our 16 game losing skid) during the season opener, even though there's no way that happens.

The RI game was going to be Louisville, but that game had to be pushed back to 2016 to accommodate Notre Dame's quasi move into the ACC...

And to be fair to the Marshall AD, we scheduled Miami when they were MAC contenders. Its not Marshall's fault Miami football fell into an abyss

Miami was in the abyss when the series was announced (Nov 09). They were 1-11 that season and 2-10 the season before. Miami had a year resurgence in 2010...not sure anyone would predict that.
http://www.herdzone.com/sports/m-footbl/...09aab.html

http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div...esults.php

(06-17-2014 09:32 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(06-17-2014 02:45 PM)mufanatehc Wrote:  

(06-17-2014 01:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Ohio has more talent than Marshall these days and has been to 5 straight bowls plus beating Marshall 2 straight.

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

Ohio might have better on the field coaching than Marshall, but it certainly does not have more talent.

You'd be wise to ignore an Ohio fan that doesn't even know Marshall has lost 3 straight, not 2.

Ohio will be the weakest its been in 6 years and Marshall will be the strongest its been since probably their MAC days, I don't see the Bobcats making it 4 straight.

You need to stick with your class based analysis and stay out of predicting football seasons because you don't know what you are talking about.

The talent in Ohio's program is higher than its ever been. Solich says there are more pro prospects on the roster than ever before. He's right. Our recruiting classes keep getting better and better.

We don't have Tyler Teakettle and his sitting down in the middle of the field or the predictable Beau up the Middle. Ohio's offense will be at least as good as last year and the defense more athletic.

My prediction is a 24-10 victory for Ohio down in Huntington. Cato will turn the ball over 3 times and Ohio will have 5 sacks in the game.

(06-17-2014 02:45 PM)mufanatehc Wrote:  

(06-17-2014 01:48 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Ohio has more talent than Marshall these days and has been to 5 straight bowls plus beating Marshall 2 straight.

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

Ohio might have better on the field coaching than Marshall, but it certainly does not have more talent.

Current Players in the NFL

Ohio 12
Marshall 9

MAC Average 9
CUSA Average 7

Ohio has more guys in the NFL so its fair to say it has more talent. Also the MAC on average has 2 more guys than CUSA does in the NFL right now so its a stronger conference to be playing in.

Ohio is 10-2 the last 2 years in the non-conference portion of the schedule while only 14-10 during conference play. Last year we beat 2 CUSA schools (North Texas, Marshall) that played in the CUSA conference championship game.

I think Marshall definitely has a chance to beat Ohio in Huntington but quite honestly I doubt it.

(06-17-2014 06:51 PM)ncbeta Wrote:  Houston is on the extreme end of the scenario. What if you did that with SMU or ECU? Each losing to Cincinnati, of course.

Fair enough. Post ECU and project their two losses. It would be a fun discussion on whether that 10-2 would trump Marshall at 13-0.

Kitton, youre as bad as a Michigan fan. Please sit down and shut up. Marshall should go undefeated with that schedule but its Marshall, theyll screw up a few times against teams they have no business losing to

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

BYU will be in the mix also
and if it's the fiesta bowl, there gonna scream for BYU