1. Georgia
2. Alabama
(only way they switch these is if they cite the "eyeball" test--UGA absolutely has better resume than Bama now)
3. Notre Dame
4. Ohio State
5. Penn State
6. OU (obviously they beat OSU, but have worse loss than OSU or PSU)
7. Clemson (their best win far better than anything on Wisc's scheule)
8. Wisconsin (undefeated but abysmal schedule)
9. Miami (undefeated but lucky as all get out)
10. TCU (they beat OkSt and played similar schedules right now)
11. OkSt
12. VaTech
13. Auburn (only 2-loss team with a puncher's chance at playoff due to games with UGA/Bama and SEC champ game if they win both of those somehow!)

Below this...the only reason it matters is for final resume when you look at "Who in the top 25 have they beaten?" But right now, those resume numbers are awfully small.

Iowa St has wins over Oklahoma and TCU. 2 top 10 wins by your list.
Auburn has wins over no top 25 teams.

Iowa St will be FAR higher than you think. They will be the #1 2 loss team almost guaranteed. And that will mitigate the Oklahoma loss to them considerably.

Most important factor should be quality wins, and then head-to-head.

By those metrics, OU should be ahead of Ohio State. I doubt that the committee will see it that way, because they seem to always give the Buckeyes extra credit just for being Ohio State.

I would list the top six as: Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Clemson.

My guess for how the committee will do it on Halloween is: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Clemson.

My CFP top 6, basically who is in and who's on the doorstep:

1) Georgia
2) Alabama
3) Ohio State
4) Notre Dame
5) Oklahoma
6) Clemson

(10-29-2017 12:36 PM)Wedge Wrote:  Most important factor should be quality wins, and then head-to-head.

By those metrics, OU should be ahead of Ohio State. I doubt that the committee will see it that way, because they seem to always give the Buckeyes extra credit just for being Ohio State.

I would list the top six as: Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Clemson.

My guess for how the committee will do it on Halloween is: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Clemson.

I agree with how the committee will do it. Personally I'm not sold on Notre Dame, but they do have a good case. I would have it Alabama, Georgia, Wisconsin (until they lose), Oklahoma, Ohio St., Penn St.
Miami has nearly lost so many times this season, I can't put them up there.

(10-29-2017 01:01 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(10-29-2017 12:36 PM)Wedge Wrote:  Most important factor should be quality wins, and then head-to-head.

By those metrics, OU should be ahead of Ohio State. I doubt that the committee will see it that way, because they seem to always give the Buckeyes extra credit just for being Ohio State.

I would list the top six as: Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Clemson.

My guess for how the committee will do it on Halloween is: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Clemson.

I agree with how the committee will do it. Personally I'm not sold on Notre Dame, but they do have a good case. I would have it Alabama, Georgia, Wisconsin (until they lose), Oklahoma, Ohio St., Penn St.
Miami has nearly lost so many times this season, I can't put them up there.

What would it take for you to be "sold" on ND?


49-16
49-20
38-18
52-17
33-10
49-14
35-14

The Irish have beaten every opponent they’ve defeated by at least 20 points, and a lot of those games weren’t even as close as the score indicated.

Their only loss is by 1 point to Georgia (maybe the best, at least second best in the country) in a game ND mostly lead and played Georgia to the wire.

Wins vs P5 opps w/winning record: Clemson, 6 ND, 4 Penn St, 3 UGA, 2 Miami, 1 Bama, 1 Ohio St, 1 Okla, 1 OkSt, 1 Wisc, 1 Wash,

They’re rushed for 300+ yards in 6 out of their 7 wins. They just rushed for 318 yards, their season average, against the No. 6 rushing defense in the country yesterday.

They have 30 rushing TDs on the season after scoring only 18 total in the previous season.

They’re currently ranked No. 16 in the country in rush defense, after finishing No. 72 in the country last year.

They’re currently ranked No 10 in the country allowing just 16 points per game on defense, and finished No. 62 in the country last year allowing almost 28 points per game.


The most striking numbers have come against the three best offenses the Irish have faced:

N.C. State averages 35.4 points per game against its other seven opponents; Notre Dame held the Wolfpack to seven offensive points. USC is at 36.1 per non-Notre Dame opponents; the Irish limited them to 14. Georgia is averaging 40.7 points per game against everyone but Notre Dame. They scored 20 versus the Irish.



This team is 7-1, but they’re 7-1 by a large margin, and I’d suggest the best 7-1 team out there.



P.S. To illustrate how epic and historic this ND run is this season, this is the first time ND has won six straight by 20 or more points since its 1966 national championship team.

The wins over Southern Cal and North Carolina State are the first back to back wins for ND over top 15 schools since the 11-1 1989 Irish team.


(I probably jinxed them now.....)

(10-29-2017 01:05 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(10-29-2017 01:01 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(10-29-2017 12:36 PM)Wedge Wrote:  Most important factor should be quality wins, and then head-to-head.

By those metrics, OU should be ahead of Ohio State. I doubt that the committee will see it that way, because they seem to always give the Buckeyes extra credit just for being Ohio State.

I would list the top six as: Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Clemson.

My guess for how the committee will do it on Halloween is: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Clemson.

I agree with how the committee will do it. Personally I'm not sold on Notre Dame, but they do have a good case. I would have it Alabama, Georgia, Wisconsin (until they lose), Oklahoma, Ohio St., Penn St.
Miami has nearly lost so many times this season, I can't put them up there.

What would it take for you to be "sold" on ND?


49-16
49-20
38-18
52-17
33-10
49-14
35-14

The Irish have beaten every opponent they’ve defeated by at least 20 points, and a lot of those games weren’t even as close as the score indicated.

They’re rushed for 300+ yards in 6 out of their 7 wins. They just rushed for 318 yards, their season average, against the No. 6 rushing defense in the country yesterday.

They have 30 rushing TDs on the season after scoring only 18 total in the previous season.

They’re currently ranked No. 16 in the country in rush defense, after finishing No. 72 in the country last year.

They’re currently ranked No 10 in the country allowing just 16 points per game on defense, and finished No. 62 in the country last year allowing almost 28 points per game.

This team is 7-1, but they’re 7-1 by a large margin, and I’d suggest the best 7-1 team out there.

moreso- they're 7-1- but also
38-18 vs #16 Michigan St
49-14 vs #17 USC
35-14 vs #19 NC State

Notre Dame- 324-129- with 4 top 20 opponents
Wisconsin- 280-103 with 2 winning teams and 4 non losing teams

Their SOS is why ND is so good.

(10-29-2017 01:05 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(10-29-2017 01:01 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(10-29-2017 12:36 PM)Wedge Wrote:  Most important factor should be quality wins, and then head-to-head.

By those metrics, OU should be ahead of Ohio State. I doubt that the committee will see it that way, because they seem to always give the Buckeyes extra credit just for being Ohio State.

I would list the top six as: Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Clemson.

My guess for how the committee will do it on Halloween is: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Clemson.

I agree with how the committee will do it. Personally I'm not sold on Notre Dame, but they do have a good case. I would have it Alabama, Georgia, Wisconsin (until they lose), Oklahoma, Ohio St., Penn St.
Miami has nearly lost so many times this season, I can't put them up there.

What would it take for you to be "sold" on ND?


49-16
49-20
38-18
52-17
33-10
49-14
35-14

The Irish have beaten every opponent they’ve defeated by at least 20 points, and a lot of those games weren’t even as close as the score indicated.

Their only loss is by 1 point to Georgia (maybe the best, at least second best in the country) in a game ND mostly lead and played Georgia to the wire.

Wins vs P5 opps w/winning record: Clemson, 6 ND, 4 Penn St, 3 UGA, 2 Miami, 1 Bama, 1 Ohio St, 1 Okla, 1 OkSt, 1 Wisc, 1 Wash,

They’re rushed for 300+ yards in 6 out of their 7 wins. They just rushed for 318 yards, their season average, against the No. 6 rushing defense in the country yesterday.

They have 30 rushing TDs on the season after scoring only 18 total in the previous season.

They’re currently ranked No. 16 in the country in rush defense, after finishing No. 72 in the country last year.

They’re currently ranked No 10 in the country allowing just 16 points per game on defense, and finished No. 62 in the country last year allowing almost 28 points per game.


The most striking numbers have come against the three best offenses the Irish have faced:

N.C. State averages 35.4 points per game against its other seven opponents; Notre Dame held the Wolfpack to seven offensive points. USC is at 36.1 per non-Notre Dame opponents; the Irish limited them to 14. Georgia is averaging 40.7 points per game against everyone but Notre Dame. They scored 20 versus the Irish.



This team is 7-1, but they’re 7-1 by a large margin, and I’d suggest the best 7-1 team out there.

Eyeball test. I said they had a good case, which you just made. They have beaten several ranked teams, but I've felt NCSU and Michigan St. were way overrated and due for a fall. USC was a very good win. Georgia hasn't played anyone with a good defense this year other than Notre Dame. Their QB has been lucky to avoid interceptions.

(10-29-2017 01:01 PM)bullet Wrote:  Miami has nearly lost so many times this season, I can't put them up there.

Agreed, but if they win their next two games, vs. Virginia Tech and Notre Dame, they might well be in the top 4 after that. I wouldn't bet my own money on the Canes winning both of those games, but we'll see what happens.

And this is why the committee is a good idea overall. After 9 weeks, we have a strong idea of who is good and who isn't. And they come at it from "scratch" as they make their list. I also think they are more willing to disregard number of losses in these early polls to make a point about actual talent and quality of wins/losses (hence me having Wisconsin and Miami so low).

Notre Dame is very good. Before the USC and NcSt wins...it wasn't clear.

Georgia is very good. Even if they haven't beaten "anybody," they are dominating on offense and suffocating on defense. And they're undefeated. What else can you say?


I think the PSU/Clemson/OU order should be intriguing overall. Michigan sure didn't get dinged too badly last year when they lost to OSU in dramatic fashion in Columbus...so we shouldn't either.

(10-29-2017 01:47 PM)micahandme Wrote:  And this is why the committee is a good idea overall. After 9 weeks, we have a strong idea of who is good and who isn't. And they come at it from "scratch" as they make their list. I also think they are more willing to disregard number of losses in these early polls to make a point about actual talent and quality of wins/losses (hence me having Wisconsin and Miami so low).

Notre Dame is very good. Before the USC and NcSt wins...it wasn't clear.

Georgia is very good. Even if they haven't beaten "anybody," they are dominating on offense and suffocating on defense. And they're undefeated. What else can you say?


I think the PSU/Clemson/OU order should be intriguing overall. Michigan sure didn't get dinged too badly last year when they lost to OSU in dramatic fashion in Columbus...so we shouldn't either.

PSU's problem is their schedule. Michigan St losing yesterday was big because now if they win there- it's vs a 3 loss team(with MSU having a game with Ohio St on deck). So MSU could easily finish at 8-4. Michigan has games left with Wisconsin and Ohio St. So they could easily finish at 8-4 as well. So they might not finish with a win over a 9 win team this year.

Georgia beat Notre Dame btw. So that's someone. And actually they also beat Miss St(who will be in the top 25 easily).

I think PSU will be in the 6-7 range. Alabama, Georgia, Ohio St, Notre Dame, and Clemson will definitely be ahead of them. Oklahoma is the interesting one. Their loss vs a top 15 Iowa St doesn't look so bad now. But OU has only Ohio St as a good win.

(10-29-2017 12:33 PM)stever20 Wrote:  Iowa St has wins over Oklahoma and TCU. 2 top 10 wins by your list.
Auburn has wins over no top 25 teams.

Iowa St will be FAR higher than you think. They will be the #1 2 loss team almost guaranteed. And that will mitigate the Oklahoma loss to them considerably.

I'll give you that. I didn't fill out the whole top 25...but they won't be in the top 10. AP poll actually just put them behind VT (the last team I ranked).

But they did lose close to Iowa in Ames...who has lost to MSU, PSU, and NW (all very close). So, ISU looks like an upper-middle Big Ten team at this point, not so much a top 15 team.

(10-29-2017 01:57 PM)micahandme Wrote:  

(10-29-2017 12:33 PM)stever20 Wrote:  Iowa St has wins over Oklahoma and TCU. 2 top 10 wins by your list.
Auburn has wins over no top 25 teams.

Iowa St will be FAR higher than you think. They will be the #1 2 loss team almost guaranteed. And that will mitigate the Oklahoma loss to them considerably.

I'll give you that. I didn't fill out the whole top 25...but they won't be in the top 10. AP poll actually just put them behind VT (the last team I ranked).

But they did lose close to Iowa in Ames...who has lost to MSU, PSU, and NW (all very close). So, ISU looks like an upper-middle Big Ten team at this point, not so much a top 15 team.

Iowa St right now is absolutely a top 15 team. Considering there are only 13 0-1 loss p5 teams. And a team with 2 top 10-12 wins with 2 losses will absolutely be on the top side of the 2 loss teams. They will be in the top 15 EASILY and they will be ahead of an Auburn team that has 1 win vs Miss St. Auburn- 1 win over a winning team. Iowa St- 2 wins over top 15 teams.

(10-29-2017 01:46 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(10-29-2017 01:01 PM)bullet Wrote:  Miami has nearly lost so many times this season, I can't put them up there.

Agreed, but if they win their next two games, vs. Virginia Tech and Notre Dame, they might well be in the top 4 after that. I wouldn't bet my own money on the Canes winning both of those games, but we'll see what happens.

Yes at some point they look like a team that just figures out how to win, even if its not impressive.

(10-29-2017 01:47 PM)micahandme Wrote:  And this is why the committee is a good idea overall. After 9 weeks, we have a strong idea of who is good and who isn't. And they come at it from "scratch" as they make their list. I also think they are more willing to disregard number of losses in these early polls to make a point about actual talent and quality of wins/losses (hence me having Wisconsin and Miami so low).

Notre Dame is very good. Before the USC and NcSt wins...it wasn't clear.

Georgia is very good. Even if they haven't beaten "anybody," they are dominating on offense and suffocating on defense. And they're undefeated. What else can you say?


I think the PSU/Clemson/OU order should be intriguing overall. Michigan sure didn't get dinged too badly last year when they lost to OSU in dramatic fashion in Columbus...so we shouldn't either.

I'd like to see them wait another week or two. There are usually a lot of key games these next two weeks that separate the contenders from the pretenders. We'll see what NCSU, Michigan St. and Miami are.

Doing it this week kind of "bakes in" wins over schools as good wins who might just be pretenders. Or underrate wins over schools who might be better than expected.

1. Georgia
2. Alabama
3. ND
4. Oklahoma
5. Clemson
6. Ohio St
7. Penn St
8. Wisconsin
9. Miami
10. TCU

OU lost the ISU game in Norman so that should be a double penalty, but they did get help from OSU over the weekend.

Does PSU have any chance if they can't slip into the title game? They have a horrible OOC. I think they need ND to falter along with a two loss Big 12 champ. If there is one team that should fade fast, it's PSU.

Between Clemson OSU? I'd go Clemson because of the SoS and OSU's home loss to OU. We know by history that H2H won't be applied until after the final weekend.

(10-30-2017 06:50 AM)RUScarlets Wrote:  OU lost the ISU game in Norman so that should be a double penalty, but they did get help from OSU over the weekend.

OU is quietly having things go there way. Ohio State's miracle rally preserved their "best win" credential, and Iowa State beating TCU made their one loss look a lot better.

If OU keeps winning, and they have at least 3 big games ahead of them, and Ohio State keeps winning, OU is going to be hard to keep out of the playoffs.

It could very well come down to two spots for ACC champ one-loss Clemson, Big 12 champ one-loss OU, and one-loss Notre Dame. That would be a VERY tough call for the committee to make.

Could very well come down to SOS/best win/worst loss, so if you are ND and OU, you want teams like Ohio State and Georgia to keep winning.

The one thing for Clemson is their loss looks like it will be by miles the worst loss. Syracuse best case finishes 8-4- and they have a pretty tough schedule left- no great teams- but only FSU is a bad team in their remaining schedule.

Oh and I would throw in your group a 1 loss non champ SEC team(Alabama or Georgia).

(10-30-2017 06:50 AM)RUScarlets Wrote:  OU lost the ISU game in Norman so that should be a double penalty, but they did get help from OSU over the weekend.

Does PSU have any chance if they can't slip into the title game? They have a horrible OOC. I think they need ND to falter along with a two loss Big 12 champ. If there is one team that should fade fast, it's PSU.

Between Clemson OSU? I'd go Clemson because of the SoS and OSU's home loss to OU. We know by history that H2H won't be applied until after the final weekend.

PSU is quietly rooting for a few Big Ten foes to get hot and finish strong. MSU probably won't do better than 8-4...but Michigan, Iowa, and Northwestern could. A "metric" that could be decently in PSU's favor is wins over teams with .500 records or better. We definitely need helps from our foes though.

We should also have the "eyeball" test skewing our way too. We played great against the national darling Ohio State on their own freakin' turf last week...and we've looked real good otherwise (good enough to be #2 for week 8 and 9!).

But we are...needing help.