Good question. Trying not to defend the Buckeyes, but here it is anyway:

http://www.cbssports.com/general/writer/...yes-do-not

"The problem with Ohio State is also the problem with Florida State: a weak nonconference schedule. The Buckeyes played Buffalo, San Diego State, at California and Florida A&M. That's three unimpressive FBS teams (combined record: 16-20) and one from the lesser FCS subdivision.

Florida State did the same thing. Well, no -- the Seminoles did something worse. They played Nevada, Bethune-Cookman, Idaho and at Florida. That's three even more unimpressive FBS teams (combined record: 9-27) and one from the lesser FCS subdivision.

So we go to the conference slate. The Big Ten is bad, yes, but the ACC is worse. There is statistical data to support that conclusion, mainly the Big Ten's slightly better record in nonconference play -- 77.1 winning percentage, compared to the ACC's 73.2 winning percentage -- even though the Big Ten's composite non-conference strength of schedule is just a notch ahead of the ACC's."

(12-04-2013 05:14 PM)SeaBlue Wrote:  Good question. Trying not to defend the Buckeyes, but here it is anyway:

http://www.cbssports.com/general/writer/...yes-do-not

"The problem with Ohio State is also the problem with Florida State: a weak nonconference schedule. The Buckeyes played Buffalo, San Diego State, at California and Florida A&M. That's three unimpressive FBS teams (combined record: 16-20) and one from the lesser FCS subdivision.

Florida State did the same thing. Well, no -- the Seminoles did something worse. They played Nevada, Bethune-Cookman, Idaho and at Florida. That's three even more unimpressive FBS teams (combined record: 9-27) and one from the lesser FCS subdivision.

So we go to the conference slate. The Big Ten is bad, yes, but the ACC is worse. There is statistical data to support that conclusion, mainly the Big Ten's slightly better record in nonconference play -- 77.1 winning percentage, compared to the ACC's 73.2 winning percentage -- even though the Big Ten's composite non-conference strength of schedule is just a notch ahead of the ACC's."

That's easy. OSU struggled in several games, and struggled with some average teams. FSU beat the hell out of everyone.

The Noles pass the eyeball test, bigtime.

(12-04-2013 05:25 PM)lumberpack4 Wrote:  

(12-04-2013 05:14 PM)SeaBlue Wrote:  Good question. Trying not to defend the Buckeyes, but here it is anyway:

http://www.cbssports.com/general/writer/...yes-do-not

"The problem with Ohio State is also the problem with Florida State: a weak nonconference schedule. The Buckeyes played Buffalo, San Diego State, at California and Florida A&M. That's three unimpressive FBS teams (combined record: 16-20) and one from the lesser FCS subdivision.

Florida State did the same thing. Well, no -- the Seminoles did something worse. They played Nevada, Bethune-Cookman, Idaho and at Florida. That's three even more unimpressive FBS teams (combined record: 9-27) and one from the lesser FCS subdivision.

So we go to the conference slate. The Big Ten is bad, yes, but the ACC is worse. There is statistical data to support that conclusion, mainly the Big Ten's slightly better record in nonconference play -- 77.1 winning percentage, compared to the ACC's 73.2 winning percentage -- even though the Big Ten's composite non-conference strength of schedule is just a notch ahead of the ACC's."

That's easy. OSU struggled in several games, and struggled with some average teams. FSU beat the hell out of everyone.

This.

Ohio State gave up over 600 yards of offense and 41 pts to a 7-5 Michigan team that needy some help from the boys in stripes to avoid a loss to Akron (plus UConn nearly upset them as well). Buffalo actually challenged the Buckeyes (40-20 was the final). Ohio State had some close contests with Wisconsin (who just lost to a mediocre Penn State team), Northwestern (who lost five or six straight to end the year) and Iowa (who was smacked around by NIU).

OTH, FSU blew out everyone on their schedule. The lowest margin of victory was a 14 pt win over at BC. They beat Clemson 51-14, Maryland 63-0, Miami (FL) 41-14, beat Florida by 30 and curbstomped teams like Pitt, Syracuse, WF and NC State State.

Gardner played well twice this year. One was against the Buckeyes.

As for FSU's opponents, points against ranking:

70th Pitt
103rd Nevada
73rd BC
49th Maryland
T-19th Clemson
83rd NC St
57th Miami
42nd Wake
58th 'Cuse
126th Idaho
T-19th Florida

I definitely think Florida State should be in, but I agree the blind arguments against Ohio State's strength of schedule need to be much better stated. The Big Ten isn't at its height anymore, but a Big Ten schedule still is comparable to most schedules in other BCS conferences including the ACC. There is a big difference from being down from previous heights and what is made of in the press.

As for Auburn, they lost a game to a team Ohio State would be favored to beat. Additionally, some sources are saying Ohio State would be favored by 2.5 points over Auburn and 3.5 over Missouri (source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-s...aaf.html). Add those two facts together with the fact that an undefeated AQ has never been passed over for a 1 loss team, and there's little argument for Auburn in my mind if both Ohio State and Florida State win (not a guarantee at all).

(12-04-2013 05:25 PM)lumberpack4 Wrote:  

(12-04-2013 05:14 PM)SeaBlue Wrote:  Good question. Trying not to defend the Buckeyes, but here it is anyway:

http://www.cbssports.com/general/writer/...yes-do-not

"The problem with Ohio State is also the problem with Florida State: a weak nonconference schedule. The Buckeyes played Buffalo, San Diego State, at California and Florida A&M. That's three unimpressive FBS teams (combined record: 16-20) and one from the lesser FCS subdivision.

Florida State did the same thing. Well, no -- the Seminoles did something worse. They played Nevada, Bethune-Cookman, Idaho and at Florida. That's three even more unimpressive FBS teams (combined record: 9-27) and one from the lesser FCS subdivision.

So we go to the conference slate. The Big Ten is bad, yes, but the ACC is worse. There is statistical data to support that conclusion, mainly the Big Ten's slightly better record in nonconference play -- 77.1 winning percentage, compared to the ACC's 73.2 winning percentage -- even though the Big Ten's composite non-conference strength of schedule is just a notch ahead of the ACC's."

That's easy. OSU struggled in several games, and struggled with some average teams. FSU beat the hell out of everyone.

You're right, and that's a shame, since that's a bad reason to give FSU a free pass over OSU.

Don't really care much about SOS or any other measure people come up with, the bottom line is whether or not OSU can come up with enough defensive stops or hold FSU to field goals & the evidence so far points to NO!

Who cares. If Ohio State beats Michigan State they will be ranked #2 and will go on to face Florida State after they beat Duke.

All of the talk wont matter, it will get settled on the field. We will find out then and there.

Everyone and their biased negative opinions about Ohio State no longer matter.

If OSU beats MSU they will have done enough to be number 2. Auburn lost to an 8-3 team. Granted LSU is not a bad team at all, but Auburn needed luck and magic to beat Georgia and Bama. Bama is probably the second best team in the nation, but they lost, and this is not a round robin affair.

(12-04-2013 06:15 PM)mj4life Wrote:  Don't really care much about SOS or any other measure people come up with, the bottom line is whether or not OSU can come up with enough defensive stops or hold FSU to field goals & the evidence so far points to NO!

FSU hasn't played anyone with anywhere close to as good an offense as Ohio St. Can they get enough stops?

(12-04-2013 06:39 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(12-04-2013 06:15 PM)mj4life Wrote:  Don't really care much about SOS or any other measure people come up with, the bottom line is whether or not OSU can come up with enough defensive stops or hold FSU to field goals & the evidence so far points to NO!

FSU hasn't played anyone with anywhere close to as good an offense as Ohio St. Can they get enough stops?

Clemson is better than every offense in the B1G except OSU. I don't doubt that OSU can score points but they can't stop any offense with half a pulse.

(12-04-2013 05:25 PM)lumberpack4 Wrote:  

(12-04-2013 05:14 PM)SeaBlue Wrote:  Good question. Trying not to defend the Buckeyes, but here it is anyway:

http://www.cbssports.com/general/writer/...yes-do-not

"The problem with Ohio State is also the problem with Florida State: a weak nonconference schedule. The Buckeyes played Buffalo, San Diego State, at California and Florida A&M. That's three unimpressive FBS teams (combined record: 16-20) and one from the lesser FCS subdivision.

Florida State did the same thing. Well, no -- the Seminoles did something worse. They played Nevada, Bethune-Cookman, Idaho and at Florida. That's three even more unimpressive FBS teams (combined record: 9-27) and one from the lesser FCS subdivision.

So we go to the conference slate. The Big Ten is bad, yes, but the ACC is worse. There is statistical data to support that conclusion, mainly the Big Ten's slightly better record in nonconference play -- 77.1 winning percentage, compared to the ACC's 73.2 winning percentage -- even though the Big Ten's composite non-conference strength of schedule is just a notch ahead of the ACC's."

That's easy. OSU struggled in several games, and struggled with some average teams. FSU beat the hell out of everyone.

Actually Doyle seems to have taken a shortcut and not crunched the numbers of the teams that FSU and OSU have played and instead substituted the entire conference's numbers.

Typical for Doyle.

FSU's conference foes including Duke are 20-7 against FBS teams or .741, while OSU's conference foes including Michigan State are 19-10 or .655. Purdue and Indiana were particularly weak at 1-5 with just a win over Bowling Green. Wake Forest was the only ACC team that FSU faced that lost more than two non-conference FBS games.

The best wins in the ACC grouping of teams FSU faces were against a healthy Georgia, West Virginia (who beat Oklahoma State), Notre Dame, and two wins against Florida. The wins in the B10 grouping of teams that Ohio State faced were Cincinnati, Notre Dame, BYU, and two wins over Syracuse.

FSU played in the tougher ACC division. Ohio State played in the weaker B10 division.

There's not much difference between the two slates except that FSU tended to spank all it's opponents, while OSU was essentially tied by UM, and played some other close games. That's the difference I see.

That difference does not mean Auburn has earned a shot at FSU. Auburn lost to a three loss LSU team. I think if Mizzou wins on Saturday, they have a better argument as a one loss team since their lone loss is to 10-2 SC. Poor Oklahoma State, they loss to West Va.

Point is - you need to win your games. So far OSU has won their games.

CFB really needs a legitimate post season so we don't have to see stuff like this

(12-04-2013 06:29 PM)lumberpack4 Wrote:  If OSU beats MSU they will have done enough to be number 2. Auburn lost to an 8-3 team. Granted LSU is not a bad team at all, but Auburn needed luck and magic to beat Georgia and Bama. Bama is probably the second best team in the nation, but they lost, and this is not a round robin affair.

Your logic doesn't hold. It's not fair to call Bama "probably the #2 team but they lost", when neither FSU nor OSU has had to play their schedule.

Believe me, Ohio State and FSU would want no part of LSU in their respective conference title games this weekend, they are better than any team either FSU or OSU will play before the BCS title game.

And they aren't the best team Bama has played.

(12-04-2013 07:32 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(12-04-2013 06:29 PM)lumberpack4 Wrote:  If OSU beats MSU they will have done enough to be number 2. Auburn lost to an 8-3 team. Granted LSU is not a bad team at all, but Auburn needed luck and magic to beat Georgia and Bama. Bama is probably the second best team in the nation, but they lost, and this is not a round robin affair.

Your logic doesn't hold. It's not fair to call Bama "probably the #2 team but they lost", when neither FSU nor OSU has had to play their schedule.

Believe me, Ohio State and FSU would want no part of LSU in their respective conference title games this weekend, they are better than any team either FSU or OSU will play before the BCS title game.

And they aren't the best team Bama has played.

You seem to have a problem with basic communication skills. Did you major in logic at South Florida or just spend too much time at St. Pete Beach?

(12-04-2013 06:39 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(12-04-2013 06:15 PM)mj4life Wrote:  Don't really care much about SOS or any other measure people come up with, the bottom line is whether or not OSU can come up with enough defensive stops or hold FSU to field goals & the evidence so far points to NO!

FSU hasn't played anyone with anywhere close to as good an offense as Ohio St. Can they get enough stops?

Absolutely. Michigan got a few stops even with OSU scoring 42 points and their defense is terrible.

(12-04-2013 07:32 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(12-04-2013 06:29 PM)lumberpack4 Wrote:  If OSU beats MSU they will have done enough to be number 2. Auburn lost to an 8-3 team. Granted LSU is not a bad team at all, but Auburn needed luck and magic to beat Georgia and Bama. Bama is probably the second best team in the nation, but they lost, and this is not a round robin affair.

Your logic doesn't hold. It's not fair to call Bama "probably the #2 team but they lost", when neither FSU nor OSU has had to play their schedule.

Believe me, Ohio State and FSU would want no part of LSU in their respective conference title games this weekend, they are better than any team either FSU or OSU will play before the BCS title game.

And they aren't the best team Bama has played.

So who's the best team Bama has played?

Didn't click the link because I don't read the drivel that "Blue Devil" Doyel puts out there as journalism, but I do have to ask if he took his standard shot at Clemson and/or NC State?

(12-04-2013 06:39 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(12-04-2013 06:15 PM)mj4life Wrote:  Don't really care much about SOS or any other measure people come up with, the bottom line is whether or not OSU can come up with enough defensive stops or hold FSU to field goals & the evidence so far points to NO!

FSU hasn't played anyone with anywhere close to as good an offense as Ohio St. Can they get enough stops?

According to Football Outsiders F/+ rankings that's false.

(12-04-2013 05:51 PM)SeaBlue Wrote:  Gardner played well twice this year. One was against the Buckeyes.

As for FSU's opponents, points against ranking:

70th Pitt
103rd Nevada
73rd BC
49th Maryland
T-19th Clemson
83rd NC St
57th Miami
42nd Wake
58th 'Cuse
126th Idaho
T-19th Florida

This doesn't take into account tempo or field position. Also, this doesn't prove any point without showing OSU's opponent's rankings, too.