(10-07-2018 02:14 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Anybody else think this has been an unusually boring football season thus far?

Yes!

When I get home Saturday nights, I binge-watch the 6-8 games taped...only to fast forward through most of them because so few games are living up to the hype. It’s been a rather mundane season with little twists and turns. A chalk season can still be fun with great games or compelling stories but there’ve been few.

(10-07-2018 02:14 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Anybody else think this has been an unusually boring football season thus far?

It has to be boring for Alabama. There's absolutely no reason to watch a Crimson Tide football game unless you find out that someone has miraculously jumped out to a 3 TD lead in the first half. Even then, you're only tuning in to watch the 'Bama comeback...

got some big games coming up- although like next week- the LSU/Georgia game isn't as great as it could have been due to LSU losing.

(10-07-2018 03:42 PM)stever20 Wrote:  got some big games coming up- although like next week- the LSU/Georgia game isn't as great as it could have been due to LSU losing.

It's still huge to Georgia.

(10-07-2018 10:16 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  My playoff top four, as of now:

1) Alabama

2) Georgia

3) Clemson

4) Notre Dame

If it is all teams affiliated in some way with ESPN the crap will hit the proverbial fan. And that might be fun to see.

Personally I see a showdown coming for this year's committee. I don't see a PAC entrant when their likely champ will have lost to the 4th or 5th or even 6th best school in the SEC, depending on how Auburn finishes and it ain't looking pretty.

I think OSU cakewalks into the CFP now that they are past Penn State. I only hope Iowa wins the West because they are the only ones with a shot at them. I do believe Penn State has the best overall team in the Big 10.

I think the Clemson vs Notre Dame angle is going to be the explosive one. Here's my reasoning. Let's assume it is Ohio State and lets assume that runs the table and that their only relatively close contest is with Georgia in the SEC CCG.

Georgia will have a claim. A one loss Texas or Oklahoma will have an equal claim. I think WVU may have the best team in the Big 12 this year but as a brand the network's committee will take Texas or Oklahoma over them should they lose a game. But for the sake of making this a real cat fight let's assume that Texas runs the table in the Big 12. Politically speaking I think they get in over Georgia.

If the ACC has Clemson unbeaten and Notre Dame unbeaten in a year when the Strength of Schedule in the ACC is at a low ebb and only 1 of those is to get in and the committee takes Notre Dame justifying it by the fact they would have more P wins (even though those are against extremely weak teams) what does that do to the climate within the ACC?

And I could easily seeing a situation like that one developing.

Name rush yards ypc td

Etienne 10 167 16.7 3
Dixon 10 163 16.3 2
Choice 10 128 12.8 1

You have a deep backfield when that's the stat line for your #1, #3, and #4 RB

(10-07-2018 03:59 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  Name rush yards ypc td

Etienne 10 167 16.7 3
Dixon 10 163 16.3 2
Choice 10 128 12.8 1

You have a deep backfield when that's the stat line for your #1, #3, and #4 RB

Clemson doesn't lack for depth in skill positions Kap. It's the line depth that is a concern, like it is for almost everyone in the nation, almost. Talent wise overall you are probably 2nd in the nation. Only another match up with the Tide would determine otherwise, IMO.

But the CFP situation I proposed above will be a political one.

With the PAC likely again to fail to have an entrant, should someone like Texas specifically, or even Oklahoma wind up with just the 1 loss the network will long for their inclusion because either would cover the Southwest and hold interest out West. Ohio State is very likely to finish unbeaten and they will be in. So if we wind up with the networks having a school that brings the Southwest and some of the far West, and the two staples of the two largest audiences are unbeaten (Alabama and Ohio State) I'm afraid the lure of Notre Dame for the Northeast will be the debating point over the 4th slot. And if it is it will be a disservice to Clemson who plays a full conference slate of schools in a conference that is down this year whereas N.D. only plays a partial slate of them.

I hope the committee has greater integrity than to think that way, but I'm hardly convinced they will.

the problem for Clemson IMO is their schedule. They really need Texas A&M to be good. If they falter as does NC State- they could have a regular season schedule with no ranked opponents. Then they would need desperately for Miami to be 11-1 in the ACC title game.

Meanwhile Notre Dame has Michigan and Stanford looking like they'll be ranked wins. They do have a for them pretty weak schedule.

(10-07-2018 05:31 PM)stever20 Wrote:  the problem for Clemson IMO is their schedule. They really need Texas A&M to be good. If they falter as does NC State- they could have a regular season schedule with no ranked opponents. Then they would need desperately for Miami to be 11-1 in the ACC title game.

Meanwhile Notre Dame has Michigan and Stanford looking like they'll be ranked wins. They do have a for them pretty weak schedule.

I think Michigan will remain ranked. I think it will be a no go for Stanford.

(10-07-2018 06:45 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(10-07-2018 05:31 PM)stever20 Wrote:  the problem for Clemson IMO is their schedule. They really need Texas A&M to be good. If they falter as does NC State- they could have a regular season schedule with no ranked opponents. Then they would need desperately for Miami to be 11-1 in the ACC title game.

Meanwhile Notre Dame has Michigan and Stanford looking like they'll be ranked wins. They do have a for them pretty weak schedule.

I think Michigan will remain ranked. I think it will be a no go for Stanford.

Stanford should be able to remain ranked. Even if they lose at Washington, they should be able to win vs Arizona St, Washington St, Oregon St, Cal, and UCLA. At 9-3 or even 8-4, they should easily be ranked.

Alabama would beat Clemson, UGA, and Ohio State by 14+

(10-07-2018 04:31 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(10-07-2018 03:59 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  Name rush yards ypc td

Etienne 10 167 16.7 3
Dixon 10 163 16.3 2
Choice 10 128 12.8 1

You have a deep backfield when that's the stat line for your #1, #3, and #4 RB

Clemson doesn't lack for depth in skill positions Kap. It's the line depth that is a concern, like it is for almost everyone in the nation, almost. Talent wise overall you are probably 2nd in the nation. Only another match up with the Tide would determine otherwise, IMO.

But the CFP situation I proposed above will be a political one.

With the PAC likely again to fail to have an entrant, should someone like Texas specifically, or even Oklahoma wind up with just the 1 loss the network will long for their inclusion because either would cover the Southwest and hold interest out West. Ohio State is very likely to finish unbeaten and they will be in. So if we wind up with the networks having a school that brings the Southwest and some of the far West, and the two staples of the two largest audiences are unbeaten (Alabama and Ohio State) I'm afraid the lure of Notre Dame for the Northeast will be the debating point over the 4th slot. And if it is it will be a disservice to Clemson who plays a full conference slate of schools in a conference that is down this year whereas N.D. only plays a partial slate of them.

I hope the committee has greater integrity than to think that way, but I'm hardly convinced they will.

I think that if both Clemson and Notre Dame are undefeated, I believe Clemson would get the nod for the CFP. That would mean Clemson has won the conference championship game, and Notre Dame has no conference to win. I would think that would be the deciding factor. At least I hope that would be factored in because it makes the most sense.

(10-07-2018 12:09 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(10-07-2018 12:03 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(10-07-2018 11:22 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  My NY6 today:

CFP
Orange - #1 Alabama vs #4 Notre Dame
Cotton - #2 Ohio St vs #3 Clemson
NY6
Rose - Washington vs Penn St
Sugar - Georgia vs Texas
Fiesta - Oklahoma vs Central Florida
Peach - West Virginia vs North Carolina St

I don't think Texas will be the highest ranked Big 12 team. So they wouldn't get the Sugar slot. That would probably be either Oklahoma or West Virginia.

Also, very tough to see NC State in the top 12 end of the season, thus they won't get in. It's not like other years where if Clemson makes the playoff, the Orange automatically gets an ACC team as a replacement. I'd probably put either Wisconsin/Michigan in for them.

XII title is up for grabs. North Carolina St has a chance if they only lose to Clemson. I see Michigan and Wisconsin with multiple losses each.

But in all the years I've followed ACC football, NC State has always found a way to put an inexplicable loss on their resume. They are currently unbeaten, but they aren't so good or so deep that they can't lose to almost anyone left on their schedule.

Their chances for an NY6 hinge on the ACC proving that it's as weak as it seems they are and State not crapping the bed.

(10-07-2018 03:57 PM)JRsec Wrote:  I think the Clemson vs Notre Dame angle is going to be the explosive one. Here's my reasoning. Let's assume it is Ohio State and lets assume that runs the table and that their only relatively close contest is with Georgia in the SEC CCG.

There won't be that many unbeaten P5 teams. It would be an incredible fluke if there were more than two after the CCGs.

The realistic questions are who loses, how often, and to whom, and maybe which one or two teams don't lose.

(10-07-2018 07:57 PM)ken d Wrote:  

(10-07-2018 12:09 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(10-07-2018 12:03 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(10-07-2018 11:22 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  My NY6 today:

CFP
Orange - #1 Alabama vs #4 Notre Dame
Cotton - #2 Ohio St vs #3 Clemson
NY6
Rose - Washington vs Penn St
Sugar - Georgia vs Texas
Fiesta - Oklahoma vs Central Florida
Peach - West Virginia vs North Carolina St

I don't think Texas will be the highest ranked Big 12 team. So they wouldn't get the Sugar slot. That would probably be either Oklahoma or West Virginia.

Also, very tough to see NC State in the top 12 end of the season, thus they won't get in. It's not like other years where if Clemson makes the playoff, the Orange automatically gets an ACC team as a replacement. I'd probably put either Wisconsin/Michigan in for them.

XII title is up for grabs. North Carolina St has a chance if they only lose to Clemson. I see Michigan and Wisconsin with multiple losses each.

But in all the years I've followed ACC football, NC State has always found a way to put an inexplicable loss on their resume. They are currently unbeaten, but they aren't so good or so deep that they can't lose to almost anyone left on their schedule.

Their chances for an NY6 hinge on the ACC proving that it's as weak as it seems they are and State not crapping the bed.

D1 football is uber competitive. There just isn't a huge difference among literally dozens of teams.

(10-07-2018 10:05 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(10-07-2018 03:57 PM)JRsec Wrote:  I think the Clemson vs Notre Dame angle is going to be the explosive one. Here's my reasoning. Let's assume it is Ohio State and lets assume that runs the table and that their only relatively close contest is with Georgia in the SEC CCG.

There won't be that many unbeaten P5 teams. It would be an incredible fluke if there were more than two after the CCGs.

The realistic questions are who loses, how often, and to whom, and maybe which one or two teams don't lose.

I think we will have 3 this year and one unbeaten G5.

I believe Alabama will finish the regular season unbeaten. Clemson and Ohio State will win out in two otherwise down conferences. I don't think Colorado manages to go unscathed. It's possible N.D. could be a 4th.

(10-07-2018 10:37 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(10-07-2018 10:05 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(10-07-2018 03:57 PM)JRsec Wrote:  I think the Clemson vs Notre Dame angle is going to be the explosive one. Here's my reasoning. Let's assume it is Ohio State and lets assume that runs the table and that their only relatively close contest is with Georgia in the SEC CCG.

There won't be that many unbeaten P5 teams. It would be an incredible fluke if there were more than two after the CCGs.

The realistic questions are who loses, how often, and to whom, and maybe which one or two teams don't lose.

I think we will have 3 this year and one unbeaten G5.

I believe Alabama will finish the regular season unbeaten. Clemson and Ohio State will win out in two otherwise down conferences. I don't think Colorado manages to go unscathed. It's possible N.D. could be a 4th.

I wouldn't forget about West Virginia. If they can beat Texas at Texas they should be 11-0 heading into season finale with Oklahoma. Win there and they probably see Texas again in season finale at Jerry World.

I love WVU, but I don't think they make it through the year undefeated... That's a tall feat to accomplish.

(10-07-2018 11:59 AM)stever20 Wrote:  here's the list of all G5 teams with fewer than 2 losses
AAC- Cincy 0, UCF 0, USF 0, Houston 1
CUSA- UAB 1, North Texas 1
MAC- Buffalo 1
MWC- Utah St 1, Hawaii 1, Fresno 1, San Diego St 1
SBC- Troy 1, Ga Southern 1, App St 1

Boise with the big loss yesterday probably has taken them 100% out of the G5 slot.

Looking at the AAC- it's almost certainly their spot. Cincy, UCF, and USF play each other all in the last 3 weeks of the season. Even if they all beat each other whoever wins the tiebreaker and goes on to the AAC title game would be a huge favorite. If Houston has 1 loss- the AAC title game would be 100% for the G5 slot.

The American now has 3 teams ranked in the Eastern Conference. Hard to see anyone else getting better quality wins and winning the access spot.

Also that P6 narrative is looking pretty good again this year with UCF in the top 10.

(10-07-2018 07:38 PM)texasorange Wrote:  

(10-07-2018 04:31 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(10-07-2018 03:59 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  Name rush yards ypc td

Etienne 10 167 16.7 3
Dixon 10 163 16.3 2
Choice 10 128 12.8 1

You have a deep backfield when that's the stat line for your #1, #3, and #4 RB

Clemson doesn't lack for depth in skill positions Kap. It's the line depth that is a concern, like it is for almost everyone in the nation, almost. Talent wise overall you are probably 2nd in the nation. Only another match up with the Tide would determine otherwise, IMO.

But the CFP situation I proposed above will be a political one.

With the PAC likely again to fail to have an entrant, should someone like Texas specifically, or even Oklahoma wind up with just the 1 loss the network will long for their inclusion because either would cover the Southwest and hold interest out West. Ohio State is very likely to finish unbeaten and they will be in. So if we wind up with the networks having a school that brings the Southwest and some of the far West, and the two staples of the two largest audiences are unbeaten (Alabama and Ohio State) I'm afraid the lure of Notre Dame for the Northeast will be the debating point over the 4th slot. And if it is it will be a disservice to Clemson who plays a full conference slate of schools in a conference that is down this year whereas N.D. only plays a partial slate of them.

I hope the committee has greater integrity than to think that way, but I'm hardly convinced they will.

I think that if both Clemson and Notre Dame are undefeated, I believe Clemson would get the nod for the CFP. That would mean Clemson has won the conference championship game, and Notre Dame has no conference to win. I would think that would be the deciding factor. At least I hope that would be factored in because it makes the most sense.

If Clemson and Notre Dame remain undefeated, both will make the playoffs, because either Georgia or Alabama has to lose a game, and whoever loses will be ranked behind both of them.

But if somehow it did come down to unbeaten Clemson vs unbeaten Notre Dame, Clemson would lose out. Their schedule is just softer and more provincial.