College Football - Week 13 (Thanksgiving Week)

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You don't think ND looked better in November. Outside of Rees, they did. You are free to disagree. I don't know if you watched any ND games since you hate the team, so maybe you're not the best judge of whether they improved.

I disagree. I thought they, overall, looked better in the beginning of the year, but the stupid turnovers (and some bad luck) really did them in against South Florida and Michigan. Up until USC, they were clearly the best team on the field in each game. Starting with USC and continuing through Saturday, the lack of depth and poor QB play really did them in. November consisted of too close games against crappy major conference teams and a poor showing against Stanford. Not sure how someone would think that's good.

 

I said except Rees. Jonas Gray was a new man until his knee blew out. The secondary looked better, esp after the UM debacle. Where they looked bad was where they lost key starters including C and both DEs. But the kids looked much better late in the year than in September when, for example, Aaron Lynch was almost solely a pass rusher.

Well, I guess guys like Aaron Lynch played better later in the year, but overall they looked clearly overmatched against both USC and Stanford. Early in the season, they dominated two good teams in MSU and Michigan for 7 quarters (excluding the 4th quarter against Michigan when Gary Gray forgot how to play football). Overall, a pretty disappointing season as they were a top 10-15 team in the country based on talent. Can't really expect an improvement next year, as both Floyd and Te'o are gone, and this team makes too many mistakes to trust the coaching staff. With Floyd and Gray gone, I think they need to go with Hendrix to have any shot at a dynamic offense.

 

Teo will be back. He's not a first round pick right now. And he skipped his mission to graduate from ND. I don't think his mom will let him leave early. The starter will be Hendrix or Golson. Neither was ready to play big minutes this year. With Floyd gone, it'd be great to land another big time WR recruit, but they have depth there. And hopefully GAIII will look as good at RB as he has returning punts.

 

The OL and Rees didn't play well against USC. Teo had a poor game too. But the OL did after that. They struggled with a pretty average Pitt team in September bc Rees was terrible. Struggled against a poor BC team with a solid defense for the same reason. Actually, they only didn't blow out Wake bc Rees struggled there too. Dominated some pretty average to poor teams in Navy, AF, and Maryland at different times during the year.

 

If you think they were overmatched against Stanford, you were watching a different game. They looked better against UM and MSU bc those two teams aren't as good as USC and Stanford.

[Guest]

I'm asking if a BCS bowl this year, for whatever reason, had to choose between UCLA and Stanford and those were the only two choices, do you think UCLA should be the team picked?

 

That's a ridiculous hypo.

 

You're only saying that because it makes your opinion look completely idiotic.

 

You think a 9-4 South Carolina deserved a BCS spot over a 10-2 Arkansas in 2010 even though Arkansas went to South Carolina and handed out a 41-20 beatdown?

You think a 9-4 Missouri deserved a BCS spot over a 11-1 Texas in 2008 even though Texas beat Missouri 56-31?

You think 7-5 Colorado deserved a BCS spot over 10-1 Texas in 2004 even though Texas beat Colorado 31-7?

 

No, I think it's ridiculous bc it presents a false choice. I think Georgia, for example, deserves a BCS game over Stanford. I don't have to pick between two schools you cherry pick when there are several other candidates each year. I think schools in divisions should have to win their division to go to a BCS game. Makes it more sporting. If someone is going to get [expletive] each year, it should be a team that couldn't win it's division.

 

Or do you think UConn deserved to go to a BCS game last year? bc you support the current system, you must support the selection of every [expletive] team that gets in bc of it.

 

No, I don't think UConn should have gotten a BCS spot last year and whoever wins the Big East this year doesn't deserve one either. Ditto for Florida State the year they got in with five losses.

 

If you don't like my cherrypicking, how about an example from this year. What do you do with Alabama? Because I think it would be ridiculous to deny them spot in any BCS game simply because they were unfortunate to be stuck in a division with a team that looks to be the best in the nation (a team they took to overtime, no less).

[Tracer Bullet]

Bama had a shot at LSU at home. Tough break. No BCS.

 

Again, the system screws teams every year and the more divisions, the more chance that an undeserving team gets an autobid. If you have that benefit, bear more risk.

[Old Style]

Bama had a shot at LSU at home. Tough break. No BCS.

Are you saying that Bama shouldn't even be in the BCS or are you only referring to a rematch with LSU in the title game?

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Bama had a shot at LSU at home. Tough break. No BCS.

Are you saying that Bama shouldn't even be in the BCS or are you only referring to a rematch with LSU in the title game?

 

Both. Neither. Bama should be out of the BCS bowls entirely b/c they couldn't win their division.

 

I realize it would keep some really good teams out of the BCS and that's unfortunate for those teams. But every year, good teams are kept out of the BCS. Hard for Bama to complain when they had a shot. But Saban's already whining about how unfair it will be if Bama doesn't get in the title game, so he'd love my plan.

[Old Style]

The BCS should match up the best teams in the country, in my opinion. Just because one division of one conference is loaded should not mean that a lesser deserving team gets priority. LSU and Alabama are clearly the 2 best teams in the country. Why should they not play for the National Championship? Oklahoma State lost to [expletive] Iowa State. That alone should prevent them from getting a shot. I would have been OK with Oregon getting another shot at LSU had they not lost to USC. Virginia Tech doesn't really have any impressive wins. Same goes for Stanford. They have some good wins, but both lost to their best opponent. Houston's first game against a ranked opponent will be this weekend against #24 Southern Miss. Alabama is the only logical choice at this point.

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Bama is probably the 2nd best team in the country. Tough break for them that they're in the same division as the best team.

 

So question, if LSU wins this weekend and Bama stays at #2, what happens if Bama beats LSU by 3, say in overtime, at a neutral site in the title game. Is Bama #1? Is LSU's victory at Bama more significant than Bama's equal victory at a neutral site?

 

Obviously, it's unlikely that this exact scenario would play out, but Bama could win a very close matchup in the title game. That's one big issue I have with a rematch for the title.

[treebird]

Bama is probably the 2nd best team in the country. Tough break for them that they're in the same division as the best team.

 

So question, if LSU wins this weekend and Bama stays at #2, what happens if Bama beats LSU by 3, say in overtime, at a neutral site in the title game. Is Bama #1? Is LSU's victory at Bama more significant than Bama's equal victory at a neutral site?

 

Obviously, it's unlikely that this exact scenario would play out, but Bama could win a very close matchup in the title game. That's one big issue I have with a rematch for the title.

 

i agree with that, but telling alabama they can't have a bcs bowl at all seems ridiculous.

[Guest]

Bama is probably the 2nd best team in the country. Tough break for them that they're in the same division as the best team.

 

So question, if LSU wins this weekend and Bama stays at #2, what happens if Bama beats LSU by 3, say in overtime, at a neutral site in the title game. Is Bama #1? Is LSU's victory at Bama more significant than Bama's equal victory at a neutral site?

 

Obviously, it's unlikely that this exact scenario would play out, but Bama could win a very close matchup in the title game. That's one big issue I have with a rematch for the title.

 

I think similar logic applies this year no matter who the opponent is. If LSU wins on Saturday, they've far and away proven they have the best resume in the country. Whether it's Alabama, or OSU, or even Virginia Tech, a team beating LSU in a close game is going to lead to the sentiment that LSU is still the #1 team in the country. Personally, I don't think there should be a rematch as long as OSU wins because they would have the superior resume. So hopefully OSU wins big and Virginia Tech loses(Houston losing wouldn't hurt too) so we can get that LSU-OSU matchup. Two best resumes, two conference champions from the two best conferences this year.

[Old Style]

A team with a loss to unranked Iowa State has a better resume than a team whose only loss is by 3 points in OT to #1 LSU?

[imb]

it was nice of GR to pick up where meph left off as the worst college football thread poster

[bukie]

A team with a loss to unranked Iowa State has a better resume than a team whose only loss is by 3 points in OT to #1 LSU?

It wouldn't be if that were the only game each team played, so you have a point there.

[Guest]

A team with a loss to unranked Iowa State has a better resume than a team whose only loss is by 3 points in OT to #1 LSU?

 

Absolutely.

[Old Style]

What impressive wins does OSU have?

[Guest]

What impressive wins does OSU have?

 

After Saturday, the same number as Alabama. And they've played a much more difficult schedule(8 games against Sagarin's Top 30, 3 for Alabama).

[abuck1220]

lol, iowa state is going to end up with, at worst, the same record as texas a&m.

[NewUserName]

I think OSU's problem is going to be that it seems that ESPN is favoring a rematch. I am not sure that you will hear a lot of national coverage favoring OSU. I don't want to call the voters dumb, but I get the sense that most do not do the homework you are suggesting TT. I think if OSU beats OU that they probably should be in the title game, but I don't think its going to happen.

[shnsajax]

A team with a loss to unranked Iowa State has a better resume than a team whose only loss is by 3 points in OT to #1 LSU?

 

It was also on the same day their women's coach was killed in a plane crash. Not making excuses for them but they had to be a little distracted given the history. If they take care of OU easily then it makes up for it for me.

[Tracer Bullet]

Bama is probably the 2nd best team in the country. Tough break for them that they're in the same division as the best team.

 

So question, if LSU wins this weekend and Bama stays at #2, what happens if Bama beats LSU by 3, say in overtime, at a neutral site in the title game. Is Bama #1? Is LSU's victory at Bama more significant than Bama's equal victory at a neutral site?

 

Obviously, it's unlikely that this exact scenario would play out, but Bama could win a very close matchup in the title game. That's one big issue I have with a rematch for the title.

 

i agree with that, but telling alabama they can't have a bcs bowl at all seems ridiculous.

 

I'll tell Nick Saban right to his face.

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it was nice of GR to pick up where meph left off as the worst college football thread poster

 

Hey guys, remember when imb used to be fun? Or better yet, funny?

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Me neither.

[Guest]

Bama is probably the 2nd best team in the country. Tough break for them that they're in the same division as the best team.

 

So question, if LSU wins this weekend and Bama stays at #2, what happens if Bama beats LSU by 3, say in overtime, at a neutral site in the title game. Is Bama #1? Is LSU's victory at Bama more significant than Bama's equal victory at a neutral site?

 

Obviously, it's unlikely that this exact scenario would play out, but Bama could win a very close matchup in the title game. That's one big issue I have with a rematch for the title.

 

i agree with that, but telling alabama they can't have a bcs bowl at all seems ridiculous.

 

I'll tell Nick Saban right to his face.

 

Well then he'll slug you for getting him a stool before you even get the chance to say it.

[Tracer Bullet]

Bama is probably the 2nd best team in the country. Tough break for them that they're in the same division as the best team.

 

So question, if LSU wins this weekend and Bama stays at #2, what happens if Bama beats LSU by 3, say in overtime, at a neutral site in the title game. Is Bama #1? Is LSU's victory at Bama more significant than Bama's equal victory at a neutral site?

 

Obviously, it's unlikely that this exact scenario would play out, but Bama could win a very close matchup in the title game. That's one big issue I have with a rematch for the title.

 

I think similar logic applies this year no matter who the opponent is. If LSU wins on Saturday, they've far and away proven they have the best resume in the country. Whether it's Alabama, or OSU, or even Virginia Tech, a team beating LSU in a close game is going to lead to the sentiment that LSU is still the #1 team in the country. Personally, I don't think there should be a rematch as long as OSU wins because they would have the superior resume. So hopefully OSU wins big and Virginia Tech loses(Houston losing wouldn't hurt too) so we can get that LSU-OSU matchup. Two best resumes, two conference champions from the two best conferences this year.

 

Maybe. If OSU or Va Tech beats LSU by 2 TDs, I think that's a pretty good argument that they should be #1 (and maybe the same is true for Bama). I agree with your hope for OSU and I think it'll be an interesting game.

[Old Style]

lol, iowa state is going to end up with, at worst, the same record as texas a&m.

1. Who said anything about A&M?

2. Even we beat Iowa State in Ames.

[KingCubsFan]

You don't think ND looked better in November. Outside of Rees, they did. You are free to disagree. I don't know if you watched any ND games since you hate the team, so maybe you're not the best judge of whether they improved.

I disagree. I thought they, overall, looked better in the beginning of the year, but the stupid turnovers (and some bad luck) really did them in against South Florida and Michigan. Up until USC, they were clearly the best team on the field in each game. Starting with USC and continuing through Saturday, the lack of depth and poor QB play really did them in. November consisted of too close games against crappy major conference teams and a poor showing against Stanford. Not sure how someone would think that's good.

 

I said except Rees. Jonas Gray was a new man until his knee blew out. The secondary looked better, esp after the UM debacle. Where they looked bad was where they lost key starters including C and both DEs. But the kids looked much better late in the year than in September when, for example, Aaron Lynch was almost solely a pass rusher.

Well, I guess guys like Aaron Lynch played better later in the year, but overall they looked clearly overmatched against both USC and Stanford. Early in the season, they dominated two good teams in MSU and Michigan for 7 quarters (excluding the 4th quarter against Michigan when Gary Gray forgot how to play football). Overall, a pretty disappointing season as they were a top 10-15 team in the country based on talent. Can't really expect an improvement next year, as both Floyd and Te'o are gone, and this team makes too many mistakes to trust the coaching staff. With Floyd and Gray gone, I think they need to go with Hendrix to have any shot at a dynamic offense.

 

Teo will be back. He's not a first round pick right now. And he skipped his mission to graduate from ND. I don't think his mom will let him leave early. The starter will be Hendrix or Golson. Neither was ready to play big minutes this year. With Floyd gone, it'd be great to land another big time WR recruit, but they have depth there. And hopefully GAIII will look as good at RB as he has returning punts.

 

The OL and Rees didn't play well against USC. Teo had a poor game too. But the OL did after that. They struggled with a pretty average Pitt team in September bc Rees was terrible. Struggled against a poor BC team with a solid defense for the same reason. Actually, they only didn't blow out Wake bc Rees struggled there too. Dominated some pretty average to poor teams in Navy, AF, and Maryland at different times during the year.

 

If you think they were overmatched against Stanford, you were watching a different game. They looked better against UM and MSU bc those two teams aren't as good as USC and Stanford.

Teo is #15 on Kiper's Big Board. Coupled with the problems he's had with Kelly, I'd be very surprised if he returns. As for WR, they already have Ferguson out of Florida, and got Davaris Daniels last year. Neither, of course, is as good as Floyd, but certainly provides some hope.

 

As for the Stanford game, the defense played pretty well, but the secondary is still a weakness and it shows against QB's like Luck and Barkley. ND is slowly building talent on both sides of the ball to compete with the best teams in the country, but I think they'll be stuck in the 15-25 range until they can get a good QB and some more depth. Hopefully Kelly's bet on the USC game didn't kill the recruiting class this year.