12/03 College Football

[Transmogrified Tiger]

How is that SOS?

[Mark_R]

All these ND arguments are silly.

 

Some like ND. They think they belong.

 

Some hate ND. They don't think they belong.

 

There's the crux of 2 months of bickering, some of which I've taken part in, so I'm partially to blame.

[Chris]

But they travel well...

[Jon]

How is that SOS?

The BCS computer rankings are not, but since SOS is a big part of all of the computer rankings, I posted that when I couldn't find anything else.

 

But the second link I posted is SOS. That one has Oregon at 49, Notre Dame at 53, and USC at 59. Of course, if you're USC, you obviously can't play yourself to help out your SOS. But that gives at least a bit of a reference point.

[adamb0719]

Oregon has a weak schedule. But so does ND. and they lost one more game than Oregon. Oregon took care of their inferior opponents, something ND couldn't do against Michigan State.

 

EDIT: Can someone tell me who had a weaker schedule between the two schools?

 

Sagarin has ND at 19 and Oregon at 34

Anderson and Hester had ND at 42 and Oregon at 55

Colley has ND at 54 and Oregon at 55

Massey has ND at 38 and Oregon at 55

 

 

ND Average: 38.25

Oregon Average: 49.75

 

These are 4 of the 6 computer rankings used. The other two (Billingsley and Wolf) did not have SOS, that I could find.

 

I guess that when looking at Oregons schedule (or any schedule for that matter) you have to look at more than just their opponents win/loss column. Lets take a winning team on Oregons schedule and compare it to a losing team on NDs schedule.

 

Oregon: Houston finished 6-5. They beat Sam Houston, Tulsa, Tulane, Miss St, So Miss, and Rice. They lost to UTEP, Memphis, C Florida, SMU, and Oregon. They played in C-USA, not a very strong conference at all. According to Sagarin they are the 9th ranked conference.

 

Notre Dame: Tennesse finished 5-6. They beat UAB, LSU, Ole Miss, Memphis and Kentucky. They lost to Florida, Georgia, Alabama, S Carolina, ND, and Vanderbilt (4 teams in the top 20). They played in the SEC, the 5th ranked conference.

 

Now some would say that Oregon beat a team that is "bowl eligible" by beating Houston. But is a victory over a 6-5 Houston team better than a victory over a 5-6 Tennesse team?

 

Lets look at one more, just to be fair.

 

Oregon: Montana (1AA) finished 8-4. They beat...well does it matter, they are IAA! But some say they are 8-4 and use that to count towards Oregons opponents records when debating how tough their schedule is.

 

ND: Purdue finished 5-6. They had a terrible season, true but Sagarin has the Big 10 ranked as the#1 conference, and would anyone actually argue that a 5-6 Big 10 team is worse than a 8-4 AA team?

 

It really is a tough debate over who's schedule is worse, but I really feel the NDs schedule, though weak, is stronger than Oregons.

[Andy]

It really is a tough debate over who's schedule is worse, but I really feel the NDs schedule, though weak, is stronger than Oregons.

Seconded. The Pac-10 has merely five bowl-eligible teams, just as a side note.

[adamb0719]

Not sure if anyone cares about this, but Mitch Mustaine, a 5 star QB (# 2 overall) just decommited from Arkansas. Word has it that he is now interested in ND or Tennesse, and ND visited him this past weekend. However, with ND pretty full in the QB committ area, UT may be getting a damn good QB soon.

[Andy]

Not sure if anyone cares about this, but Mitch Mustaine, a 5 star QB (# 2 overall) just decommited from Arkansas. Word has it that he is now interested in ND or Tennesse, and ND visited him this past weekend. However, with ND pretty full in the QB committ area, UT may be getting a damn good QB soon.

If I'm Notre Dame, I stop at Jones and Frazer and start pouring all my recruiting resources into the can't-miss kid Jimmy Clausen. Rumor has it that ND is among the favorites to land him. Of course, the same was true of his older brother Casey before he went to UT.

[NewUserName]

In all fairness I think Oregon or Auburn should have rightfully gone to a BCS game. That being said the ND/OSU matchup is easily the 2nd most compelling game of the bowl season. IF it was Oregon or Auburn it wouldnt have been nearly as compelling. So we dislikers or ND might not like it but ND sells alot more than any other school. Personnally I will be watching to see ND get their butts kicked by OSU.

[CuseCubFan69]

Oregon has a weak schedule. But so does ND. and they lost one more game than Oregon. Oregon took care of their inferior opponents, something ND couldn't do against Michigan State.

 

EDIT: Can someone tell me who had a weaker schedule between the two schools?

The BCS computer rankings:

 

5. Oregon - .820

6. Virginia Tech - .790

7. Miami - .730

8. Georgia - .720

9. West Virginia - .710

10. Notre Dame - .600

10. LSU - .600

 

Look how high West Virginia is but if we let the good old boys vote the Big East would get robbed by the poll system/being ranked in the top 12. I dispise the fact that a bunch of morons/people with an agenda vote on this thing.

[adamb0719]

In all fairness I think Oregon or Auburn should have rightfully gone to a BCS game. That being said the ND/OSU matchup is easily the 2nd most compelling game of the bowl season. IF it was Oregon or Auburn it wouldnt have been nearly as compelling. So we dislikers or ND might not like it but ND sells alot more than any other school. Personnally I will be watching to see ND get their butts kicked by OSU.

 

This had nothing to do with ND selling though. They got an automatic bid, as did OSU. There were no at-large teams this year. And you are right, ND may get their butts kicked. :x

[Derwood]

Notre Dame vs. Ohio St. is akin to a White Sox vs Cardinals World Series. You somehow hope no one wins.

 

Any combo of those two and Miami also qualifies. That O$U/Miami NC game was painful

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Notre Dame vs. Ohio St. is akin to a White Sox vs Cardinals World Series. You somehow hope no one wins.

 

Any combo of those two and Miami also qualifies. That O$U/Miami NC game was painful

 

Yet a very easy decision on who to root for while living in Ohio. Pass Interference, pfft.

[Andy]

Notre Dame vs. Ohio St. is akin to a White Sox vs Cardinals World Series. You somehow hope no one wins.

 

Any combo of those two and Miami also qualifies. That O$U/Miami NC game was painful

 

Yet a very easy decision on who to root for while living in Ohio. Pass Interference, pfft.

Still pissed off at that ref. That was NOT pass interference.

[Mark_R]

We won the national title that season beating some incredible NFL talent. Great football game. Not gonna deny that it probably wasn't Pass Interference. But if it happens for mizzou, PSU, or whatnot, I'm fairly certain you wouldn't really care if you ended up winning.

 

GO BUCKEYES!

[adamb0719]

We won the national title that season beating some incredible NFL talent. Great football game. Not gonna deny that it probably wasn't Pass Interference. But if it happens for mizzou, PSU, or whatnot, I'm fairly certain you wouldn't really care if you ended up winning.

 

GO BUCKEYES!

 

That was a great game. I am not a fan of OSU at all, but I respected that team for the way they played. Offhand I can't think of a bigger upset in a NC game. That team never gave up. They weren't pretty, but they always found a way to win. Of course this years Fiesta Bowl may be a little different for them :lol:

[Mark_R]

It should be a great game, but I'm going to enjoy seeing ND get walloped ;)

 

Rootin BCS for:

 

USC

FSU

UGA (really don't care)

OSU

 

I really hope Dustin Fox is up for the Samardzija challenge. I really don't think ND will have much success running against the Buckeyes. OSU needs to give Ginn at least 15 touches vs. that porous D. If they do, Buckeyes will win.

[SouthSideRyan]

It should be a great game, but I'm going to enjoy seeing ND get walloped ;)

 

Rootin BCS for:

 

USC

FSU

UGA (really don't care)

OSU

 

I really hope Dustin Fox is up for the Samardzija challenge. I really don't think ND will have much success running against the Buckeyes. OSU needs to give Ginn at least 15 touches vs. that porous D. If they do, Buckeyes will win.

 

I'm rooting for the exact oppositte. Rooting for FSU??? I understand PSU is a Big 10 rival, but geez, FSU??

[adamb0719]

It should be a great game, but I'm going to enjoy seeing ND get walloped ;)

 

Rootin BCS for:

 

USC

FSU

UGA (really don't care)

OSU

 

I really hope Dustin Fox is up for the Samardzija challenge. I really don't think ND will have much success running against the Buckeyes. OSU needs to give Ginn at least 15 touches vs. that porous D. If they do, Buckeyes will win.

 

I think that OSU's D is very similar to the Tennesse D that ND did quite well against. Fast, lots of blitzs, etc. ND does have the height advantage that they have exploited all year, and if Carpenter is out for the game, I expect Fassano to have a HUGE day.

However OSU has so much speed on offense that it will be hard for ND to keep up. If Tressel is smart he will do what every team should have done all year long, abuse the secondary. I think this game may be a classic example of good D triumphing good offense. While ND is a great team, I just don't think their D is good enough to handle the speed that OSU has. Of course I thought that against USC and turned out pretty close. Should be a great game either way.

 

EDIT: Interesting note, AJ Hawk is dating Quinns sister.

[Derwood]

EDIT: Interesting note, AJ Hawk is dating Quinns sister.

 

I smell a reality show!

[Mark_R]

It should be a great game, but I'm going to enjoy seeing ND get walloped ;)

 

Rootin BCS for:

 

USC

FSU

UGA (really don't care)

OSU

 

I really hope Dustin Fox is up for the Samardzija challenge. I really don't think ND will have much success running against the Buckeyes. OSU needs to give Ginn at least 15 touches vs. that porous D. If they do, Buckeyes will win.

 

I'm rooting for the exact oppositte. Rooting for FSU??? I understand PSU is a Big 10 rival, but geez, FSU??

 

Eh, the PSU fans here would be infinitely more entertaining if they lost.

 

The usual suspects:

 

refs jobbed us

we forgot to pay our players

derrick williams is out

 

If PSU does win, I won't be all that unhappy.

[Mark_R]

It should be a great game, but I'm going to enjoy seeing ND get walloped ;)

 

Rootin BCS for:

 

USC

FSU

UGA (really don't care)

OSU

 

I really hope Dustin Fox is up for the Samardzija challenge. I really don't think ND will have much success running against the Buckeyes. OSU needs to give Ginn at least 15 touches vs. that porous D. If they do, Buckeyes will win.

 

I think that OSU's D is very similar to the Tennesse D that ND did quite well against. Fast, lots of blitzs, etc. ND does have the height advantage that they have exploited all year, and if Carpenter is out for the game, I expect Fassano to have a HUGE day.

However OSU has so much speed on offense that it will be hard for ND to keep up. If Tressel is smart he will do what every team should have done all year long, abuse the secondary. I think this game may be a classic example of good D triumphing good offense. While ND is a great team, I just don't think their D is good enough to handle the speed that OSU has. Of course I thought that against USC and turned out pretty close. Should be a great game either way.

 

EDIT: Interesting note, AJ Hawk is dating Quinns sister.

 

You also forgot the most important point (as did I, to be fair).

 

Ohio State is the BEST two loss team in the country.

[adamb0719]

It should be a great game, but I'm going to enjoy seeing ND get walloped ;)

 

Rootin BCS for:

 

USC

FSU

UGA (really don't care)

OSU

 

I really hope Dustin Fox is up for the Samardzija challenge. I really don't think ND will have much success running against the Buckeyes. OSU needs to give Ginn at least 15 touches vs. that porous D. If they do, Buckeyes will win.

 

I think that OSU's D is very similar to the Tennesse D that ND did quite well against. Fast, lots of blitzs, etc. ND does have the height advantage that they have exploited all year, and if Carpenter is out for the game, I expect Fassano to have a HUGE day.

However OSU has so much speed on offense that it will be hard for ND to keep up. If Tressel is smart he will do what every team should have done all year long, abuse the secondary. I think this game may be a classic example of good D triumphing good offense. While ND is a great team, I just don't think their D is good enough to handle the speed that OSU has. Of course I thought that against USC and turned out pretty close. Should be a great game either way.

 

EDIT: Interesting note, AJ Hawk is dating Quinns sister.

 

You also forgot the most important point (as did I, to be fair).

 

Ohio State is the BEST two loss team in the country.

 

Agreed. But there is a reason they play the game, anything can happen :D

[NewUserName]

In the NC game between OSU and Miami there was an equaly bad call close to the end of regulation that went against OSU. If the refs would have gotten that one right the game wouldnt even have gone to overtime and OSU would have won.

 

As a fan of a Big Ten school I always cheer for Big Ten teams in Bowl games. Though I dont get to heartbroken if OSU or Mich lose

[Andy]

I guarantee that if ND wins the turnover battle, they'll win the game. The only reason we lost the MSU game and nearly lost the Stanford game were turnovers.

 

MSU: Schwapp fumble (play should have been blown dead before then but that's another topic), INT returned for TD

 

Stanford: 2 Quinn INTs in or near Stanford territory

 

Heck, you could even say that turnovers partially cost us the USC game. (Quinn INT, Fasano fumble)