[CrazedZooChimp]

[quote author=Mick link=topic=16219.msg181578#msg181578 date=1480876580]
Opening line is Alabama by 14 points.  I take Alabama.  Under Stanford Control (again) lost to Alabama by a 52-3 score, Washington lost to Under Stanford Control (again) 26-13.  I think Petersen's going to do a great job of preparation, but I think Saban will do a better one.

SC beat Washington on the road by 13 points, SC beat Colorado at home by only 4 points. Yet somehow Washington just throttled Colorado by 31 points on a neutral field.

Not to mention that the Max Browne version of the SC offense from over three months ago 59ers no resemblance to the subsequent Sam Darnold incarnation which is arguably one of the best teams in the country (rightly favored by a touchdown over playoff-bubble Penn State).

Alabama is justifiably a significant favorite over Washington, but the single common opponent analysis is highly misleading to the point of irrelevance.
[/quote]

Stanford also beat $C rather handily in September, and we also know what happened against UW. I think it's very safe to say early season $C is not like late season $C. Not that I think UW will beat Bama, but the original point that it might be better to play them first, I think that is true. Aside from having a long time to prepare, the team will, presumably, be healthier in game 1 than game 2. If the goal is to beat Bama, the chances are probably a little higher for UW this way. Not that I would be surprised if Bama crushed them, but I wouldn't say it's a foregone conclusion.

Plus the SEC sucked this year, so Bama ain't played nobody.

[CrazedZooChimp]

[quote author=Mick link=topic=16219.msg181578#msg181578 date=1480876580]
Opening line is Alabama by 14 points.  I take Alabama.  Under Stanford Control (again) lost to Alabama by a 52-3 score, Washington lost to Under Stanford Control (again) 26-13.  I think Petersen's going to do a great job of preparation, but I think Saban will do a better one.

SC beat Washington on the road by 13 points, SC beat Colorado at home by only 4 points. Yet somehow Washington just throttled Colorado by 31 points on a neutral field.

Not to mention that the Max Browne version of the SC offense from over three months ago 59ers no resemblance to the subsequent Sam Darnold incarnation which is arguably one of the best teams in the country (rightly favored by a touchdown over playoff-bubble Penn State).

Alabama is justifiably a significant favorite over Washington, but the single common opponent analysis is highly misleading to the point of irrelevance.
[/quote]

Stanford also beat $C rather handily in September, and we also know what happened against UW. I think it's very safe to say early season $C is not like late season $C. Not that I think UW will beat Bama, but the original point that it might be better to play them first, I think that is true. Aside from having a long time to prepare, the team will, presumably, be healthier in game 1 than game 2. If the goal is to beat Bama, the chances are probably a little higher for UW this way. Not that I would be surprised if Bama crushed them, but I wouldn't say it's a foregone conclusion.

Plus the SEC sucked this year, so Bama ain't played nobody.