11-20-2012, 05:30 PM
(11-20-2012, 04:53 PM)JPRI link Wrote:[quote author=Tycho link=topic=6970.msg53112#msg53112 date=1353449874]
If UCLA loses on Saturday...they travel to Palo Alto to play Stanford. Winner goes to the Rose Bowl.
If UCLA wins on Saturday...they (probably) travel to Eugene to play the Ducks. Winner goes to the Rose Bowl.
Play Stanford back-to-back or play the Ducks? I suspect the oddsmakers in Vegas would estimate that a path through Palo Alto to Pasadena presents better odds to the Bruins than getting there via Eugene. I'm not saying easier or smoother...just...better statistically. Forget the "who would be tougher to beat on any given Saturday" discussion - It's tough enough to beat ANY team twice in one year...let alone in back-to-back weekends.
Mora and the Bruins are competitors so it's ludricous to think they would intentially lose on Saturday but in motorcycling we have a saying: "It's the jouney, not the destination."Â That's not necessarily the case in Football, just ask the Pats who had a perfect season until losing the Superbowl to the Giants.Â
Again...you've got a system that's on a solid trajectory, talented players and a solid head coach so I'm sure they wouldn't give this much thought. But I'm wondering if the thought crossed thier minds? And if it did...wouldn't that motivate the Cardinal players (e.g. "What do you mean you'ld rather play us twice than the DUcks once?!").
Was I the only one thinking this?
Actually, there were probably 10,000 people who are interested in football who were thinking it.
One of them actually had the temerity to ask Mora about it.
His response; "Are you serious?".
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Did he do a good imitation of his father: "Playoffs?? Playoffs???"