12-08-2013, 03:33 PM
(12-08-2013, 02:51 PM)Kathy link Wrote:The truth is, we DON'T deserve a playoff shot at the NCG this year. Next year, who knows? Don't lose to Utah and University of Spoiled Children, or anyone else, and we'll be in that Top 4 ranking.
Why don't we deserve a playoff shot in a hypothetical four-team playoff? Who, of the top contenders, has played a schedule even close to ours? My guess is that FSU, bama, and Auburn would be lock picks for the playoff. As to the fourth, it's a choice with (something like): OSU, MSU, Baylor.
All those teams have one loss but then all of them played much easier schedules. Stanford played 7 home/6 road. MSU 7 home/5 road/1 neutral. OSU 7 home/5 road/1 neutral. Baylor 8 home/4 road.
Strength of schedule.
Sagarin (up-to-date): Stanford (4); MSU (56); OSU (57); Baylor (60)
Football Outsiders (as of last week): Stanford (2); MSU (79); Baylor (66); OSU (95)
ESPN: Stanford (4); OSU (59); MSU (48); Baylor (67)
The computers agree -- Stanford hasn't just played a tougher schedule, it's played a tougher schedule by a lot. I personally think playing a tougher schedule -- by a brobdingnagian degree -- outweighs an extra loss. Others might disagree, but it's not inarguable.