[2006alum]

Well, there's at least one reason to argue that we shouldn't be ranked very highly: according to ESPN's 10 best CFB wins so far this season, we were on the receiving end of nos. 3 (Washington) and 7 (Washington St.), and the best team we've beaten, USC, was on the receiving end of no. 4 (against Alabama). To the extent people vote based on notorious games, unfortunately our misses are far more memorable than our hits.

[2006alum]

Well, there's at least one reason to argue that we shouldn't be ranked very highly: according to ESPN's 10 best CFB wins so far this season, we were on the receiving end of nos. 3 (Washington) and 7 (Washington St.), and the best team we've beaten, USC, was on the receiving end of no. 4 (against Alabama). To the extent people vote based on notorious games, unfortunately our misses are far more memorable than our hits.

[OutsiderFan]

Saw LSU at Texas A&M last night until it was 27-10, and was damn impressed by LSU.  They looked better than in any of the 3-4 games I had seen them play all year.  It looks like from the box score it got a little crazy in the 4th - and LSU allowed a team +21 points for the first time all season - but hard to say LSU isn't at least as good as Stanford, even at 7-4. Their losses are to #1 Alabama, #6 Wisconsin, #13 Auburn and #14 Florida, and they beat Ole Miss when they were ranked #23. Stanford's losses are to #4 Washington, #9 Colorado, and #23 Washington State, and they have beat then unranked but now #12 U$C. 

Frankly, it stinks that Stanford can't play LSU in a bowl game.  It seems like it would be quite a compelling matchup.  Larry Scott should be working tirelessly to figure out how to get a bowl game between the Pac-12 and SEC.  The SEC is the only Power 5 conference the Pac-12 doesn't have one against and I for one hate this.

[OutsiderFan]

Saw LSU at Texas A&M last night until it was 27-10, and was damn impressed by LSU.  They looked better than in any of the 3-4 games I had seen them play all year.  It looks like from the box score it got a little crazy in the 4th - and LSU allowed a team +21 points for the first time all season - but hard to say LSU isn't at least as good as Stanford, even at 7-4. Their losses are to #1 Alabama, #6 Wisconsin, #13 Auburn and #14 Florida, and they beat Ole Miss when they were ranked #23. Stanford's losses are to #4 Washington, #9 Colorado, and #23 Washington State, and they have beat then unranked but now #12 U$C. 

Frankly, it stinks that Stanford can't play LSU in a bowl game.  It seems like it would be quite a compelling matchup.  Larry Scott should be working tirelessly to figure out how to get a bowl game between the Pac-12 and SEC.  The SEC is the only Power 5 conference the Pac-12 doesn't have one against and I for one hate this.

[fullmetal]

LSU's OL must be monstrous.  Not only do they make Fournette look good, they made enough room for Derrius Guice (who?) to set the single-game rushing yardage record for LSU vs. A&M. 

It's also very possible that A&M rolled over.

[fullmetal]

LSU's OL must be monstrous.  Not only do they make Fournette look good, they made enough room for Derrius Guice (who?) to set the single-game rushing yardage record for LSU vs. A&M. 

It's also very possible that A&M rolled over.

[BostonCard]

Well Tennessee is at risk of losing to Mason's Vandy.

BC

[BostonCard]

Well Tennessee is at risk of losing to Mason's Vandy.

BC

[StannyBoy]

LSU's OL must be monstrous.  Not only do they make Fournette look good, they made enough room for Derrius Guice (who?) to set the single-game rushing yardage record for LSU vs. A&M. 

It's also very possible that A&M rolled over.

LSU does have a great o-line this season but Guice was a top 5 RB and borderline 5 star coming out of HS.

[StannyBoy]

LSU's OL must be monstrous.  Not only do they make Fournette look good, they made enough room for Derrius Guice (who?) to set the single-game rushing yardage record for LSU vs. A&M. 

It's also very possible that A&M rolled over.

LSU does have a great o-line this season but Guice was a top 5 RB and borderline 5 star coming out of HS.

[OutsiderFan]

Well that was a terrible day for the SEC.

Alabama smokes totally overrated #13 Auburn.
Florida State demolishes #15 Florida.
Vandy puts up 45 on #17 Tennessee and wins.
Georgia Tech ekes out a win over Georgia.
Clemson totally eviscerates South Carolina.

Might the ACC be better than the SEC?  I mean check out these results:

Florida State beat Ole Miss and Florida.
Clemson beat Auburn and South Carolina.
Georgia Tech beat Georgia.

That's ACC 5-0 over the SEC right there.

The SEC East is a steaming pile of guano.  And the West pretty much stinks after Alabama and 4-loss LSU.  Who the hell is going to bother watching the SEC championship game?

As for the Big Ten, man what a terrible conundrum the playoff committee has put itself in.  Ohio State would seem to be a shoe-in to make the playoff, but does the committee want to set the precedent of a non conference champion getting in?  What about Michigan?  They lost in double OT to the #3 team.  Then what do you do if PSU wins the Big Ten?  Leave the team out who beat Ohio State head-to-head?

At minimum, these Big Ten results probably kill the Big-12's playoff hopes, and rightfully so.

Hard to see a focused Clemson team losing to even a pretty well coached VT team.

Will the winner of the Pac-12 championship game be left out of the party? I talk about the Big-12 having no good OOC wins this year, but what is the best Pac-12 OOC win?  Believe it or not, it seems to be Stanford beating Kansas State.  After that, it's probably Colorado leading Michigan when Liufau went out with injury.  It sure seems to me that game should get a lot of consideration should Colorado beat Washington.

Once again, we have a clear and present need for all conference champions to be in playoff.  If Ohio State is in without winning its conference, why bother with conference championship games?  Frankly, that would be perfectly fine with me, and even my preference. 

[OutsiderFan]

Well that was a terrible day for the SEC.

Alabama smokes totally overrated #13 Auburn.
Florida State demolishes #15 Florida.
Vandy puts up 45 on #17 Tennessee and wins.
Georgia Tech ekes out a win over Georgia.
Clemson totally eviscerates South Carolina.

Might the ACC be better than the SEC?  I mean check out these results:

Florida State beat Ole Miss and Florida.
Clemson beat Auburn and South Carolina.
Georgia Tech beat Georgia.

That's ACC 5-0 over the SEC right there.

The SEC East is a steaming pile of guano.  And the West pretty much stinks after Alabama and 4-loss LSU.  Who the hell is going to bother watching the SEC championship game?

As for the Big Ten, man what a terrible conundrum the playoff committee has put itself in.  Ohio State would seem to be a shoe-in to make the playoff, but does the committee want to set the precedent of a non conference champion getting in?  What about Michigan?  They lost in double OT to the #3 team.  Then what do you do if PSU wins the Big Ten?  Leave the team out who beat Ohio State head-to-head?

At minimum, these Big Ten results probably kill the Big-12's playoff hopes, and rightfully so.

Hard to see a focused Clemson team losing to even a pretty well coached VT team.

Will the winner of the Pac-12 championship game be left out of the party? I talk about the Big-12 having no good OOC wins this year, but what is the best Pac-12 OOC win?  Believe it or not, it seems to be Stanford beating Kansas State.  After that, it's probably Colorado leading Michigan when Liufau went out with injury.  It sure seems to me that game should get a lot of consideration should Colorado beat Washington.

Once again, we have a clear and present need for all conference champions to be in playoff.  If Ohio State is in without winning its conference, why bother with conference championship games?  Frankly, that would be perfectly fine with me, and even my preference. 

[oldalum]

why bother with conference championship games? 

It's the $.

[oldalum]

why bother with conference championship games? 

It's the $.

[OutsiderFan]

[quote author=OutsiderFan link=topic=16142.msg180807#msg180807 date=1480252216]
why bother with conference championship games? 

It's the $.
[/quote]

Yes, but I'm imagining the revenue generated from a quarterfinals would be much greater than from a conference championship game. 

[OutsiderFan]

[quote author=OutsiderFan link=topic=16142.msg180807#msg180807 date=1480252216]
why bother with conference championship games? 

It's the $.
[/quote]

Yes, but I'm imagining the revenue generated from a quarterfinals would be much greater than from a conference championship game. 

[JJJ]

For what it's worth, Mandel thinks tOSU is a shoo-in, and UW is #5 now. I disagree but my opinions matter less than his...

http://www.foxsports.com/college-footbal...-13-112716

[JJJ]

For what it's worth, Mandel thinks tOSU is a shoo-in, and UW is #5 now. I disagree but my opinions matter less than his...

http://www.foxsports.com/college-footbal...-13-112716

[BostonCard]

Pat Forde had a similar point, which was that both tOSU and Michigan should be in the playoffs, even though neither will have won their division (and in Michigan's case, they will be third in their own division).

I have a hard time believing that the committee would leave out a one-loss conference champion, and take a two loss team that is third in its division.  So I think UW, Clemson, and Alabama are in if they win (and Alabama even if it has a fluke loss), and the fourth slot will go to Ohio State or Penn State, probably the former, despite the head-to-head result and conference championship.  But I would be fine if the committee takes a two-loss conference champion Penn State.

BC

[BostonCard]

Pat Forde had a similar point, which was that both tOSU and Michigan should be in the playoffs, even though neither will have won their division (and in Michigan's case, they will be third in their own division).

I have a hard time believing that the committee would leave out a one-loss conference champion, and take a two loss team that is third in its division.  So I think UW, Clemson, and Alabama are in if they win (and Alabama even if it has a fluke loss), and the fourth slot will go to Ohio State or Penn State, probably the former, despite the head-to-head result and conference championship.  But I would be fine if the committee takes a two-loss conference champion Penn State.

BC

[dabigv13]

No way should Ohio State go and PSU not if they win the B10 championship. Ohio State can't be said to have had a better season if they didn't win their conference....I feel like I'm living in crazy town!

They may be a "better" team but tough cookies.

[dabigv13]

No way should Ohio State go and PSU not if they win the B10 championship. Ohio State can't be said to have had a better season if they didn't win their conference....I feel like I'm living in crazy town!

They may be a "better" team but tough cookies.

[BostonCard]

In a bit of irony, the Big10 was the conference pushing for conference champions to go to the playoff, and the SEC that was pushing for the "four best teams".

BC

[BostonCard]

In a bit of irony, the Big10 was the conference pushing for conference champions to go to the playoff, and the SEC that was pushing for the "four best teams".

BC