College Football Playoff Thread

[Dawg83]

Round 1 kicks off tonight in South Bend and then three games tomorrow.

 

Indiana at Notre Dame - I have two opposing views on this. On one hand, I really like this Notre Dame team and believe they could legitimately win the whole thing. But then there’s another part of me that totally distrusts Notre Dame in big games and the Playoff. Also, I think I like Cignetti as a coach more than Marcus Freeman. I think I’m taking Notre Dame in a close one but don’t be shocked at all if IU pulls the upset.

 

SMU at Penn State - feel reasonably confident in Penn State here at home, though neither team really has a great win this year. You can even argue SMU’s wins are better. Just haven’t seen enough to feel like SMU can win in that environment yet.

 

Clemson at Texas - this is the game I feel most confident in I think. I think Clemson can keep it close for a while but eventually Texas pulls away and likely wins by double digits.

 

Tennessee at Ohio State - Which OSU is showing up? At their best they may be the best team in the field. But that Michigan game was rough. Think I’m still going OSU at home though. If this were in Knoxville I’d take UT, but not sure I trust them on the road.

[pancho]

ND, PSU, TX, UT

[NoWammies]

I liked the IU story early in the season but I’ve kind of grown to not really like Cignetti. Feel free to burn me at the stake for thinking that way. Go Notre Dame. 

[hasbeen67]

I didn't realize it started until I saw a promo today. I feel like the fans of every SEC team except MSU would feel like they'd have a chance against these first two and probably all but the first-round bye teams. 

[rebmus]

ND handling Indiana fairly easily so far. 

 

 

[David44]

the first and long over due 12 team playoff finally, we waited with baited breath, YEP

Indiana belonged we were told, even though there best win was an average Michigan, YEP

The playoff committee would be totally impartial, even though the chair was Big Ten, YEP

Ole Miss, SC, Alabama, Miami would have skulled drug Indiana, YEP

The very first game of the long awaited playoff could have been a 50 point blowout

but Notre Dame chose to just play with it's food, much like when Indiana played

the only team on their schedule with a pulse, Ohio State.  YEP

Should Kirk Cignetti continue to play the arrogant A__hole card after this game, NOPE

Could this very first game of the much anticipated new playoff been any more embarrassing, NOPE.

 

 

 

[Dawg83]

Not Indiana’s fault that the teams that supposedly would smoke them didn’t take care of their business.

 

No, Indians probably wasn’t a Top 10 team…. But the teams that people seem to be higher on had every chance to be included and didn’t handle their business. IU did beat the teams they were supposed to beat, and did so easily most of the time.

[s1nglewing]

19 minutes ago, Dawg83 said:

Not Indiana’s fault that the teams that supposedly would smoke them didn’t take care of their business.

 

No, Indians probably wasn’t a Top 10 team…. But the teams that people seem to be higher on had every chance to be included and didn’t handle their business. IU did beat the teams they were supposed to beat, and did so easily most of the time.

They played a patsy schedule and won. If that's the criteria for getting to the playoffs then that's going to set a precedent. SEC teams, that have to play several games against peer opponents, will suffer for it.

[David44]

There was never any point in last night’s game that you could say “wow I think Indiana has a chance here”. If u truly have the top 12 teams, a 5 vs 12 game should not look like that.Totally non-competitive.

Edited December 21, 2024 by David44

[pancho]

Indiana appears to have been about the 12th best team had they played an SEC schedule.  They never would have even been mentioned nationally.

[MSTSatchmo]

Indiana bombed the two big tests they had.  They did beat a Michigan team that beat Ohio State, as well as did not struggle with lesser teams like Bama, OM, Miami and others.  
Do I think Bama and OM are better than Indiana?  Yes.  However, they were also better than Kentucky and Vandy, so we can’t act like it’s a guarantee they are.  

[pancho]

just asking, couldn't vandy beat all the teams that indiana defeated other than michigan?

[MSTSatchmo]

Could they?  Possibly, but they also lost to Georgia State.    

[pancho]

this playoff deal is a mess

[hasbeen67]

It was discussed some on the High School board, if size and class matter. Obviously, at some point it does. The 1A champ isn't going to be competitive with the 7A champ. That's the same principle here. A certain record in the Mountain West or ACC isn't the same as that record in the SEC. Look at the Clemson/USC final game. With that being said, if any of the three-loss SEC teams would have won the games they should have, they'd probably be in.

 

P.S. What separated Saban from everyone was consistency week to week and year to year. That's what everybody else is missing. It'll probably get worse in the current era. And add depth and injuries. 

Edited December 21, 2024 by hasbeen67

[pancho]

I agree and I'll be interested to see if teams like indiana, smu and az state fall back next year.

[MSTSatchmo]

I was wrong.  There should be the four major conference champs, one from the smaller conferences, 2-3 from the Big10 and the rest from the SEC.  P

[Unionman76]

Texas high school games are better than these playoffs, all games should be neutral site 

[Insideradvantage]

No games except for the final should be neutral site. When they go to 16 teams I hope they play on campus games exclusively except for the championship. Just like the NFL. It adds to the excitement level exponentially. 

[pancho]

yea, have em all on campus. bet Texas high school playoff games are on campus as well.

[Unionman76]

28 minutes ago, pancho said:

yea, have em all on campus. bet Texas high school playoff games are on campus as well.

Not really, in 5a semi was at cowboy indoor practice facility, final at Jerry world, they have large community stadiums 

[Dawg83]

Ohio State smoking the Vols early. Homefield advantage seems to have been a huge deal today.

[pancho]

Vols coming back

[NoWammies]

This one has a Bama/Georgia game this year feel to it. 

[pancho]

it ain't over but UT needs to be able to throw more