BOWL SEASON (and playoff season also)!!

[Ron G]

I just don't understand this. Why isn't Georgia playing Alabama (because Alabama would have beaten ND in the first game) instead of ND. Afterall Notre Dame lost to Northern Illinois.
Also, ND is not in the SEC and if they were they would have been 5 -7 this year.

If Texas didn't move to the SEC this year, then the SEC would not be in the semifinals, let alone the final. But they will have 10 teams in the top 20 to start next season and probably 5 more in the top 25. When ESPN puts out its version of the top 25, Georgia will be in the top 5 because they should not have lost any of the 3 that they did lose.

 

[10HtownRebs]

It's time for the Big Boys to play now mfer's...

Show some respect

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

The month long layoff for the BYE teams might also need to be tweaked.
The four teams with the extended rest scored 3 first quarter points combined.

All of them were being blown out by the end of the 2nd quarter by a score of 81-18.
All of them played considerably better to various degrees in the 2nd half.

Ten days of rest for the first round winners seemed to be the perfect amount of health rest without getting rusty.
That looks to have been a huge hidden advantage.

It was clear that Rust did make something of an impact.....not all the impact, but enough to make 16 teams more plausible format.

 

[antone112]

Tebow just said “We’re putting our throats on them”

 

[Ron G]

The month long layoff for the BYE teams might also need to be tweaked.
The four teams with the extended rest scored 3 first quarter points combined.

All of them were being blown out by the end of the 2nd quarter by a score of 81-18.
All of them played considerably better to various degrees in the 2nd half.

Ten days of rest for the first round winners seemed to be the perfect amount of health rest without getting rusty.
That looks to have been a huge hidden advantage.

It was clear that Rust did make something of an impact.....not all the impact, but enough to make 16 teams more plausible format.

That is an argument for why a loss in the 1st or 2nd game should be somewhat discounted. Unless it is to an FCS team. By the way didn't ND beat two of the better teams in the SEC, one on the road and one on the neutral field?

 

[rmilia1]

I thought it was weird UGA was favored in this one given they could've easily had 4 or 5 losses this year already and their QB was out

Man what a bad few days for the SEC. Texas won but barely. And most people don't really think of them as an SEC team yet

Between this year and last year we aren't too many years away from perceptions changing on league strength

Texas beating OSU would go a long way to helping that though

 

[Maverick426h]

Georgia blew this game. Very costly turnovers, penalties, drops and poor play calling. It's a shame because it could've been an epic game otherwise.

 

[Jordan23]

I thought it was weird UGA was favored in this one given they could've easily had 4 or 5 losses this year already and their QB was out

Man what a bad few days for the SEC. Texas won but barely. And most people don't really think of them as an SEC team yet

Between this year and last year we aren't too many years away from perceptions changing on league strength

Texas beating OSU would go a long way to helping that though

Texas won’t win that game

 

[10HtownRebs]

Texas won’t win that game

I don't see it either.

 

[Ron G]

Watching the Gator Bowl. I knew it, Ole Miss should have been in the playoff.

 

[UK Cowboy]

Was hard to fathom a better college player at OSU than Harrison...but he clearly is. at age 19. Amazing.

Yes he is

 

[Picklerick 2.0]

Watching the Gator Bowl. I knew it, Ole Miss should have been in the playoff.

Because they are beating a team that has there 3rd string QB in?

 

[eaglesnut]

Huge fuck up when the top 4 all lose. Stupid format.

Dumb incompetents with no honor, loyalty or sense of tradition are in charge of all these large institutions.

Lord help us.

 

[Ron G]

Because they are beating a team that has there 3rd string QB in?

Of course not, it's because they are in the SEC. That and Lane Kiffin said so.

 

[Ron G]

Texas won’t win that game

At this point any team can beat any other even by 21 or 24.

 

[Jordan23]

At this point any team can beat any other even by 21 or 24.

If Ohio state shows up, Texas is finished

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Bowl picks (January 3rd and 4th)

The loudest narrative coming into the playoff has been destroyed over the course of the last 3 days.

No doubt referring to the "conference champions getting byes" bit, right? Well... you're right, @antone112; the conference champions have gone 0-5 in this playoff! I don't know if that'll be the case next time, though.

Now back to business; there are still 3 bowl games not in the CFP hanging around. Let me take care of those games real quick, so that you guys can get back to your Orange and Cotton Bowl coverage (All times are Eastern, and all games on ESPN):

Today:
Servpro First Responder Bowl: North Texas vs. Texas State [4:00] (This game doesn't have the big names, but it does pay tribute to our first responders. And hey, it features two Texas teams facing off in Dallas, Texas! That's something to pay attention to! No doubt high-school players in the state will be watching this one.
So who will win? I mean, both North Texas and Texas State will be without key pieces for this game. But at least the Bobcats still have their top QB; the Mean Green lost theirs to Virginia.)
My prediction: TEXAS STATE 34-24

Duke's Mayo Bowl: Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech [7:30] (Now THIS bowl game has some big names. And this game has the tradition of the winning coach taking a bath in mayonnaise once it's over. But for the winner, I got the Gophers; they have way fewer opt-outs and transfers than Virginia Tech does. And I heard that Va-Tech also has health problems at QB.)
My prediction: MINNESOTA 27-20

Tomorrow:
Bahamas Bowl: Buffalo vs. Liberty [11:00 A.M.] (Over the last few years, the Bahamas Bowl have usually started a bowl season. But this year [in a strange bit of irony], the Bahamas Bowl will END the bowl season. And I think Liberty will enjoy beating Buffalo again to end a sightly-disappointing season in grand styl-
Wait. The starting QB, starting right-tackle, starting left-guard, and some good defensive players are sitting out this game for Liberty? And Buffalo's depth chart is status-quo? Uh oh! Is an upset brewing?)
My prediction: BUFFALO in an upset 34-31

...and I'm almost done! The semifinals beckon!

 

[Ron G]

If Ohio state shows up, Texas is finished

Out of the 12 teams in the playoff, 11 will lose their last game of the season. That does not make them bad teams. At this point there is no bad team. No team is undefeated so that by definition means any of them can be defeated.
Ten days ago, I didn't think ND could beat Georgia and felt they would do well to lose 31-14. Then I saw Tennessee get beat.
Right now, I think Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn St and Texas in that order are the likeliest winner.
A few special teams plays, in the first quarter an injury to a QB, wide receiver, offensive tackle or center or a targeting call can change the outcome any of these games.
Notre Dame and Texas may be the only teams that could weather the loss of their QB. Steve Angeli is actually very good, and we all know about Manning. I don't know the backups on Ohio St and Penn St. Although I will say this, the backups on all these teams were probably the best player to ever come out of their high school.
------------------------------
All the talk about rust is interesting. But I believe not a single coach would rather have to win four games than three to win the championship. No coach will tank a game next year to avoid getting the bye.

 

[PIBuckeye]

Watching the Gator Bowl. I knew it, Ole Miss should have been in the playoff.

well, they shouldn't have lost to the worst team in the sec, kentucky, then losing to florida.............

 

[Ron G]

well, they shouldn't have lost to the worst team in the sec, kentucky, then losing to florida.............

Don't forget that at the start of every season, they actually believe every team in the SEC is better than all the teams not in the SEC. And because of that their SOS should get them into the playoff.
A while back I referenced somebody ( agoof?) who said ND would be lucky to 5-7 in the SEC with all the losses coming in conference. In retrospect I wonder who he thought at the time that they would beat. Probably not Texas A& M or Georgia.