No love for FSU....

[HRBAKER]

I thought the games were very compelling notwithstanding Oregon running off and leaving FSU in the dust. I think it gives creedence to what a lot of pundits have been saying about them most of the year. I am glad they were in though so it played out on the field.

What was the deal with a lot of the team walking off the field without shaking hands with Oregon? Were they afraid they would fumble the handshake?

[Runscott]

I don't think most of us were surprised too much by the FSU/Oregon result - playing from behind in the second half to beat average teams is not a good formula for beating a top 4 team. FSU apparently perform well when desperate.

But Ohio State? I'm stunned that Alabama could waste a 21-6 lead like that. The interception from OSU's 20 yd-line was unforgivable, given how well the run had been working for them.

I will certainly eat crow after that game. All-in-all, I haven't been impressed with the Southeastern Conference's bowl performance, other than Texas A&M, who I didn't think would win.

As far as 8 games goes - that isn't happening until you declare these college students to be professionals and pay them (when education officially becomes second to minor league NFL football). The goal was to ensure that the best team had a shot at the end - a 4-team playoff is enough to do that. Anything beyond that becomes just that much more about money.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Runscott

I don't think most of us were surprised too much by the FSU/Oregon result - playing from behind in the second half to beat average teams is not a good formula for beating a top 4 team. FSU apparently perform well when desperate.

But Ohio State? I'm stunned that Alabama could waste a 21-6 lead like that. The interception from OSU's 20 yd-line was unforgivable, given how well the run had been working for them.

I will certainly eat crow after that game. All-in-all, I haven't been impressed with the Southeastern Conference's bowl performance, other than Texas A&M, who I didn't think would win.

As far as 8 games goes - that isn't happening until you declare these college students to be professionals and pay them (when education officially becomes second to minor league NFL football). The goal was to ensure that the best team had a shot at the end - a 4-team playoff is enough to do that. Anything beyond that becomes just that much more about money.

At the time of the 21-6 lead, Ohio State had outgained Alabama 348-to-140 - only the two turnovers kept it from being a rout from the start.

As a Georgian, I'm just happy Georgia and Georgia Tech won and did so convincingly.

I think TCU should be rated #3 right now....Mississippi isn't that bad and that was complete domination.

[jiw98]

What I see after the bowl games so far is that maybe the SEC West isn't as strong of a conference after all. The only team from the West that won their Bowl game is Texas A&M (a former BIG 12 team).
The conference that seems to get bashed (BIG 10) showed a lot of grit knocking off two of the SEC West teams. The BIG 10 also knocked off the BIG 12 co-champion. Maybe there isn't as big of difference in talent as some are thinking.
That being said I think TCU belonged in the play-off. They certainly played their Bowl game like they belonged. What a statement they made against yet another SEC West team.
Good luck to Oregon and Ohio State.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by jiw98

What I see after the bowl games so far is that maybe the SEC West isn't as strong of a conference after all. The only team from the West that won their Bowl game is Texas A&M (a former BIG 12 team).
The conference that seems to get bashed (BIG 10) showed a lot of grit knocking off two of the SEC West teams. The BIG 10 also knocked off the BIG 12 co-champion. Maybe there isn't as big of difference in talent as some are thinking.
That being said I think TCU belonged in the play-off. They certainly played their Bowl game like they belonged. What a statement they made against yet another SEC West team.
Good luck to Oregon and Ohio State.

You could be right about lack of disparity. The SEC certainly didn't show up for bowl season.

Regarding TCU's belonging - this wasn't about getting the best 4, rather it was about getting a legitimate champion. Any team can appear to be the best at the end of the season - just look at all the wild cards in both MLB and the NFL that have gone on to win championships. Perhaps TCU actually is the best team. Perhaps Baylor is...I mean 'was'...and now Michigan State is? If OSU beats Oregon, everyone will say they got it right, except, of course TCU.

If you go to 'best 8', you'll have several teams screaming that they were at least the 8th best team - instead of 2 (Baylor and TCU), you will have 3-4. Look at the NCAA tourney - every time they expanded the field, they simply expanded the number of complaints about getting left out.

[HRBAKER]

Speaking of the Big 10, did Iowa send the third string to Jacksonville? The Volunteers aren't exactly world beaters.

[Section103]

Originally Posted by Runscott

If you go to 'best 8', you'll have several teams screaming that they were at least the 8th best team - instead of 2 (Baylor and TCU), you will have 3-4. Look at the NCAA tourney - every time they expanded the field, they simply expanded the number of complaints about getting left out.

You'll never eliminate the complaining, but the further down the line you go, the less the complaints matter. Teams complaining about being #3 or #5 being left out has a chance of being significant to the championship process. Teams complaining about being left out at #65 & #66, have very little chance of being significant to the process.

No one has ever said the complaining will stop. Its about making the process as good and complete as it can be (within constraints).

[HRBAKER]

As pointed out previously.
It's only going to get bigger, the money will dictate that.
At the end of the day - that's what it is really all about.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Section103

You'll never eliminate the complaining, but the further down the line you go, the less the complaints matter. Teams complaining about being #3 or #5 being left out has a chance of being significant to the championship process. Teams complaining about being left out at #65 & #66, have very little chance of being significant to the process.

No one has ever said the complaining will stop. Its about making the process as good and complete as it can be (within constraints).

The process isn't complete enough at 4. We have complaints, so we realize this. The process won't be complete enough with 8. We'll have complaints, so we'll realize this. It won't be complete enough with 16. We'll have complaints, so we'll realize this. It won't be complete enough with 32. We'll have complaints, so we'll realize this. It won't be complete enough with 64. We'll have complaints, so we'll realize this.