NCAA Week 10 Discussion

[Huckleberry]

Okay, this week appears to be all about Miami @ Virginia Tech.

Seeing the Tarheel offense drive down the field for touchdowns against the 'Canes last week could have been cause for Hurricane concern, but I don't think the Hokies have the same skillset that UNC does. The Tarheels were just ramming it down Miami's throat and their RBs were dishing out punishment to the 'Cane linebackers and safeties. I've only seen Miami in a couple of games now, and the Hokies in 3, but I figure Virginia Tech to score around 17-20 points on offense. Meaning through sustained offensive drives.

Of course the problem is that the Miami offense isn't very good. Kyle Wright may be good someday, but he's not there yet. It doesn't help that their OL is subpar and they can't get a running game going. Despite being 6-1 meaning lots of time to run the ball, they're 53rd in rushing offense and average only 3.8 ypc on the year. 59th in passing offense, 43rd in pass efficiency, 62nd in total offense, 38th in scoring. -1 turnover margin on the season (-.14 per game). I don't see how Miami scores enough and figure Virginia Tech will either score on defense or set up an immediate score that way.

It feels like a 27-10 Hokie win or somewhere in that neighborhood.

In other games, ESPN.com actually ran a poll asking whether USC or Stanford would win. And 22% of the respondents had answered Stanford the last time I checked. Perhaps that money line will be more profitable than first imagined if that reflects the betting public.

[MrBug708]

Everyone is again picking UCLA to lose. This time to the 2-6 Wildcats

[Ksyrup]

I'm praying Miami beats VT. If FSU is playing one of them in the ACC Championship, I want it to be Miami. Considering what Virginia did to us with a mobile QB, I can't imagine the ass-kicking we'll get from Marcus Vick.

FSU plays NC State, always a tougher game than it should be.

[mauchow]

Everyone is again picking UCLA to lose. This time to the 2-6 Wildcats
According to the pick 'em on ESPN, 86% of people are picking UCLA to win. What exactly you lookin' at?

[General Mike]

USF at Rutgers. A Rutgers win clinches a bowl bid.

[bronconick]

FSU plays NC State, always a tougher game than it should be.
With no Leon, and a beat up O-line and defensive secondary.

Of those, only the first is easily covered.

No game is going to be easy this season.

[MrBug708]

According to the pick 'em on ESPN, 86% of people are picking UCLA to win. What exactly you lookin' at?

I read the fan message boards, mostly of the PAC-10 :D

[Swaggs]

Everyone is again picking UCLA to lose. This time to the 2-6 Wildcats

You sound like a Patriots' fan, trying to create unwarranted disrespect for un-needed motivation. ;)

[PSUColonel]

I think UCLA should win the game rather easily, and in doing so beat the spread.

[DanGarion]

Everyone is again picking UCLA to lose. This time to the 2-6 Wildcats
That's because.

http://www.dangarion.com/gallery/albums/misc/ucla_sucks_thumb.jpg

[JeeberD]

Whoever wins Saturdays UTEP-Tulsa game will have a leg up on the CUSA West title. Tulsa has beaten us three years in a row (including last year right after we had cracked the Top 25 for the first time in 18 years). The game is in El Paso and will most likely be another sell-out, so crowd noise could take an effect on Tulsa's game.

Should be a great game...

[Blade6119]

Mizzou colorado basically still decides who gets the privilege of taking on texas in the big-12 championship game...mizzou wins out and they have the title, colorado does and they have it

[MrBug708]

That's because.

http://www.dangarion.com/gallery/albums/misc/ucla_sucks_thumb.jpg

http://iekwk.com/images/Screw%20the%20Trojans.jpg

[Hurst2112]

COOL first 25 seconds of play in the Louisville/Pitt game.

Pitt elects to receive the opening kickoff. The guy muffs the catch and Lou recovers in the endzone.

The ensuing kickoff by Lou...the guy who fumbles on the FIRST play, runs one back about 80 yards for a TD.

[Passacaglia]

How does the ACC Championship work, anyway? Do they have divisions or what?

[miami_fan]

How does the ACC Championship work, anyway? Do they have divisions or what?
Two Divisions. The Atlantic and the Coastal

[Passacaglia]

Two Divisions. The Atlantic and the Coastal

Wow. And how do they decide which teams are Atlantic and which teams are Coastal?

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard! No wonder you get D's!"

[cthomer5000]

USF at Rutgers. A Rutgers win clinches a bowl bid.
Yeah, one more win essentially ensures they're going to a bowl. I hope it's this game, because I don't want to be sweating that Cincinnati game hard at the end of the season.

[Wolfpack]

Wow. And how do they decide which teams are Atlantic and which teams are Coastal?

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard! No wonder you get D's!"

It's that way because FSU and Miami didn't want to be in the same division, which effectively killed any geographic split along North-South lines. After that, it was a matter of splitting up the teams such that most of the league's major rivalries were preserved, either with teams in the same division or with a permanent partner cross-division arrangement.

[RendeR]

THe Big Ten title is gonna clear up a lot this weekend. Penn State/Wisconsin, if PSU loses, they have 2 losses in conference and drop behind both Wisonsin and Ohio State assuming an OSU win over Illinois.

Anyone know the tie breaker between Wisconsin and Ohio State? If they both run the table, who wins out?

My picks: Wisconsin defeats PSU, goes on to lose another game, OSU wins out and takes the Conference Title and the BCS bowl bid that goes with it.

[Wolfpack]

Time was, the Rose Bowl berth would be to whoever had been without one the longest. However, I think with the advent of the BCS, it is simply who is higher-ranked in the final BCS poll.

[digamma]

bumping for game day discussion.

[digamma]

Light morning of games.

In a non-television game, Georgia Tech scored to go up 7-0 on Wake Forest, only it's second first half touchdown in its last five games.

[sterlingice]

Ok, good. I couldn't find this thread as I figured it had to be on the front page.

Anyways, Kansas up 14-2 on Nebraska, trying to win for the first time against them since the 60s :D

SI

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

Why is Ainge starting in place of Clausen? Sheesh Fulmer can't you decide who is your main offensive quarterback?

[st.cronin]

Iowa fans should be furious with this team. They should have won the Big 10. They're every bit as good as Ohio State, except they have a better QB.

[timmynausea]

Rutgers has scored a couple times to make it a game. 37-31 in the fourth.

[digamma]

Rutgers trying to come back against South Florida.

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

What a catch by Stovall!

[Dr. Sak]

THe Big Ten title is gonna clear up a lot this weekend. Penn State/Wisconsin, if PSU loses, they have 2 losses in conference and drop behind both Wisonsin and Ohio State assuming an OSU win over Illinois.

Anyone know the tie breaker between Wisconsin and Ohio State? If they both run the table, who wins out?

My picks: Wisconsin defeats PSU, goes on to lose another game, OSU wins out and takes the Conference Title and the BCS bowl bid that goes with it.

Wisconsin has the tiebreaker over Ohio State since it has been longer since Wisconsin went to the BCS game as the Big Ten rep than Ohio State.

[timmynausea]

BC exposed by UNC.

[digamma]

Rutgers goes down.

Georgia Tech is beating Wake 24-10, pretty methodically. Wake's punter though is averaging 58.5 yards a punt on five punts. He's averaging almost 50 yards a kick on the season.

How high would an NFL team draft a punter?

(Insert your Tom Malone press conference joke here.)

[JonInMiddleGA]

Why is Ainge starting in place of Clausen? Sheesh Fulmer can't you decide who is your main offensive quarterback?

Basically it's because the season is all but over for the Vols & they're looking to next year.

[cartman]

BC exposed by UNC.

That result will not help VT in the computer rankings.

[digamma]

They play UNC too, so net-net shouldn't matter.

[ISiddiqui]

Spurrier's South Carolina is now bowl eligible. And that team is not that talented at all.

[General Mike]

Rutgers goes down.



I guess I am jinxed.

[ISiddiqui]

Penn State goes up on Wisc... what a pass.

[cartman]

They play UNC too, so net-net shouldn't matter.

There is a small impact in the computers regardless. For VT, best case would be for BC to have won out. Similar to Texas and Texas Tech. If Tech wins today against A&M, it will be better for Texas in the computers than if Tech loses, even though Texas plays A&M at the end of the season. You want your opponents to have the best record possible to help with your computer ranking.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Good grief, I wonder if UT put Randy Sanders in charge of the special teams this week?
A fumbled KOR gives ND their 2nd score, then a 78 yd PR makes it 21-3 Irish early in the 2Q.

[st.cronin]

Ainge is Danny's son, correct? How did he end up in Tennessee? That seems like an odd destination for him. I would've guessed somewhere out west, maybe ASU.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Erik is Danny's nephew.

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

I don't know why top qbs would keep signing with Tenesseee based on the past 5-6 years of qbs being platooned and, the location (no offense to folks living in Tenn.), landlocked no beaches, no main attraction et ala. This has got to be hurting their chances of attaining Clausens youger brother.

[ISiddiqui]

Ouch... Penn State is rolling over Wisconsin!

[Easy Mac]

I don't know why top qbs would keep signing with Tenesseee based on the past 5-6 years of qbs being platooned and, the location (no offense to folks living in Tenn.), landlocked no beaches, no main attraction et ala. This has got to be hurting their chances of attaining Clausens youger brother.
Gatlinburg is just around the corner.

[ISiddiqui]

DOLLYWOOD baby :D.

I love that area of Tennessee, FWIW, btw :D.

[Easy Mac]

I don't know if anyone else is checking out the Fox Sports game, but if you are watching Fox Sports South, quite possibly the worst announcer is on right now. You'll know when he speaks, but it's like having to listen to Cleveland from Family Guy give his opinion. It's like they just said "shit, our second guy is sick, grab that bum from the trashcan and give him a 40 to keep him happy."

[JonInMiddleGA]

Lost amidst everything else ... Kansas beats Nebraska 40-15, ending a 36 game losing streak vs NU.

[digamma]

NC State up by ten with ten minutes to play. FSU has replaced Weatherford with Xavier Lee.

Not a great day for the Atlantic Division of the ACC.

[Craptacular]

Some of the other games seem to be going Texas' way, and not Va Tech's. Colorado beats Mizzou, Kansas beats Nebraska, and FSU currently losing to NC St.

edit: Sorry, didn't read the above couple of posts first.

[Easy Mac]

If you want to see good old option football in the last 2 minutes, watch Georgia Southern vs. Furman on Fox Sports South. I hope we win, but damn if option football isn't fun to watch.

[Easy Mac]

seriously defense, the guy can't throw more than 15 yards, and you can't stop it?

[cartman]

I don't know if anyone else is checking out the Fox Sports game, but if you are watching Fox Sports South, quite possibly the worst announcer is on right now. You'll know when he speaks, but it's like having to listen to Cleveland from Family Guy give his opinion. It's like they just said "shit, our second guy is sick, grab that bum from the trashcan and give him a 40 to keep him happy."

If you want to see good old option football in the last 2 minutes, watch Georgia Southern vs. Furman on Fox Sports South. I hope we win, but damn if option football isn't fun to watch.

I think with those two teams, it wasn't that the second guy was sick, more like the 20th guy...

:D

[cthomer5000]

USF at Rutgers. A Rutgers win clinches a bowl bid.
Boy did they suck today. 5 turnovers, 2 of them resulting in immediate touchdowns and 2 of them when down by just 6 with 5 mnutes or less remaining.

We seriously suck.

[Karlifornia]

Cal and Oregon are tied at 20 with 1:09 to play

[General Mike]

Boy did they suck today. 5 turnovers, 2 of them resulting in immediate touchdowns and 2 of them when down by just 6 with 5 mnutes or less remaining.

We seriously suck.

If I'm Schiano, I'm thinking Jabu Lovelace is going to be the starting QB next year. At least he can move around. And is smart.

[cthomer5000]

If I'm Schiano, I'm thinking Jabu Lovelace is going to be the starting QB next year. At least he can move around. And is smart.
Speaking of not smart, how about Schiano declining the delay of game near the end of the first half? The man CAN. NOT. COACH. He can recruit, but he loses his mind in close games.

[Karlifornia]

Their first winning season since god knows when, and the Rutgers fans are still whining. LOL.

[timmynausea]

Arizona is already up 21-0 on UCLA.

[digamma]

FSU goes down.

Interesting strategy play there by Amato. NCSU had two punts blocked in a row and was punting from its end zone. Amato took the safety, making the score 20-15. They ended up getting a pick around the 50, but it seems by taking the safety, you've given FSU a chance to win with a TD, instead of just tie. I guess having two kicks blocked in a row will do that too you.

[cartman]

FSU goes down.

That's another bad result to the computers for VPI.

[TroyF]

OK, I'm watching FSU/NCST

NC State up 5 with 31 seconds. Florida State has the ball and throws an INT. The NC State guy is running down the sidelines until he sees a ton of FSU guys coming and slides down.

The announcer: "That was a SMART, SMART play by that kid. You want to keep the clock running there, don't go out of bounds. Just hit the deck."

It's a change of possession dumb ass, the clock stopped the second he hit the ground. It ws a smart play because there is no reason to take a chance on fumbling when you have the game wrapped up, not because he had some brilliant clock management strategy.

[cthomer5000]

FSU and BC losing really sucks balls for VT.. doh!

[cthomer5000]

Their first winning season since god knows when, and the Rutgers fans are still whining. LOL.
Well, because we're now on the fast track to finish 6-5 and get passed over for a bowl. We're gonna get smoked by Louisville next week, then it'll be set up perfectly to choke it away against Cincinnati two weeks later.

[Swaggs]

So, is South Florida that good or did Rutgers just play terribly? WVU still has them on the schedule, as an away game, and I'm a bit worried about it after the way they whipped Louisville.

The coaches at UNC and NC State may have each bought themselves another season (although Amato was probably safe for next season, anyway) with their big wins today over ranked teams.

[cthomer5000]

So, is South Florida that good or did Rutgers just play terribly? WVU still has them on the schedule, as an away game, and I'm a bit worried about it after the way they whipped Louisville.
South Florida is a decent team, but they got a lot of breaks:

Ryan Hart INT returned for a touchdown
This happened incorrectly, as it was ruled pass intereferece on the play. The refs then got together and said the ball was tipped and the TD stood. Replays showed the ball was clearly NOT tipped and was just a terrible pass by Ryan Hart (it was so poorly thrown it looked like it had to be tipped).

Ryan Hart fumble returned for a touchdown
This happened just a few plays later, and was one of many terrible plays by Ryan Hart during the game.

So Rutgers basically spotted them 14 points in a game they lost by 14. 5 turnovers compared to 0 turnovers forced.


I think things will set up for the West Virginia @ South Florida game to be for the conference title, but i expect WVU to win pretty easily.

[timmynausea]

So, is South Florida that good or did Rutgers just play terribly? WVU still has them on the schedule, as an away game, and I'm a bit worried about it after the way they whipped Louisville.

The coaches at UNC and NC State may have each bought themselves another season (although Amato was probably safe for next season, anyway) with their big wins today over ranked teams.

I listened to part of it. Rutgers turned it over 6 times. It definitely seemed like, at least while I was listening, it was more Rutgers making mistakes than South Florida being that great.

[Swaggs]

Here is a dream scenario for BE fans that is somewhat possible.

Miami beats VT tonight, putting themselves in the driver's seat to win the ACC Coastal Division. Florida State then beats Miami in the ACC Championship game, making the ACC Champion a 2-loss team. I would like that. :)

[Blade6119]

I listened to part of it. Rutgers turned it over 6 times. It definitely seemed like, at least while I was listening, it was more Rutgers making mistakes than South Florida being that great.

South Florida did kick the crap out of louisville...i know their running back is a very underrated senior

[Karlifornia]

31-7 Arizona over UCLA at the half....

Oregon beats cal in OT

[General Mike]

I listened to part of it. Rutgers turned it over 6 times. It definitely seemed like, at least while I was listening, it was more Rutgers making mistakes than South Florida being that great.

Probably. The fact is if you put an above average QB on this team, like a Ray Lucas/Mike McMahon type, they win this game and they beat Illinois. At least they didn't quit like Louisville did against USF.

[Celeval]

Anyone else think the WF punter might be a pick in the first three rounds?

Season: 62 punts, 47.35 average. Today: 5 punts, 282 yards (56.4 average) - with a long of 64, so they were all up there. He's got a fighting shot at the NCAA record for punting average (75+ punts - 46.6, 50+ punts is 48.4).

[digamma]

Anyone else think the WF punter might be a pick in the first three rounds?

Season: 62 punts, 47.35 average. Today: 5 punts, 282 yards (56.4 average) - with a long of 64, so they were all up there. He's got a fighting shot at the NCAA record for punting average (75+ punts - 46.6, 50+ punts is 48.4).
Wake only has one game left. I don't think they're going to punt 13 times against Miami, but you never know. So, he'll have to have a hell of a day (over 60 yards a kick on five kicks) to get the record. Still, he's definitely a weapon.

[Solecismic]

31-7 Arizona over UCLA at the half....


Based on last week, UCLA has Arizona just where they want them.

[Easy Mac]

38-7

[Karlifornia]

Based on last week, UCLA has Arizona just where they want them.

Don't remind me.

[Easy Mac]

45-7/

And I will never talk about another team on the podcast (see below), because everytime I do, the team loses.

[vtbub]

45-7/

And I will never talk about another team on the podcast (see below), because everytime I do, the team loses.
Please hype Ohio State the weekend of November 19th.http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[kingfc22]

That was one hell of a hit on Wright.

[Easy Mac]

Damn, Kyle Wright just got the shit knocked out of him. That was a legal hit though, bad call by the refs.

[vtbub]

Backup QB and a backup RB

[timmynausea]

Miami just scored on 4th and goal from the 1. 10-0 Miami. Vick has looked a little shaky so far.

[vtbub]

Arizona 52-7

[SackAttack]

Arizona 52-7

http://www.dangarion.com/gallery/albums/misc/ucla_sucks_thumb.jpg

I think this bears repeating. :D

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

Arizona 52-7
Im going to Starbucks. I wouldnt be surprised if UCLA wins this one. ;)

[cartman]

Virginia Tech needs to wake up Marcus Vick at halftime if they want to have any chance of winning the game. He was absolutely horrible in that first half.

[Karlifornia]

Poor Hokie fans...this is the biggest game in the college's history, and the offense forgot to show up to the stadium.....

[Karlifornia]

Come on, Stanford. You guys have to nothing to lose tonight. Nobody expects you guys to be close even by halftime....You know what you have to do to win: Break Leinart's legs :)

[Easy Mac]

Poor Hokie fans...this is the biggest game in the college's history, and the offense forgot to show up to the stadium.....
They played in the national championship game.

[cthomer5000]

Hokies are getting their ass kicked.

[Easy Mac]

So we'll likely have only USC, Texas, and Alabama left after this week. As much as I've been on the Bama bandwagon (see the podcast... plug plug), I don't see them winning out with their inept offense (they needed their defense to beat Mississippi St. for cying out loud). So as much as I prefere a playoff, would anyone say the BCS has failed?

[Karlifornia]

They played in the national championship game.


Right....okay go ahead and edit it for yourself. Throw in "a big" where "biggest" was.

[Karlifornia]

Dola,

USC is a fucking machine. :(

[Eaglesfan27]

Reggie Bush made that TD run look so easy.

[Galaxy]

Wow, Vandy-Florida looking like a great finish.

[Easy Mac]

They're fucked without Jay Cutler.

[Easy Mac]

Excessive celebration?

Are the refs wearing Gator jerseys?

THank god they got the XP.

[Galaxy]

HORRIBLE call by the refs in UF's favor. Perheps the worst call I've ever seen.

[Neuqua]

Perheps the worst call I've ever seen.

Yeesh, judging by FOFC's response alone, this has to be the worst officiating day ever.

[cartman]

So we'll likely have only USC, Texas, and Alabama left after this week. As much as I've been on the Bama bandwagon (see the podcast... plug plug), I don't see them winning out with their inept offense (they needed their defense to beat Mississippi St. for cying out loud). So as much as I prefere a playoff, would anyone say the BCS has failed?

Yep, I still say so. There are plenty of one loss teams that would give USC or Texas a run for their money. Namely this Miami team.

[timmynausea]

5 turnovers for Vick. I think he's better than Michael.

[Easy Mac]

So why have a season, why not just play continuously throughout eternity without records. For all we know Temple could hang with USC after 1000 tries.

[cartman]

So why have a season, why not just play continuously throughout eternity without records. For all we know Temple could hang with USC after 1000 tries.

You have a season to select the teams and seedings for the playoffs. At least that's my observation of how just about every other team sport in existence works outside of Div. 1A football.

[Easy Mac]

Why have a playoff? If a 9-2 team runs through the playoffs, how does that prove they're the best.

I understand in a league of 117 teams there's no perfect solution, but being the best team at the end of the year shouldn't make you more worthy of a championship than anyone else.

And no, most of the soccer world doesn't have playoffs.

[Poli]

I don't want to root for Vandy. Teams I root for have a nasty habit of losing.

[Celeval]

Hell of a run by the Vandy RB there for the OT TD.

[Solecismic]

Baseball used to have a good system. It was called a 162-game season with a nice exhibition at the end.

Now, with the wild cards and six divisions (welfare for mediocre football teams), the regular season plays second fiddle to a really whacked out month of playoffs that settles absolutely nothing.

Football is better suited to a playoff system. I think a 24-team tournament should replace the bowl system. The day the bowls mattered ended the same day the Weed Whacker Bowl had to decide between 6-5 Northern Illinois and 7-4 Tulsa for an at-large bid.

Right now, with the vast disparity of scheduling, I have no confidence in the current system matching up the right teams in the championship.

[illinifan999]

helluva catch for florida there

[cartman]

Why have a playoff? If a 9-2 team runs through the playoffs, how does that prove they're the best.

I understand in a league of 117 teams there's no perfect solution, but being the best team at the end of the year shouldn't make you more worthy of a championship than anyone else.

And no, most of the soccer world doesn't have playoffs.

There are plenty of example to use: An injury to a key player for two games to cause the loss, bad officiating in a game, etc. I would argue that how a team plays at the end of a season is much more important that how it plays at the beginning. You don't judge a movie after watching the first 10 minutes, you judge it after watching the whole movie.

As for soccer, there are playoffs throughout the soccer world. The UEFA Cup and Champions League are basically each a huge playoff. And there are playoffs to determine promotion from most minor leagues to a higher league.

If playoffs are acceptable for every other division of college football outside from Div. 1AA on down, there is no reason they are not able to work for 1A.

[cartman]

Dola,

Congrats to TCU for winning the Mountain West conference in their first year!

[illinifan999]

the reason they won't work for 1a is pretty simple. money.

[Easy Mac]

Injuries and officiating are a part of the game. What if Leinart or Bush gets hurt the first playoff game and USC loses? So a playoff would answer nothing more than the bowls... or is that an exception to the rule?

[Karlifornia]

Nice effort, Vandy

[cartman]

the reason they won't work for 1a is pretty simple. money.

Are you saying that a Div. 1A playoff would generate less money than the current BCS bowl structure?

[illinifan999]

Are you saying that a Div. 1A playoff would generate less money than the current BCS bowl structure? most likely

[Ksyrup]

Oh well. Nothing would have brightened my night after the FSU game than Florida losing, and to Vandy no less.

I expected FSU to have a down year, but I think their fast start threw everyone off. I called us having 4-5 losses before the season, and I still think that's possible. Bobby's been outcoached by his son before, UF is always a tough game regardless of how good either team is, and we'll probably lose to either Miami or VT in the ACC Championship. You just can't win on a consistent basis with a freshman QB and a mediocre defense (injuries dropped us from above-average to mediocre). Despite today's game, Weatherford is still miles ahead of where Chris Rix was in his senior year. Weinke threw 6 picks against NC State his first year and still did pretty well...

[cartman]

Injuries and officiating are a part of the game. What if Leinart or Bush gets hurt the first playoff game and USC loses? So a playoff would answer nothing more than the bowls... or is that an exception to the rule?

No, they are two seperate stories. The regular season sets the table for the playoffs.

Nothing to demean the regular season, but what is the answer if two of the three, or even all three of the current undefeateds lose? You have 0 or 1 teams with no losses and 10 or more teams with one loss. How do you decide the two teams to play for the title? You can't. If you are going to crown a national champion, you have to decide it on the field, not with 2/3 human voters and 1/3 computers factoring in how well the team that lost to a team that you beat played against a team that your opponent beat.

[cartman]

most likely

I would point to the money and interest generated by March Maddness. Currently, many of the lower tier bowls are struggling to stay afloat, and most lose money. With how football mad our country is, I can see a Div. 1A playoff greatly surpass March Madness and rival the NFL Playoffs for interest and revenue generated.

[Eaglesfan27]

I know Stanford's defense isn't very good (to put it mildly), but it is very entertaining to watch USC's offense demolish them. Their offense looks like it is really hitting it's stride now.

[illinifan999]

this is what I'm getting from a pretty quick search that landed me on a pro-bowl games site so the numbers might be a little exagerated.

"This year 28 bowl games will distribute more than $187 million to NCAA schools. More than $1.35 billion has been paid out in the past ten years and the bowls will conservatively payout $2.1 billion over the next ten years. While playoff proponents have tossed around some big dollar figures on what a playoff can generate they are just guesses. The biggest factor in these numbers is what the TV network(s) will pay and no network has come out with an amount they would pay for such an endeavor. We really don't know how much more it would be (if any) than the current system can provide, especially when you consider much of it would be replacement dollars when the bowls disappear?"

Part of me would like to see a playoff system, part of me would like to see it stay the same. No matter what system you go with there will always be a team left out.

[Solecismic]

Do you really want to tell us that a system that replaces Toledo/Wyoming with a first-round matchup of TCU and Ohio State isn't going to make a lot more money?

One negative might be that it'll be harder to gain sponsors for games. And it might be harder to get teams to travel to games, so the first two rounds (until you get to eight) might not be at neutral sites. But I'd bet they'd more than make up for that with the television revenue.

[cthomer5000]

Are you saying that a Div. 1A playoff would generate less money than the current BCS bowl structure?
Absolutely.

[Karlifornia]

Last year, Stanford caught USC at the right moment, and came close to getting a win, but this year they ran into them at a very bad time. This is ugly.

[Easy Mac]

No, they are two seperate stories. The regular season sets the table for the playoffs.

Nothing to demean the regular season, but what is the answer if two of the three, or even all three of the current undefeateds lose? You have 0 or 1 teams with no losses and 10 or more teams with one loss. How do you decide the two teams to play for the title? You can't. If you are going to crown a national champion, you have to decide it on the field, not with 2/3 human voters and 1/3 computers factoring in how well the team that lost to a team that you beat played against a team that your opponent beat.
Teams would be seeded based mainly on people's opinions and computer rankings, so it ends up being no difference, the winner isn't crowned on the field either way. A game between 2 undefeated teams with/without a true playoff isn't any difference, it was determined on the field in the end.

[Ksyrup]

The Miami/VT game reminded me of the mid-90s FSU/UNC games where UNC would come in as an overrated top 5-top 10 team thinking they could pull the upset, and came away with less than 100 yards of offense and a big L. That was ugly. I was hoping for Miami to win because I think FSU matches up better (my maiin concern with VT being that UVA's QB killed us and Marcus Vick is roughly 100 times better than him), but after tonight, I don't think it really matters.

[cartman]

Teams would be seeded based mainly on people's opinions and computer rankings, so it ends up being no difference, the winner isn't crowned on the field either way. A game between 2 undefeated teams with/without a true playoff isn't any difference, it was determined on the field in the end.

If there are only two undefeated teams, then yes, it is decided on the field. But the vast majority of the time, this is not the case. Or, like the last two seasons, where there has been more then one team after the bowls that is still undefeated.

I don't understand your statement, though, that if there are playoffs then the champion still isn't decided on the field. This is exactly how the NCAA Div. 1 basketball playoffs are done, and I don't hear anyone making the statement that the NCAA champion isn't decided on the court.

[dawgfan]

Newsflash: Washington still sucks. Carry on...

[Eaglesfan27]

Last year, Stanford caught USC at the right moment, and came close to getting a win, but this year they ran into them at a very bad time. This is ugly.
It's a thing of beauty! 44-0 with a little under 3 minutes left in the 1st half. :)

[Buccaneer]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg1 align=left><TD class=bg1 colSpan=5>Passing</TD></TR><TR class=bg4 align=middle><TD> </TD><TD>CP/AT</TD><TD>YDS</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>INT</TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>M Vick (http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootball/players/playerpage/422862)</TD><TD>8/22</TD><TD>91</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
What was Vick doing skipping out on the Falcons and going back to play for VT? They have an old-timers day or something? :)

[JonInMiddleGA]

It's a thing of beauty! 44-0 with a little under 3 minutes left in the 1st half. :)

They better get busy then, they've got a long way to go to catch the best performance of the weekend.

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/prep_football/article/0,1406,KNS_2979_4214299,00.html

ALCOA - In the aftermath of losing standout defensive end Ray Sykes to a broken left arm in practice, Alcoa High School's defense had one mission.

Stay focused.

The Tornadoes did just that, as they scored 10 first-half touchdowns and defeated Gatlinburg-Pittman 91-7 at Bill Bailey Stadium on Friday Night.

... Anchored by defensive end Brandon Warren, the defense accounted for five first-half touchdowns and the Tornadoes took a 70-0 lead into the half.

... Using a hard count, Highlanders quarterback Jake Reagan was able to draw four encroachment penalties on the Tornadoes during their opening drive.

The defense then forced G-P to punt.

University of Tennessee commitment Dustin Lindsey got things rolling.

The senior running back hit receiver Brian Sommer on a 45-yard halfback pass, to set up his first touchdown from 11 yards out.

"We just wanted to come in and establish the tempo of the game," said Warren. "Everyone knew they were going to have to step it up a notch and play, and think we did tonight."

Lindsey struck again while playing defense. He scooped up a Highlander fumble and race 13-yards for a touchdown.

On G-P's next possession, Warren intercepted Reagan with one hand, broke two tackles and went in for the score standing up.

... After lowering the time in each quarter to just eight minutes in the second half, the Highlanders were able to score.

[Buccaneer]

Yeesh, judging by FOFC's response alone, this has to be the worst officiating day ever.
What? Again? Won't next week be worse than this week?

[Easy Mac]

Well then at the end of the year, why not have a round robin tournament between the undefeated teams? That's better than having them play teams that already lost. If there are 2 undefeated teams, we'd assume 1 USC, 2 Texas, 3 Alabama. We'd have to assume 2 would eventually play 3 in a playoff, but USC would only have to go through a 1-loss team... not really fair to the loser of the other game, maybe they would have beat USC that night.

The point I'm making is that the main reason we bitch is because we've seen teams get blown out in the last games. The last 2 years it was Oklahoma, but each season, nothing gave us reason to think they would get blown out. The only reason people cried so much for Auburn was because the year before Oklahoma choked when they needed a win, but we can't take the previous year into account.

However, this season, supposing Alabama goes undefeated, do they even need a championship game to tell us they're the best team in the country? They've already destroyed Florida, and to stay undefeated, they'll need to beat LSU, Auburn and Georgia. Would there be any doubt they're as good as Texas/USC? Those two haven't played any teams nearly as tough as those teams. A championship game would almost be unfair for Alabama after the end of the season they'd have to go through.

[ISiddiqui]

What was Vick doing skipping out on the Falcons and going back to play for VT? They have an old-timers day or something? :)I'm sure Beamer wished he had Michael in pads that day. Remember, if Mike had enough passing attempts (he missed by a few) he would have led Division 1 in passer rating his last year.

And he'd be able to keep the team in it by making an amazing running play if the passing game wasn't working that well (ie, back to that national championship game)

[Buccaneer]

How about we just reward the very best 16 teams with a trip to a warm place in December/January for a job well done during the grueling season? Why in the world do you want to make it any more complicated than that?

[cartman]

this is what I'm getting from a pretty quick search that landed me on a pro-bowl games site so the numbers might be a little exagerated.

"This year 28 bowl games will distribute more than $187 million to NCAA schools. More than $1.35 billion has been paid out in the past ten years and the bowls will conservatively payout $2.1 billion over the next ten years. While playoff proponents have tossed around some big dollar figures on what a playoff can generate they are just guesses. The biggest factor in these numbers is what the TV network(s) will pay and no network has come out with an amount they would pay for such an endeavor. We really don't know how much more it would be (if any) than the current system can provide, especially when you consider much of it would be replacement dollars when the bowls disappear?"

Those are good numbers to know. For my reference, I'll make a comparison to March Madness, since it is the closest comparitor for this arguement. According to the bowl friendly numbers you quoted, about $210 million per year is generated by the bowls. In 1999, CBS signed a $6 billion contract with the NCAA for the rights to televise March Madness until the year 2013. That works out to $460 million per year. So even if a Div. 1 football playoff can only generate half the TV revenue of March Madness, then there is still an extra $20 million per year made over the current bowls. My guess is that the TV revenue from a Div. 1A playoff would be at least equal, but likely more, than what March Madness brings. And that is only TV revenue, it doesn't include ticket sales or other sponorship deals.

[Buccaneer]

I'm sure Beamer wished he had Michael in pads that day. Remember, if Mike had enough passing attempts (he missed by a few) he would have led Division 1 in passer rating his last year.

And he'd be able to keep the team in it by making an amazing running play if the passing game wasn't working that well (ie, back to that national championship game)
Awww gee, Imran, you had to take the bait. Why can't the Georgia Contingency accept that the country is not divided into blue/red states but Vick Defenders/Vick Bashers? :)

[Easy Mac]

Because like ex-girlfriends, we need closure

[ISiddiqui]

Awww gee, Imran, you had to take the bait. Why can't the Georgia Contingency accept that the country is not divided into blue/red states but Vick Defenders/Vick Bashers? :)Because we can't let your ignorant selves try to get the last word on the debate about Michael Vick :p.

At least until Vick gets elected to the Hall of Fame and you finally drop dead because of it. :D

[timmynausea]

Marcus just fumbled during the post game press conference. Unreal.

[Easy Mac]

Lou Holtz reminds me of Mr. Burns hopped up on that stuff in the Simpsons alien/X-files episode.

[sterlingice]

Lost amidst everything else ... Kansas beats Nebraska 40-15, ending a 36 game losing streak vs NU. Anyways, Kansas up 14-2 on Nebraska, trying to win for the first time against them since the 60s :D I made my post about it earlier in the day before I went over to watch the game on the hill overlooking the stadium. Good stuff as this was the game I really wanted to win this year much like I had the K-State one circled last year to end both of those losing streaks.

We'll get roasted down in Austin next week. We might be able to keep it close with our D but there's not much of a chance of winning that one. But if we beat Iowa State the next week, that's bowl eligibility and that rocks :)

SI

[Karlifornia]

Stanford drives the length of the field, and then Edwards gets hurt at the 1 yard line. On 4th and goal, T.C. Ostrander fumbles the snap. Geez.

[larrymcg421]

A playoff system is not to determine the "best" team. It is to settle the matter on the field. With 119 teams, an 11 game season is not enough to determine who is best. It only gives teams incentive not to schedule tough OOC games.

I wonder how many perople that support the current system in college football would support the same system in the NFL?

[larrymcg421]

Why have a playoff? If a 9-2 team runs through the playoffs, how does that prove they're the best.

I understand in a league of 117 teams there's no perfect solution, but being the best team at the end of the year shouldn't make you more worthy of a championship than anyone else.

And no, most of the soccer world doesn't have playoffs.

Nobody cares about the "best" team. It's about determinging the matter on the field. If that 9-2 team wins on the field of play (as opposed to human/computer polls) then yes, they DO deserve to be champion.

Villanova deserved to be champion when they beat Georgetown. New England deserved to be champion when they beat St. Louis. The "best" team doesn't always win. That's what makes sports exciting.

[Karlifornia]

Nobody cares about the "best" team. It's about determinging the matter on the field. If that 9-2 team wins on the field of play (as opposed to human/computer polls) then yes, they DO deserve to be champion.

Villanova deserved to be champion when they beat Georgetown. New England deserved to be champion when they beat St. Louis. The "best" team doesn't always win. That's what makes sports exciting.


Exactly. If games were played on paper, Florida State would have beaten Oklahoma for the title, and Miami would have trounced Ohio State.

[Karlifornia]

USC going for it on 4th and goal up 44-14....okay Pete "Spurrier" Carroll

[ISiddiqui]

What's the spread? :D

[Karlifornia]

I think it's 34....I guess that means that the real meaningful outcome has yet to be decided :)

[sterlingice]

I think it's 34....I guess that means that the real meaningful outcome has yet to be decided :)
Gotta put some extra bucks in alumni pockets ;)

SI

[Solecismic]

Some Notes:

0-Loss Teams Remaining (3)

Texas, USC, Alabama

1-Loss Teams Remaining (12)

Virginia Tech, Miami of Florida, Penn State, Texas Tech, Oregon, UCLA, Georgia, LSU, West Virginia, UTEP, TCU, Fresno State

2-Loss Teams Remaining (11)

Georgia Tech, Florida State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Colorado, Florida, Auburn, Louisville, Notre Dame, Toledo, Boise State

3-Loss Teams Remaining, Majors Only (9)

Virginia, Boston College, Michigan, Northwestern, Minnesota, Iowa State, Oklahoma, California, South Carolina


Big Ten Tiebreaker situation

Only five of the remaining games can affect the outcome. I've assigned probabilities to each game.

Nov. 12

Indiana at Michigan (Michigan, 90%)
Northwestern at Ohio State (Ohio State, 80%)
Iowa at Wisconsin (Wisconsin, 60%)

Nov. 19

Ohio State at Michigan (50%)
Penn State at Michigan State (Penn State, 70%)


Conference Title Probability (based on above percentages):

Penn State 82.6%
Ohio State 12.0%
Michigan 5.4%

Penn State wins the conference under the following scenaria:

- a win at Michigan State Nov. 19

OR

- Northwestern beats Ohio State Nov. 12 AND Ohio State beats Michigan Nov. 19

OR

- Indiana beats Michigan Nov. 12 AND Michigan beats Ohio State Nov. 19

OR

- Wisconsin beats Iowa Nov. 12 AND Michigan beats Indiana Nov. 12 AND Michigan beats Ohio State Nov. 19


Ohio State wins the conference title under the following scenario:

- Ohio State wins its last two games AND Michigan State beats Penn State Nov. 19

Michigan wins the conference title under the following scenario:

- Michigan wins its last two games AND Iowa beats Wisconsin Nov. 12 AND Michigan State beats Penn State Nov. 19

Wisconsin and Northwestern can not win the conference title.

[cthomer5000]

Assuming Penn State does pull it off... does Joe Pa exit gracefully, or is he already set on coming back for at least another year?

I haven't heard nearly as much about him this year, and I'm curious.

[JeeberD]

And the Miners manage to sqeake past a sluT, 41-38.

[ISiddiqui]

Assuming Penn State does pull it off... does Joe Pa exit gracefully, or is he already set on coming back for at least another year?

I haven't heard nearly as much about him this year, and I'm curious.Well if he wanted to go out on, well Top 5, then he should probably hang it up after this year.

[bronconick]

Those are good numbers to know. For my reference, I'll make a comparison to March Madness, since it is the closest comparitor for this arguement. According to the bowl friendly numbers you quoted, about $210 million per year is generated by the bowls. In 1999, CBS signed a $6 billion contract with the NCAA for the rights to televise March Madness until the year 2013. That works out to $460 million per year. So even if a Div. 1 football playoff can only generate half the TV revenue of March Madness, then there is still an extra $20 million per year made over the current bowls. My guess is that the TV revenue from a Div. 1A playoff would be at least equal, but likely more, than what March Madness brings. And that is only TV revenue, it doesn't include ticket sales or other sponorship deals.
Just a couple problems.

Of that $210 million generated, about 90% goes to the 6 BCS conferences, if not more.

A NCAA tournament will be distrubuted more evenly throughout the 119 teams and 11 conferences. I think in March Madness, the major conferences get a slightly larger piece because they get 5-6 teams as opposed to 1-2, but there isn't room for more then a couple at large bids in any useful setup that I see. That means you need to guarentee a doubling or more in profit to get the attention of the BCS presidents.

Which brings up the 2nd issue. I've been told somewhere that the NCAA either has a bylaw or an unwritten rule that they like to have at least half of any tournament be made of at-large bids. With 11 conferences...you're talking 24 teams. Ew.

Either way, I think the only way a college football playoff is going to occur is if you actually lose some conferences, because the big boys sure don't want to share their sure thing with the little guys.

[Mr. Wednesday]

The I-AA playoffs are only 16 teams, so I think they would be willing to bypass the usual rules on autobids and/or at-large bids, unless there are fewer I-AA conferences for a similar number of total teams.

[Easy Mac]

1-aa don't invite all of its conference champs.

[Dr. Sak]

Assuming Penn State does pull it off... does Joe Pa exit gracefully, or is he already set on coming back for at least another year?

I haven't heard nearly as much about him this year, and I'm curious.


Joe will be back for at least 1 more year.