'Bama vs Huskies

[GMAN81]

I know I said several weeks ago that this one would be ugly and it is. I was nervous about this game all day. I think OSU will beat Clemson and if Alabama wins and faces Ohio State and plays like they are playing today they will get their behinds beat. That better not happen.

Nevermind, Beau Scarborough just took one 68 yards to the house. I feel better.

 

[Corey90]

I know I said several weeks ago that this one would be ugly and it is. I was nervous about this game all day. I think OSU will beat Clemson and if Alabama wins and faces Ohio State and plays like they are playing today they will get their behinds beat. That better not happen.

Nevermind, Beau Scarborough just took one 68 yards to the house. I feel better.

Honestly I think the 2 weeks off hurt Bamas offense. They will will the National Championship. I am not sure OSU gets past Clemson. It should be a good game.

 

[LakeCtyNewt]

I think washingtons defense was. After than we all thought. Alabama doesn't like playing against physical and big defenses.
If I'm game planning vs Bama I want Hurts to have to throw.

I think Ohio state will have a hard time slowing down Clemsons offense

 

[Jiggs]

Top to bottom the ACC was the strongest conference this year. Louisville being the real disappointment in the bowl season, of course two of their defensive starters were out due to catching some bullets at a post-Heisman party. Petrino should be kept away from college football.
Clemson is the real deal and beats OSU.

 

[Corey90]

I think washingtons defense was. After than we all thought. Alabama doesn't like playing against physical and big defenses.
If I'm game planning vs Bama I want Hurts to have to throw.

I think Ohio state will have a hard time slowing down Clemsons offense

I agree. Should be a good game. I think it's a toss up who wins. Clemson offense is key. Also can OSU offense line block Clemson? OSU will come to play I think this will be a hard physical game.

 

[Voodoo Tatum 21]

Honestly I think the 2 weeks off hurt Bamas offense. They will will the National Championship. I am not sure OSU gets past Clemson. It should be a good game.

Give a little credit to Huskies defense. They played tough all night and held Bama to 14 points (on the pick 6 there was nothing they could do and the other turnover they held Bama to a FG)

Bottom line Bama D was just a little better.

Huskies offense was atrocious and figured they wouldn't be able to run the ball but Ross couldn't get open all nite and browning struggled and was harassed with the Bama pass rush all nite.

At least Huskies made a game of it for 3 quarters.

 

[Corey90]

Give a little credit to Huskies defense. They played tough all night and held Bama to 14 points (on the pick 6 there was nothing they could do and the other turnover they held Bama to a FG)

Bottom line Bama D was just a little better.

Huskies offense was atrocious and figured they wouldn't be able to run the ball but Ross couldn't get open all nite and browning struggled and was harassed with the Bama pass rush all nite.

At least Huskies made a game of it for 3 quarters.

I do agree
Washington defense was really good. I should of said the 2 weeks off hurt both teams offense. I still didn't see the Huskies winning this game. They actually played better than I thought. I was thinking this was going to be another blowout for Bama but the Huskies came to play.

 

[Voodoo Tatum 21]

I do agree
Washington defense was really good. I should of said the 2 weeks off hurt both teams offense. I still didn't see the Huskies winning this game. They actually played better than I thought. I was thinking this was going to be another blowout for Bama but the Huskies came to play.

Yeah it was nice to see Huskies make a game of it for a couple of quarters. Their defense has been good all year (better when they had their top LB playing), but the Huskies offense kept putting them in a hole with horrible starting field position (avg Bama drive starting at midfield!!) and the two turnovers.

It was a long shot to no shot for the Huskies to win this one, but I was rooting for them nonetheless.

I agree with newt - I think the only way to beat Bama is to
1 have zero turnovers when on offense
2 get at least one Turnover from Bama
3 make Jalen beat you with his arm.

That Bama D is unreal. I don't think I have seen a D like that in college for quite some time. Their closing speed is unreal and looks like NFL closing speed. Couple times a UW player caught a dump off/screen/check down pass with no bama player within 10 yards and they closed to make the tackle for a 2-3 yard gain Not sure anyone is going to score 21+ on them in a contested game.....

 

[Corey90]

I agree. Should be a good game. I think it's a toss up who wins. Clemson offense is key. Also can OSU offense line block Clemson? OSU will come to play I think this will be a hard physical game.

Well it looks like I was wrong. It's going to be Bama & Clemson in the National Championship again this year.

 

[LHSTigers94]

The Huskies did well for a team that most felt shouldn't be there. I wonder if people are still singing the Big 10 praises as it is not looking good so far.

 

[GMAN81]

The Huskies did well for a team that most felt shouldn't be there. I wonder if people are still singing the Big 10 praises as it is not looking good so far.

This may help.
2016-2017 Conference Bowl Standings
Rank Conference Wins Losses
1 ACC 8-3
2 SEC 6-6
3 Big 12 4-2
4 Sun Belt 4-2
5 Mountain West 4-3
6 Conference USA 4-3
7 Pac-12 3-3
8 Big Ten 3-7
9 American 2-5
10 MAC 0-6

 

[LHSTigers94]

This may help.
2016-2017 Conference Bowl Standings
Rank Conference Wins Losses
1 ACC 8-3
2 SEC 6-6
3 Big 12 4-2
4 Sun Belt 4-2
5 Mountain West 4-3
6 Conference USA 4-3
7 Pac-12 3-3
8 Big Ten 3-7
9 American 2-5
10 MAC 0-6

Correct me if I am wrong but didn't some on here think the Big 10 should have had 2 teams in the playoffs?

 

[BretEpic]

Worthless, conference-pride type stat. Bowl standings are dependent on the match-ups, and not indicative of how good a team conference necessarily is. The Sun Belt is not better than the Big Ten, but touting Bowl Standings implies that.

 

[LHSTigers94]

Worthless, conference-pride type stat. Bowl standings are dependent on the match-ups, and not indicative of how good a team conference necessarily is. The Sun Belt is not better than the Big Ten, but touting Bowl Standings implies that.

I agree but looking at the tops teams in the conference, the results are a little worse for the Big 10.

 

[Jiggs]

Worthless, conference-pride type stat. Bowl standings are dependent on the match-ups, and not indicative of how good a team conference necessarily is. The Sun Belt is not better than the Big Ten, but touting Bowl Standings implies that.

Epic
If you pulled out all the Group of 5 conferences from the bowl standings and left only the P5 conferences, would you agree that conference strength is reflected in the bowl standings?

 

[BretEpic]

Epic
If you pulled out all the Group of 5 conferences from the bowl standings and left only the P5 conferences, would you agree that conference strength is reflected in the bowl standings?

No, because you still have teams like MissSU touting a victory over Miami of Ohio. Unless Power Five ONLY played Power Five, but then you still have match-up issues.

Bowl games are fun to watch, everyone loves bonus football, but not the barometer peope want them to be so they can scream "SEC! SEC!"

 

[Corey90]

No, because you still have teams like MissSU touting a victory over Miami of Ohio. Unless Power Five ONLY played Power Five, but then you still have match-up issues.

Bowl games are fun to watch, everyone loves bonus football, but not the barometer peope want them to be so they can scream "SEC! SEC!"

I think for me it's watching different conferences/teams playing each other. Sure you
are going to have games like Wisconsin playing Western Michigan but hey WM was undefeated and it was interesting to see how they would fair. I certainly didn't pick WM to win that game.

 

[BretEpic]

I think for me it's watching different conferences/teams playing each other. Sure you
are going to have games like Wisconsin playing Western Michigan but hey WM was undefeated and it was interesting to see how they would fair. I certainly didn't pick WM to win that game.

I agree on this. I love bowl games because of this. I just don't buy into them meaning anything.

Let's also consider the fact if a coach leaves, or a coordinator, or a player sits, you aren't at all getting teams at strength.

 

[LHSTigers94]

I agree on this. I love bowl games because of this. I just don't buy into them meaning anything.

Let's also consider the fact if a coach leaves, or a coordinator, or a player sits, you aren't at all getting teams at strength.

I don't think they mean anything in terms of who has the better conference however the top teams result say a lot about the conference. For example, there were 4 Big 10 teams in the top 10 however Wisc beating WM was the only victory. Now don't get me wrong, Penn State and Mich was close however both were ranked higher than their opponent.

 

[BretEpic]

I don't think they mean anything in terms of who has the better conference however the top teams result say a lot about the conference. For example, there were 4 Big 10 teams in the top 10 however Wisc beating WM was the only victory. Now don't get me wrong, Penn State and Mich was close however both were ranked higher than their opponent.

I get that. Few people actually use bowl W-L that way though. It's mostly heavy-breathing and chants

 

[Jiggs]

http://www.espn.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/97771/all-hail-the-acc-the-new-king-of-bowl-season

This piece breaks down why the dominance of the ACC has some meaning.

 

[LHSTigers94]

I get that. Few people actually use bowl W-L that way though. It's mostly heavy-breathing and chants

Understood and most of those individuals are fan of a conference and not the game of football so I get it. What I dislike the most is strength of schedule when 75% of your opponents are within the conference.

I do think and agree that the Big Conf Champ should have been in the playoffs over Ohio State but not Washington. To me that is where they got it wrong. I am sure that will be corrected in year 4.

 

[BretEpic]

http://www.espn.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/97771/all-hail-the-acc-the-new-king-of-bowl-season

This piece breaks down why the dominance of the ACC has some meaning.

Operative word being "Some"

 

[BretEpic]

Understood and most of those individuals are fan of a conference and not the game of football so I get it. What I dislike the most is strength of schedule when 75% of your opponents are within the conference.

I do think and agree that the Big Conf Champ should have been in the playoffs over Ohio State but not Washington. To me that is where they got it wrong. I am sure that will be corrected in year 4.

No team that fails to make a conference title will get in again anytime soon. OSU ruined that,

 

[Jiggs]

What is good about this discussion, we are back to talking about football.

 

[GMAN81]

I don't think they mean anything in terms of who has the better conference however the top teams result say a lot about the conference. For example, there were 4 Big 10 teams in the top 10 however Wisc beating WM was the only victory. Now don't get me wrong, Penn State and Mich was close however both were ranked higher than their opponent.

And Western Michigan had no business being ranked 14. Some more Boise State crap. Definitely a big cut below most of the rest that were ranked. Their schedule was a joke for them to be playing in the Cotton Bowl. Same crap with NIU in the Orange Bowl a while back.

 

[GMAN81]

So, what criteria do you use to determine the best conference? Doesn't matter because most people won't agree on how you rank a conference.

I see a lot of people here saying the best benchmark to rank a HS football program is not only in the winning but how many of the players go on to the next level to play. That could apply to college as well. If so, the SEC has more players drafted by the NFL than any other conference. Does that alone make it the best conference? Maybe, maybe not. But it does show where the talent is. Throw the ACC in there and you have dominance between those two conferences.

 

[LHSTigers94]

So, what criteria do you use to determine the best conference? Doesn't matter because most people won't agree on how you rank a conference.

I see a lot of people here saying the best benchmark to rank a HS football program is not only in the winning but how many of the players go on to the next level to play. That could apply to college as well. If so, the SEC has more players drafted by the NFL than any other conference. Does that alone make it the best conference? Maybe, maybe not. But it does show where the talent is. Throw the ACC in there and you have dominance between those two conferences.

I say take a look at the top 4 or five teams in each conference. Five would be the more accurate number in my mind as the 5th team is usually slightly above average. Compare their bowl results and see what the results were.

 

[BretEpic]

Looking at bowl standings is a cheap way out. To completely understand where things are in any level of football, you must know it all. There are no shortcuts. You have to follow every game, every conference, every stat, and what players were playing. There are no shortcuts to these things. Even saying look at the top four is flawed. Louisville is a perfect example. When they were hot, and before teams sort of figured out how to attack Jackson, they were fantastic. Then the season wore on and flaws were revealed, players injured, etc... Come the bowl game, they were a very beatable team, and probably not someone you'd want to pit against the second best team from the B1G, or SEC as we saw.

Being a fan is easy, being any sort of authoritative entity takes more than Wake Forest beating a bad Vandy team, Miami beating a WVU team that beat nobody and was poorly matched up with the Canes, etc... I think the ACC was terrific this year, but not due to bowl wins.

 

[Corey90]

Looking at bowl standings is a cheap way out. To completely understand where things are in any level of football, you must know it all. There are no shortcuts. You have to follow every game, every conference, every stat, and what players were playing. There are no shortcuts to these things. Even saying look at the top four is flawed. Louisville is a perfect example. When they were hot, and before teams sort of figured out how to attack Jackson, they were fantastic. Then the season wore on and flaws were revealed, players injured, etc... Come the bowl game, they were a very beatable team, and probably not someone you'd want to pit against the second best team from the B1G, or SEC as we saw.

Being a fan is easy, being any sort of authoritative entity takes more than Wake Forest beating a bad Vandy team, Miami beating a WVU team that beat nobody and was poorly matched up with the Canes, etc... I think the ACC was terrific this year, but not due to bowl wins.

I have to say I never saw OSU getting steam rolled by Clemson. I mean I expected a close game. I thought the Big 10 was somewhat overrated but certainly thought the 4 top schools could hold their own with just about anyone. OSU, Penn State. Michigan and Wisconsin. After those 4 the teams we saw a big drop off. Buckeyes really didn't bring it.

 

[BretEpic]

I have to say I never saw OSU getting steam rolled by Clemson. I mean I expected a close game. I thought the Big 10 was somewhat overrated but certainly thought the 4 top schools could hold their own with just about anyone. OSU, Penn State. Michigan and Wisconsin. After those 4 the teams we saw a big drop off. Buckeyes really didn't bring it.

I didn't see it coming either, not many did. OSU didn't show up, even Barrett . Youth served.

 

[Bwm57]

And Western Michigan had no business being ranked 14. Some more Boise State crap. Definitely a big cut below most of the rest that were ranked. Their schedule was a joke for them to be playing in the Cotton Bowl. Same crap with NIU in the Orange Bowl a while back.

I thought WMU aquitted themselves pretty well in the Cotton Bowl.
You can debate whether they should have been ranked as high as they were, but it's not like they lost by 30 points.
It certainly looked bad for WMU when Wisconsin scored the two quick touchdowns in the first quarter, but then they stabilized and played them fairly even for the rest of the game.
Heck of a game by Fumigalli, WMU had no answer for him, he may have been the difference in the game.
Still not sure why WMU didn't run Jarvion Franklin more.

 

[GMAN81]

I thought WMU aquitted themselves pretty well in the Cotton Bowl.
You can debate whether they should have been ranked as high as they were, but it's not like they lost by 30 points.
It certainly looked bad for WMU when Wisconsin scored the two quick touchdowns in the first quarter, but then they stabilized and played them fairly even for the rest of the game.
Heck of a game by Fumigalli, WMU had no answer for him, he may have been the difference in the game.
Still not sure why WMU didn't run Jarvion Franklin more.

We can disagree here and I am not trying to be disagreeable. But I don't think teams like WMU or NIU belong in major bowl games against major DI teams. What did Wisconsin really have to gain besides the money and saying they won the Cotton Bowl? Not nearly as much as WMU. If Wisconsin wins...then they should win, we say.

I don't know who the eggheads are who schedule these match ups, but it is crazy. And when the lesser team does win, which is about as often as seeing Halley's Comet, they go crazy and say "SEE? XYZ team DOES Belong.

What do the rankings represent anyway? Is the number one team better than the number two team? Is the14th ranked team (WMU) better than the 32nd ranked team (Tennessee) I sure as heck don't think so. If not why are they ranked so much higher? Again, I look at the schedule of WMU and if they had to play the Tennessee schedule they wouldn't have a .500 winning percentage.

I think it's clownish to match two teams like that in a major bowl game and takes away from the integrity of said bowl game.