Who we pull for next week:

[ShortCreek]

Pull for: Root against:
Wisconsin vs. Nebraska
Northwestern vs. Ohio State
Mich St vs. Michigan
LSU vs. Alabama (11/5/16)
Utah vs. Washington
FSU vs. Clemson
Ok. State vs. WVU
Texas vs. Baylor

Did I forget anyone? Oh yeah, Missouri vs Kitties

 

[TheRealVille]

Pull for: Root against:
Wisconsin vs. Nebraska
Northwestern vs. Ohio State
Mich St vs. Michigan
LSU vs. Alabama (11/5/16)
Utah vs. Washington
FSU vs. Clemson
Ok. State vs. WVU
Texas vs. Baylor

Did I forget anyone? Oh yeah, Missouri vs Kitties

Wisconsin
Northwestern
Michigan State
LSU
Utah
FSU
Ok State
Texas

The only ones I could see actually happening is
Wisconsin
Utah
FSU

 

[Louisvillian]

Wisconsin
Northwestern
Michigan State
LSU
Utah
FSU
Ok State
Texas

The only ones I could see actually happening is
Wisconsin
Utah
FSU

I think OK State might take down WVU.

 

[beasleythecard]

utah to win

 

[cardz4life]

Pull for: Root against:
Wisconsin vs. Nebraska
Northwestern vs. Ohio State
Mich St vs. Michigan
LSU vs. Alabama (11/5/16)
Utah vs. Washington
FSU vs. Clemson
Ok. State vs. WVU
Texas vs. Baylor

Did I forget anyone? Oh yeah, Missouri vs Kitties

Wisconsin, Michigan St, Utah*, FSU, OK St., Texas, almost all of them.

We need Washington to take an L.

 

[davecmc]

Pull for: Root against:
Wisconsin vs. Nebraska
Northwestern vs. Ohio State
Mich St vs. Michigan
LSU vs. Alabama (11/5/16)
Utah vs. Washington
FSU vs. Clemson
Ok. State vs. WVU
Texas vs. Baylor

Did I forget anyone? Oh yeah, Missouri vs Kitties

Agree except Bama losing. At this point, we just want Roll Tide. If Bama loses, they are still in and now the team that beats them gets to rocket up the rankings and gets in the argument for SEC to get two teams in. Just concede the SEC spot to Bama in your rooting interest and keep all others out.

Also, as much as it pains me - we want UK to look as good as possible in our last game of season and last chance to impress. They will beat Mizzou - they are total dumpster fire - and they will beat A Peay. UGA at home for them is very winnable. If we can slapdick lambaste a 7 win SEC team on national TV, that would be fun and useful to the cause

 

[BooneCo_Card]

Pull for: Root against:
Wisconsin vs. Nebraska
Northwestern vs. Ohio State
Mich St vs. Michigan
LSU vs. Alabama (11/5/16)
Utah vs. Washington
FSU vs. Clemson
Ok. State vs. WVU
Texas vs. Baylor

Did I forget anyone? Oh yeah, Missouri vs Kitties

Utah and Clemson. In fact, we need Clemson to win out. The rest will take care of themselves by losing somewhere along the way..

 

[ImmaTiger]

I think the major "have-to" is you need Washington to lose.

The next major "have-to" is Michigan needs to beat tOSU.

 

[nccardfan]

The Cards

 

[mwatson61]

Utah and Clemson. In fact, we need Clemson to win out. The rest will take care of themselves by losing somewhere along the way..

Sorry to disagree but we need Clemson to lose two to get in at this point.

 

[ImmaTiger]

Sorry to disagree but we need Clemson to lose two to get in at this point.

That wins you the ACC, but what else?

Does it help your CFP position to have your one loss come from a two loss team?

The waters will be particularly murky with Michigan/tOSU/Nebraska, particularly if Washington wins out.

If I was going to make a case for a one-loss team, I'd want the best "quality" loss possible; the trio of the teams above will certainly be making that case....a far more difficult task if Washington and/or Baylor/WVU finish undefeated.

 

[earsky]

I guess the easy answer is anybody uk plays,we root for

I'm gonna have to defer on Clemson.I can look at it 2 ways.If they win at FSU,that November schedule won't bring 2 losses.Stumble this weekend and the game against Pitt gets really interesting.

 

[Morgantown Card]

Worshington needs to get lernt

 

[cardinalrod]

FSU

 

[KenSucky]

As much as it pains me to say why not want the mildcats to win out and get in the sEZ championship game and beat Bama. If we paste them how could they keep out a 1 loss team that just beat the sEZ Champs the week before? (lol wishful thinking) GO CARDS!

 

[zipp_rivals]

Trying to keep this simple, we need everyone ahead of us to lose that we can't pass with one loss. IMO that list is one school now...Bama.

I want everyone ahead of or near us but Bama to lose. That's pretty much the teams in the Top Ten. Other winners and losers don't matter as much...

 

[FoleyCondo]

Pull for: Root against:

LSU vs. Alabama (11/5/16)

What did we do to you?

 

[FoleyCondo]

Agree except Bama losing. At this point, we just want Roll Tide. If Bama loses, they are still in and now the team that beats them gets to rocket up the rankings and gets in the argument for SEC to get two teams in. Just concede the SEC spot to Bama in your rooting interest and keep all others out.

I like you already.

 

[tkdcoach]

Pull for: Root against:
Wisconsin vs. Nebraska
Northwestern vs. Ohio State
Mich St vs. Michigan
LSU vs. Alabama (11/5/16)
Utah vs. Washington
FSU vs. Clemson
Ok. State vs. WVU
Texas vs. Baylor

Did I forget anyone? Oh yeah, Missouri vs Kitties

Michigan has played one road game in its first seven games against current doormat Rutgers. Unbelievable. They look great; but they've proven nothing.

 

[Section 12 Jerk]

Pull for: Root against:
Wisconsin vs. Nebraska
Northwestern vs. Ohio State
Mich St vs. Michigan
LSU vs. Alabama (11/5/16)
Utah vs. Washington
FSU vs. Clemson
Ok. State vs. WVU
Texas vs. Baylor

Did I forget anyone? Oh yeah, Missouri vs Kitties

We could add rooting for Penn St to win. They hold the two way tie breaker over Ohio St, i.e. Michigan ends up with multiple losses and Ohio St / Penn St each have one B10 loss. Just to muddy it up more.

 

[Kratz]

Washington to lose is a must. SEC Champ is in. B-10 Champ is in. Only leaves 2 spots up for grabs. Clemson winning ACC is in. Anyone else (other than Louisville) winning ACC and ACC is out. Undefeated Washington gets in because PAC 12 has already been left out once.

This is where money dictates. No one wants to lose west coast money. Leave the undefeated Pac 12 champ out over a 1 loss eastern school and the west coast goes ballistic. No one wants to lose west coast money.

You can make the argument for leaving out a 1 loss west coast team with a weak schedule, but not for an undefeated one.

Kind of like us in 2007. Undefeated and heading for NC game. Our schedule wasn't the toughest, but the majority said an undefeated UofL team deserved to be in. Then Rutgers happened.

If they'll make that argument for an old BE school, they'll sure as hell make it for a long time member of the Pac 12.

 

[Cue Card]

Not to be a stick in the mud, but I'm rooting for 1 team. The University of Louisville Cardinals. I don't really care about the rest of the teams or games. I'm actually oblivious to them. I might watch another game but I might not too. Only one team defines my tv watching

 

[birdie king]

Sorry to disagree but we need Clemson to lose two to gket in at this point.

Since it is unlikely Clemson will lose two we need Clemson to go undefeated Heather Dinitch (sic)
the ESPN gal who covers the playoff committee says that's the best case scenerio for the Cards.

 

[zipp_rivals]

Since it is unlikely Clemson will lose two we need Clemson to go undefeated Heather Dinitch (sic) the ESPN gal who covers the playoff committee says that's the best case scenerio for the Cards.

She just said on R&R that a one-loss Clemson is not a sure thing over Louisville...

 

[tmp_cards_rivals]

That wins you the ACC, but what else?

Does it help your CFP position to have your one loss come from a two loss team?

The waters will be particularly murky with Michigan/tOSU/Nebraska, particularly if Washington wins out.

If I was going to make a case for a one-loss team, I'd want the best "quality" loss possible; the trio of the teams above will certainly be making that case....a far more difficult task if Washington and/or Baylor/WVU finish undefeated.

Uh, this is ridiculous. The playoff committee values conference champions over anything else. If Clemson loses at FSU, and say, to Pittsburgh at home; then U of L wins the ACC title we're in.

Clemson losing twice for U of L to make the playoff is:
1 + 1 = 2

Clemson not losing and hoping for all this ridiculous crap to happen with half a dozen teams to get two ACC teams in the playoff is:

It's simple. Root for the teams ahead and directly below you to lose, at any point, to improve your chances at anything.

 

[CardX]

Not to be a stick in the mud, but I'm rooting for 1 team. The University of Louisville Cardinals. I don't really care about the rest of the teams or games. I'm actually oblivious to them. I might watch another game but I might not too. Only one team defines my tv watching

 

[zipp_rivals]

...The playoff committee values conference champions over anything else...

I agree with your post in general, but this is not true. Or at least there isn't irrefutable evidence of it being true...

 

[tmp_cards_rivals]

I agree with your post in general, but this is not true. Or at least there isn't irrefutable evidence of it being true...

Well the playoff committee has a document stating a team has to be "unequivocally better" than a conference champion. To me that not only means a team doesn't just have to be better on paper, but at the same time likely needs less losses than another conference champion to get in:

http://www.cbssports.com/college-fo...w-the-college-football-playoff-rankings-work/

In other words, root for chaos. Everyone above and around to lose, and the worst team in the conference title games to beat the better opponent. This whole root for Clemson stuff is the poker equivalent of hoping to hit that inside straight on the last card.

 

[zipp_rivals]

The protocol says that an at-large team to be selected has to be "unequivocally one of the four best teams". In practice, that has to be true of ALL teams or tie-breakers have to be applied...

 

[tmp_cards_rivals]

The protocol says that an at-large team to be selected has to be "unequivocally one of the four best teams". In practice, that has to be true of ALL teams or tie-breakers have to be applied...

Well it says right there on the home page what they rank them on:

"Four Teams
The selection committee ranks the teams based on conference championships won, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, comparison of results against common opponents and other factors."

http://www.collegefootballplayoff.com/overview

To me, having the same record as the Big 12 or PAC 12 champion isn't going to show us unequivocally better. And really, I can't blame that. If I were in the same position, if we won the ACC and they picked some second best SEC team over us with the same record, I would be pissed!

What I do blame is how the system is set up where we're obviously one off the best two teams in the ACC and can't even play for the conference title because of the stupid division set up. Also the ridiculous home cooking with the Clemson fan as ref and the other controlling the chain marker. But that's not Washington or Baylor/WVU's problem. The situation just needs to be fixed getting the best conference teams to play one another, as well as hopefully an 8 team playoff in the future.

 

[mwatson61]

What if Clemson loses to FSU and loses to say UNC in the title game. Are we in then?

 

[CardLaw]

What if Clemson loses to FSU and loses to say UNC in the title game. Are we in then?

No.

You have a 2 loss ACC champ in UNC. Let's further assume every other conference has a 2-loss champ. You cannot get to an "unequivocally better" scenario there. You may think UL is better than say Washington or Baylor or Penn State, but would an objective person? An objective person would say "Yeah, I think UL is better, but I wouldn't stake my house on it." So it is not "unequivocal". Unequivocal basically means comparing UL to South Carolina or FAU.

At that point, conference titles versus not winning your division (not to mention strength of schedule, etc.) starts weighing heavily against UL.

 

[zipp_rivals]

There are only a hundred ways or so that the committee can decide which teams it thinks are the best. As I understand in practice, some tools are considered more useful than others. But there's nothing prescribed that says which tools and measures are most important in determining the four best teams.

The protocol does get specific when the committee decides that two or more teams are "comparable". In that situation, it says that certain tie-breakers should be applied, one of which is conference champion (or not). It doesn't, however, rank those tie-breakers as most/least important, and it doesn't even prescribe them unless the committee can't readily determine the four best teams.

It clearly says in the first sentence that the process is "more art than science". That tells me that if they wanted to rigorously apply certain metrics like conference champion, they would. And they don't...

 

[zipp_rivals]

No.

You have a 2 loss ACC champ in UNC. Let's further assume every other conference has a 2-loss champ. You cannot get to an "unequivocally better" scenario there. You may think UL is better than say Washington or Baylor or Penn State, but would an objective person? An objective person would say "Yeah, I think UL is better, but I wouldn't stake my house on it." So it is not "unequivocal". Unequivocal basically means comparing UL to South Carolina or FAU.

At that point, conference titles versus not winning your division (not to mention strength of schedule, etc.) starts weighing heavily against UL.

IMO, U of L will not be bypassed to take ANY two-loss team except for possibly Alabama, conference champ or not. A team taking two losses will fall well behind an 11-1 Louisville in the minds and analysis of most people. And they will fit the analysis to the result if they have to.

My only concern would be prestige one-loss teams: Bama, Clemson, tOSU, or Michigan. I'm not too concerned about Washington or a Big XII team with one loss because of their SOS and how they're currently regarded. And I'm not conceding anything to a one-loss team in the first group except Bama...

 

[CardLaw]

There are only a hundred ways or so that the committee can decide which teams it thinks are the best. As I understand in practice, some tools are considered more useful than others. But there's nothing prescribed that says which tools and measures are most important in determining the four best teams.

The protocol does get specific when the committee decides that two or more teams are "comparable". In that situation, it says that certain tie-breakers should be applied, one of which is conference champion (or not). It doesn't, however, rank those tie-breakers as most/least important, and it doesn't even prescribe them unless the committee can't readily determine the four best teams.

It clearly says in the first sentence that the process is "more art than science". That tells me that if they wanted to rigorously apply certain metrics like conference champion, they would. And they don't...

Disagree, Zipp. So far they have. The eight teams selected so far were clear conference champions. The three teams left out were co-champions TCU and Baylor two years ago and a 2 loss Stanford team last year. Meanwhile, a one loss non-champion and defending national title winner, Ohio State, was left on the sidelines last year with a pretty good resume.

It is reasonable to believe a two loss champion will get in. It is conceivable a non-champion will get in. It is a stretch to believe a team that does not play in its conference championship will - not impossible - but a stretch.

I might also point out that it is a bit inconsistent for UL fans to argue that the system is biased against UL and toward the "blue bloods" (not you per se, but UL fans in general), and then turn around and argue that an unlikely scenario would favor UL when UL will conclude the season with no significant wins. (And no, FSU is not significant - no one thinks their defense is very good this year and the offense scares no one.)

 

[CardLaw]

IMO, U of L will not be bypassed to take ANY two-loss team except for possibly Alabama, conference champ or not. A team taking two losses will fall well behind an 11-1 Louisville in the minds and analysis of most people. And they will fit the analysis to the result if they have to.

My only concern would be prestige one-loss teams: Bama, Clemson, tOSU, or Michigan. I'm not too concerned about Washington or a Big XII team with one loss because of their SOS and how they're currently regarded. And I'm not conceding anything to a one-loss team in the first group except Bama...

Right now, Sagarin ranks both divisions of the Pac 12 ahead of the ACC Atlantic. A one loss Washington as Pac 12 champ will have conference championship and SOS over UL.

 

[zipp_rivals]

Yes, I haven't argued there was any blue-blood prejudice against U of L. In fact, I'm banking that there may be a bias this year in FAVOR of a high-scoring team with the Heisman trophy winner that's pleasing to the eye...

The argument that the last two years haven't produced a non-champion in the CFP is "brown dog statistics"... "There goes a brown dog; therefore, all dogs are brown." If you understand that to mean I believe there aren't enough data to draw such a conclusion, you're right.

After a rough few weeks, FSU is ranked #11 in the RPI and #10 in the ESPN football power index (FPI). Louisville beat that team while ranked #2 or 3 in most polls by 42 points in a game that the Cards played the reserves in the 4th quarter. No other team in the CFP picture has a win of that significance. The closest would be Auburn's 5-point win over LSU (FPI #8).

Auburn already has two losses and would certainly have to win out for them to be any threat to an 11-1 Louisville. ESPN projects their chances of winning out at 8%.

I like U of L's situation...

 

[zipp_rivals]

Right now, Sagarin ranks both divisions of the Pac 12 ahead of the ACC Atlantic. A one loss Washington as Pac 12 champ will have conference championship and SOS over UL.

And the Pac-12 conference RPI is #5 while the ACC is #2. No one will debate the stronger division of the ACC. Nor do few besides Sagarin--evidently--respect the strength of the Pac-12...

 

[CardLaw]

Yes, I haven't argued there was any blue-blood prejudice against U of L. In fact, I'm banking that there may be a bias this year in FAVOR of a high-scoring team with the Heisman trophy winner that's pleasing to the eye...

The argument that the last two years haven't produced a non-champion in the CFP is "brown dog statistics"... "There goes a brown dog; therefore, all dogs are brown." If you understand that to mean I believe there aren't enough data to draw such a conclusion, you're right.

After a rough few weeks, FSU is ranked #11 in the RPI and #10 in the ESPN football power index (FPI). Louisville beat that team while ranked #2 or 3 in most polls by 42 points in a game that the Cards played the reserves in the 4th quarter. No other team in the CFP picture has a win of that significance. The closest would be Auburn's 5-point win over LSU (FPI #8).

Auburn already has two losses and would certainly have to win out for them to be any threat to an 11-1 Louisville. ESPN projects their chances of winning out at 8%.

I like U of L's situation...

Can't say I blame you. But I think it is fool's gold. Besides, I think the Jackson/Heisman thing is a bit over blown. The award is won in November usually, not September. Personally, I think it has always been a bull **** award. (And, yes, I include last year.) But Jackson has no games in November anyone will see. A lot of other guys do. Jackson is going to have to win it in the newspapers since he can't on TV.

 

[zipp_rivals]

...I think the Jackson/Heisman thing is a bit over blown. The award is won in November usually, not September. Personally, I think it has always been a bull **** award. (And, yes, I include last year.) But Jackson has no games in November anyone will see. A lot of other guys do. Jackson is going to have to win it in the newspapers since he can't on TV.

ABC/ESPN has put U of L on national TV at noon the last two weeks against NC State and Virginia. I don't think much or any of that has to do with those two teams, and I expect that to continue as long as Louisville wins and wins impressively.

That time slot also gets U of L into the college football highlight shows the rest of each Saturday. And Lamar is getting periodic national interviews during the week. I can hardly turn on daily and weekly college football TV shows that don't feature Jackson or Louisville.

As some of these Top Ten teams start to take losses, U of L will keep getting discussed as a team to bump higher. I'm not too worried yet about declining interest...