Ok, glad someone else 'smells' things too. I can't put a finger on it exactly but I've always smelled too much ESPN influence on the CF FBS post season
Your question got me to thinking a bit more about this, I thought... lest everyone here just think I'm a "complete conspiracy nut", I thought I might try to explain what I TRULY believe a little more clearly.
I know I said earlier, that, "Goodell already knows who's going to win the SB". That was an "exaggeration for effect". Call it, "Trump-speak". I'm quite fluent in that dialect.
I don't know WHO is behind this rigging. I don't know WHY? If I did, I'd quit my job and move to Vegas. What I DO KNOW is this:
I see consistent patterns of "aid" being given to one team over the other by referees in many football games. I don't ALWAYS see it. Sometimes, it's more blatant than other times. Sometimes, it's quite subtle.... but, I see it. And, I no longer believe it's mere coincidence.
A great example was, the Patriots-Charger game last weekend. One could look at the final score, a blow out for New England, and say.. "No Way the Refs were involved in that game". Well, I believe they were. On BOTH of the Patriots first two TD drives, they were STOPPED on 3rd down and forced into a punting situation. BOTH times, the refs came through with a COMPLETELY BOGUS phantom call that kept the drive alive, resulting it Pats TD's and pushing the game toward a runaway. Tom Brady does not need MUCH help. But, he got some anyway.
When I say "completely bogus", both calls were the kinds where a raving Pats fan might say, "Oh yea.. he held him!" But, the plays were things that happen on EVERY play, and never get called. FAR WORSE offenses happen on virtually every play, and don't get called. Football rules these days are so ambiguous, it's not hard for any ref to make a call (or not make a call) anytime they want.
If you recall, this EXACT SAME SCENARIO happened in one of the Pat's home games last year. I argued about it with someone on this board then. It happens ALL THE TIME with the Pats.. especially, in the playoffs.
Now, Maybe.... Billionaire Bob Kraft just knows how to funnel money to a ref or two? (That's all it takes).
Maybe, a couple of refs are Pats fans and just want to help them?
Maybe, the ref was betting on the game himself and wanted to assure the proper outcome?
Maybe, one or more of the betting houses in Vegas wanted to MAKE SURE the favorite covered the spread... (They might invest in either direction, depending on how their wagers were collected).
I don't know which of those is true. But, I am 100% convinced, that many games are being unduly influenced by referees.
I also know, there have been scandals like this PROVEN in the past... it was especially bad in the NBA (which, I was also 100% convinced was rigged) A couple of refs were busted, and convicted.. but, the entire thing was swept under the rug and the game 'moved on'.
It's too easy to do, and there's TOO MUCH MONEY involved for it not to be happening.
And therefore, I believe it is.
I just wish they'd let me in on the plan pre-game.