|
Post by doc on Dec 9, 2020 22:16:18 GMT
Well, the B1G amended the rules and Ohio State will play for a 4th straight conference championship. Based on the current playoff ratings I see 2 scenarios where they don't make it (not including COVID related situations) 1. They lose or just squeak by Northwestern. 2. Both Clemson and Florida win their conference championship games. - A+M was rated behind OSU this week. they both have one game left - OSU plays #14 Northwestern while A+M plays 2-4 Tennessee. Should these games play out as expected you there no way A+M can leap frog OSU based on current rankings. But if OSU loses or barely beats Northwestern then the door is opened for A+M. - Should Florida and Clemson win their conference championship games they would be in but chances are probably that Alabama would remain in the playoff and depending on the score for ND/Clemson - the Irish could also remain in the hunt based on their win earlier over the Tigers. - Should ND win again, I think Clemson is out of the playoff picture with 2 losses plus why should they get a potential 3rd shot at the Irish? I don't think Iowa State or Oklahoma have legitimate chances bases on current rankings and their 2 losses. So if you don't want Ohio State in, root for Clemson, Florida and Northwestern. It's an f%^&Ked up season, for sure. - They can break any rule they want. So break the OOC rule and go play Coastal in MYB Saturday. BYU got setup in 48-72 hours. Would essentially be a quarterfinal game. Didn’t the ACC cancel games for ND and Clemson to make sure they made their championship? I doubt either team would have lost but it could have led to a COVID outbreak and a forfeit the following week. I’d love to see OSU play anyone this weekend but it obviously isn’t going to happen. Had OSU been able to play Illinois, Maryland and Michigan they would be 8-0. Not gonna happen. Maybe they don’t want another COVID outbreak for their championship game, it already looks like most of the B1G games are going to be cancelled this week. Why not cancel Northwesterns game so Illinois doesn’t infect them? They’ve already qualified, anyway.
|
|
|
Post by doc on Dec 9, 2020 20:17:24 GMT
Well, the B1G amended the rules and Ohio State will play for a 4th straight conference championship. Based on the current playoff ratings I see 2 scenarios where they don't make it (not including COVID related situations)
1. They lose or just squeak by Northwestern.
2. Both Clemson and Florida win their conference championship games.
- A+M was rated behind OSU this week. they both have one game left - OSU plays #14 Northwestern while A+M plays 2-4 Tennessee. Should these games play out as expected you there no way A+M can leap frog OSU based on current rankings. But if OSU loses or barely beats Northwestern then the door is opened for A+M.
- Should Florida and Clemson win their conference championship games they would be in but chances are probably that Alabama would remain in the playoff and depending on the score for ND/Clemson - the Irish could also remain in the hunt based on their win earlier over the Tigers.
- Should ND win again, I think Clemson is out of the playoff picture with 2 losses plus why should they get a potential 3rd shot at the Irish? I don't think Iowa State or Oklahoma have legitimate chances bases on current rankings and their 2 losses.
So if you don't want Ohio State in, root for Clemson, Florida and Northwestern.
It's an f%^&Ked up season, for sure.
-
|
|
|
Post by doc on Dec 9, 2020 15:01:45 GMT
Texas A&M has an open date. Does OSU have the guts for a sure playoff matchup? One thing you can say for TAM is they will play anyone. Ohio State has nothing to do with setting up a potential game with A+M - I think they'd play the Chiefs if it they were allowed and it would get them a 6th game played. The Big Ten set guidelines and OSU has to abide by them. It's all in the Big Ten's court. It comes down to maintaining the 'integrity' of the rules they set back in September or doing the right thing and amending rules that they actually already amended when they decided to play after saying the were cancelling the season. Either way there's going to be backlash. Ohio State is clearly the best team in the Big Ten but due to the conferences poor management of they find themselves with an undefeated team possibly missing the championship game despite having a win over the second place team. I don't have much faith in the Big Ten making things right but they should do whatever they can to get OSU a game for this weekend - whoever it might be.
|
|
|
Post by doc on Dec 8, 2020 19:36:14 GMT
It's going to get interesting. Northwestern is already in the championship game - they really have no reason to play this week. I'm hearing Purdue is on the verge of cancelling their game with Indiana. If I'm Ryan Day, I'm driving the bus to Indiana to play the Hoosiers again. If I'm the Hoosiers, I'd want another shot at the Buckeyes - or would I? If OSU doesn't get a 6th game, they're supposedly out of the running and IU is in. There's also a chance that Minnesota could have to sit out again this week. At any rate, it appears there will be other games cancelled in the BIG which should give Ohio State a 6th opponent - I'm sure they'd play in Siberia if the had to to get that 6th game.
In other news - when they play next year (if *ichigan doesn't cancel again, it will bre 10 years since they last beat the Buckeyes, 3680 days.
|
|
|
Post by doc on Dec 8, 2020 17:31:26 GMT
You're right Doc about the 1 vs 16, But the one of them did win, and a number have been close to upsetting. And a number of 2's, 3's and 4's have lost to the lower seeds. And now one of those "teams that don't play anybody and would be wiped out in a REAL conference" is ranked #1 in the AP poll (Gonzaga). Until the G5 teams are given a chance to play for the title, we will never know if they can win it or not. Like I said, I'd be in favor of an all inclusive playoff. I don't see them going from 4 to 16 but I guess 4 to 8 is possible. Under that scenario I'd guess the five P5 conferences would get an automatic bid, they'd give a bid to the top team from the group of 5 (similar to the NY 6 bowls) and there would be 2 at large bids. So Coastal or UC or whoever would typically be the #8 seed and play the #1 seed - I just don't see that going well for the G5 team.
|
|
|
Post by doc on Dec 8, 2020 15:19:37 GMT
Coastal Carolina is a nice story. Had BYU gained another yard and a half the story would be dead and everyone would be saying the Cougars deserve a chance. Coastal has one win over a power 5 team - Kansas - who is winless. If you ranked the power 5 teams from 1-130, Alabama would be on top and Kansas would be at the bottom, they are that bad. The Jayhawks have lost 54 straight conference road games. They've lost their conference games this year by an average of 33 points per game and that includes a 3 point loss this past weekend. (Coastal beat them by 15) Coastal has wins over Louisiana (which did beat Iowa State) and the aforementioned, BYU. It would not be a pretty game if they were to play games against the truly elite teams. Sorry, but that's just how I see it. Depth, athletic ability, attrition all would play against them.
At the same time, I'd like to see an all inclusive playoff just to enjoy the 50-10 ass whippings the top seeded teams would administer in the first round of games. My guess is it would be quite similar to the #1 vs #16 record in the NCAA basketball tournament - 1 win for the #16's vs a whole damn bunch of losses.
|
|
|
Post by doc on Dec 6, 2020 19:36:29 GMT
OSU didn’t lose to Indiana but I have to say the Hoosiers are playing great football - this is an example of a school not giving up on a coach and letting him build his culture. The IU players love Coach Allen and they play hard for him. Hopefully he’s built something they can sustain and he’ll stay there awhile.
|
|
|
Post by doc on Dec 5, 2020 21:21:04 GMT
|
|
|
Post by doc on Dec 5, 2020 19:15:02 GMT
Yeah - MSU not showing much so far, 28-0 at half.
|
|
|
Post by doc on Dec 5, 2020 16:42:36 GMT
4 offensive lineman out including 3 starters and the backup right tackle. Also starting linebacker and safety. Let’s go Bucks!!
|
|
|
Post by doc on Dec 4, 2020 20:05:40 GMT
If ample evidence is not found it will validate the election and those that did not vote for Biden will at least have the piece of mind that he won the election fairly. As you all know I tend to stay out of these political conversations but this will never, ever happen....
|
|
|
Post by doc on Dec 4, 2020 18:29:20 GMT
Joe Burrow was a crushing blow. Even though the Bengals were not winning you could see improvements and also you could see Burrow getting better and better. Then last week we find out late Friday night that the Buckeyes game is cancelled. They have a flight to MSU tonight at 8. So at least we should know by then if the game is on. Agreed, it has been a bittersweet year and very strange season to say the least. I just checked Eleven Warriors and the team doctor said all indications are they should safely be able to play the game - lets hope MSU feels the same way! As for Burrow - all season long you've just been waiting for something bad to happen to him. He's been fun to watch but has taken a pounding just about every game. At the same time, he's fearless and unbelievably competitive. For the Bengals to put him out there with an O-line consisting of players cut by other teams and poorly drafted players of their own it was an absolute travesty. Couple that with no running game to speak of once Mixon went down and it was only a matter of time before Burrow got seriously injured - I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner. So last week the Bengals trot out a guy who wasn't even on the active roster the previous week. Amazingly, Cincinnati had a real shot at winning the game until the taxi squad QB fumbled at midfield with about 50 seconds left to play - this despite having 150 total yards of offense for the game. In comparison, Denver played their game with a taxi squad wide receiver who had never played a down at QB since college and they manage 115 yards. Such is life as a Buckeyes/Bengals fan in 2020....
|
|
|
Post by doc on Dec 3, 2020 20:56:07 GMT
The cost of a college education is something that not many can afford and I say that as a university employee who raises money for scholarships. The average student where I work pays about $30k a year when you factor in room and board costs. I don't think it's wise for 22 year-olds to start their professional careers close to $100k in the hole. Places with large endowments can help lower the costs but my school isn't in that category. Most of our 'scholarships' are basically tuition discounts to get our tuition competitive with the state schools. Personally, I think there are some kids who shouldn't go to college. One of my sons went to school, got a job in his field and hated it. He's now going through the electrician apprenticeship program and he's so much happier. He got married last year, they just bought a house recently, and he'll do very well as an electrician.
But to your question - it's just a much bigger issue and schools are pricing themselves so high that kids have to take out huge loans to go to school and then face huge debt when they graduate. that is what needs fixed - if you take the loans you should pay them back but some should realize they shouldn't take the loans. Our kids were fortunate that I worked at a university and they were able to take advantage of our tuition exchange program - all 3 graduated tuition debt free. Our sons are both married and their wives both have debt from their college days. Back when I went to school I owed $3000 when I graduated. $3000 back then certainly couldn't be the equivalent of $100k today. And now, think of all the revenue the schools are losing due to COVID and the lack of athletic dollars. Some places are going to shut down, for sure. When schools like Stanford, Iowa and Clemson are eliminating sports teams it's hard to imagine smaller places with far less revenue and resources surviving.
|
|
|
Post by doc on Dec 3, 2020 20:40:11 GMT
This season has been a major disappointment to say the least - starting in late October, 2 cancelled games, the Big Ten is an embarrassment (PSU and Michigan a combined 3-9) and they still need to play 2 games for the right to play Northwestern (most likely) in the Big Ten Championship. Couple that with Joe Burrow having his knee blown out a couple weeks ago in the Bengals loss to The Washington No Names and it hasn't been one of my favorite seasons as a football fan.
I do think they'll play this week at Michigan State. I don't know who might sit out due to COVID but I did hear one of their receivers could be sidelined - that's a position where they have great depth. Ryan Day won't be coaching the game but I'm sure he'll be connected someway. Then it's up to Michigan week where I hear they're having their own COVID issues. I've also heard that should OSU only get 5 games played (and win them all) they'll amend the rules and allow them to play in the championship game. Chances are every other team in their division will have 2 losses (Indiana plays Wisconsin this weekend without Michael Penix) and OSU, should they win on Saturday, wouldn't have any. It is disappointing that they cancelled the Illinois game, especially given they said after the fact that they could have played. I don't think they had a good handle on the severity of the issue as the cases started to pop up later in the week.
Playoff? I don't know. I certainly would understand the argument to keep them out with only 6 or 7 games played compared to some teams playing 10-11. And again, the Big Ten has not been a gauntlet by any means this year. I just hope they get to play at least 4 more games - players like Fields, Olave, Davis and Wade are probably playing their last games with OSU and I'd like to see them finish on a high note - especially Fields. He fought hard for the season and never threatened to sit the year out. It would be nice to see him finish the season with a flourish.
And whatever happens, someone please beat the shit out of Notre Dame.
|
|
|
Post by doc on Nov 25, 2020 14:19:29 GMT
This wasn’t called targeting - compare this to the hit called last year in favor of Trevor Lawrence and Clemson....
|
|