NCAA Playoff Predictions

posted by Heretic

So, we have Miami pissed off because Alabama passed them with one more loss (ignoring how Alabama's wins are noticeably better than theirs considering they didn't play either of the two teams above them in the ACC and were 2-2 against the four that tied for fourth at 5-3) and we have Old Miss pissed off because they also didn't pass Miami meaning there's too much damn ACC Bias (ignoring how no one outside of them really gives a fuck about their good-but-not-great season that's balanced wins over Georgia and South Carolina with losses to Kentucky and Florida).

Anyone else big mad about how things are shaking out?

I doubt Arizona St liked their #15 ranking, but they are in control.

Interesting that Miami is that close to Bama.

What if Clemson gets some favorable calls and wins by one against SMU where SMU looked the better team. Does that give SMU a chance to knock Bama out? What if Georgia gets waxed by Texas…does that slightly add to that thought?

I say there’s no way SMU with a loss is above Bama but them putting Miami there makes me wonder.

I watched the ACC closer than any other conference. I believe SMU and Louisville are the 2 best teams.

posted by Ironman92

I doubt Arizona St liked their #15 ranking, but they are in control.

Interesting that Miami is that close to Bama.

What if Clemson gets some favorable calls and wins by one against SMU where SMU looked the better team. Does that give SMU a chance to knock Bama out? What if Georgia gets waxed by Texas…does that slightly add to that thought?

I say there’s no way SMU with a loss is above Bama but them putting Miami there makes me wonder.

I watched the ACC closer than any other conference. I believe SMU and Louisville are the 2 best teams.

To me, the thing that hurts Alabama (or Old Miss, for that matter) is who they lost to. It's one thing to talk about how great the SEC is when you have 3-4 great teams trading wins with each other and beating all the rest, but in competitive games where "the rest" looks like they'd be in contention in any other conference.

When it wins up looking like you have no great teams because Georgia got beat by Alabama and Old Miss, Alabama and Old Miss lost multiple times to mediocre-to-decent teams and Texas needed last week to get a win over anyone over .500 in SEC play, it kind of hurts them in pulling away from other teams with not-that-elite resumes like a Miami.

Also, with this being the first year of the expanding playoffs, I think you can expect future ranking decisions to be based somewhat in how this year's playoffs turn out. Kind of like how the Big 10 might get 9 teams into the NCAA BB tournament one year, but if 7 of them are gone after the first weekend, it'll be 6 or so the next year unless they're really dominant in the non-conference games.

If the SEC teams roll everyone and look like the best conference hands down, the Old Miss teams of the world will get the benefit of the doubt next year. If their at-large teams are all gone after the first round, the Miamis of the world will be in there and those three-loss SEC teams are fucked.

posted by Heretic

To me, the thing that hurts Alabama (or Old Miss, for that matter) is who they lost to. It's one thing to talk about how great the SEC is when you have 3-4 great teams trading wins with each other and beating all the rest, but in competitive games where "the rest" looks like they'd be in contention in any other conference.

When it wins up looking like you have no great teams because Georgia got beat by Alabama and Old Miss, Alabama and Old Miss lost multiple times to mediocre-to-decent teams and Texas needed last week to get a win over anyone over .500 in SEC play, it kind of hurts them in pulling away from other teams with not-that-elite resumes like a Miami.

Also, with this being the first year of the expanding playoffs, I think you can expect future ranking decisions to be based somewhat in how this year's playoffs turn out. Kind of like how the Big 10 might get 9 teams into the NCAA BB tournament one year, but if 7 of them are gone after the first weekend, it'll be 6 or so the next year unless they're really dominant in the non-conference games.

If the SEC teams roll everyone and look like the best conference hands down, the Old Miss teams of the world will get the benefit of the doubt next year. If their at-large teams are all gone after the first round, the Miamis of the world will be in there and those three-loss SEC teams are fucked.

Agree with all

I just thought the whole point of expanding was to eliminate the teams who lose and give those who don't a chance to make it. Because hypotheticals suck. Like, yes, Alabama would be favored over Indiana, SMU, etc. But those teams have earned the way into the top-12, Alabama has not. If we are going to ONLY try for the best (not the most deserving), then I would rather drop back to 4 teams...

posted by Laley23

I just thought the whole point of expanding was to eliminate the teams who lose and give those who don't a chance to make it. Because hypotheticals suck. Like, yes, Alabama would be favored over Indiana, SMU, etc. But those teams have earned the way into the top-12, Alabama has not. If we are going to ONLY try for the best (not the most deserving), then I would rather drop back to 4 teams...

These super conferences are so big….IU crushed their competition, but no Oregon, no Penn St

Penn St….no Oregon, no IU

SEC played more top tier teams but they beat each other.

ACC is stupid big too….big teams miss other big teams.

I said from week 1 that there will be at least 1 3-loss team in these playoffs (my obvious guess was LSU)

I believe South Carolina is a top 12, but they lost to the wrong teams

Playoffs will be fun but the 3 and 4 seeds will be underserved and should just rank 1-12

The rankings I can get behind being 1-12 vs auto byes. But I also do not hate it. You didnt win the gd conference you are in, why should you get a bye? I dont care if they are much better, thats another hypothetical -- whereas I know FOR SURE, you arent the best team in your own conference and they are...

posted by Laley23

The rankings I can get behind being 1-12 vs auto byes. But I also do not hate it. You didnt win the gd conference you are in, why should you get a bye? I dont care if they are much better, thats another hypothetical -- whereas I know FOR SURE, you arent the best team in your own conference and they are...

I get that too but also most have trouble naming the teams in Boise States conference while SEC added Texas and Big 10 Oregon.

But I’ll be all in…to this day Boise St over Oklahoma back then is maybe my all-time favorite bowl game.

We know:

1. Oregon

2. Georgia

Likely:

3. Boise St

4. Arizona St

Questions:

5. Notre Dame or Texas? Texas kinda got hosed it felt but looking at résumé’s not sure Texas has the advantage. Texas at #5 avoids first round Bama SEC matchup. I’ll guess Texas at #5…unless they put Bama #12.

6. Whoever isn’t the 5

7. I thought Ohio St but maybe they put Penn St there despite the buckeyes winning at PSU. I think Ohio St

8. Penn St….before the game was competitive I had Tennessee here, but I think PSU

9. Tennessee

10. Indiana 

11. I think they might give Clemson the love and show the importance of winning conference championship ….so Clemson the #11 and that’ll make Texas the #6

12. Alabama 

I just don’t think they’ll square up Texas and Bama…but Bama should be above Clemson and Texas should probably be above ND

ND is going to have a good path if I’m wrong. ND vs Clemson then Boise St