Fanblogs.com - Latest Comments in Fanblogs Open Thread

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

Porcine — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:31:02 -0000

I wished they would have.

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

aVoiceInSC — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:13:00 -0000

That "chimera" of ACC strength and depth was not only reflected by the new Sagarin rankings, but also on the field this past weekend. The ACC went 3-1 against the SEC. Like it or not, the worst team in the ACC is Duke, who not only is not a pushover but has a win over the 7th best team in the SEC. The only conference with a valid argument as being stronger than the ACC is the Big XII. The SEC is simply top heavy, and that is all.

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

U.of S.C.1978 — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:26:04 -0000

The ACC only has "depth", because it lacks exceptional teams. You need numbers to see it? Here are some.

The top three teams in the SEC have a combined 30 wins to date. The top three in the ACC have 24 wins to date. An obvious difference of six. Give the top three, six more wins, spread six more losses around the rest of the ACC. BAM! Just like that, a minimum of two less ACC teams going to a bowl. A conference without big winners, makes everybody look better. That is all there is to this chimera of ACC "strength", or "depth".

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

Tommy_Trojan — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:52:09 -0000

Clemson_Joe:

We still get a share of the PAC 10 title - no matter what. That's seven straight titles. It's just that Oregon State goes to the Rose Bowl based on the straight up win.

I'm against the conference Championship playoff game. I think that it is unfair to the team that played and won all year long - just to give a lesser team a chance at an upset. I suppose that it all depends on how you view things. You can see a different perspective under any scenario.

Let's look at the SEC. I don't think that Alabama is the best team and I think that Florida would beat them. This scenario seems to look okay to me. But, Alabama has to play an "extra" game after going unbeaten, and may lose the chance to play for a National Championship. Maybe it is unfair. This one seems to work out because both teams have not played each other, the two best teams reside in opposite divisions, and it seems to be a good showcase to find out who the best team really is.

Let's look at the BIG 12. This will be an unfair scenario for either Texas, Oklahoma or Texas Tech to have to win another game - that the other two do not have to play. Just a hypothetical: if Oklahoma sits at #2 and Texas is sitting at #3, and Oklahoma has to play Missouri and loses, then Texas (by default) will advance to the National Championship game. This will only happen because Oklahoma had to play the additional game. You could reverse the scenario and interchange those two teams. Should Oklahoma lose to OK State - then you could substitute Texas Tech for Oklahoma into the equation. Now, you could give the argument that Oklahoma would have a chance to "cement it's status" as one of the top two teams, but I still think that it is unfair to have to play an additional game while two other teams get the opportunity to "back in".

Now, another thing that bothers me is "division" alignment. I don't neccesarily agree with this concept. I think that the BIG 12 NORTH is much weaker than the BIG 12 SOUTH - and has been all along. For instance, if you were gonna have a BIG 12 Championship game, it should be Texas vs Oklahoma IMO. But, all it does is give the weaker Missouri team, a chance to "upset" somebody and it proves nothing at all in my mind.

How bout the BIG 10? Who would play in that "hypothetical" conference championship? Penn State and Ohio State? Why? Didn't Penn State just beat the Bucks? Why should they have to play again? Why should Penn State's terrific season be jeopardized just so Ohio State could have another chance? It doesn't make any sense to me.

How about the PAC 10? Would anything really make any difference? What do you get? Oregon or Oregon State against Southern Cal? What gain would the PAC 10 have in any playoff game? Zero! Does USC ever get any credit for beating any PAC 10 teams? No! None! What would be the point? Do we even want to go to the Rose Bowl? Not really! USC would rather be chosen as an at-large member at this point in time. We get no respect from beating PAC 10 or BIG 10 opponents ever. A playoff makes no sense for the PAC 10 - period! There is nothing to win and nothing to gain and nothing to lose. There simply is nothing.

Now, for the ACC: alot of the time this playoff seems to make sense. There usually seems to be two qualified teams, from each division, to put up against each other. There never seems to be a Nationally dominant team that is at risk by losing. No, in this case there is always the automatic BCS invite as an incentive. The playoff seems to work well in this conference.

As for the Big East: I don't know what you could do here. They are four teams short and they all play each other anyway. Why have another game to let somebody "pull the upset"?

So, all in all, I think that the "extra game" is a detriment for any team that has already had a great season. Usually, there is not a whole lot to gain, and most often it seems - you can lose a game and lose your chance at a National Championship. This can allow for some team that didn't play - to sneak in the back door. The Big 12 has the perfect scenario for this right now.

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

aVoiceInSC — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:46:23 -0000

Thank you. That's exactly my point.

Don't forget about Vanderbilt going to Wake Forest. I think the ACC takes that one. Regardless of the outcome, all 4 ACC vs. SEC matchups are intriguing and should make for some great football.

Usually I've thought highly of Sagarin's predictor as well, but I haven't really followed it this year, so I don't really know how it's fared so far. Have you followed it by any chance?

Tommy, the Pac 10 needs to hurry up and add 2 more teams to have a championship. It's a shame that the Trojans might not get a shot at the conference title this year.

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

Tommy_Trojan — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:01:20 -0000

Clemson_Joe:

I'll back you up. Even though the ACC may not have any "great teams" - they currently have about eleven teams that will probably be bowl eligable. There is no other conference that rivals the parity that the ACC has, from top to bottom, that the ACC puts on the field. There are many good teams in the ACC. We're gonna see what Clemson, Georgia Tech and Florida State can do against their SEC rivals this coming weekend. It would not surprise me in the least if the ACC doesn't come away with two wins here. Florida is a tough draw for anyone. Let's see if the Seminoles don't give them some trouble. The ACC is a definately underrated conference. I also consider the Sagarin "Predictor Rankings" to be the most accurate source for actual play that has happened on the field.

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

aVoiceInSC — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:44:10 -0000

Yep, you're right. Simply because no one else has chimed in to support the ACC being the deepest means I'm wrong. No one other than you has chimed in to oppose it. That's probably because Sagarin backs me.

http://www.usatoday.com/spo...

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

aVoiceInSC — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:41:03 -0000

My choice for the final would be App State taking down James Madison and exacting their revenge.

I love D1-AA playoffs!

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

Bama_Babe — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:54:53 -0000

RT73,
Sorry, I just saw this.
No official decision has been announced, but if he has a chance to go in the top 5, I think he's as good as gone. Unfortunately....

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

USC1801 — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:30:13 -0000

LOL! Yep, the NC was almost within their reach!

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

OU_Ron — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:32:20 -0000

Thanks Zac, I don't think it would have made any difference who the opponent was, they were gonna get beat and beat bad, I only hope Stoops has em fired up for Saturday.........Happy Thanksgiving, btw

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

Zac — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:31:52 -0000

WOW! Look at all of those 9-2 teams, pretty impressive. I see JMU is #1 & Appy St #2. The last time WVU played JMU they went on to win the 1-AA title. They were considered to be the best team WVU beat that year. WVU also beat Wofford the season following they're having won the 1-AA title (Check that; I'll have to verify.) Solid group of schools here, one & all. Many could make the jump to the BCS level, if they wanted to. I guess it's a matter of priorities. I think I'd like to see a JMU/Montana final. What say you?

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

Zac — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:19:05 -0000

Let's see; ND will finish with only 6 wins, so instead of going to the National Championship...Shoot! They really are going to the Gator Bowl, dagum it!!!

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

Zac — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:14:51 -0000

I never saw that coming. I was figguring a 42-34 affair. 65 POINTS!!! Outrageous! Tell ya whut, though, had TX Tech weathered the 1st half to the tune of say 21-7, I think the 2nd half would have been a lot different. I still think your boyz woulda come out on top, but it would have been nip-and-tuck. Great win, Ron, great win!!!

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

Zac — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:11:46 -0000

With the right gun, they are. Anyone not ever see those 1/2" PVC marsh mellow shooters?

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

U.of S.C.1978 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:58:46 -0000

It's not just me. No one else has chimed in to support the ACC as the "deepest", or the "strongest". You seem to be riding a dead horse. But you picked the horse, and the race will not be over, until the season ends. At that point your pony, is going to the glue factory.

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

aVoiceInSC — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:44:18 -0000

So, if predictions don't work for you (which by the way, I'm pretty good at, as you can see by the fact that I'm leading our group in the Pick'em) and talk about current rankings doesn't work for you either, since we need to wait until the season ends, then I must ask, what's the point of discussing anything during the season if nothing is relevant until the season ends?

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

U.of S.C.1978 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:48:54 -0000

I don't much care for the reply link because it tends to push posts down until they are out of context. Maybe we could go back to numbering posts Kev?

At any rate Cjoe, go up four of your posts, and again in your last post. That's all I've got to say about the subject until the proper time for this discussion comes along. After The Season Ends!

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

Regan — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:16:52 -0000

Thanks for not taking it personally, Tyler...

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

aVoiceInSC — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:10:51 -0000

You responded with Sagarin's stats that the ACC is the "strongest" conference.

What? Where did I respond with that?. I made an isolated comment that Sagarin's rankings, which are completely based off of numbers and results, show that the ACC is the strongest conference as a whole. If you want to refute it, show some numbers. Show any numbers. Show stats. Show some sort of proof that what you're claiming is true. Otherwise, I'm going to go with the guy who is nationally respected for his analysis of football teams' relative strength.

By the way, when I'm responding to a particular statement, I will use the conveniently located "reply" link below that comment.

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

U.of S.C.1978 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:53:15 -0000

I originally took exception to your proclamation that the ACC is the "deepest" conference. You responded with Sagarin's stats that the ACC is the "strongest" conference. Sagarin's whole opinion seems to be based on opponents "strength or strength of schedule". That right there opens the floodgates of subjectivity. I re-iterate, statistical conclusions, belong to he that chooses the statistics. Your basic argument seems to be that the ACC has fielded the strongest teams of any conference this year.
It has been said that the proof is in the pudding. No ACC team is contending for the NC, ergo, the ACC is NOT a particularly strong conference. You can tell Sagarin I said so.

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

GotliebTX — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:36:50 -0000

Kevin,

My apologies for the site listing. Please strike that post if you can. I did not mean to promote the site but I do mean to promote the idea behind it which I think is relevant to the BCS discussion. Instead of complaining about the lack of a solution, I'm advocating one. I hope that is allowed here.

Again, if I violated your site policies, I apologize.

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

Tyler_Tech — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:26:00 -0000

No offence taken Regan. The whole "then stop our offense, if you do not like us scoring" is a two way street. We got exactly what we deserved in this game. Our team was way too cocky showing off that big #2 by their name and it bit them in the behind. I credit OU and their coaching staff though. I even saw a bradford option with murray. They provided plenty of wrinkles in their offense and defense to shut us COMPLETELY down. We relied on the let's just do what we do. I think Leach may have found out, this strategy does not always work, but it did not help either that our whole team forgot how to hit somebody. Especially against a dang good football team on the road.

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

deathvalley56 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:18:57 -0000

Porcine, I think you've completely lost your mind.

Re: Fanblogs Open Thread

deathvalley56 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:14:44 -0000

Hey T.E., Did you go to the Ole Miss game. I thought I saw you there anyway. If you weren't there, I apologize. But, I almost got to meet another true Tiger Fan. It would've been great. But, we might have a new Q.B., nonetheless, for the rest of the year. Jefferson did pretty good at times, along with his very 1st T.D. as Tiger. Later .....