How bad is a bad loss for you?

[Other_Guy]

This guy, like many, thinks that Georgia's loss to SCjr is so bad that it warrants being below Alabama (He knows there's games left, but his point was if the season ended today they would be in the playoffs).
I'm opposite of his approach, and wondered where VN stands on this. I don't look at the losses as much as I do the wins.
Alabama has literally beaten no one. They've only beaten TWO teams with winning records: A&M and... Southern Miss. While we saw flashes of a champ team Saturday, they then needed a 4th Q comeback to keep from getting blown out. What exactly has Alabama proven? If you're trying to be truthful and not let the past influence you (I admit it has even for me), why would you rank them over Georgia?
Georgia has beaten 2 top 16 teams and really weren't in much jeopardy of losing them. Haven't they proven more in terms of if they're a champ team? It's not like they're still playing terrible. They've had that big win over Florida and 2 shut out games since.
Again, their placement today doesn't matter with several games left, including seeing how both do against Auburn. Just curious as to how folks judge. You more about the quality of wins or quality of losses when it comes to 1 loss teams who are in similar conferences.
College Football Playoff Rankings reactions: Georgia overrated, Oklahoma underrated

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Sorry, but I agree with your buddy in this case. First of all, they both have played South Carolina, who is now making UGA’s loss look worse and worse. Bama won in Columbia by 3 scores+ and UGA lost at home with USCjr’s 3rd stringer QB. That doesn’t necessarily take away from UGA’s wins over ND and UF, but it’s a really bad loss. A loss that bad should be taken into account. UGA has 3 games left against common opponents with aTm, Auburn and most likely LSU so it really doesn’t matter.

 

[LouderVol]

I think for the playoffs, where you are playing the best, how you play against the best is what matters.

 

[atilla]

Well, if you consider ekeing out a home win against ND a QUALITY WIN, so be it....I don't. That same ND team got absolutely demolished, and I mean killed, by a lackadaisical Michigan team.

 

[05_never_again]

Well, if you consider ekeing out a home win against ND a QUALITY WIN, so be it....I don't. That same ND team got absolutely demolished, and I mean killed, by a lackadaisical Michigan team.

Doesn't really matter if ND is a "quality win" on an absolute basis because Georgia has 2 wins (ND and Florida) that are better than any win Alabama has. Hence why the committee put them over Alabama. Thus far, Alabama's best win is over a currently unranked A&M team that could very well end the season with 5 losses.

 

[BAMA-DAWG]

These early polls gauged to generate debate. There is still a LOT of ball to be played. UGA benefits by losing earlier than Bama did. FWIW, Bama seems to play their worst when it matters most. To start out like they did last Saturday, on the biggest stage thus far, with Trump in the audience no less...you have to wonder what's up with Bama in BIG games. Against LSU, we saw Bama look, well, beatable. Where is that stonewall D? They had no answers for LSU (to be fair, no one else has been able to slow down that offense either). Again, look how they have rated in the biggest games of late:

• 2017 Iron Bowl (to get to the SECCG). No.1 team loses to it's biggest rival.
• 2017 Natty game, Bama gets behind early, then 2nd and 26 in OT.
• The 2018 SECCG, dig a hole and shovel back out in the 2nd half.
• 2018 Natty? Ask TreLaw about that one.

While UGA gets a deserved bad rap for not finishing/choking in big games, it could also be said that Bama doesn't appear ready to play when the stakes are the biggest. There are teams out there today with equal or better talent and (gasp) better coaching. It cost Bama embarrassingly in the 2018 Natty and, most recently, in the home loss to LSU. So the committee may have asked themselves "if we put this team in, will they show up?" Or maybe Bama fatigue, as in, we’re not letting you in just because you’re Bama. I am in the quality wins camp, and as I stated yesterday, Bama's opponents cumulative W-L is 31-45. The committee won't like that. I think Bama is a top team. They have beaten EVERYBODY on their schedule thus far except the team that no one has beaten. UGA will have to win out to get in, and the SECChamp deserves to get in. Otherwise Bama makes the cut. I don't think they are capable of winning it all this year.

 

[05_never_again]

These early polls gauged to generate debate. There is still a LOT of ball to be played. UGA benefits by losing earlier than Bama did. FWIW, Bama seems to play their worst when it matters most. To start out like they did last Saturday, on the biggest stage thus far, with Trump in the audience no less...you have to wonder what's up with Bama in BIG games. Against LSU, we saw Bama look, well, beatable. Where is that stonewall D? They had no answers for LSU (to be fair, no one else has been able to slow down that offense either). Again, look how they have rated in the biggest games of late:

• 2017 Iron Bowl (to get to the SECCG). No.1 team loses to it's biggest rival.
• 2017 Natty game, Bama gets behind early, then 2nd and 26 in OT.
• The 2018 SECCG, dig a hole and shovel back out in the 2nd half.
• 2018 Natty? Ask TreLaw about that one.

While UGA gets a deserved bad rap for not finishing/choking in big games, it could also be said that Bama doesn't appear ready to play when the stakes are the biggest. There are teams out there today with equal or better talent and (gasp) better coaching. It cost Bama embarrassingly in the 2018 Natty and, most recently, in the home loss to LSU. So the committee may have asked themselves "if we put this team in, will they show up?" Or maybe Bama fatigue, as in, we’re not letting you in just because you’re Bama. I am in the quality wins camp, and as I stated yesterday, Bama's opponents cumulative W-L is 31-45. The committee won't like that. I think Bama is a top team. They have beaten EVERYBODY on their schedule thus far except the team that no one has beaten. UGA will have to win out to get in, and the SECChamp deserves to get in. Otherwise Bama makes the cut. I don't think they are capable of winning it all this year.

Alabama has won 50% of the national titles that have been awarded since 2009 (5 out of the last 10). If that constitutes "doesn't appear ready to play when the stakes are the biggest," sign me up. Meanwhile, Georgia hasn't won a title in 39 years, hence their well-deserved reputation.

For all his greatness, Saban has only had 1 defeated season. They lost a big game in 2011 to LSU and still won the title. They lost to Texas A&M at home in 2012 and won a title. They lost to Ole Miss in 2015 and won a title. They lost to Auburn in 2017 and won a title. It isn't unprecedented for Saban to have some kind of slip up.

 

[TenUhSee]

For all his greatness, Saban has only had 1 UNdefeated season.

FIFY

 

[05_never_again]

FIFY

lol, thanks.

 

[TenUhSee]

lol, thanks.

youre welcome

 

[BAMA-DAWG]

Alabama has won 50% of the national titles that have been awarded since 2009 (5 out of the last 10). If that constitutes "doesn't appear ready to play when the stakes are the biggest," sign me up. Meanwhile, Georgia hasn't won a title in 39 years, hence their well-deserved reputation.

For all his greatness, Saban has only had 1 defeated season. They lost a big game in 2011 to LSU and still won the title. They lost to Texas A&M at home in 2012 and won a title. They lost to Ole Miss in 2015 and won a title. They lost to Auburn in 2017 and won a title. It isn't unprecedented for Saban to have some kind of slip up.

Was just referring to Saban's post game comments after the LSU game. Said they were out of sorts in the first half, and being responsible for their mindset he didn't have them ready to play. I don't argue with you concerning his success. He is the GOAT. He perennially has one of the top teams in the country. But not having his team ready to play against arguably the best team out there right now likely cost Bama the SECC and possibly the CFP.

 

[05_never_again]

Was just referring to Saban's post game comments after the LSU game. Said they were out of sorts in the first half, and being responsible for their mindset he didn't have them ready to play. I don't argue with you concerning his success. He is the GOAT. He perennially has one of the top teams in the country. But not having his team ready to play against arguably the best team out there right now likely cost Bama the SECC and possibly the CFP.

Yeah, but it happens, even to the best of them. It's happened to Saban before. Half of the time, he doesn't win it all because someone else beat him at some point. It isn't some new thing Alabama is "struggling" with.

 

[LouderVol]

Yeah, but it happens, even to the best of them. It's happened to Saban before. Half of the time, he doesn't win it all because someone else beat him at some point. It isn't some new thing Alabama is "struggling" with.

I think there has only been one undefeated team win the NC since the playoffs. It's not a prerequisite.

 

[BAMA-DAWG]

Yeah, but it happens, even to the best of them. It's happened to Saban before. Half of the time, he doesn't win it all because someone else beat him at some point. It isn't some new thing Alabama is "struggling" with.

Yes, it happens. Perhaps victims of their own success. Saban called it "rat poison". They thump inferior competition with such regularity, that they believe they can roll their helmets out there on any given Saturday and the results will be the same. Yes, 5 of the last 10. But when they are not crowned champs this year, it will be 2 of the last 7. Impressive, sure. Dabo has 2 of the last 3. And now LSU looks to have arrived on the scene as well. Maybe we are witnessing a changing of the guard. Saban is gonna field a good team and compete at the top of the conference. But the recent trend suggests he will not enjoy the dominance he did in the first part of the decade. But that's just my opinion.

 

[05_never_again]

Yes, it happens. Perhaps victims of their own success. Saban called it "rat poison". They thump inferior competition with such regularity, that they believe they can roll their helmets out there on any given Saturday and the results will be the same. Yes, 5 of the last 10. But when they are not crowned champs this year, it will be 2 of the last 7. Impressive, sure. Dabo has 2 of the last 3. And now LSU looks to have arrived on the scene as well. Maybe we are witnessing a changing of the guard. Saban is gonna field a good team and compete at the top of the conference. But the recent trend suggests he will not enjoy the dominance he did in the first part of the decade. But that's just my opinion.

He certainly has a level of SEC competition that he hasn't seen in a long time, probably since the late 2000s/early 2010s. There's always a changing of the guard to a certain extent, maybe it's happening now. Saban himself grabbed the SEC by the throat when he gave Urban a heart attack during the 2009 SECCG and hasn't really let go since. That was the last real changing of the guard in the conference, because Florida had been the preeminent SEC program up to that point.

 

[BAMA-DAWG]

Well, if you consider ekeing out a home win against ND a QUALITY WIN, so be it....I don't. That same ND team got absolutely demolished, and I mean killed, by a lackadaisical Michigan team.

Ok, but it's the opinion of the guys that get to vote that matters. You live by the polls and die by the polls. They said ND was #7 when #3 UGA beat them. That's a quality win.

 

[Dudleys87]

I can’t believe people want Bama in the playoff. To me they’re where they belong.

1 quality win
No division title
No conference title
No playoffs

I have no interest in watching the same final again and another year of “if things were different Bama wins” “Fire Saban” etc

 

[BAMA-DAWG]

I can’t believe people want Bama in the playoff. To me they’re where they belong.

1 quality win
No division title
No conference title
No playoffs

I have no interest in watching the same final again and another year of “if things were different Bama wins” “Fire Saban” etc

I think the only one who wants Bama in the playoff is Bama fan. But unless UGA gets to the SECCG and beats LSU, they goin'.

 

[Dudleys87]

I think the only one who wants Bama in the playoff is Bama fan. But unless UGA gets to the SECCG and beats LSU, they goin'.

Unfortunately it seems to me that no matter what Georgia does they jump them. Someone will raise enough stink to cause it to happen.


It just isn’t their year. Take your lump and go bowling Bama.

 

[BAMA-DAWG]

Unfortunately it seems to me that no matter what Georgia does they jump them. Someone will raise enough stink to cause it to happen.


It just isn’t their year. Take your lump and go bowling Bama.

I know that you can only consider 2019, but this Bama team isn't as good as last year's. And that didn't end well (unless you like watching St Nick walk around the sideline with a look like he messed in his britches). LSU has already proven to be better...I would suggest that The OSU may be too. Clemson too. Bama=UGA. I think what the committee said yesterday is that unless UGA drops one, Bama gets left out.

 

[Dudleys87]

I know that you can only consider 2019, but this Bama team isn't as good as last year's. And that didn't end well (unless you like watching St Nick walk around the sideline with a look like he messed in his britches). LSU has already proven to be better...I would suggest that The OSU may be too. Clemson too. Bama=UGA. I think what the committee said yesterday is that unless UGA drops one, Bama gets left out.

I’ll be interested to see how they respond being a young team. This isn’t Saban teams of old when you knew they’d come out and hammer people after a loss.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

I know that you can only consider 2019, but this Bama team isn't as good as last year's. And that didn't end well (unless you like watching St Nick walk around the sideline with a look like he messed in his britches). LSU has already proven to be better...I would suggest that The OSU may be too. Clemson too. Bama=UGA. I think what the committee said yesterday is that unless UGA drops one, Bama gets left out.

Basically UGA controls their own destiny and Bama needs a lot of help . If UGA beats atm, Auburn and LSU they are obviously in . Then the discussion turns to does LSU get in if they lose to UGA ? Imo, if it were a very close loss, absolutely. So then you have UGA, LSU, Clemson (they’re not losing) and potentially a whole lot of one loss teams . It would really hit the fan if Ohio State lost to Penn State who then went on to beat an undefeated Minnesota team in the B1G Title game. Then you throw in Oregon as PAC-12 champ and Oklahoma as Big 12 champ.
So hypothetically Clemson is the only undefeated conference champ. Everybody’s head will explode when 1 loss Ohio State, Bama, Oklahoma, Oregon, Minnesota all get left out. This will be the road to the 8 team Playoff IMO .

 

[Other_Guy]

Sorry, but I agree with your buddy in this case. First of all, they both have played South Carolina, who is now making UGA’s loss look worse and worse. Bama won in Columbia by 3 scores+ and UGA lost at home with USCjr’s 3rd stringer QB. That doesn’t necessarily take away from UGA’s wins over ND and UF, but it’s a really bad loss. A loss that bad should be taken into account. UGA has 3 games left against common opponents with aTm, Auburn and most likely LSU so it really doesn’t matter.

So Alabama has proven they are a better team by shipping SC?
Because if not, I ask again: what has Alabama done to prove they are better?

 

[BAMA-DAWG]

I’ll be interested to see how they respond being a young team. This isn’t Saban teams of old when you knew they’d come out and hammer people after a loss.

I think the Barn may give them some trouble. (May give the Dawgs trouble too). Hadn't thought about State getting them....

 

[BAMA-DAWG]

Basically UGA controls their own destiny and Bama needs a lot of help . If UGA beats atm, Auburn and LSU they are obviously in . Then the discussion turns to does LSU get in if they lose to UGA ? Imo, if it were a very close loss, absolutely. So then you have UGA, LSU, Clemson (they’re not losing) and potentially a whole lot of one loss teams . It would really hit the fan if Ohio State lost to Penn State who then went on to beat an undefeated Minnesota team in the B1G Title game. Then you throw in Oregon as PAC-12 champ and Oklahoma as Big 12 champ.
So hypothetically Clemson is the only undefeated conference champ. Everybody’s head will explode when 1 loss Ohio State, Bama, Oklahoma, Oregon, Minnesota all get left out. This will be the road to the 8 team Playoff IMO .