Tennessee #8 in CFP

[Dadof2Vols]

This is why I would rather just go back to the BCS NY6 games being the best system. Getting a conference championship or NY6 bowl win was considered a fantastic season. Now we have a crappy beauty contest influenced by ESPN to drive a whole bunch of drama for additional clicks.

The only alternative is to go to an NFL system where math determines if you get in, not style points, SOS, or other crap.

But the math the NFL uses is predicated that the conferences are even and only the deserving end up in the championship.

Now that the SEC is a gauntlet and B10 has 1 maybe 2 hard games a year., ACC and Big 12 have none, what math would you base it on.

 

[OrangeEtBlanc]

To be honest, we probably don’t want enough to happen to take us any higher than the 8th seed in the bracket. We want to host the 8/9 matchup and face a BIG team in the Rose Bowl 2nd round.

I don’t see us being able to get all the way up to the 6 seed, which would put us against the ACC winner in the 2nd round.

If we move up to the 7th seed, we’d likely face Georgia again in the Sugar Bowl the following game.

I feel we have a good chance to go far if we get some favorable draws. Neither Ohio State nor Oregon really scare me, and I’d much rather face them than Georgia in the 2nd.

Get the 8th seed. Host the first round. And then face the BIG winner in the Rose Bowl.

Either that, or enough chaos to get the 6th seed.

 

[sami]

This is why I would rather just go back to the BCS NY6 games being the best system. Getting a conference championship or NY6 bowl win was considered a fantastic season. Now we have a crappy beauty contest influenced by ESPN to drive a whole bunch of drama for additional clicks.

The only alternative is to go to an NFL system where math determines if you get in, not style points, SOS, or other crap.

Agree 100%. I'd go back to the BCS NY6 system in a second. Problem now is that everyone has become so obsessed with the playoff and "natties" that CFB is becoming more like the NFL every year, and eventually we will have an NFL style playoff.

But I don't think it will ever be done by anything but a "committee" so the networks can continue to control the outcome to maximize ratings. The leagues have made their deal with the devil and allowed ESPN and the gambling sites to run the sport, and it's only going to become worse as the casual fan becomes the target audience, much like what has happened to pro sports in the last decade.

 

[UT97Vol]

The issue (if you care about such things) is that the whole system of selection is hideously flawed in order to get a predetermined result. Is anyone going to seriously suggest that Boise St. or SMU are on the same level as any of the 3-loss SEC teams? Alabama, A&M, hell, even USCe would wipe the field with these teams.

It's the same for the pretender Big 10 schools like Penn State and Indiana, who got exposed last week in what should have been a 4-score OSU win. Both of those teams feasted on awful schedules in a mediocre conference, and both could arguably be hosting playoff games.

If you're a casual fan just looking for entertainment, I guess there really is no issue. But if the idea is to crown a real national champion, this system falls way short. But that was never intended to be the point of the whole thing.

If the point is only to crown a real national title then I still don’t see what the problem is. Are you going to suddenly feel better if a 9-3 Alabama sneaks in and wins the national title just so you can say that SMU didn’t get in the playoff at all?

Everyone has begged to let’s settle it the field for decades and now that we’re going to have that you’re still angry. I imagine there is not a scenario that would appease this thought process. Moreover, and I’m not trying to offend you but this mindset displays a very simplistic view on the dynamics of a team sport. Maybe you never played a team sport at highly competitive level, but to suggest that SMU doesn’t have a quality team is downright oblivious to reality. I for one generally despise that whoever has paid their players the most and stacked the most talent as result is the best outcome for the sport. I mean do we really want college football to become the Yankees and Dodgers every year? We’ve already kind of experienced that even before paying players came into existence and I think it’s abhorrent if that’s what happens to CFB.

But to close out this point, the highest paid roster does not make a team much less the best team. Things like developing players, retention (through something other than money) to build your team up into a system, closeness or camaraderie, and ability to gel as a complimentary football team are things that I find more valuable than stockpiling blue chips. That’s what team sports is about. And to that end, SMU has done that. They have a very experienced and talented team that absolutely deserves to be in this field if they win out. I would actually rather play Penn St or Miami than SMU. And if you can’t see any of that just because of the logo on the helmet I don’t know what else to say.

 

[sami]

If the point is only to crown a real national title then I still don’t see what the problem is. Are you going to suddenly feel better if a 9-3 Alabama sneaks in and wins the national title just so you can say that SMU didn’t get in the playoff at all?

Everyone has begged to let’s settle it the field for decades and now that we’re going to have that you’re still angry. I imagine there is not a scenario that would appease this thought process. Moreover, and I’m not trying to offend you but this mindset displays a very simplistic view on the dynamics of a team sport. Maybe you never played a team sport at highly competitive level, but to suggest that SMU doesn’t have a quality team is downright oblivious to reality. I for one generally despise that whoever has paid their players the most and stacked the most talent as result is the best outcome for the sport. I mean do we really want college football to become the Yankees and Dodgers every year? We’ve already kind of experienced that even before paying players came into existence and I think it’s abhorrent if that’s what happens to CFB.

But to close out this point, the highest paid roster does not make a team much less the best team. Things like developing players, retention (through something other than money) to build your team up into a system, closeness or camaraderie, and ability to gel as a complimentary football team are things that I find more valuable than stockpiling blue chips. That’s what team sports is about. And to that end, SMU has done that. They have a very experienced and talented team that absolutely deserves to be in this field if they win out. I would actually rather play Penn St or Miami than SMU. And if you can’t see any of that just because of the logo on the helmet I don’t know what else to say.

You're coming at this with biases, I'm approaching it from an objective POV. And I'm not "angry" about anything - this is entertainment, and we're having a discussion. I save my anger for government and the media.

You hate Alabama, so anything that takes them out is good. My point is that Alabama would kick the crap out of Boise St., SMU, or Indiana, but because they play in a conference with actual competition they have three losses and are out, while those schools coast through joke schedules and post nice records. That's why it's more a beauty pageant than a real championship playoff.

Please don't lecture about team sports, I played them throughout my life (obviously not at that level) and understand all about the importance of camaraderie and chemistry within a team concept. I too abhor what the game is becoming with collectives, gambling and big media controlling the sport, but to pretend that a playoff with stakes this high has any relation to the good ol' rah-rah college game you are pretending still exists at the P4 level is beyond delusional.

It's funny that you're pining away for the way CFB once was and 'despise' what it has become, but I'm the one arguing for a system that brings back what the game once was with a single national championship game and bowls that actually still had some meaning. And when conference championships really meant something beyond a 'bye', and having a 9-3, 10-2 record and winning your bowl game was a reason to celebrate, not feel like a red headed stepchild for missing the almighty playoff because a "committee" of bureaucrats decided you didn't fit their plan. You want your cake and to eat it as well.

 

[vol94]

They’re a G5 now, and they’ll still get the #4 seed if they win out no matter what because they’ll still be ahead of the Big 12 champion. What part of that is so hard to understand?

I was incorrect.

I thought the ACC, Big 12, SEC, and ACC were guaranteed a Top 4 playoff/ bye.

So I was incorrect!

 

[easttnbuck]

Bama isn't a really good team this year. They have two losses now that are....intriguing and one of those is really bad. Oklahoma isn't just bad this year, they took the gumps to the woodshed and peeled the skin off that butt


Losing to vandy can b excused the same.as tennessee losing to Arkansas. Everyone has a bad day,.and deserves a chance to redeem themselves.

The gumps were absolutely curb stomped, so I'd not put much faith in them to not embarrass themselves again

AnM has their future in their hands,and four losses isn't gonna be worth much after the Irish whooped them in College station

I can whine about Indiana all day long like I do, but unlike bama,.beat those bad teams in front of them. Indiana will be shown who they are but id put zero money down in a game with them and bama.

Bama.is trending down badly and .their locker room is a dumpster fire

I got over/under of 18 who hit the portal soon
Be a fire sale there. Get ready to buy

 

[easttnbuck]

You're coming at this with biases, I'm approaching it from an objective POV. And I'm not "angry" about anything - this is entertainment, and we're having a discussion. I save my anger for government and the media.

You hate Alabama, so anything that takes them out is good. My point is that Alabama would kick the crap out of Boise St., SMU, or Indiana, but because they play in a conference with actual competition they have three losses and are out, while those schools coast through joke schedules and post nice records. That's why it's more a beauty pageant than a real championship playoff.

Please don't lecture about team sports, I played them throughout my life (obviously not at that level) and understand all about the importance of camaraderie and chemistry within a team concept. I too abhor what the game is becoming with collectives, gambling and big media controlling the sport, but to pretend that a playoff with stakes this high has any relation to the good ol' rah-rah college game you are pretending still exists at the P4 level is beyond delusional.

It's funny that you're pining away for the way CFB once was and 'despise' what it has become, but I'm the one arguing for a system that brings back what the game once was with a single national championship game and bowls that actually still had some meaning. And when conference championships really meant something beyond a 'bye', and having a 9-3, 10-2 record and winning your bowl game was a reason to celebrate, not feel like a red headed stepchild for missing the almighty playoff because a "committee" of bureaucrats decided you didn't fit their plan. You want your cake and to eat it as well.

NIL has changed the terrain, it's not going back Saban probably retired cuz he lost a big advantage he had over 99% of other teams when NIL.hit

 

[UT97Vol]

You're coming at this with biases, I'm approaching it from an objective POV. And I'm not "angry" about anything - this is entertainment, and we're having a discussion. I save my anger for government and the media.

You hate Alabama, so anything that takes them out is good. My point is that Alabama would kick the crap out of Boise St., SMU, or Indiana, but because they play in a conference with actual competition they have three losses and are out, while those schools coast through joke schedules and post nice records. That's why it's more a beauty pageant than a real championship playoff.

Please don't lecture about team sports, I played them throughout my life (obviously not at that level) and understand all about the importance of camaraderie and chemistry within a team concept. I too abhor what the game is becoming with collectives, gambling and big media controlling the sport, but to pretend that a playoff with stakes this high has any relation to the good ol' rah-rah college game you are pretending still exists at the P4 level is beyond delusional.

It's funny that you're pining away for the way CFB once was and 'despise' what it has become, but I'm the one arguing for a system that brings back what the game once was with a single national championship game and bowls that actually still had some meaning. And when conference championships really meant something beyond a 'bye', and having a 9-3, 10-2 record and winning your bowl game was a reason to celebrate, not feel like a red headed stepchild for missing the almighty playoff because a "committee" of bureaucrats decided you didn't fit their plan. You want your cake and to eat it as well.

LMAO at the bias comment when you sit here and say Alabama would destroy SMU. I mean they might but kinda depends on which Jalen Milroe shows up. They would have trouble beating most teams ranked in the top 25 if they played like they did against Oklahoma and us. And as noted above they aren’t exactly playing well late.

I’m not pining for yesterday either. The BCS sucked. The system was inherently flawed. And it’s funny the revisionist history people have for it now. It was a complete turd of a system.

I played college baseball. I worked in both college and pro sports after I graduated. I’ve since moved on to other endeavors but I do know what we have in ‘24 is light years better than what we’ve ever had even if it’s not perfect. And frankly there probably isn’t a perfect system with so many different entities, leagues, and multitude of variables at play. I will take this over the systems of the past and enjoy it along the way.

 

[vol94]

Ugh. We continue to have to debate the same things over and over again. This is completely inaccurate. Top four ranked conf champs get the bye.

My bad. I was incorrect.

I thought the Power 4 conf champions automatically received a bye with top four playoff ranking.

 

[Carp]

Georgia will boatrace GT.

Just like they boat raced UK? Or UF?

Haynes King is electric and he's going to give UGA fits all game. I predicted at the start of the year UGA would have 3 regular season losses and Beck would have a mediocre year. UGA is nowhere near as good as they hae been the last few years.

 

[Volholic]

I too wouldn't mind playing them but in their stadium in December could be the bigger issue. Our QB being raised in California likely hasn't had to worry about feeling the football in sub 30 degree temperatures and with possible precipitation or all out snow to boot.

That being said if it's between playing Notre Dame or Georgia on the road then pack the thermals. I think little chance we can survive playing Georgia in Athens.

It’s hard to beat the same team twice in a season usually though

 

[sami]

LMAO at the bias comment when you sit here and say Alabama would destroy SMU. I mean they might but kinda depends on which Jalen Milroe shows up. They would have trouble beating most teams ranked in the top 25 if they played like they did against Oklahoma and us. And as noted above they aren’t exactly playing well late.

I’m not pining for yesterday either. The BCS sucked. The system was inherently flawed. And it’s funny the revisionist history people have for it now. It was a complete turd of a system.

I played college baseball. I worked in both college and pro sports after I graduated. I’ve since moved on to other endeavors but I do know what we have in ‘24 is light years better than what we’ve ever had even if it’s not perfect. And frankly there probably isn’t a perfect system with so many different entities, leagues, and multitude of variables at play. I will take this over the systems of the past and enjoy it along the way.

I don't have a hard on for Alabama like you do, mine was an objective opinion based on talent level. You can pretend that camaraderie supersedes talent, but not at that level.

If you like the current system, why were you moaning about the money? That's essentially what big time college sports is about once the schools and conferences sold their souls to ESPN and the gambling sites. My view on the BCS isn't 'revisionist history' - I liked it at the time because conference championships still meant something and the big bowls were still meaningful. The opt-out garbage didn't start happening until the CFP, where the bowls completely lost their value.

No system is perfect, but having a 12 team playoff with a committee of bureaucrats deciding who gets to play and allowing G5 teams and teams playing creampuff schedules is only going to result in blowouts until we get to the 3-4 teams that might have a legitimate shot to win the thing. Have some sort of algorithm identifying the 12 best teams with no committee and without regard to conference and you'll have a legitimate playoff. But that would take the power away from the bureaucrats, so it will never happen.

Listen, we aren't going to agree on anything but rooting for the Vols, so enjoy your Thanksgiving.

 

[UT97Vol]

I don't have a hard on for Alabama like you do, mine was an objective opinion based on talent level. You can pretend that camaraderie supersedes talent, but not at that level.

If you like the current system, why were you moaning about the money? That's essentially what big time college sports is about once the schools and conferences sold their souls to ESPN and the gambling sites. My view on the BCS isn't 'revisionist history' - I liked it at the time because conference championships still meant something and the big bowls were still meaningful. The opt-out garbage didn't start happening until the CFP, where the bowls completely lost their value.

No system is perfect, but having a 12 team playoff with a committee of bureaucrats deciding who gets to play and allowing G5 teams and teams playing creampuff schedules is only going to result in blowouts until we get to the 3-4 teams that might have a legitimate shot to win the thing. Have some sort of algorithm identifying the 12 best teams with no committee and without regard to conference and you'll have a legitimate playoff. But that would take the power away from the bureaucrats, so it will never happen.

Listen, we aren't going to agree on anything but rooting for the Vols, so enjoy your Thanksgiving.

Copy that. The money issue is a completely separate topic. I don’t believe college athletes who are getting a free education are employees nor should be paid to play. NCAA screwed this whole thing up years ago. Maybe a topic for another day.

 

[Sudden Impact]

Just read an article that if Texas A&M wins, Tennessee would play GA for conference Championship. Due to w/l record in SEC play. Not sure if that is true but could be depends on if 1) Must beat Vanderbilt, 2) Point differential against common opponents between TX and Tennessee....
Interesting.

 

[JMSqb11]

I keep telling y'all GA ain't getting in unless they win the SEC championship. Georgia Tech's taking them down on Saturday.

I look forward to seeing your betting slip showing Ga Tech winning

 

[JMSqb11]

Just read an article that if Texas A&M wins, Tennessee would play GA for conference Championship. Due to w/l record in SEC play. Not sure if that is true but could be depends on if 1) Must beat Vanderbilt, 2) Point differential against common opponents between TX and Tennessee....
Interesting.

lol. This is insanity.

 

[Sudden Impact]

lol. This is insanity.

One would think as I don't see it. Writers these days don't do enough research I do believe. Common opponents include: Ok, Miss St, Georgia, Vandy and FL?. Texas beat OK, Miss St pretty handily and both Loss to GA and it depends on the Vandy Score. I could not believe it as well. I don't see it as Texas record would be equal to Tennessee and the Tiebreaker rules come into play.

 

[sami]

Copy that. The money issue is a completely separate topic. I don’t believe college athletes who are getting a free education are employees nor should be paid to play. NCAA screwed this whole thing up years ago. Maybe a topic for another day.

We agree on that as well, but sadly it's beyond moot at this point.

 

[VolCalls]

Just like they boat raced UK? Or UF?

Haynes King is electric and he's going to give UGA fits all game. I predicted at the start of the year UGA would have 3 regular season losses and Beck would have a mediocre year. UGA is nowhere near as good as they hae been the last few years.

You’re entitled to your opinion. I think Georgia will destroy them.

 

[VolCalls]

It’s hard to beat the same team twice in a season usually though

In general, yes, but Georgia would beat us again no matter where we play them.

 

[Vfl2407]

Just like they boat raced UK? Or UF?

Haynes King is electric and he's going to give UGA fits all game. I predicted at the start of the year UGA would have 3 regular season losses and Beck would have a mediocre year. UGA is nowhere near as good as they hae been the last few years.

Would love that.
And maybe if the game was in Atlanta.
But I’m afraid that UGA wins comfortably in Athens.

 

[Volholic]

In general, yes, but Georgia would beat us again no matter where we play them.

You don’t know that.

 

[VolCalls]

You don’t know that.

You’re right, I don’t. But nothing I’ve seen from this team, nor our performances vs Georgia during the Heupel era, makes me think otherwise.

 

[BruiserVol]

You’re right, I don’t. But nothing I’ve seen from this team, nor our performances vs Georgia during the Heupel era, makes me think otherwise.

You’re right. Georgia is Heupel’s Florida. Every time we play them they get all the bounces, they play lights out, and we forget how to play. I firmly believe it would take an insane amount of luck to beat them.