Which sport, under tourney format, more likely yields the best team as champion?

[BruisedOrange]

I always wanted to post a poll because they're always popular and well-received.

The thinking behind the question is: in some sports, luck is a bigger factor than in others, so that upsets are more likely.

In some sports, different styles of play can make one matchup favorable and another very un-favorable, regardless of which team has the better athletes or regular season record.

Competition is always entertaining to watch, but which college team sport is most conducive to crowning the best team as champion using a tournament or playoff format?

 

[eskimovol]

I went with other, simply because I think Div 2 football has done it the best. I don’t understand why it wasn’t mirrored when the switch happened.

 

[txbo]

64 teams in baseball and basketball is too many to get the best team. Both sports need less teams and more series. Baseball rarely gets the best team as a champion.

 

[ArdentVol]

64 teams in baseball and basketball is too many to get the best team. Both sports need less teams and more series. Baseball rarely gets the best team as a champion.

without a doubt

 

[volplaya8]

There is only one answer here and it’s winning by a wide margin already.

 

[ArdentVol]

women's hoops

 

[EverythingOrange]

I Don’t really Care! Just A Happy VOL, Glad to be involved I ALL OF IT! WHOooooo!

 

[teeball]

Baseball. Having two preliminary events (Regional and Super Regional) with double elimination BEFORE the World Series at Omaha virtually assures you get the best teams together for a third straight double elimination tournament. This minimizes any poor officiating/umpiring that can turn a game on one play or possession. Also teams that have one bad game can still recover and it prevents those weaker teams that have one those magical games where the stars align and every thing goes their way from eliminating a better team.

 

[kyvol98]

NCAA Fishing!

 

[VolPack22]

Baseball. Having two preliminary events (Regional and Super Regional) with double elimination BFORE the World Series at Omaha virtually assures you get the best teams together for a third straight double elimination tournament. This minimizes any poor officiating/umpiring that can turn a game on one play or possession. Also teams that have one bad game can still recover and it prevents those weaker teams that have one those magical games where the stars align and every thing goes their way from eliminating a better team.

Hate to break it to you but playing more games does not ensure anything for umpiring. They all suck, day in and day out. The double elimination aspect is nice but if they really wanted to make it perfect they would trim the field to 32 to ensure only the best teams get in and play a best of 3 series every weekend. Regionals are a round robin and CWS isn’t a true series until the championship.

 

[VolPack22]

I’m actually shocked baseball has that many votes. The best team very rarely wins the whole thing and a lot of times doesn’t even end up in Omaha. The best team in football wins the majority of the time. It’s really not even debatable.

 

[TennCan]

My order: Football, Women's Basketball, Men's Basketball, Softball, Baseball, Women's Soccer, Men's Soccer

 

[cobbwebb0710]

College Hockey usually gets it right, or at least comes the closest. Of course there are typically only a handful of teams in contention every year, so there’s that.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Not basketball. Too many teams in a sport that is already more random than others.

 

[teeball]

I’m actually shocked baseball has that many votes. The best team very rarely wins the whole thing and a lot of times doesn’t even end up in Omaha. The best team in football wins the majority of the time. It’s really not even debatable.

Similarly, I'm shocked so many folks picked football. For decades only two teams got picked to play for the mythical national championship. The picks have always been highly subjective and rarely based on difficulty of schedule. My bet is that many of our past national champions would not have won the title had they played in a playoff structure similar to FCS. Fortunately, beginning next year, the 12 team CFP will vastly improve the process and most likely give us a worthy national champion, something that baseball has been doing for years.

 

[StickMan]

women's hoops

I wouldn't have said that initially, but now that you say it, that's the correct answer, if only because there is still not much parity. There is almost always a dominate team or two that is almost unbeatable.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Not basketball. Too many teams in a sport that is already more random than others.

Refs often make strange calls which ends up giving one team an advantage in winning crucial basketball games.

 

[ArdentVol]

I wouldn't have said that initially, but now that you say it, that's the correct answer, if only because there is still not much parity. There is almost always a dominate team or two that is almost unbeatable.

that is my reasoning