2024 non-GT games thread

[Towaliga]

Finally somebody saying the quiet part out loud ...

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/sec-dear-leader-accept-reality-023347951.html

“A cynic might say that once it became legal to pay players, the SEC no longer had an advantage in, um, talent acquisition.” Classic

 

[wvGT11]

I was concerned for a minute, but I think the new bracket system is great! As others have pointed out, it's showing that the acc dominance is dwindling now

However to me, the glaring thing is that the regular bowls are now virtually meaningless especially with the portal timing.
I used to think that smaller schools that likely will never see the bracket would still benefit from the bowls, might benefit since that is their ceiling, but not so much anymore

 

[gtie73]

I was concerned for a minute, but I think the new bracket system is great! As others have pointed out, it's showing that the acc dominance is dwindling now

However to me, the glaring thing is that the regular bowls are now virtually meaningless especially with the portal timing.
I used to think that smaller schools that likely will never see the bracket would still benefit from the bowls, might benefit since that is their ceiling, but not so much anymore

ACC dominance?

 

[GTpdm]

ACC dominance?

Must have been channeling himself from 20 years in the future…

 

[CousCous]

Must have been channeling himself from 20 years in the future…

 

[RamblinRed]

An interesting point in this year's CFP:

1st round - all the home teams won.
2nd round - all those first round winners won again.

So, the 1st four seeds all lost their only game and all the 5-8 teams are 2-0.

I'm not sure this should be surprising, at least this season.

Starting with the first round. The 5-8 included the 2 SEC/B1G teams that lost in their CCG and Ohio St - who is considered to have the best team money could buy this season. The 5-8 teams were all playing home games against teams that had legitimately less talent overall. Based on their playoff rankings, rather than seeds, the matchups were
#3 vs #16, #4 vs #10, #5 vs #8 and #6 vs #7. Higher ranked team won every game. The only one that was remotely competitive was #3 vs #16.

In the 2nd round. 2 of the 4 bye teams were double digit underdogs (Boise St and AZ st) and never would have been in one of those seeds unless they went to a conference champ.
UGA didn't have its starting QB (though frankly ND was the better team anyways).
OR/OSU was the one game that on paper should have been close, but Ohio St has played at a different level than everyone else the first 2 rounds and likely was also extra motivated to beat OR since they lost to them in the regular season.
2nd round based on rankings
#1 vs #6 (#6 tOSU wins), #2 vs #5 (#5 wins, #2 without starting QB), #3 vs #12 (#3 wins in 2OT), #4 vs #9 (#4 wins).

Overall it has been an awfully chalky and pretty uninteresting playoff to this point. We are left with the #3-6 teams.
The #6 ranked team is the most talented team in the playoff and has been a buzzsaw so far. #2 team didn't have its starting QB.

Just looking at the rankings i'd argue there was a significant dropoff after the Top 6. #7 TN was overrated based on their schedule. I actually had them much lower (#17 in my final rankings - #5 SEC Team) based on their actual results. Their entire season basically rested on beating AL at home. They played one of the easiest schedules this season that included a mediocre FCS team, a 3-9 UTEP, a 0-12 Kent St and a 6-6 NCST. Their only win over a team with more than 7 regular season wins was AL.

 

[billga99]

the only advantage to bowl games is more practice time with your younger players. But with the portal chances for huge mismatches

 

[billga99]

the only advantage to bowl games is more practice time with your younger players. But with the portal chances for huge mismatched

 

[stinger78]

I think it half counts

They play 5 games per year and get half a share.

 

[wvGT11]

ACC dominance?

Haha, hadn't had my coffee yet...meant sec

 

[FredJacket]

Can I get more educated on the officials being in the bag for the SEC? Seems the SEC would have done better than getting only Texas through if a decent conspiracy was underway?

Refs had plenty of opportunity to control the outcome of last's game but seemed to "fail"? I guess its really the perfect conspiracy. Enough to convince some. Not enough to convince others.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

Can I get more educated on the officials being in the bag for the SEC? Seems the SEC would have done better than getting only Texas through if a decent conspiracy was underway?

Refs had plenty of opportunity to control the outcome of last's game but seemed to "fail"? I guess its really the perfect conspiracy. Enough to convince some. Not enough to convince others.

I think it’s more of a bias than a conspiracy. The SEC gets the benefit of the doubt when it comes to close calls, even when the refs are not from the SEC.

 

[awbuzz]

Finally somebody saying the quiet part out loud ...

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/sec-dear-leader-accept-reality-023347951.html

"A cynic might say that once it became legal to pay players, the SEC no longer had an advantage in, um, talent acquisition..."

 

[awbuzz]

“A cynic might say that once it became legal to pay players, the SEC no longer had an advantage in, um, talent acquisition.” Classic

Beat me I see now that I've gone to the next page!

 

[kg01]

“A cynic might say that once it became legal to pay players, the SEC no longer had an advantage in, um, talent acquisition.” Classic

"A cynic might say that once it became legal to pay players, the SEC no longer had an advantage in, um, talent acquisition..."

When I read that line ...

And also, which of you is the burner account and which is the real dude?

 

[Northeast Stinger]

Can I get more educated on the officials being in the bag for the SEC? Seems the SEC would have done better than getting only Texas through if a decent conspiracy was underway?

Refs had plenty of opportunity to control the outcome of last's game but seemed to "fail"? I guess it’s really the perfect conspiracy. Enough to convince some. Not enough to convince others.

As I’ve said before (1) bias is a real thing that happens in the real world, and we’ve seen plenty of bias favoring the SEC in all kinds of ways over the decades, and (2) it doesn’t even have to be conscious or planned to produce a desired result.

 

[FredJacket]

As I’ve said before (1) bias is a real thing that happens in the real world, and we’ve seen plenty of bias favoring the SEC in all kinds of ways over the decades, and (2) it doesn’t even have to be conscious or planned to produce a desired result.

60-ish years ago... we called it "Dodd's Luck"

I'm not arguing. Just having fun.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

60-ish years ago... we called it "Dodd's Luck"

I'm not arguing. Just having fun.

I remember Dodd’s luck as things like a key fumble coming right at a critical time. Or Tech seemingly getting pushed all over the field but still managing through quick kicks and third down punts to win field position and kick a game winning field goal (see Tech vs Tennessee in 1966).

But, yeah, the Tech mystique used to “steal” a few games. Wasn’t there a controversial field goal call against Tulane one year?

 

[TechPhi97]

Almost as heartbroken by that as any Arizona State fan.

I think the 2023 Miami game was where we cashed that in to the greatest effect.

 

[stinger78]

Gator Bowl getting exactly what they deserve for picking dook. No fans, uncompetitive game.

Yes, but I wanted no part of Ole Miss with a PO’d Lame Kitten roaming the sideline.