ACC Bowl Action

forensicbuzz

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Generally the SEC has 2-3 teams that are as good or better than every other conference’s #1 team. But the other 12-13 teams are no better than the other conference’s bottom 10-13 teams.

The SEC also only plays 8 conference games like the ACC, and most SEC teams (especially the mid to bottom tier ones) take the extra OOC game and schedule a cupcake to pad their win stats. They also rarely play conference games prior to week 4, when the ACC usually plays opening week conference games. That means the SEC has even mid-tier (even some that turn out to be bottom tier) teams with records like 3-1, 4-0, 4-1, 5-1, 5-0, etc. Then when the big dogs like Georgia and Alabama are playing undefeated, 24th ranked Arkansas in week 6 it goes down as a quality win even if Arkansas proves to be a terrible team against real competition. Arkansas might go on to finish 7-5 or 6-6, but because they were ranked in week 6 when Alabama played them it props up their resume. Also, when other mid-tier SEC teams play against each other with beefed up records, the talking heads use that as proof about how tough the conference is week-in week-out.

Objectively, the SEC produces at least 1 dominant football team every year, and sometimes a couple of them. The top-tier teams deserve their respect; and they definitely get it. What’s bulls**t about the SEC propaganda machine is how those mid and bottom tier SEC teams receive the same respect the elite teams get, even when they’re doing none of the work. The middle and bottom of the SEC is never head and shoulders better than the middle and bottom of the other conference’s, a lot of time (like this year) it’s worse. But ESPN and the talking heads would lead you to believe differently.

All you have to do is watch what the narrative is after the MIZZ vs. Ohio St and Ole Miss vs. Penn State games. If the SEC wins it’s going to be “SEE!! Look how much better the SEC is than the B1G!! The SEC dominates college football!!” But if they lose they’ll say, “Well these games didn’t really matter. You can’t base your opinion on who has the strongest conference based on bowl games or head-to-head records. Besides, look how many national championships we’ve won.”
I can't like this enough. Part of the mystique is that the top 2-3 teams aren't always the same 2-3 teams. If the ACC were to have different teams showing out at the top, we'd be perceived differently, as well.
 

JacketOff

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I can't like this enough. Part of the mystique is that the top 2-3 teams aren't always the same 2-3 teams. If the ACC were to have different teams showing out at the top, we'd be perceived differently, as well.
SEC has also benefitted from usually having an elite team from each division. Some combination of LSU, Auburn, & Bama from the West with Georgia, Florida, & occasionally Tennessee from the East. Their best teams can dodge each other and create stronger possibilities of having 2 undefeated or 1-loss teams in their championship game. Further increasing the belief that those teams are better than the other conference’s.

Missouri and Texas A&M joined the SEC in 2012, taking them to 14 teams and a 6-1-1 conference schedule format. In the 12 seasons since then Georgia has played LSU twice, Texas A&M once, and Alabama once in the regular season. They’ve played Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Arkansas 3 times each. They’ve played the weaker half of the division 75% of the time. Which also means Alabama and LSU are playing weaker East teams. Do you think that’s an accident? Meanwhile FSU & Clemson play every year. Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State play each other every year. Washington & Oregon, as well as Texas & Oklahoma play every year. With the exception of OU & TX, ant least one of those teams from every grouping is guaranteed to be sitting at home on conference championship weekend. Meaning one of the 2/3 biggest brands in the conference is irrelevant while the SEC is pitting 2 Goliaths together. Meaning at least one of them HAS to get in. Every other conference’s top tier teams are playing each other every year, while the SEC shields their top contenders from each other as much as possible. How has Georgia played 3 different West teams 3 times before playing Alabama twice? And the only year they played Bama was in the Covid year with a 10 game conference schedule.

The SEC knows what they’re doing. They know that they can control the narratives, and they do. ESPN knows how valuable the SEC brand is, so they push it more and more. I can’t believe there’s been so much collusion between the 2 entities that’s been allowed to happen. To the point now where everyone has just accepted the narratives as fact, and it’s actually reshaping the playing field. An undefeated P5 champion is sitting at home because of those very narratives.
 
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Oldgoldandwhite

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I can't like this enough. Part of the mystique is that the top 2-3 teams aren't always the same 2-3 teams. If the ACC were to have different teams showing out at the top, we'd be perceived differently, as well.
But it has to be brand specific. Vandy or Kentucky winning it all is not the same as Ga, Bama, or LSU. Same as Duke, Wake, or BC. As much as I hate it, we need the U, Clemson, VT, and FSU to all be good the same year. Rather it be us though.
 

bke1984

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He’s right, though
No he’s not. That comment is made under the assumption that he would have been able to get them to 13-0 to begin with, which is kind of a joke given his performance at Colorado where he win one conference game.
 

stinger78

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They both are listed as having 19 players opting out. That number doesn’t include Bowers who is still injured. F$U has several more starters missing than UGAg does.
 

slugboy

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Not from an ACC bowl game, but this reaction is universal to all fans. Also, the lady is now internet famous:


If you want to look at strategy (vs tactics)—Penn State is running state-of-the-art 2005 offense and defense. Ole Miss is state-of-the-art 2020’s offense, and probably a bit more modern than Penn State at defense.

Penn State is getting ripped (in a bad way). Ole Miss had more yards by halftime than PSU is used to giving up in a game.


Maybe it doesn’t last, but for now it looks like Ole Miss is going to pad out a lead.

Ole Miss ran a two point conversion, rolling their QB Dart right. Penn State’s entire defense rolled to that side of the field. Ole Miss’s TE pretended to roll to that side, then walked to the left. Dart threw a weak pass across his body for an uncontested but easy score. Penn State’s defensive scheme isn’t ready for Kiffin’s playbook.

Some of the B1G schools need to modernize
 

Root4GT

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If you want to look at strategy (vs tactics)—Penn State is running state-of-the-art 2005 offense and defense. Ole Miss is state-of-the-art 2020’s offense, and probably a bit more modern than Penn State at defense.

Penn State is getting ripped (in a bad way). Ole Miss had more yards by halftime than PSU is used to giving up in a game.


Maybe it doesn’t last, but for now it looks like Ole Miss is going to pad out a lead.

Ole Miss ran a two point conversion, rolling their QB Dart right. Penn State’s entire defense rolled to that side of the field. Ole Miss’s TE pretended to roll to that side, then walked to the left. Dart threw a weak pass across his body for an uncontested but easy score. Penn State’s defensive scheme isn’t ready for Kiffin’s playbook.

Some of the B1G schools need to modernize
Kiffwn can coach and recruit. Ole Miss will be a force with him as their coach. His Portal haul looks impressive for next yesr
 

Techster

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Kiffwn can coach and recruit. Ole Miss will be a force with him as their coach. His Portal haul looks impressive for next yesr

Will be interesting to see if last year's rumors were true. Remember when Kiffin was tied to Auburn's job for a few weeks? Rumor was that a few high level 'Bama donors told him to wait because they had a strong suspicion Saban was close to hanging it up at 'Bama and Kiffin would be backed by a lot of donors to take over.

Well, there's rumors that if Saban does win it all this year, he's going to retire.

All internet speculation of course, but what if 'Bama does win it all...it will get VERY interesting.
 

stinger78

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Will be interesting to see if last year's rumors were true. Remember when Kiffin was tied to Auburn's job for a few weeks? Rumor was that a few high level 'Bama donors told him to wait because they had a strong suspicion Saban was close to hanging it up at 'Bama and Kiffin would be backed by a lot of donors to take over.

Well, there's rumors that if Saban does win it all this year, he's going to retire.

All internet speculation of course, but what if 'Bama does win it all...it will get VERY interesting.
Hire a coach away in conference and in division? Hmm.
 

Root4GT

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Will be interesting to see if last year's rumors were true. Remember when Kiffin was tied to Auburn's job for a few weeks? Rumor was that a few high level 'Bama donors told him to wait because they had a strong suspicion Saban was close to hanging it up at 'Bama and Kiffin would be backed by a lot of donors to take over.

Well, there's rumors that if Saban does win it all this year, he's going to retire.

All internet speculation of course, but what if 'Bama does win it all...it will get VERY interesting.
His Ole Miss team may be Bama’s equal this year. Their 2 losses were at Bama and at Georgia. No bad losses there
 
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