Can GT make the CFP in 2015?

awbuzz

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Yes but difficult...

Only lose game. Make it to Clemson/FSU in regular season in an OT lose by some fluke play. Then stomp Clemson/FSU (whichever we lost to earlier) senseless in ACC CG after having beat UGA resoundingly the week before.

Do the above - or better still be undefeated - and we're in!
 
forensicbuzz

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I think it depends on how the ACC is perceived next year. If we lose a bunch of OOC games we shouldn't and the ACC's perception takes a dive, it'll probably take an undefeated season to make it. If we dominate our OOC schedules, then a single ACC loss might be okay if the other conference leaders lose too. As with last year, I think perception is probably the biggest component to who gets in. I think tOSU should have been #6 in the choice for the Top 4.
 
Techster

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Depends on how the rest of the league does against out of conference foes. It's all about perception. Let's not forget, FSU almost didn't make the playoffs last season and they were the only undefeated team in the playoffs. ACC is not highly thought of right now...so a one loss GT team will have an uphill battle.
 
tech_wreck47

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Techster said:
Depends on how the rest of the league does against out of conference foes. It's all about perception. Let's not forget, FSU almost didn't make the playoffs last season and they were the only undefeated team in the playoffs. ACC is not highly thought of right now...so a one loss GT team will have an uphill battle.
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Imo Fsu almost didn't make it not because of how the acc was perceived but because of how they were in trouble almost every game. If they would have won games more convincingly I don't think there would have been any talk about them not being in it. If we can win Convincingly the games we should and only have one loss to a ranked team and our strength of schedule ends up being a top 15 I believe we would have a great chance even if the acc was weak with the exception of a few teams.
 
forensicbuzz

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FSU was never in doubt of making the Playoff last year, as long as they stayed undefeated. There was much posturing, but the whole system would have imploded if FSU, as the only undefeated team, was left out of the Top4.
 
DrJacket

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JacketFromUGA said:
8-4 I'll be content. 9-3 or better I'll be happy
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This is about where I am coming into the year. We have no idea how good we'll be. Lots of replacement parts at key positions. I love how optimistic everyone is. But, honestly the expectations I hear building--in the face of a tough, tough schedule--concern me a bit.

I'd love to run the table as bad as anyone. What I don't want is for us to ramp our expectations up so much that a really good season looks like a letdown.
 
DrJacket

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I know...I know..."let us have our fun."

It isn't going to funny to me at the end of the season when Paul is on the hot seat after a 9-4 or 10-3 season (for instance) because everyone got so amped up after one good year. So, I'm taking more of a "let's slow our roll" position. We'll know what we have by mid-season.
 
Vespid

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DrJacket said:
I know...I know..."let us have our fun."

It isn't going to funny to me at the end of the season when Paul is on the hot seat after a 9-4 or 10-3 season (for instance) because everyone got so amped up after one good year. So, I'm taking more of a "let's slow our roll" position. We'll know what we have by mid-season.
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If Paul is on the hot seat after 9-4 or 10-3, on the tail of 11-3, then GT doesn't deserve him.
 
dressedcheeseside

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Our schedule sets us up perfectly, IMO. It appears brutal to the casual fan, but we all know we have at least a 50/50 chance in each contest. There's no penciled in losses at this point. There's no reason to assume we won't win any particular game other than the odds don't favor winning them all. I say why not?
 
orientalnc

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dressedcheeseside said:
Our schedule sets us up perfectly, IMO. It appears brutal to the casual fan, but we all know we have at least a 50/50 chance in each contest. There's no penciled in losses at this point. There's no reason to assume we won't win any particular game other than the odds don't favor winning them all. I say why not?
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To start, our defense should be better next year. We lost a few guys like Johnson, Nealy, and Green, but maybe JHD will come in and improve the DL. Maybe someone will fill the enormous shoes vacated by Johnson and Nealy. I hope so. I think we will be better. But we gave up 70 points and almost 1100 yards in our final two games last season. There is plenty of room for improvement. Maybe I will be proven wrong, but I do not think defense will be our strength this year. OK, better, maybe. But not a strength.

Next, our offense has a guy I think is one of the best players in college football. He should be better this year. But, we lost a ton from our 2014 backfield and the best offensive lineman we have had in years. Still, I think our offense will be good. It may take til mid-season, like it did last year, for all the pieces to come together. We have talent, but our new running backs don't have much experience. I sure wish Dennis Andrews had followed the rules. Key for the new guys will be learning their blocking assignments.

Finally, look at our schedule. Our first challenge (I hope) will be the 3rd week when we travel to ND for what they are viewing as the first really important game of their season. Some "experts" are picking them for the CFP. They should have a strong defense with really fast DEs and LBs. Fortunately, our toughest stretch happens right in the middle. If we have any chance at 12-0, we need to be clicking on offense and better than I expect on defense when we play Clemson/Pitt/FSU in October. Then we finish the year with VT/Miami/uga. Unlike many of you, I think VT and Miami will be much improved over last season.

My conclusion, if we go through this schedule with one loss, or none, we will deserve the playoff. But, I will happy with a repeat of last season.
 

gtg936g

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When I look at the schedule, I do not see anyone that should blow us out. I think we will be in all the games, which to me is step one. We just have to see how the games go. It is unlikely we will have all the chips fall our way and go undefeated. I think we will be somewhere in the 9-3 range.
 

JorgeJonas

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Can we get a little more information on what other teams' records might be? In the absence of that kind of info, it's hard to speculate. Undefeated, with a whole mess of wins against high profile teams (and probably FSU or Clemson twice) and it's hard to see a scenario where we don't make it. One loss and it gets dicey.
 

Yaller Jacket

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The biggest problem is predicting what the other teams will do. My guess is we have a pretty good chance of making it in with a single loss if we finish strong. Having UGA and the league championship game at the very end is an advantage in that way. Some things need to fall into place for us to be that good, but there are a heckuva lot fewer of those things this year than there were last year.
 
Buzztheirazz

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Good post WC.

We are a really good program right now, on the verge of being great. If JT stays healthy, I think that we can progress to being a program that "reloads".

I'm not worried as much if we make the CFP this year but moreso concerned with continuing our upward trajectory as far as national perception. If we can continue to build on last season the CFP will come.
 
Techster

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DrJacket said:
I know...I know..."let us have our fun."

It isn't going to funny to me at the end of the season when Paul is on the hot seat after a 9-4 or 10-3 season (for instance) because everyone got so amped up after one good year. So, I'm taking more of a "let's slow our roll" position. We'll know what we have by mid-season.
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I thought the bar has always been National Championship or bust? That we're heading into CPJ's 8th season and he hasn't won one is beyond unacceptable. I"m still shocked Bobinski extended his contract this offseason after just a ACCCG appearance and Orange Bowl win. Talk about setting the bar low...
 
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