re: the reason alabama will win tomorrow

quote:

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both backed into the championship

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And you, among others, STILL don't know the meaning of the phrase "backed into" in reference to sports championships.

To back into a championship, you must be playing a game that will put you in it, LOSE, but still win the championship because the team in contention for it with you also lost.

So, for example, last year, this hypothetical scenario would have been an example of "backing into" the SEC West title: if LSU and Alabama had been tied at 6-1 in the SEC going into their final games with Auburn and Arkansas, but we held the tiebreaker over Alabama because we beat them, we could have backed into the SEC West title. We play Arkansas and lose, but BACK INTO the SECCG when Alabama, with a chance to win the west by beating Auburn, also loses.

In the NC game situation last year, we beat Tennessee to earn a spot in the game. Yes, other teams lost that day when they had a chance to go if they had won, but we didn't lose, so we didn't back into it. If it were "backing into" it any time someone ahead of you lost to let you in, then every national champion that did not start the season #1 or #2 would have "backed into" the national championship.

I know that the widespread ignorance of the correct usage of this phrase is no big deal, but for some reason a pet peeve of mine is people misusing sports euphemisms.