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Opinion: The Gap between Alabama+Clemson vs. Everyone Else has closed
Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:10 am
Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:10 am
A lot of people have been bellyaching that the last few years of CFB have been too predetermined. But 4 weeks in there are multiple teams that look to be elite and this playoff race could be very exciting
Ohio State, Georgia, Oklahoma, and LSU all look to be in the same tier as Bama and Clemson.
Auburn, Wisconsin, Oregon, Notre Dame, and Texas are just a step below that and could beat anyone on a neutral field
Then you have talented 2B tier filled with good, but inconsistent teams like with Florida, Penn State, Washington, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Oklahoma State and others. Most of these teams could improve the final 3/4ths of the season and contend for the playoffs
I think we are about to see tons of drama down the stretch and the Playoff spots are very much up for grabs
Ohio State, Georgia, Oklahoma, and LSU all look to be in the same tier as Bama and Clemson.
Auburn, Wisconsin, Oregon, Notre Dame, and Texas are just a step below that and could beat anyone on a neutral field
Then you have talented 2B tier filled with good, but inconsistent teams like with Florida, Penn State, Washington, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Oklahoma State and others. Most of these teams could improve the final 3/4ths of the season and contend for the playoffs
I think we are about to see tons of drama down the stretch and the Playoff spots are very much up for grabs
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Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:11 am to Glorious
quote:
The Gap between Alabama+Clemson vs. Everyone Else has closed
well of cousre, the problem is the gap between the top 5 or 6 and everyone else is massive.
Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:12 am to Glorious
quote:
Then you have talented 2B tier filled with good, but inconsistent teams like with Florida, Penn State, Washington, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Oklahoma State and others. Most of these teams could improve the final 3/4ths of the season and contend for the playoffs
Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:12 am to WG_Dawg
quote:
well of cousre, the problem is the gap between the top 5 or 6 and everyone else is massive.
Maybe so. But at the very least we wont have a semifinal with 2 14 point underdogs. Which is an improvement
Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:13 am to Glorious
There are always 3-5 teams that have an argument for competing for the championship. That’s why we have the playoffs now. I don’t think anything has really changed, other than maybe a few new faces.
I’ll have to disagree with you on your tier 2b teams though. Some hot garbage in there that has no business being mentioned in any sort of playoff potential discussion.
I’ll have to disagree with you on your tier 2b teams though. Some hot garbage in there that has no business being mentioned in any sort of playoff potential discussion.
Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:14 am to Glorious
Bama, LSU, UGA, Clemson, OSU, and OU all look fairly evenly matched and would be great games. That next tier though is way behind Bama and Clemson. Either would be 21-24 point favorites in a neutral field against Florida, Penn St, Washington, etc.
Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:16 am to Glorious
I still think Clemson is a notch ahead. Those guys just go through the motions week to week and don't have to flex at all. They are stupid good on offense but Brent Venebles puts them over the edge IMO. They are very lucky to have him.
I think their best is a bit better than the others.
I think their best is a bit better than the others.
Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:17 am to WG_Dawg
quote:
well of cousre, the problem is the gap between the top 5 or 6 and everyone else is massive.
Are you placing Georgia in the top 5 or 6? Because you barely squeaked out a win against 7 and looked terrible doing it. You got slammed by a decent at best LSU team last year, and decent Texas team in the bowl.
If we're being honest, Georgia is the most overrated team in the country right now. Based on the eye test, SOS, and the fact that Bama and Clemson deserve #1/#2 until someone beats them...
Tier 1:
1a) Clemson
1b) Bama
3) LSU
4) Auburn
5) Ohio St.
6) Oklahoma
Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:19 am to MillerLiteTime
quote:
Either would be 21-24 point favorites in a neutral field against Florida, Penn St, Washington, etc.
We are only a 32 point favorite at home against Ole Miss
Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:19 am to Glorious
Clemson has it way too easy... the second best team in the ACC is frickin WAKE FOREST. Projected to go 11-1, only loss to Clemson who has a 97% chance of beating them. ridiculous, must be nice getting to coast to 12-0. They have a 90+% chance in each game remaining on their schedule 
Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:23 am to Diesel88
quote:
Are you placing Georgia in the top 5 or 6?
Check the final playoff polls of 2017 and 2018. Notice anything crazy about uga ranks?
Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:25 am to Glorious
This same discussion comes up every year at this point. Wait til the end
Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:47 am to Glorious
Really?
I think LSU being included in this list is too premature. They haven't even won the division since 2011.
Current College football royalty, at this point, is Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, and Ohio State.
Georgia is on the cusp, they just need to beat Alabama.
Teams like Auburn can rise up periodically to challenge, as 2017 shows, but they are too inconsistent. LSU hasn't done anything for years. The Pac 12 is a dumpster fire.
Notre Dame and Texas are teams that are at that 2nd tier, trying to break through, but just aren't there yet.
For all we know, LSU is a flash in the pan now. 4 games isn't enough of a sample size.
I think LSU being included in this list is too premature. They haven't even won the division since 2011.
Current College football royalty, at this point, is Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, and Ohio State.
Georgia is on the cusp, they just need to beat Alabama.
Teams like Auburn can rise up periodically to challenge, as 2017 shows, but they are too inconsistent. LSU hasn't done anything for years. The Pac 12 is a dumpster fire.
Notre Dame and Texas are teams that are at that 2nd tier, trying to break through, but just aren't there yet.
For all we know, LSU is a flash in the pan now. 4 games isn't enough of a sample size.
Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:50 am to Glorious
K
Posted on 9/23/19 at 9:53 am to Diesel88
Did you not see Georgia play Alabama in the SECCG? Did you not see their playoff run the year before? Sure the Irish was their first test this year, but they passed that test and that’s all that matters.
Even with four games being played there are more questions than answers for most of if not all teams still. Now that the SEC games are starting to be played we will start to see the true strengths and weaknesses of the teams and then you will see who is contenders and who is pretenders.
Even with four games being played there are more questions than answers for most of if not all teams still. Now that the SEC games are starting to be played we will start to see the true strengths and weaknesses of the teams and then you will see who is contenders and who is pretenders.
Posted on 9/23/19 at 10:05 am to Glorious
quote:
Maybe so. But at the very least we wont have a semifinal with 2 14 point underdogs. Which is an improvement
Last year was like this, sure.
The year before that was pretty tight. 2017 is probably the best overall playoffs in regards to the number of competitive games, and how competitive. I think the previous years all had one game each that came within a score (2014 - Alabama vs Ohio State, 2015 & 2016 - Alabama vs Clemson, while 2017 had Georgia vs Oklahoma and Georgia vs Alabama). 2018 had Clemson destroy Notre Dame, Alabama beat OU pretty soundly, and then Clemson beat up on Alabama.
I don't know if we'll have a playoff as good as 2017 in the near future.
Posted on 9/23/19 at 10:09 am to Glorious
I don't think much has been determined in the first 4 weeks as far as determining who the "elite" teams are this year.
I think what has been discovered are who the teams that we over ranked to sell TV ratings like Syracuse, Texas A&M, Nebraska, maybe Southern Cal and most definitely Michigan.
That's why early polls are meaningless. It's all about TV!
Some teams will use their cupcakes to stat-pack so they can beat their chests on how good they are and the best teams play as many players as possible to build for the future even if it means less than "perfect" wins.
I think what has been discovered are who the teams that we over ranked to sell TV ratings like Syracuse, Texas A&M, Nebraska, maybe Southern Cal and most definitely Michigan.
That's why early polls are meaningless. It's all about TV!
Some teams will use their cupcakes to stat-pack so they can beat their chests on how good they are and the best teams play as many players as possible to build for the future even if it means less than "perfect" wins.
Posted on 9/23/19 at 10:14 am to Glorious
Disagree.
Ohio State was always in that same tier, inexplicable losses to Iowa/Purdue caliber teams aside. They recruit as well as anyone.
I'm not sure that's true. Auburn has a freshman QB, Wisconsin looks dominant but has a mediocre passing game, Oregon isn't very good (IMO), and ND/Texas are solid but somewhat flawed.
Hope I am wrong but I think in 1.5-2 months the playoff landscape will look pretty similar to the last few years, unfortunately.
quote:
Ohio State, Georgia, Oklahoma, and LSU all look to be in the same tier as Bama and Clemson.
Ohio State was always in that same tier, inexplicable losses to Iowa/Purdue caliber teams aside. They recruit as well as anyone.
quote:
Auburn, Wisconsin, Oregon, Notre Dame, and Texas are just a step below that and could beat anyone on a neutral field
I'm not sure that's true. Auburn has a freshman QB, Wisconsin looks dominant but has a mediocre passing game, Oregon isn't very good (IMO), and ND/Texas are solid but somewhat flawed.
Hope I am wrong but I think in 1.5-2 months the playoff landscape will look pretty similar to the last few years, unfortunately.
Posted on 9/23/19 at 10:17 am to Glorious
Depends on injuries and big plays for the next level down teams.
Recruiting matters at many levels, but depth on the line of scrimmage is possible as important as a stellar QB.
If you can sack their QB and protect your QB, you can be in games until the end.
If you fail at either, it could be a long game for either your defense or your offense.
Alabama, Georgia And LSU have quality depth along both lines of scrimmage.
I’m not sure our backups at offensive line are stellar.
Recruiting matters at many levels, but depth on the line of scrimmage is possible as important as a stellar QB.
If you can sack their QB and protect your QB, you can be in games until the end.
If you fail at either, it could be a long game for either your defense or your offense.
Alabama, Georgia And LSU have quality depth along both lines of scrimmage.
I’m not sure our backups at offensive line are stellar.
Posted on 9/23/19 at 10:22 am to slayerxing
quote:
Oklahoma, and Ohio State.
Ou can’t ever beat a strong southern team in a playoff, and Ohio st got destroyed by Purdue much more recently than they won a playoff game.
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