BamaTex

This is EXACTLY right. College football has forever been held hostage by the bowls. We got the powers that be to consent to a two team playoff because they did not think it would threaten the precious bowl system. Then 10 years ago we fought and got an expanded 4 team playoff. Beginning next year we will have a 12 team playoff to determine a champion on the field. Florida State deserves to play for a championship but so does Alabama, Michigan, Washington, Texas, Georgia and Ohio State. A true playoff system for college football is long overdue. Bring it on. In the meantime Florida State you have my sincere condolences. You deserved better.

Many moons ago I pitched at the collegiate level at a small NAIA school in Mississippi. While pitching and hitting have changed somewhat some things have not. In response to your hypothesis I have several thoughts: 1. good hitters never think about not hitting into double plays; rather they are looking for a certain pitch to drive. The pitch depends on the pitch count. 2. what is a high pitch is important; a ball around the letters is highly preferable for a pitcher to one belt or thigh high because a belt high fast ball in the middle of the plate can be launched far more easily and lifted to elevate the launch angle. 3. it makes a huge difference between a left handed and right handed batter. Left handers prefer the ball down whereas right handers prefer pitches up in the zone. Throwing high heat to a left hander is a good pitch usually if it is letter high but not belt high. Finally pitching is trying to limit the force of contact and the launch angle. Conversely, hitting is trying to maximize contact and launch angle. Hitters at the major league level may be capable of changing their approach to hit a ball a certain place but even at that level they go with the pitch. I doubt college players have the skill to avoid double plays. Trying to hit the lower or upper part of the ball strikes me as laughable. Hitting good pitching at all is difficult.

Good luck to the Tigers the rest of the way.