College Football Playoff 2023

[Federer and Del Potro]

Who do you guys/gals have into the final four? With USC and TCU both taking the L, there is some doubt around the final four, which will be announced tomorrow.

I'm thinking

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. Ohio State
4. TCU/Bama

I'm fluctuating on if I think they're going to put Alabama in or not.

Doesn't seem like the rest of the conference championships really matter as much as the ones already completed did. Might move seedings around but that's about it.

Discuss or disgust.

@The Blond Blur

 

[The Blond Blur]

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. The Ohio State (you have to say “the” in Ohio or you go to jail)
4. TCU

Sorry Bama, you’re not going to be the 1st 2 loss team to make the CFP if I have anything to say about it (I don’t ).

 

[The Blond Blur]

Would love a shot at revenge against TTUN, but if they lose again I might actually catch the depression aka @Red Rick syndrome.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. The Ohio State (you have to say “the” in Ohio or you go to jail)
4. TCU

Sorry Bama, you’re not going to be the 1st 2 loss team to make the CFP if I have anything to say about it (I don’t ).

Really interested like we talked about already to see how much the idea that margin of victory/defeats impact these rankings. If TCU really is passed up for Bama, I don't see how the margin of victory/defeat argument can ever be used in good faith again. Lol. I know the committee has hinted in the past it's mattered, but now we will see if that's actually put into practice.

 

[Red Rick]

Would love a shot at revenge against TTUN, but if they lose again I might actually catch the depression aka @Red Rick syndrome.

Why need I be synonymous with depression.

Occsasionally I display anxiety, melancholy, anger, jealousy, gluttony or other different traits.

 

[The Blond Blur]

Why need I be synonymous with depression.

Occsasionally I display anxiety, melancholy, anger, jealousy, gluttony or other different traits.

I just went with your most dominant personality trait mate. You are a MurrayGOAT fan

 

[The Blond Blur]

Really interested like we talked about already to see how much the idea that margin of victory/defeats impact these rankings. If TCU really is passed up for Bama, I don't see how the margin of victory/defeat argument can ever be used in good faith again. Lol. I know the committee has hinted in the past it's mattered, but now we will see if that's actually put into practice.

If Bama gets in it’ll be just because the committee likes to simp for them and the SEC in general.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

If Bama gets in it’ll be just because the committee likes to Simp for them and the SEC in general.

Exciting thing is that while I agree with you that UGA is the sizable favorite, even they have some exploitable holes. This will be a really competitive final four I feel like. Well, at least most of the games. Not sure how much I fancy TCU's chances if they are the 4 to give UGA a competitive game.

But I could see OSU/Michigan winner giving us a good Natty gm against them.

My least favorite part is always the month long wait . I feel like the long wait hampers the product a bit. Though the one nice thing is it lets injured people potentially come back.

 

[The Blond Blur]

Exciting thing is that while I agree with you that UGA is the sizable favorite, even they have some exploitable holes. This will be a really competitive final four I feel like. Well, at least most of the games. Not sure how much I fancy TCU's chances if they are the 4 to give UGA a competitive game.

But I could see OSU/Michigan winner giving us a good Natty gm against them.

My least favorite part is always the month long wait . I feel like the long wait hampers the product a bit. Though the one nice thing is it lets injured people potentially come back.

I really do think that we’ll be the 4 and have to play Georgia in the SF. But I can only imagine the big wigs salivating at a OSU vs MU natty F.

I agree Georgia should be the solid favorite, but I think OSU is built to play them better than they are against MU. And Georgia does have a few holes in their game. Specifically their QB play. I think OSU can get away with playing man against them without getting burned like they did against MU.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

@Poisoned Slice 's favorite team will be in the dance. Ohio State.

 

[stringertom]

I should wait until the Michigan vs Purdue score is final and see about any significant injuries but if I were a committee member trying to field the top 4 quality teams it’s:

Georgia
Michigan
Ohio State
Alabama

Alas, that’s the fail of a 4-team scheme and the major reason I’ve suggested as far back as 2016 that the minimum number is 8 (actually prefer 12 or 16) so there’s some wiggle room to take a great team that fails to win its conference and/or division and not snub the teams that got a step closer to the conference title/undefeated season.

It’s fairly obvious both Bama and OSU are better suited than TCU to compete with UGA and Michigan.

 

[Larry Duff]

Deion to Colorado is the major news out here.

 

[stringertom]

Deion to Colorado is the major news out here.

Buy the Grey Poupon while you can. Mustard will be hard to find if he comes to Boulder.

If he can reopen the SoCal talent pipeline that fed the Buffaloes roster during the 80s/90s then it will be good times. If not, they stay in the cellar.

 

[Purestriker]

Would love a shot at revenge against TTUN, but if they lose again I might actually catch the depression aka @Red Rick syndrome.

TTUN?

 

[Larry Duff]

TTUN?

That team up north

 

[Larry Duff]

My Heels are not down by 5 touchdowns already against Clemson so that's a surprise. Currently Michigan down to Purdue, love to see a Harbaugh lose so that is worth keeping an eye on.

 

[Purestriker]

That team up north

Ahh. The one that blew them out at the shoe.

 

[Kralingen]

That Carolina defense couldn’t stop a parked car

but if Clemson started this Klubnik instead of DJ MUGialelei all year they’d be in the playoffs

 

[stringertom]

That team up north

Urban would act out in the same petty way about FSU when he coached at the University of Felons. We were “that other state school in the Panhandle.”

 

[Poisoned Slice]

@Poisoned Slice 's favorite team will be in the dance. Ohio State.

Being a butt guy means being a butt guy. Always.

 

[Technology Ruined Tennis]

By their own logic, the top four should remain unchanged. Putting SC above OSU last week didn't make much sense, the committee has kind of screwed their own credibility.

Conference championship games are nothing more than money grabs. Ideally, the rankings should freeze for all teams that are in a conference championship. Dropping below a team that sits at home doesn't look right.

With the 12 team playoff coming I would be totally in favor of eliminating conference championship games altogether. Divide the teams into two divisions based on recent play, and the winners get an auto-bid / home game, in strong divisions at least 1 at large would be granted. Eliminating those games would also provide an extra week for potential playoff expansion. Watching Tennessee go on the road to Toledo for a first round game would be more exciting than seeing the Big 10 West get bageled for the 10th straight year.

 

[The Blond Blur]

The matchups are set:

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. TCU
4. The Ohio State

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Feels like such a waste of time putting TCU in there. 10 point underdog vs Michigan. Maybe they'll prove me wrong. Doubt it though.

 

[Kralingen]

TCU are mugs and Bama would have destroyed both Baylor and KSU in their place, while TCU would’ve lost to both LSU and Tennessee by double digits

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

TCU are mugs and Bama would have destroyed both Baylor and KSU in their place, while TCU would’ve lost to both LSU and Tennessee by double digits

The main lesson I've learned in the 4 team playoff era - which is thankfully going to be in the rearview soon is to schedule as garbage teams as possible out of conference. Still remember Ohio State getting punished versus rewarded for going to Oklahoma to play. When they could have just played Potato Technical Institute instead and they'd have been in the playoff that year.

Michigan has learned this formula. Playing 3 of the worst teams in all of D1 football out of conference. Next year no different with a tough OOC slate of East Carolina, UNLV, and Bowling Green.

Not saying Michigan shouldn't be in or anything. Obviously they should be. But I'm sure Alabama wishes it could do the same as the non SEC teams. Alabama sure would love to play Buttgers and Nebraska

 

[Larry Duff]

Well that was exciting

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Well done to TCU. Proved me wrong. Almost choked it 37 different times but held on.

 

[Kralingen]

TCU no longer mugs

(or more likely, still mugs, Michigan just bigger mugs)

 

[stringertom]

Harbaugh has now lost six straight bowl games. He won his first postseason game in his first year but zip zilch nada since then.

The irony: TCU was beaten by K-State, who then laid an egg today vs Bama.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

@The Blond Blur is starting to believe

 

[The Blond Blur]

@The Blond Blur is starting to believe

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Safe to say this has been the best set of semi final games by a wide margin. Insanity.

 

[The Blond Blur]

Safe to say this has been the best set of semi final games by a wide margin. Insanity.

For sure, it’s a lot more fun to watch offensive shootouts. This game still has a ways to go to match TCU vs MU though.

 

[Larry Duff]

This is fun to watch

 

[Larry Duff]

What a great game.

Now Go frogs.

 

[stringertom]

On the Saturday following JT Daniels announcing he’ll play for his fourth team (Rice), the underdog on the depth chart that replaced him at Daniels’ second school threw two beautiful passes to take the lead and eventually earn the win for UGa.

Hollywood doesn’t write better scripts than The Legend Of Stetson Bennett IV.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1609417495072636930

 

[socallefty]

Even the top four college football teams don’t play any defense anymore. Hardly any pass rush and wide open gaps in rushing defense. While the games were exciting, I like to see a little bit better balance between offense and defense.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Even the top four college football teams don’t play any defense anymore. Hardly any pass rush and wide open gaps in rushing defense. While the games were exciting, I like to see a little bit better balance between offense and defense.

I kept wondering why TCU refused to blitz like basically the entire game aside from very early on . Let McCarthy pick them apart all day pretty much unless the rare time a 3 man "rush" actually broke through.

At least Michigan blitzed a lot - very effectively too. Couple of split second misses were the difference between game changing sacks and TD's.

Both losers could fill an entire book with regrettable choices/plays though.

Ohio State probably less so because injuries aren't something you can control.

Michigan left a smorgasbord worth of points on the board today though. Both in the form of pick sixes and poor play calling.

Biggest disappointment from a winner's perspective is Georgia's defense. It looked incredible all year and got CLAPPED today.

Lucky for them Ryan Day went into his typical conservative mindset once they were in field goal "range" at the end.

 

[stringertom]

Even the top four college football teams don’t play any defense anymore. Hardly any pass rush and wide open gaps in rushing defense. While the games were exciting, I like to see a little bit better balance between offense and defense.

Georgia gave up yards and points to a first rate offense tonight. Their perfect season though was built on being very strong defensively and that was despite losing 5 defenders from last year’s championship team to the NFL in the 1R of the draft in May. Giving up just 17 TDs in the 13 games before tonight qualifies as being stingy. Hats off to OSU for actually playing to their level and challenging UGa instead of pooping the bed like they did a month ago at home vs Michigan.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

@socallefty Really I shouldn't mention just injuries for Ohio State though. Michigan was without a borderline Hesiman candidate in Corum and a big weapon in Schoonmaker.

Like Georgia their defense looked very stout all year too, I don't know what happened today. Their defense was pitiful. The blitz was about the only potency and when that was beaten it was GG on almost every drive.

Cruel endings for both of them.

As someone who doesn't like Michigan, I'm hoping Harbaugh goes to the NFL lol. They're too good. I don't like it.

They definitely had the team and talent to win it all this year. They'd have definitely had a shot against Georgia. Better than they did last year at least.

Feels like a matter of time before I have to watch U of M win it all.

Not sure who your team is. Last year I kind of knew Michigan wasn't as good as its playoff app/rank. Not the case this year though I have to admit, despite the L.

 

[socallefty]

Feels like a matter of time before I have to watch U of M win it all.

Don‘t worry too much - Harbaugh has lost something like five bowl games in a row and most of them were double-digit losses. I did think that the Michigan and Georgia defenses would play way better today than they did. TCU had so many big plays when Michigan blitzed, but Michigan couldn‘t put much pressure on the QB without blitzing.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Don‘t worry too much - Harbaugh has lost something like five bowl games in a row and most of them were double-digit losses. I did think that the Michigan and Georgia defenses would play way better today than they did. TCU had so many big plays when Michigan blitzed, but Michigan couldn‘t put much pressure on the QB without blitzing.

Just feels like they're getting closer and closer to me. 2016 and this year I think they were very close. Bowl season is a bit weird with the people that opt out and the unpredictability of how many guys even seem to give a damn about non playoff bowls.

Last year was a good learning experience for them and this year they got even more experience. I haven't really looked at their roster but I don't think they lose much this off-season. This was actually supposed to be the year they took a step back with a lot of guys leaving and it didn't happen.

I'd imagine Corum returns to try to win again.

Right now they're kind of where Georgia was a few years ago. Always a bridesmaid but never a bride atm. That could change.

Their out of conference schedule is a bunch of cupcakes next year again too. So they won't see much resistance keeping a top 4 rank next year again. Especially since they'll probably start in the Top 5.

 

[Technology Ruined Tennis]

TCU is going to get crushed.

I know I'm in the minority, but 1st to 50 games are no better than a 9-6 field goal fest. The perfect football game has a mix of great scoring drives, and nearly as many defensive stops. 24-21 > both teams walking up and down the field every possession.

 

[stringertom]

Vegas has O/U at a reasonable 62.5 so the idea this will be another highlight reel game is not being bought by the bookmaker. UGa is favored by 13.5 so their prediction is a 38-24 final. I’m not in a betting state so I won’t bother arranging a wager but I would take The Dawgs and lay the points but go under…42-14 sounds about right.

 

[stringertom]

Sit your offensive starters, Smart! 52-7 with 17 minutes left and an absolute mismatch when TCU has the ball. Let them score a TD and then grind a lot of clock.

Stetson Bennett will be outstanding player in his fourth consecutive playoff game, matching his name. All the guy does is win important games.

 

[Purestriker]

Sit your offensive starters, Smart! 52-7 with 17 minutes left and an absolute mismatch when TCU has the ball. Let them score a TD and then grind a lot of clock.

Stetson Bennett will be outstanding player in his fourth consecutive playoff game, matching his name. All the guy does is win important games.

“Aggressive”.

 

[Kralingen]

TCU are mugs and Bama would have destroyed both Baylor and KSU in their place, while TCU would’ve lost to both LSU and Tennessee by double digits

 

[Purestriker]

Big Blue is a mug too.

 

[Kevin T]

They had to put TCU in the playoff over Bama but man, that was brutal. The fact that the Dawgs lost 15 players to the NFL last year, won in dominant fashion this year and go into next year the faves to win it all again is just insane. Bama 2.0. A good time to be a long-suffering UGA fan.