Today at noon, there will be 4 very happy teams who will be participating in the college playoffs and 1 team who will feel that they got shafted. As a Penn State alumnus, my opinion is totally biased. The decision of the committee should not be that difficult when looking at the top 2 since Alabama and Clemson deserve it without question.
The difficult decision will be selecting the number 3 and 4 teams as all have strong cases.
Ohio State: Played toughest schedule and only lost 1 once (to strong Penn State team).
Washington: Won their conference and lost just once.
Penn State: Won the toughest conference and beat Ohio State head to head.
Michigan: They have no case since they lost twice and didn't win conference. For those who say they crushed Penn State, it was early in
the season and they later lost to an Iowa team that Penn State destroyed.
So, which teams will be selected? I think this is easy: Bama, Ohio State, Clemson and Washington in that order.
Right now, the hottest teams in the country are Bama, Penn State (9 in a row including quality wins vs. Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Wisconsin
and Temple) and USC. How much should this factor weigh in to the committee's decision? I think very much since the rest of their resume is very strong. Who should they replace in the top 4, Ohio State or Washington? To me, this is a toss-up. Washington played a terrible non-conference schedule and Ohio State didn't win their conference and lost head to head against PSU. I I were on the committee, I'd go with Ohio State over Washington since the Big 10 was by far the most dominant conference and a case can be made for 2 Big 10 teams in the playoffs.
Ultimately, Penn State will end up playing USC in the Rose Bowl. This will be the best post-season game (other than possibly Bama-Clemson) and the winner will end up number 3 in the final poll of the season.
If I were a betting man, I'm thinking the top 4 dont change. If Bama, Clemson, and Washington's resumes were all considered superior last weekend, I dont see how that has changed this weekend. So the real question is does the committee drop Ohio St and bump in Penn St. But my guess is no.
As far as who I think should, I find it difficult to differentiate between who is playing well now and who deserves it over the course of the whole season. It's easy to give more weight to teams playing well now and forget what happened earlier in the season. But the goal is to pick the 4 best teams this year. Not the 4 best teams right now. Or the 4 best conference champions. But the 4 best teams this season.
I do think Penn St is playing as well as anybody but I cant get over their two losses. Especially the one by 40 points. I know they had a few injuries that game but when looking back, it wasn't like half the team was out. They were missing their LBs. TYet hearing people talk about their injury status that game is like listening to grandpa talk about walking 10 miles to school uphill each way in the snow. The legend of their injuries just keeps growing.
I think Ohio St is the best team in the Big10. And has been so for the extent of the whole year, from week 1 to week now. So I would pick Ohio St over Penn St. The real question to me is Penn St more deserving than Clemson or Washington. Clemson to me has been really inconsistent this year. And Washington's schedule doesnt look overly challenging(and they lost their most difficult game against USC). I think Penn St has more impressive wins but also worse losses. And again that 40 point beatdown just hangs over them like an albatross.
Bama, Clemson, Washington, and I changed my mind to Penn State last night.
They may have an extra loss, but they beat Ohio State and after watching them last night I think they would beat Ohio State if they played them again. Penn State is a tough team. The way they've turned around so quickly is a true testament to that coaching staff
If the selection is solely based on the best 4 teams, regardless of what they actually accomplish, why even play the regular season?
Quote:If the selection is solely based on the best 4 teams, regardless of what they actually accomplish, why even play the regular season?
This. Its still very subjective, which the playoffs were supposed to eliminate.
So when are the selections announced? ESPN has coverage all day but of course they won't say whn so you watch all day.
<p style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:16px;color:rgb(72,73,74);"><b>8 a.m. -- Noon:</b> College Football Daily (ESPNU)
<b>Noon -- 4 p.m.:</b> College Football Playoff Selection Show (ESPN)
<b>4 -- 6 p.m.:</b> Championship Drive: Bowl Selection Show (ESPNU)
<b>8:30 -- 11 p.m.:</b> Championship Drive: Who's In (ESPN)
<p style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:16px;color:rgb(72,73,74);"><b>ESPN Radio schedule</b> <b>Noon -- 1 p.m.:</b> CFP Selection Day hosted by Dave Rothenberg
<b>7-10 p.m.:</b> CFP Selection Special hosted by Brad Edwards and Mike Golic Jr.
Quote:If the selection is solely based on the best 4 teams, regardless of what they actually accomplish, why even play the regular season?
To determine who the 4 best are
Quote:This. Its still very subjective, which the playoffs were supposed to eliminate.
Was it? With so many teams and so many schedules it'll always be subjective.
Quote:To determine who the 4 best are
Then how do you determine that?
Quote:Then how do you determine that?
By looking at their record, their results, their strength of schedule, etc...
I think it comes down to philosophy. Is it the 4 "best teams" or the 4 most accomplished teams?
4 best:
1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Michigan
4. Clemson
4 most accomplished:
1.Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Washington
4. Penn State
My guess is they will select one team from each group. Ohio State/Michigan and Penn State/Washington; Washington over Penn State because they don't want 2 Big10 teams.
Go Washington!!! Pac 12!!!
Quote:Today at noon, there will be 4 very happy teams who will be participating in the college playoffs and 1 team who will feel that they got shafted. As a Penn State alumnus, my opinion is totally biased. The decision of the committee should not be that difficult when looking at the top 2 since Alabama and Clemson deserve it without question.
The difficult decision will be selecting the number 3 and 4 teams as all have strong cases.
Ohio State: Played toughest schedule and only lost 1 once (to strong Penn State team).
Washington: Won their conference and lost just once.
Penn State: Won the toughest conference and beat Ohio State head to head.
Michigan: They have no case since they lost twice and didn't win conference. For those who say they crushed Penn State, it was early in
the season and they later lost to an Iowa team that Penn State destroyed.
So, which teams will be selected? I think this is easy: Bama, Ohio State, Clemson and Washington in that order.
Right now, the hottest teams in the country are Bama, Penn State (9 in a row including quality wins vs. Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Wisconsin
and Temple) and USC. How much should this factor weigh in to the committee's decision? I think very much since the rest of their resume is very strong. Who should they replace in the top 4, Ohio State or Washington? To me, this is a toss-up. Washington played a terrible non-conference schedule and Ohio State didn't win their conference and lost head to head against PSU. I I were on the committee, I'd go with Ohio State over Washington since the Big 10 was by far the most dominant conference and a case can be made for 2 Big 10 teams in the playoffs.
Ultimately, Penn State will end up playing USC in the Rose Bowl. This will be the best post-season game (other than possibly Bama-Clemson) and the winner will end up number 3 in the final poll of the season.
Quote:Today at noon, there will be 4 very happy teams who will be participating in the college playoffs and 1 team who will feel that they got shafted. As a Penn State alumnus, my opinion is totally biased. The decision of the committee should not be that difficult when looking at the top 2 since Alabama and Clemson deserve it without question.
The difficult decision will be selecting the number 3 and 4 teams as all have strong cases.
Ohio State: Played toughest schedule and only lost 1 once (to strong Penn State team).
Washington: Won their conference and lost just once.
Penn State: Won the toughest conference and beat Ohio State head to head.
Michigan: They have no case since they lost twice and didn't win conference. For those who say they crushed Penn State, it was early in
the season and they later lost to an Iowa team that Penn State destroyed.
So, which teams will be selected? I think this is easy: Bama, Ohio State, Clemson and Washington in that order.
Right now, the hottest teams in the country are Bama, Penn State (9 in a row including quality wins vs. Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Wisconsin
and Temple) and USC. How much should this factor weigh in to the committee's decision? I think very much since the rest of their resume is very strong. Who should they replace in the top 4, Ohio State or Washington? To me, this is a toss-up. Washington played a terrible non-conference schedule and Ohio State didn't win their conference and lost head to head against PSU. I I were on the committee, I'd go with Ohio State over Washington since the Big 10 was by far the most dominant conference and a case can be made for 2 Big 10 teams in the playoffs.
Ultimately, Penn State will end up playing USC in the Rose Bowl. This will be the best post-season game (other than possibly Bama-Clemson) and the winner will end up number 3 in the final poll of the season.
If Michigan wins the Orange Bowl and Penn State loses the Rose Bowl, USC isn't jumping Michigan.