Go Gators!!!! a huge win over a touch team last weekend. That win should propel Florida into the hunt. Hey if Iowa and ND are in the hunt so should UF. LOL Why not Navy?

I wonder who would be in the game if we went back to a 2 team system. Clemson/Bama???

Hope you didn't subject yourself to watching that game! Couple the FAU game with the last time Gators were in the swamp and nearly lost to lowly Vandy...UF O has alot of work to do or else they'll be lucky to crack double digits vs Bama huh?

But that is ok, I'm looking forward to see what both FSU and UF have this week for that one. 2 more weeks, we'll learn more as the competition ramps up.

Might be when all said and done that only 2 teams deserve, or have proved themselves worthy of a national title will be the top 2. Plenty of years in the BCS there was no need to go beyond 2 teams.

I'd bump Oregon and Utah above these two and bring Houston along as well. In at least 4 of the 5 conferences I think Navy and Toledo would be in the 5 or 6 win struggles so many others are. If they we're in Big10 they would be in the 7-8 win area.

2. Alabama 10-1 (8), loss to 8-3 Ole Miss by 6.
Best wins = LSU by 14, Miss St by 25, Tennessee by 5, Tex A&M by 18, Wisconsin by 18

Please enough of this LSU being considered a best win!!!! LSU is terrible. Which is not a good thing for Florida.

Tennessee ain't much better. Bama has an incredible running back in Derrek Henry. He is the difference maker. Without him they are in the hunt for a shot at championship not running away with the conference. Also play somewhere out of your geographical area in the next decade.

Love the rankings and I should put my head into it and come up with my own rankings but I will just bag on yours. LOL

Bag away, gives us something to talk about.

We all know that it just depends what the power 5 conference schedules are and if they would really be that tough for Navy or Toledo. If you give Navy Ohio State's schedule I think Navy would probably still be capable of winning 9 games to this point. Same with Toledo, give them say North Carolina's schedule and Toledo might just have as many wins as they do now (also 9). There are good teams in the Big Ten and ACC, but not everyone plays everyone so, it just all depends.

The thing with Navy this year that has really impressed me so much is their defense. Historically teams that have speed at the skill positions on offense and that spread and stretch the field that is where Navy has really struggled to matchup. But not this year. The Memphis game is proof. Tulsa to a lesser extent. Those teams can score, but Navy dominated defensively in those. I'm really really excited for this Navy-Houston game coming up!!!!

But you are probably right, it feels like I need to have Oregon higher, which would also require Utah to come with them. Perhaps I have FSU and TCU a little high and Utes and Ducks could fall in somewhere higher. Fair point.

LSU is ONE of Alabama's best wins. The way I did the "best wins" is pretty much anyone with a winning record falls into the "best wins" category. Bama has beaten so many teams with winning records I just named a few. We know LSU is a basket case right now, Les Miles may even be getting fired here soon! Imagine that! Teams hit rough patches and LSU ran into some teams that are flat out better than them (Ark and Ole Miss) which is why they are on this 3 game skid. Wonder what happens vs aTm this week?

I do however think Tennessee is pretty damn good. They didn't learn or know how to finish games vs the better teams they played, but if you watched them vs OU, Florida and Alabama I find it hard for you to not come away impressed with how they competed in those games which they ultimately lost. I'd actually love to rank them higher, but just can't since they only have 2 wins vs winning teams, but clearly to me, they are could've had a much better season with one break here, or a different bounce there. They are pretty good.

Alabama is what they always are pretty much. A little more reliant on the run game and less QB centric this time around, but they are consistent winning team and very tough to beat unless they help out in the turnover department.

quote:

34. Georgia 8-3 (1)
Best win = Georgia Southern by 6

UGA's best win this season was 52-20 over South Carolina. Who had beaten UNC just two weeks prior.

But, more importantly, I'll be able to tell my grandkids that yes, UGA did drop 50+ on Spurrier the year they had the worst offense, and most incompetent OC, they've ever had.

I only put winning opponents into the "best win" category. Georgia just beat their first and only team with a winning record this year last week vs Ga Southern (and they almost didn't get that win).

Clearly Georgia played better 4 qrt games vs other teams, but those are bad teams and just because they played good against a bad team that isn't something I want to give anyone much credit for.

Gamecocks have blown all year. UNC had to work hard to lose that one to them. I think 3 INTs, or maybe 4? 3 INTs in the RZ and 2 in the EZ I believe for UNC. Wrong team won that game statisitically, but SC made the defensive plays and UNC QB sh:t his pants a few times. But nobody can say it like you did implying SC was good at one point in the year, they were never ever good this year.

To you point on Spurrier, yeah, that Georgia game was a key piece in forcing Spurrier to hang up the visor. You made him quit. For somebody that used to never say the words 'South Carolina' that must feel pretty good. Wow, to think that Georgia actually scored 50+ in a game this year!

How come nobody ever holds the annual November cupcake against Alabama? Charleston-Southern? Seriously?

Love your Top-43, Scott. Just one question of curiosity...how about bad wins? 😉

Your Top 5 and their non-con wins:

Clemson:
Wofford
Appalachian State
Louisville
Notre Dame (honoring NDs independent football agreement with the ACC)

Alabama:
Wisconsin
Middle Tennessee State
Louisiana-Monroe
Charleston-Southern

Iowa:
Illinois State
Iowa State
Pitt
North Texas

Notre Dame being the outlier as an independent, no real outright "cupcake," maybe UMass?

Michigan State:
Western Michigan
Oregon
Air Force
Central Michigan

It's no grand soapbox or anything, but it always blows me away how Alabama's cupcakes are never held against them, especially since cupcake bias has become so selective in the college football media...:P

Good post. I have alot to say about it (image that!).

OK first of all I have absolutely no problem with Alabama playing FCS Charleston Southern or alot of the SEC teams playing an FCS team last week? Why should I? I mean is what difference does it make if Alabama plays Charleston Southern in September or now? What if they had a bye week last week instead of Charleston Southern, should I be mad about that?

Just as you wonder why people give them a pass for it, I wonder why people care so much about it?

It's not like Alabama had all their cake walk games in September and then NOW they are playing yet ANOTHER one in late November. It is just part of their 4 out of conference games, what difference does it make when they play them?

Just about everyone plays FCS teams these days, it is pretty common place. I would rather teams did not do this, but so many teams do.

The way scheduling has gone is most teams seem to play 1 good team out of conference and then the other 3 are lesser opponents to one degree or another for guaranteed home games. 1 neutral or home/home type game and 3 home games vs teams they will almost certainly beat, that is what the vast majority of teams do (except PAC 12 and Big XII play 9 conference games and 3 out of conference games).

Alabama did what so many other teams do. So I have no problem with their out of conference schedule, in fact it is pretty solid really!

Consider that this FCS cup cake was 9-1 and ranked #8 I believe in their level of football. I would never say that the best FCS team is viable competition for Alabama, the same way I wouldn't say Kent State is. Jeff Sagain has Charleston Southern ranked ahead of teams like Fresno St, ULL, FAU, Ball St, FIU, South Bama, Georgia St, UTSA. Hell, if Alabama had played a power 5 team last week instead of Char Southern would that be better? How about Alabama plays Kansas instead? Sagain has KU ranked 18 spots worse than Char Southern. If we looked at Oklahoma's schedule...Akron isn't much better than Charleston Southern.

The other Bama opponents, Wisconsin historically is a very good team. They aren't this year, but Alabama will schedule some of these types of games. Rarely does anyone schedule two of those kind of games the same season.

To fill out the rest of their games Bama reaches out to the Sun Belt and CUSA. Which pretty much everyone does. The MAC, the Mountain West, whatever, they all do this. Nothing Bama has done is uniquely bad. They could've done quite a bit worse than playing MTSU who isn't all that bad. Not power 5 level, but a decent mid major (Sagarin ranks MTSU ahead of Colorado for instance). If we replaced the name MTSU with the name Colorado would the result be any different or would your opinion be any different?

ULM is complete garbage of course, but it is essentially the only team that Alabama will play in 2015 that will not finish at or above .500. That is a very good schedule, tell me who's is better top to bottom?

I'll leave the comments on Alabama's part of the post here and continue on with the rest in another

The whole cupcake thing is so selective is because nothing is really black and white.

You call Appalachian State a cupcake and I call them 1 game away from Sun Belt Champs (currently 8-2).

Louisville is in the ACC now. But your point is still good as Clemson's other nonconference game is a horrible South Carolina team (who just lost to Citadel). But hard to hold this poor SC team against Clemson, because before 2014 SC had won 5 straight. It is a weak matchup this year, but it is a power 5 opponent that annually causes Clemson problems.

So Clemson plays a power 5 equivalent in Notre Dame, another power 5 in SC, a good Sun Belt team and a bad FCS team in Wofford. So what is bad about this compared to everyone else in the country? I see one bad win in Wofford and assuming they beat SC (LOL wouldn't that be something), that isn't a good win either. 2 bad wins, or I'd rather say bad opponents, out of 4 nonconference games. We could expand this to look at bad opponents in the league schedule. I prefer to look at wins vs teams above .500 when I ranked but we can do it either way.

Iowa's isn't great, but again, pretty typical of what everyone does. 2 power 5 teams, in Pitt (who is 8-3) and like Clemson they play an instate power 5 rival who happens to not be that good in Iowa State. Then they play a FCS like so many other teams Illinois St (who finished tied for their conference championship, finished 9-2), and then they play a horrible N Texas team. I see two bad wins, if I can call a win against an FCS a good win. Again, some of these FCS teams are better than FBS power 5 teams.

And Michigan St actually has the best nonconference schedule out of everyone listed really. WMich, Oregon, CMich and Air Force currently all have winning records. In all honesty those MAC WM and CM teams are better than what some of the lower Big Ten or other lesser power 5 teams are (UK, BC, Purdue, etc). CMich isn't all bad...they tested Ok St week 1 in fact. Air Force will be competing for a Mountain West Conference Championship in 2 weeks. And Oregon has found themselves and have finally turned into the team that everyone hoped they would be when the year started. Certainly within the context of what everyone else schedules, Michigan St's out of conference schedule is very good. I see no bad wins, but I'll give you Western Michigan if you want me to.

[Edited on 11/24/2015 by nebish]

I think this is the last season the Big Ten can schedule FCS opponents in Football. They are also going to 3 non-conference games next season.

Keeping small programs alive by scheduling an ass whooping against a big school seems wrong to me. Yeah the bully beats you up but at least he gives you money for it...???

One or two big upsets (and no one knew how bad Michigan was when they lost to Appalachian) in the past 10 years does not mean its worth continuing on with putting a shitty and very predictable product on the field.

Surprises me the number of people in the stands to watch big programs smash small programs into the turf.

As I said earlier if conferences are growing to 12, 14 or 16 teams they need to schedule more in conference games. They games will mean more to the paying fan, the voters and leave at least a chance for an upset.

Four, yes FOUR Big Ten teams are in the top ten of the committee's rankings this week. Hmm...

GO BRUINS! DESTROY troy!

In Rosen we trust!

today is here go Tigers!!!

Fantastically awesome week of football this was (and still is 4 late games still going strong!).

Everything else from here is a little anticlimatic for me. I love nothing more than a full slate of games. Championship week and bowls are great too, but regular season when all the teams are in action is what I love most.

1. Clemson 12-0
2. Alabama 11-1
3. Iowa 12-0
4. Oklahoma 11-1
5. Michigan St 11-1
6. Ohio State 11-1
7. North Carolina 11-1
8. Northwestern 10-2
9. Stanford 10-2
10. Notre Dame 10-2
tie. Baylor 9-2
tie. Oklahoma St 10-2
tie. TCU 10-2
14. Utah 9-3
15. Oregon
16. Florida State 10-2
17. Ole Miss 9-3

I stopped there this time.

Undefeated playing a major/Power 5 conference schedule is an impressive feat as not many teams are able to do it. Clemson, beat a pair of 10 win teams and three others with winning records. Some weren't as dominant as one might expect for a #1 team, but I'm impressed none-the-less. I hope both Clemson and Iowa win next week to cap off some really historical seasons for both programs.

So Iowa also undefeated only has 3 wins vs IA teams with winning records (and 1 vs 6-6 team)(their IAA opponent made the FCS playoff for what that is worth), I really have grown to respect this Hawkeye team. Like I've said, they are really good at what they do and are just a really really solid team. They do not beat themselves and capitalize other team's mistakes to slowly, but surely put the games out of reach towards the end. They haven't trailed for something like 26 quarters or something like that (6+ games).

I continue to be amazed at the schedule that Alabama has played and that is why I have them over an undefeated major conference team that I said I respect so much. This Alabama team has played 11 games vs IA competition (their IAA team made the FCS playoff for what that is worth). 10 of those 11 are bowl eligible. 9 of those 11 have winning records. 6 of those 11 have 8+ wins. Maybe no wins over another really really good or great teams and they have the loss to 9-3 Ole Miss, but this Alabama team definitely plays like 1 of the best 2 teams in the nation I strongly believe. Even the once QB position as a liability has turned around to be not that bad anymore. So you can't really knock this team I don't think.

There is no denying Oklahoma any longer. If the bad Texas (4-7) loss is still to be held against them (fairly in my opinion), that matters little now that the team they compare closest to resume wise (Michigan St) also has a bad loss. I do not think that playing best at the end of the year should mean any more than playing best at the beginning or middle of the year, but OU has handled all comers since week 6 and typically in blowout fashion. 6 wins vs teams having winning records, 3 wins vs 9+ win teams. I rate them ahead of Michigan St due to margin of victory and more dominating play.

Michigan St has a very good body of work as well. You could say the only time they led in their best wins of the year vs Michigan and tOSU was as time expired, but they did play well in both those games, no matter how improbable the win was vs Michigan it was one of their best performances on the year statistically vs quality team. Were just 1 play from losing to 9-3 Oregon, but at the end of the day they won all 3 of those vs quality opposition. And 7 wins total vs teams with winning records including the 3 vs 9+ win teams (plus a 6-6 team), that is as good as any Big Ten team's resume certainly and very strong among the nation's elite as well. Loss to 5-7 Nebraska makes you shake your head, was a controversial loss, and they did blow a 14 pt lead, still not a quality loss.

After that I have the teams fall in respecting head-to-head results for teams with the same w/l records. Feels strange having Northwestern that high, but they beat Stanford. If we don't respect on the field outcomes of games then what do we respect?

Michigan State is going to steamroll Iowa.

Being a Big Ten (14 actually now) guy, I thought whoever won the conference would be a lock to get into the dance. Then I started to waiver in my thoughts. Now I have gone back to thinking whoever wins the MSU/Iowa game will definitely get in.

I'm not sure who I like yet in these upcoming games. Guessed Bama would be 14.5 over Florida, but see it is 17! Don't know how Florida scores, thought same thing about Auburn scoring on Bama and Florida is more inept.

Not sure Michigan St is that much better than Iowa. I love the matchup. Would let the spread tell me who I like, but at 3/4 no opinion I guess right now.

Oklahoma and the Big Ten Champ are in for sure. I can't see Alabama losing, but if they did that may open up a spot, I can't see them putting Florida in should the unthinkable upset happen in Atlanta. Clemson is obviously in if they win, but I am starting to think maybe that UNC could get in if they beat them. I thought last week that when the committee ranked Stanford at #9 it was positioning them for a potential move up should they win out and some other things happen. Not sure they deserved to be #9 last week, but they will now and if they win the PAC12 they'd have an outside shot should Clemson or Bama stumble.

Great matchups this week coming up!

sad to see mark richt forced out at georgia

sad to see mark richt forced out at georgia

Yeah, what do you make of it? Or any of our Georgia friends here?

Not being able to win the SEC East in the years that Mizzou took it, or this year, losing it to a first year coach and a team with no offense at Florida...it felt like this was coming. It feels like Georgia can and should be better. But Richt would have his Georgia teams ramped up every few years to make a run, but the run maybe wasn't far enough as some would've liked.

It is going to be hard to get better off the bat. The grass always looks greener, but the list of teams is rather long who replaced coaches who were doing pretty respectable with new staffs and times got dark.

Hopefully Georgia gets where they want to go without taking a few too many steps back first.

Not sure Michigan St is that much better than Iowa. I love the matchup. Would let the spread tell me who I like, but at 3/4 no opinion I guess right now.

If the health of Connor Cook was set this line would be different. I still like MSU.

sad to see mark richt forced out at georgia

Yeah, what do you make of it? Or any of our Georgia friends here?

Not being able to win the SEC East in the years that Mizzou took it, or this year, losing it to a first year coach and a team with no offense at Florida...it felt like this was coming. It feels like Georgia can and should be better. But Richt would have his Georgia teams ramped up every few years to make a run, but the run maybe wasn't far enough as some would've liked.

It is going to be hard to get better off the bat. The grass always looks greener, but the list of teams is rather long who replaced coaches who were doing pretty respectable with new staffs and times got dark.

Hopefully Georgia gets where they want to go without taking a few too many steps back first.

OK...I'll bite on this.
First, the anatomy of the Richt departure goes back further. Let's just say, two roads divulged in the woods and Richt chose the Schottenheimer one - mistake. Then two more roads appeared and he choose the Faton Bauta start against UF one...and that was the one that led straight to November 29th. But it all really started when McGarity got hired and Richt & Co took that spectacular face plant in Memphis at the Liberty Bowl. I was there and I remember the frustration of that game very similar to the frustration of this year.

It was time to make a culture change in UGA football and there is/was absolutely no reason to keep him to hold together his recruiting class. But anyone who is doing a happy dance about Richt being gone is a putz. There's nothing celebratory here. Of course we wanted to Georgia to succeed but more important, we wanted Mark Richt to succeed at Georgia. And by succeed I mean win a National Championship or at least play in the playoff a time or two.

All reports in the Media are that Kirby Smart will be named HC and he has a stocked cupboard with the #1 drop back QB in the nation currently committed to his school. Not to mention a current top 5 recruiting class - if you buy into those rankings. Nick Chubb will come back. We got 2 more beasts committed at RB. Our receivers will be a year older. And best of all - Schottenheimer will be gone.

More worthless gossip has Muschamp leaving Auburn to be DC at UGA under Smart. I dunno if I believe that.
Everyone wants Pruitt to stay but that won't happen because McGarity has already unzipped and showed his to be bigger. According to reports there are couple of key Alabama staffers that will come with Smart and that Tracy Rocker will be the only coach retained. Oh and lets not forget Trent Thompson will be a Sophomore!

So, here's what I say...The grass damn well better be greener! That's why you guys made the decision to let Richt go isn't it? That grass oughta damn well be so frickin' green it looks like TruGreen went turbo on it. Another 9-4/10-3 season without playing in the SEC championship is and should be unacceptable.

And you're right Tennessee, Florida, Auburn all went through dark periods after letting coaches go whose winning ways had become laconic.

Let's see how this plays out and if an announcement truly is going to be made on Sunday as reports have it. But, from my perspective, I knew Richt had to go eventually to turn around whatever was happening and now that its happened, I don't feel any happier.

sad to see mark richt forced out at georgia

Yeah, what do you make of it? Or any of our Georgia friends here?

Not being able to win the SEC East in the years that Mizzou took it, or this year, losing it to a first year coach and a team with no offense at Florida...it felt like this was coming. It feels like Georgia can and should be better. But Richt would have his Georgia teams ramped up every few years to make a run, but the run maybe wasn't far enough as some would've liked.

It is going to be hard to get better off the bat. The grass always looks greener, but the list of teams is rather long who replaced coaches who were doing pretty respectable with new staffs and times got dark.

Hopefully Georgia gets where they want to go without taking a few too many steps back first.

Georgia has been trying to lure smart to be DC for years. With all the HC openings this year Smar t would have been offered one. Georgia felt this was their last chance to get Smart. I do not agree with the way this went down but I don't agree with a lot of things that happen at Georgia. As a lifetime fan this reminds me of the way Erk Russell situation was handled. Kirby Smart better have something up his sleeve as far as an OC or they are right back to square one. I wish Mark Richt all the best. He is one class act!!!

Go Gators! Go UNC! Go Stanford!

13-0 Go Tigers!!!

The Espn fuckheads Herbstreit and Scot Van Pelt were really red-assed last night after Clemson won. Kirk would have you believe that Marquise Williams was the greatest QB to ever play the game.

3 wins over top 10 teams speaks for itself.

3 wins over top 10 teams speaks for itself.

While UNC won't be ranked in the top 10 now, I agree. Make it FOUR wins over teams with double digit wins! Don't forget about "cream-puff" Appalachian State who is 10-2 and missed the outright Sun Belt conference crown due to a home upset to Ark St. But then you have wins vs 10-2 ND, 10-2 FSU and now 11-2 UNC. Throw in victories collection of three 7-8 win teams (LV, NC St, Mia Fl) and I think Clemson is clearly the #1 team in the country.

Just as Alabama is very solid at #2.

I'd have Michigan State at #3 and Oklahoma at 4.

That would set up a bowl rematch from last year where Clemson kicked Oklahoma's ass all night long. OU is still mad about it. Clemson don't care, bring it.

Great example this year why there is absolutely no need to expand beyond 4 teams for the National Championship playoff.

Some might want to make a case for 2 loss Stanford, but if for argument sake purely, if I were to say that maybe Stanford has a case to be in (which they don't), if you expand it just to get the 5th team in then you get a bunch of other teams to fill in spots 6-8 who have no case what-so-ever. Ohio State? Already lost to Michigan State, Michigan State is in. Notre Dame? Lost to Clemson, Clemson is in. Florida State? Lost to Clemson who is in. UNC and Iowa just lost to the teams ahead of them yesterday. And Stanford? They are a 2 loss team when the universe of great teams this year have 1 loss, sorry win more games Cardinal.

That is what happens each and every time people want to expand it beyond 4, you get teams who already swung and missed and teams that not only didn't win their conference, but their divisions.

The games through the regular season are the playoff before the playoff, those results matter. The regular season still matters. Once teams start getting into the playoff who already lost to teams ranked ahead of them we've reduced the importance of the regular season outcomes.

4 teams is where it should stay. Put a provision of conference champions only and I would never bitch about anything else again...maybe 😉

I'll make a case for the inevitability of an 8 team playoff.

nice to have something to do on New years Eve this year!!! Would rather have the games as late afternoon and evening of New Years Day but thats how it goes. I think some of the Bowl match ups are pretty good this year---alot better than last year as I recall.

Hoping for Bama/Clemson final.

Now i know why i always see Govt Mule on December 30th and not New years Eve. LOL

Weekend ramblings - Stanford USC no on reg. TV on the west coast (makes no sense) but anyway glad Tree won it for the North.

IOWA Michigan St. was an instant classic. What a battle. Game had everything. Iowa pooped the bed with conservative play down the stretch. Good way for Connor Cook to ride into a fat contract.

Why even waste the carbon credits putting the Tide Gators game on. What a joke. I know Gators showed life late but Jes did they make a first down in the first half?

IMO Bama does not go far in playoff. Stop Henry and you win. Spartans will be ready for Henry.

If you are interested in a bowl pick'em pool email me at ducksfanabb@yahoo.com

I will send you pick'em sheet and address for pool coordinator.

20 bucks to enter a team. Last years pool had a $1200 payout.

And that's Yankee bucks not .75 Loonies.

Sheets are due next Friday.

Congratulations to our 7th different winner in as many years in the pick'em, Village Dawg, aka hoffcl! Scored the highest point total for the week 3x, nice picks.

2015 - Village Dawg
2014 - nebish
2013 - DanB
2012 - alloak41
2011 - Wharfrat
2010 - non ABB member (leafsfan friend)
2009 - Bird

1. Village Dawg, Total pts = 189, Dropped pts = 5, Record 189-149
2. nebish, Total pts = 181, Dropped pts = 10, Record 181-157
3. Freely, Total pts 178, Dropped pts = 8, Record 178-150
4. Duck it Up!!!, Total pts 177, Dropped pts = 0, Record 177-151
5. alloak41, Total pts 176, Dropped pts = 8, Record 176-162
6. Richts Renegade, Total pts 174, Dropped pts = 6, Record 174-164
7. DAbosweenie, Total pts 173, Dropped pts = 7, Record 173-165
8. Sang, Total pts 170, Dropped pts = 6, Record 170-168
9. Three's a Charm, Total pts 168, Dropped pts = 6, Record 168-162
10. Fighting Irish, Total pts 158. Dropped pts = 0, Record 158-171

[Edited on 12/10/2015 by nebish]

Next year I will just flip a coin....................