Did Cincinatti belong in the college football playoff?

[Thirdcatgy]

The Cincinnati example is just another reason I think moving to an 8-team playoff (max) seems logical. There would be no discussion about whether they deserved a CFP spot AND they would need to win 3 games against the best teams of that year to win it all.

Monopolies suck. Everyone is in search of the definitive best team and the answer to that question most years is Alabama whether they win it all or not. It's fun to see teams who have no avenue with which to play in P5 conferences try to compete in the Playoffs.

 

[DarkCock]

The Cincinnati example is just another reason I think moving to an 8-team playoff (max) seems logical. There would be no discussion about whether they deserved a CFP spot AND they would need to win 3 games against the best teams of that year to win it all.

Monopolies suck. Everyone is in search of the definitive best team and the answer to that question most years is Alabama whether they win it all or not. It's fun to see teams who have no avenue with which to play in P5 conferences try to compete in the Playoffs.

Dude, no. What's wrong with you, people? Georgia and Bama are clearly the best two teams in the country. We don't need to see them against Akron.

 

[Pauliecock]

The Cincinnati example is just another reason I think moving to an 8-team playoff (max) seems logical. There would be no discussion about whether they deserved a CFP spot AND they would need to win 3 games against the best teams of that year to win it all.

Monopolies suck. Everyone is in search of the definitive best team and the answer to that question most years is Alabama whether they win it all or not. It's fun to see teams who have no avenue with which to play in P5 conferences try to compete in the Playoffs.

Klempsun is the perfect example of a team that benefitted from their reputation at the top. How difficult would it be for them to start over from the bottom, in a weak ACC and reestablish themselves as an elite team that deserves to be ranked in the top 3 every preseason?

It’s amazing that they were able to do it in the 1st place. But once they got to the top, they benefitted from a weak ACC and the fact that they didn’t have to work their way up. They just had to win their games, stay healthy and stay in good graces with the powers that be to maintain their spot.

This season, the ACC wouldn’t have even put a 1 loss Wake or Pitt into the playoff. Klempsun has had it made for years. Hopefully, they fall off.

 

[bucketdad]

Klempsun is the perfect example of a team that benefitted from their reputation at the top. How difficult would it be for them to start over from the bottom, in a weak ACC and reestablish themselves as an elite team that deserves to be ranked in the top 3 every preseason?

It’s amazing that they were able to do it in the 1st place. But once they got to the top, they benefitted from a weak ACC and the fact that they didn’t have to work their way up. They just had to win their games, stay healthy and stay in good graces with the powers that be to maintain their spot.

This season, the ACC wouldn’t have even put a 1 loss Wake or Pitt into the playoff. Klempsun has had it made for years. Hopefully, they fall off.

We already know ND will join the ACC when it benifits them. Having a conference champions type playoff would have them joining tomorrow if it was inacted today. I dont know many Gamecocks that wouldnt be happy to see that.

 

[Thirdcatgy]

Dude, no. What's wrong with you, people? Georgia and Bama are clearly the best two teams in the country. We don't need to see them against Akron.

I believe they probably are this year. My point is add some intrigue and equity to the equation. If BAMA and UGA had gotten tripped up by a 13-0 Akron, they should take a seat.

 

[Joe MorrisonLives]

Cincinnati was one of the top 4 teams except for maybe some SECW, OSU and Big12 squads that have already played their way out of contention.

 

[RattleCock]

Why not open the playoffs up to DII and DIII schools

 

[bucketdad]

Why not open the playoffs up to DII and DIII schools

Because they would tell us to go pound sand.

 

[Silverspur02]

If you ask whether Cincinnati deserved to be in because of the margin of their loss then you have to ask the same question about Michigan.

I was going to post the same thing. Cincy belonged as much as Michigan did.. And I actually thought both would be a better game, with Mich. actually having a chance to win over Georgia.

Now.... Roll Tide...

 

[rogue cock]

I was going to post the same thing. Cincy belonged as much as Michigan did.. And I actually thought both would be a better game, with Mich. actually having a chance to win over Georgia.

Now.... Roll Tide...

Agree. And hopefully that will hasten Saban's retirement. (fingers crossed)

 

[HI Cock]

Eliminate Bama and UGA from the playoffs, and Cincy might have won the NC.

Maybe the SEC should have it's own playoffs? 😁

It's every week in the Fall with a championship in Dec. Bama already won. The NC is now meaningless and stupid, imo.

 

[haneynfl]

Georgia and Bama are better than everyone else. The rest of the conference is not.

Alabama and UGA are 1 &2 in CFB this year. Everyone else is a distant 3rd or more back. No matter who were the other two seeds - there was going to be a big gap in talent and skill. Ultimately, the best two teams are playing for the national championship and that is what we want at the end of the year.

Cincy and MIchigan belonged because they did what they needed to do to be in the CFB playoffs. Any other team would have suffered the same fate and maybe much worse.

 

[cfbfan15]

I saw an article on ESPN asking whether or not Cincinnati really belonged in the playoffs after what Alabama did to them on Friday.

Let me say this, they went undefeated in the regular season the last 2 years they gave Georgia all they wanted in their bowl game last year, the only other program that had any kind of argument of getting in the playoff after the final rankings was Notre Dame who Cincinnati beat at Notre Dame during the regular season. So despite getting pummeled by 'bama Cincinnati did earn their way to the college football playoff.

Who else were they going to put in? Notre Dame? We all saw what Alabama did to Notre Dame last year and to be honest if they(Alabama) played Notre Dame again this year the game would have been even worse than what they did to Cincinnati!

Alabama is a beast that few if any teams in college football are equipped to deal with for 4 quarters, the only team I could think of that has a chance of giving Alabama a game at this juncture when Alabama is bringing their A game is Georgia and the Bulldogs would have to bring their A+ game just to have a chance.

I don't really see how you can deny they belonged in the playoff. Outside of a few anomalies most of the semi final games in the first 7 years have been blowouts. So based on the same argument, Michigan didn't deserve to be there either, bc they got destroyed by GA. Only 3 of the first 14 semi final games have been settled by 7 points or fewer, i think 1 was like 9 points, thats the next closest game.

 

[cockofdawn]

yes and NO!! are they anywhere near the class of a Bama, Michigan or Georgia?? the answer NO!! But they were undefeated so I guess YES they derved it as much as any other college football team..

 

[CockyinNoVa]

I don't really see how you can deny they belonged in the playoff. Outside of a few anomalies most of the semi final games in the first 7 years have been blowouts. So based on the same argument, Michigan didn't deserve to be there either, bc they got destroyed by GA. Only 3 of the first 14 semi final games have been settled by 7 points or fewer, i think 1 was like 9 points, thats the next closest game.

I think with an 8-12 team format we may see less round one blowouts. I think the month to prep and get healthy disproportionately helps the more talented rosters. Think with having a round before Christmas you’ll see more normal season flow and competitive games. Maybe I’m just being overly hopeful but that’s my short version of why I think you see more blowouts.

 

[RattleCock]

I don’t out too much stock in the Bama game. Bama was essentially running out the clock from the opening kick. They knew Cincy wouldn’t be able to move the ball and were content to mostly just pound the ball.

 

[Fish&Grits]

No, Cincy at its best is mid-pack SEC team, at best. Never even a threat to Bama.

I agree that Cincy was not a threat to Alabama, but who would you have picked besides them? They were the only undefeated team in the conversation. Notre Dame was the closest 1-loss team and Cincy beat them. Would you have picked a team with 2 losses?

 

[mauze1]

I saw an article on ESPN asking whether or not Cincinnati really belonged in the playoffs after what Alabama did to them on Friday.

Let me say this, they went undefeated in the regular season the last 2 years they gave Georgia all they wanted in their bowl game last year, the only other program that had any kind of argument of getting in the playoff after the final rankings was Notre Dame who Cincinnati beat at Notre Dame during the regular season. So despite getting pummeled by 'bama Cincinnati did earn their way to the college football playoff.

Who else were they going to put in? Notre Dame? We all saw what Alabama did to Notre Dame last year and to be honest if they(Alabama) played Notre Dame again this year the game would have been even worse than what they did to Cincinnati!

Alabama is a beast that few if any teams in college football are equipped to deal with for 4 quarters, the only team I could think of that has a chance of giving Alabama a game at this juncture when Alabama is bringing their A game is Georgia and the Bulldogs would have to bring their A+ game just to have a chance.

I think Georgia will beat Bama. It is very hard to beat a really good team twice in one season.

 

[TheReelEss]

Yeah. I mean Bama would likely have done that to any team in the country. Cincy hadn't lost a game. Can't exclude them forever.

 

[capngamecock]

The BCS system worked better.. Tired of seeing these blowouts in the semifinal games. Generally every year there are clearly 2 teams better than everyone else. Sometimes there are 3 good teams, but never 4 that could win it all. Cinci vs Michigan in a NY6 bowl game would have been a fun game to watch. It was always going to be Bama vs. Georgia.

 

[cfbfan15]

No, Cincy at its best is mid-pack SEC team, at best. Never even a threat to Bama.

Have to disagree with this. Outside of Bama and GA who in the SEC would have beaten Cincy this season? Maybe Ole Miss? Now if you are talking about over a period of time, yes Cincy would be in the 5-9 range (since they have been relevant). But if you are talking about this year, I think they would have been the 3rd best team in the league.

 

[JGH 35]

Absolutely they deserved to get in.
That said, I'd like nothing more than getting the guesswork and opinions of the so-called experts out of college football. These conversations shouldnt even be a thing imo.

My bracket would be an eight team bracket made up of 6 conference champions and 2 of 4 teams playing their way in. Move the AAC to the Power 5 making it the Power 6. Now the G5 is G4. This year for instance, the MWC champ would play the Sunbelt champ. Winner gets in. CUSA champ would play MAC champ. Winner gets in. Automatic ins for the 6 Power 6 champs.
There you have it. 8 team playoff built from all 10 conferences. And you just made all conference championship and play-in games must see tv. No subjective decisions necessary. No second chances. Everything is settled on the field. Done.

So in your scenario, Georgia doesn't make the playoffs even though they pounded Michigan and are clearly one of the 2 best teams in the country? Really dumb!

 

[cfbfan15]

The BCS system worked better.. Tired of seeing these blowouts in the semifinal games. Generally every year there are clearly 2 teams better than everyone else. Sometimes there are 3 good teams, but never 4 that could win it all. Cinci vs Michigan in a NY6 bowl game would have been a fun game to watch. It was always going to be Bama vs. Georgia.

BCS system would have left multiple teams out that have gone on to win the championship in the playoff era. 2014 OSU won as the 4 seed, Clemson ine 2016 (i know its clemson and no one cares) would have been ranked behind OSU for 3rd in the BCS rankings. Instead they beat them 31-0 in the semis and then won the championship over Bama. In 17 Bama was ranked 4th and ended up winning the championship. Is it a flawed system, in some ways yes, but it gets the 4 best teams in from there the cards fall as they should, but it doesn't keep potentially the best team out based on a computer ranking.

 

[uscg1984]

Did it make sense to include Cincy in the playoff? Yes. Were they one of the 4 best teams in the nation? No.

The championship game will feature the two teams that everybody knew were the 2 best teams. Everyone else was basically playing for 3rd place and Cincy kept winning when other P5 teams took themselves out of the running.

 

[DeBoer31]

I saw an article on ESPN asking whether or not Cincinnati really belonged in the playoffs after what Alabama did to them on Friday.

Let me say this, they went undefeated in the regular season the last 2 years they gave Georgia all they wanted in their bowl game last year, the only other program that had any kind of argument of getting in the playoff after the final rankings was Notre Dame who Cincinnati beat at Notre Dame during the regular season. So despite getting pummeled by 'bama Cincinnati did earn their way to the college football playoff.

Who else were they going to put in? Notre Dame? We all saw what Alabama did to Notre Dame last year and to be honest if they(Alabama) played Notre Dame again this year the game would have been even worse than what they did to Cincinnati!

Alabama is a beast that few if any teams in college football are equipped to deal with for 4 quarters, the only team I could think of that has a chance of giving Alabama a game at this juncture when Alabama is bringing their A game is Georgia and the Bulldogs would have to bring their A+ game just to have a chance.

Cincy is a really good team...and on a great 2 year run. But, I stand by the fact that G5 teams don't play nearly the same rigorous schedule that P5 teams do. Further...I think something should be done to balance the unbelievable demands that the SEC places on itself. Our 3rd and 4th conf. teams are regularly top 7-8 in the country EVERY YEAR. B10 and ACC teams waltz in with nary an injury or close games some years while the SEC rep has had to win more tough games in one year just to make it than other conf. "top" schools do in 5 years.
This goes for Cincy, Tulane, Coastal....who ever.
I think there should be a split classification with maybe one more conf. brought in ....with P5 championship games and G5 champ. games. If you have an undefeated or 1 loss team that looks great (Coastal from 2020 for example) they maybe get a shot at their big dance.

 

[bucketdad]

So in your scenario, Georgia doesn't make the playoffs even though they pounded Michigan and are clearly one of the 2 best teams in the country? Really dumb!

They had their chance as far as I'm concerned. What I propose is since the playoffs would be 8 teams, conference championships (which is also the post season) would be an extension of that. As I've posted several times already, my primary goal would be to totally eliminate subjectivity and have everything won on the field. The fact that it would include every D1 was a byproduct of that. Just so happened the math worked that way. That said, in my mind, there are G5 schools every bit as good as some Power5 champs coming from a weak Power5 conference. Maybe not every year, but enough to justify inclusion imo. So to include some 'unworthy Power5 champs' and not G5 champs made no sense.

 

[WingchunCock]

They had their chance as far as I'm concerned. What I propose is since the playoffs would be 8 teams, conference championships (which is also the post season) would be an extension of that. As I've posted several times already, my primary goal would be to totally eliminate subjectivity and have everything won on the field. The fact that it would include every D1 was a byproduct of that. Just so happened the math worked that way. That said, in my mind, there are G5 schools every bit as good as some Power5 champs coming from a weak Power5 conference. Maybe not every year, but enough to justify inclusion imo. So to include some 'unworthy Power5 champs' and not G5 champs made no sense.

If you go with the P5 conference champs and 3 at large teams it allows for opportunity all across the board. Conference champs get seeds 1-5 and the at large occupy 6-8. This year it would look something like this
1:Alabama
2: Michigan
3:Baylor
4: Pittsburgh
5:Utah
6:Georgia
7:Cincy
8:Notre Dame
The end result would probably still be Bama vs UGA but there could be an upset or two to make playoff more exciting

 

[cockofdawn]

If Cincy played. lets say an Ohio State, Vegas would have Ohio State Favored, just saying!

 

[rogue cock]

If Cincy played. lets say an Ohio State, Vegas would have Ohio State Favored, just saying!

Vegas had UNC favored. So what?

 

[Pauliecock]

Have to disagree with this. Outside of Bama and GA who in the SEC would have beaten Cincy this season? Maybe Ole Miss? Now if you are talking about over a period of time, yes Cincy would be in the 5-9 range (since they have been relevant). But if you are talking about this year, I think they would have been the 3rd best team in the league.

Agreed. They would have been at the competitive level of Ole Miss and aTm this season, IMO.

 

[wycombecock]

This year a yes, most years with the same record no. It just happened to break Cincy's way this year for them to be even in the conversation. Most years you have 2-3 undefeated P5 teams and a bunch of 1 loss P5 teams.

 

[cockofdawn]

Vegas had UNC favored. So what?

I didnt even Mention South Carolina, South Carolina beating Un-Carolina was an upset, upsets happen!! But i would trust Vegas over "roguecock" anytime!!

 

[rogue cock]

I didnt even Mention South Carolina, South Carolina beating Un-Carolina was an upset, upsets happen!! But i would trust Vegas over "roguecock" anytime!!

Vegas doesnt try to pick winners. At best they play biases to try to even up the bets on both sides.

 

[cockofdawn]

Vegas doesnt try to pick winners. At best they play biases to try to even up the bets on both sides.

What Planet are you on??? Vegas picks who they think will outscore the other (WIN) by "X" amount of points. and Yes if more people loaded up on Cincy getting 40 points, line would drop to 30+

 

[rogue cock]

What Planet are you on??? Vegas picks who they think will outscore the other (WIN) by "X" amount of points. and Yes if more people loaded up on Cincy getting 40 points, line would drop to 30+

No, they do not pick winners and losers. They attempt to determine what spread it will take to get a relatively even number on bets on both sides. If they simply picked winners and losers, there would be no spread.

 

[bucketdad]

If you go with the P5 conference champs and 3 at large teams it allows for opportunity all across the board. Conference champs get seeds 1-5 and the at large occupy 6-8. This year it would look something like this
1:Alabama
2: Michigan
3:Baylor
4: Pittsburgh
5:Utah
6:Georgia
7:Cincy
8:Notre Dame
The end result would probably still be Bama vs UGA but there could be an upset or two to make playoff more exciting

That is better than we have now. Still have a problem with some teams being picked by committee but I could live with that. Upsets or not, I think that would be more exciting than what we have now.

 

[bucketdad]

I'll give another example of the problem i have with subjectivity in the playoffs. UGA gets totally dominated in the SEC championship game. Was there any way they were going to get bumped to a 4 seed? No way because that would mean an immediate rematch with Bama. The committee was in no way gonna let that happen. IMO, desired matchups shouldnt be a consideration.

 

[rogue cock]

I'll give another example of the problem i have with subjectivity in the playoffs. UGA gets totally dominated in the SEC championship game. Was there any way they were going to get bumped to a 4 seed? No way because that would mean an immediate rematch with Bama. The committee was in no way gonna let that happen. IMO, desired matchups shouldnt be a consideration.

That was my big issue with how the selection went.

 

[bucketdad]

That was my big issue with how the selection went.

No matter what system of playoff we do, if they were to come out and say RPIs set seeds, or something like that written in stone before hand, that would be ok. Hell UGA may still have been a three seed. But they dont do that and to the best of my knowledge, dont want to.

 

[cockofdawn]

No, they do not pick winners and losers. They attempt to determine what spread it will take to get a relatively even number on bets on both sides. If they simply picked winners and losers, there would be no spread.

The do in FACT pick the team that will score more points (WIN BY) say Minus 7 or Plus 9. So they do not say outright the WINNER, but common sense tells you if a team is laying 24 points in Vegas, Vegas thinks they will win by 24 points> I am sure you know this, you are just being confrontational!!