USC/Cal for Notre Dame

WinOverAll08

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Now, I understand that if USC beats Cal, then we beat them, we have a great chance at going to the NC. However, what will happen if USC loses to Cal? We would then move up to #4. Florida would still have to lose and we would still have to beat SC to move up. The SC win would not look as significant if they were still a 1-loss team. So with that being said, does it matter if USC loses to Cal? If we beat them and Florida loses, do we still go to the National Championship?
 

DaDeuceDW

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WOA08,
It will all be irrelevant if the tOSU and UM game is close. If the game is within a field goal, they both deserve to go to the NC.
 

scooper

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WOA08,
It will all be irrelevant if the tOSU and UM game is close. If the game is within a field goal, they both deserve to go to the NC.
If Michigan wins, even a close one, this may not be the case. At that point, we will have the same loss (admitting our loss would be worse) but ND would have more quality wins than OSU. When lining the two up side by side, their schedule could hurt them. Beating a one loss USC and a two loss GT is more impressive than beating a two loss Texas and nobody else of note.
 

SillyIrish

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WOA08,
It will all be irrelevant if the tOSU and UM game is close. If the game is within a field goal, they both deserve to go to the NC.

How can you justify the losing team getting a rematch if they can't win the first time. Second the losing team won't even be confernece champs nevermind national champs.
 
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FleaFlicker

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WOA08,
It will all be irrelevant if the tOSU and UM game is close. If the game is within a field goal, they both deserve to go to the NC.

You might be right about them being deserving, but it won't go down like that. Neither of them plays each other again unless everyone has 2 losses, and Rutgers loses once.

Now back to the actualy topic...

It matters a lot whether USC wins this Saturday or not. A 2-loss USC team drops down to #13-14. If we then beat them, they are around #20-22. Our only reputable wins would be against ~#15 GT and ~#20 USC.

If that happens, Arkansas easily controls their own destiny, and there is even a chance that Rutgers gets in before us.

Conversely, if USC is #2 at the end of this week (if they win)... Then Notre Dame beat the #2 team in the country on their home field, and USC would be around ~9 to end the year. And people would give us much more respect in the polls, which is really all it is about.
 

DaDeuceDW

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How can you justify the losing team getting a rematch if they can't win the first time. Second the losing team won't even be confernece champs nevermind national champs.

Name me one team that you think, right now, is more deserving to go to the NC game. Oh, wait...you can't, because tOSU and UM are the best, and you know it. Also, if they are both still ranked #1 and #2 after Saturday, it won't matter that one is not a conference champ.
 

scooper

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Name me one team that you think, right now, is more deserving to go to the NC game. Oh, wait...you can't, because tOSU and UM are the best, and you know it. Also, if they are both still ranked #1 and #2 after Saturday, it won't matter that one is not a conference champ.
The loser will probably not be ranked #2. Not if USC wins. Right or wrong, a big part of the equation in college football polling is when you lose. Early season losses hurt less than late season losses. That's always been the case.

An OSU-UM rematch would be good fodder for a playoffs argument, but that is a whole other can of worms.
 
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domerforlife

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Strength of Schedule favors us over a one loss OSU team. And like scooper said - our loss to michigan was early in the year and that works in our favor too. Coach Sweatervest was interviewed and didn't sound too supportive of the idea of a rematch.

with that said - ND has to take care of business, and we've got a good shot of making it.
 

LOVEMYIRISH

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WOA08,
It will all be irrelevant if the tOSU and UM game is close. If the game is within a field goal, they both deserve to go to the NC.

I agree. If that game is really close the loser should considered for the #2 spot again...

With the exception of Rutgers the rest of the teams out there are 1 loss teams as well...so OSU/UM should still be considered pending a loss.

After our loss to USC last year we did not move down in the polls, I don't see why there should be a double-standard (assuming the game is just as close)
 

scooper

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It's not a double standard. More ranked teams HAVE dropped after losing to a #1 or #2 than ranked teams who haven't.

Personally, I think if Michigan loses, they have a better shot at the rematch having beaten us head to head. I would have a hard time arguing against that.

However, if Ohio St. loses, we need to scream from the mountaintop that ND would have beaten more good teams than OSU and would be deserving.

But.....other business first.

In any event, can you imagine the hype of the USC-ND game next week if Michigan beats OSU and USC beats Cal? It could essentially be a play in game. (pending the overrated SEC snoozefests of course)
 

LOVEMYIRISH

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In any event, can you imagine the hype of the USC-ND game next week if Michigan beats OSU and USC beats Cal? It could essentially be a play in game. (pending the overrated SEC snoozefests of course)

Yup. If both USC and UM win, then our game will definitely get some serious hype.

If Arkansas folds to LSU...our game will be doubly-so important.
 
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FleaFlicker

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Yup. If both USC and UM win, then our game will definitely get some serious hype.

If Arkansas folds to LSU...our game will be doubly-so important.

I would sooooooo love for Arkansas to lose to LSU, which is very possible.

But Florida still needs to die somehow.
 

onenybrother

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I don't see a Florida lost to Arkansas. I just don't think The Razorbacks are ready for the bigtime.
 
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FleaFlicker

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Oh I think Florida will lose either at FSU, or at the SEC chmpionship game, they have looked pretty dismal as of late, and it's hard to imagine them not losing in that game. If they win, more props too them, btu I don't think they will make much of a championship game.
 

marv81s

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Arkansas can defiantely beat Florida. I thought earlier in the year Florida was unbeatable and I was one that was defiantely not in favor of playing them in a bowl game, but as of lately, they aren't jack shit. They haven't scored over 28 points in their own stadium this year once. Arkansas is ready for the big time, they did pretty well at Auburn and they made Tenn look slow. Got smoked by USC earlier in the year without McFadden in the game and an iffy QB at the time, but they have settled in. I think they'll beat Florida in the SEC championship. If ND doesn't play in the national title game, a Sugar Bowl bid against Arkansas would be sweet.
 
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FleaFlicker

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I'm still not sold on Arkansas' Defense. They did well against Tennessee, but Auburn clearly has a poor offense, so that defensive shutdown isn't as impressive. And they DID allow ~50 points to a USC offense that had just lost a couple of Heisman trophies. I still don't know if this team is one of those that has looked really good defensively, because the offenses they are playing are overrated, or what?

But If Florida has looked paltry in the last few weeks, then there is a good chance they will look even worse against Arkansas. If Arkansas can score more than 20 points on Florida, they will win.
 
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dankus

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Arkansas is beating the same teams worse than Florida is. Florida is a flawed team.

Florida's defense is falling by the wayside as well.

It seems every week you hear about a new player suspended or leaving the team. The winner this week, Jarvis Moss, saviour from last weeks game.
 

LOVEMYIRISH

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Oh I think Florida will lose either at FSU, or at the SEC chmpionship game, they have looked pretty dismal as of late, and it's hard to imagine them not losing in that game. If they win, more props too them, btu I don't think they will make much of a championship game.

My money is on Arkansas...they will beat UF...I am pretty confident on that.
 

WinOverAll08

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The question, my friends! What if USC loses this weekend to Cal, and we beat them as a two loss team? What happens then?
 
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